when dreams come true

chapter 6 || an incident

  Isn't Crystal Reed just the cutest?
(She's cast as Ashley)
Anyway, hope you enjoy. point out mistakes if you can.  x

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     I woke up to the sound of the annoyingly loud alarm beeping like a cat being strangled. I reached out blindly from under my covers and smacked the clock, hoping to slam the stop button. Unfortunately, the device just fell to the ground and lay there in all its misery, still beeping horribly. I groaned. Maybe because it kept falling so often it sounded like that.

Squinting, I read 6:15 AM on the clock. Ah, I needed to hurry.

  I took a quick shower and pulled on some jeans and a flannel, not bothering to brush through the tangled mess of my hair, and put it into a messy bun. I slathered on a coat of lip gloss and dabbed some concealer on a small blemish. It bothered me a lot. While hopping on my feet, I struggled to pull on my Vans, and then proceeded to grab my bag and my 'homework' canvas and rushed downstairs.

As I did so, I passed by my brother's room and nostalgia hit me. I missed him. I missed him everyday when I would be left alone at home and every time I had to carpool. I didn't think I would ever feel this way; as I'd bid him goodbye for university with a taunting smile and lots of jokes about what a good riddance it was. Well, it still kind of was, but I wouldn't say I'd mind it if he came back soon. His 2nd year at university had just begun, and he'd been exceptionally busy studying engineering. We barely talked. When he did visit on breaks though, it was the best. We would have movie nights, shopping trips, loud off key sing-alongs and sneak out in his car for a midnight McDonald's meal.

I guess you do truly realise the value of someone when they're no longer there.

I sighed, trying to clear my mind as reached the foyer. I peeked into the kitchen just in case, and what a surprise I got. I gasped.

Dad was at the kitchen table.

And he'd made toast!

This, you see, was not a typical occurrence at our house. Every morning, I'd get ready quickly and, if I got lucky and had time, downed some cereal. Everywhere in the house would be vacant. Noone would make me breakfast; noone would tell me to have a nice day; noone would encourage me to do well on a test. I didn't mind anymore, because it had become something unimportant now.

Dad would either already be at work, or in bed. The latter was rare.

So, this was an unnatural sight.

"Dad?" I asked, confused. I stepped farther into the kitchen and noticed he had his smartphone next to his plate with unfinished toast on the table, and was busy checking emails with knitted eyebrows. He raised his head at the sound of my voice, and blinked.

"Yes?" he replied, in his low, tired voice. He was usually always tired, but it didn't affect him anymore.

Yes, he's a workaholic.

"Um, nothing- just, er, do you want more breakfast?" I asked him, not knowing what to say. I held onto my elbow with my hand and awkwardly waited for his response. He'd gone back to an email, so he looked up again, slowly processing what I'd asked. This happened sometimes. He would zone out of conversations if he was focused on something else.

"Ah, no Ashley. Thank you." He glanced at his watch. "You're getting late for school aren't you?" he reminded me.

My eyes snapped to the clock on the kitchen wall and I only just restrained myself from cursing. 10 minutes till school would begin!

"Oh yes, thanks Dad! See you soon!" Hopefully, I added to myself as I hurried out the door.

I didn't get a reply, but I already knew he'd be halfway across the country by the time I returned home.