a known stranger

Chapter 14

CHAPTER 14

A week passes by without much drama. They settled down to a routine that was comfortable and Ashley's natural friendliness, sense of humour helped to keep the truce and peace.

He would prepare the meals and they would eat in a comfortable silence, once in a while talking about books, movies, politics, and any topic that may have come up in the news.

They would swim, practice their katas. There was an unspoken truce, and her experience with Neil was never broached. Darien had called and spoken to Sheila, she told the whole sorry details about how she had to change form in front of Ashley, and how Ashley now knows about changelings.

This traumatic experience was also how their psychic link got strengthened. Sheila kept hearing Ashley cries in her head, and Sheila followed her instinct and was in time to stop Neil.

Sheila, proudly says to Darien, "You know what, I bit him in his balls! The bastard!"

"Ooh, ow..aaa...,eerr..Darien, was speechless, he closed his eyes.

"Ok, thanks, that means it will be easier to explain to Ashley, about myself then."

"Er..Darien, she was pretty freaked out, but I think it should be ok," "I hope," Sheila added.

"Sheila, I was thinking of taking Ashley out to the restaurant we met that day, Shall we do a double date? Why don't we make it a double date, Jason has been asking to go out. Maybe we can go for a movie after dinner and a bit of dancing?"

"Mmmm..err.." Sheila was stunned, she always wanted to ask Jason out, but was too shy to ask Jason,

"Please don't say no," Darien said pleadingly. "I want her to see you, know that you are ok, and just to allow her to be out, and what dating should be,"

"I'll set it up with Jason, and ask Jason to pick you from your house at 7pm ok?"

"Ok, Darien," she sighed out.

As Ashley was getting her coffee that morning, Darien broached the subject of the double date with Sheila and Jason.

Ashley, stopped, and blinked looking at him.

"Ashley, I am asking you out on a date, and it will be a double date, Sheila and Jason will be there," Darien said gently.

"Oh," she blushed. "I would love to see Sheila, thanks Darien," she said

So, that evening Ashley dressed in her favourite black dress. It was a plain simple princess cut that clung to her lovely curves just nicely without appearing to be like second skin. The dress just fell demurely about her knees. It was a dress that could be worn for disco by pairing it up with knee high boots and sequined half jacket, her silver with concentric loops earrings and a simple silver chain with a diamond (given by her grandmother) or a dress that paired with her plain black heels and a black shot with silver pashmina with pearls for a formal dinner.

As it was going to be quite casual, with movie and dancing, Ashley dressed down, by adding her favourite denim jacket, and her half boots. She wore her silver chain with the diamond pendants and the simple silver earring loop on her ears.

She hears, Darien calling out, she replies "Yes, yes, I 'm coming", as she went to the door to open, she gasped, as he was standing at the door.

"Oh! I thought you were downstairs," she said.

He was wearing a black silk shirt, and black cords, the top three buttons of his shirt was left open, and she saw the crisp fine black hair on his chest peeking from the opening.

She looked up to him, stunned to realize she was staring at his chest.

Darien, schooled his expression to indifference, as he asked her , "Are your ready to leave?" "We got to travel about 30 miles, and we need to leave now if we want to get our reservations,"

"Oh, Are we that far away from Toowoomba?" was all she was capable of saying.

He gave a non-committal shrug and smiled wolfishly at her. He opened her door, she looked at him, rolling her eyes upward, she got in. Before she could reach for the seat belt, he was already pulling it across and fitting it securely.

He smiled at her, closed the door and got into the driver's seat.

She did not bother voicing her opinion that, she was perfectly capable of getting into a car, and putting on her seatbelt!

The ride went on relatively peacefully and quietly. He turned on his radio, it was his favourite "New Age" music by Jean Michel Jarre. Ashley was stunned as the music started, her voice in a revered whisper, "Oxygene, this is my ultimate relaxation music,"

"Hmmm. What a coincidence, it's mine too," Darien replied.

Of course, I don't usually listen to it when I'm driving, I could fall asleep, but I only play this particular track, as it makes me feel alive.

Ashley sat up, she turned to look at him, "I know! It does something to me too, I feel this energy spiraling up in my backbone sending energy to my whole body whenever I listen to this track.

He chuckled softly, "very nice way of putting it, you really have a way with words," he said looking at her.

She looked at him, and saw the emotions in his eyes, she knew in her heart then, that he genuinely had some feelings for her.

She was flabbergasted, how did she cope with this knowledge, there was some internal bond being formed, and she was falling helplessly in love with him. 

She laughed, trying to push away the thoughts and said, "Mmm, well you are good at words yourself, so, I think, it's game, set and match, we tie."

They get to the restaurant, Jason and Sheila was already there. Sheila got up and went to hug Ashley.

Jason stood up and shook hands with Darien. Ashley was too busy answering Sheila to pay attention to Darien and Jason. They were whispering in low tones.

Actually, it was Sheila's birthday, Darien had seen a gift and card in Ashley's clothes cupboard when he had ransacked her cupboard. He had arranged for the restaurant to bring a cake and surprise Sheila midway through the meal.

Darien cleared his throat, "Err, Ashley, I don't think you have met Jason?"

"Oh, yes, sorry, she turned to look at Jason and Darien. She put out her hand and Jason shook hers in a firm grip, smilling, "Hi, Ashley, it's good to meet you, how do you do?"

"How do you do?" Ashley replied, smiling.

Jason, smiled and indicated, "Shall we sit and start our meal, if we want to catch the movie...

"Oh! Can we take a rain check on the movie tonight, the dance floor looks exciting, and I feel like dancing," Ashley interjected.

"yeah, I second that, " Sheila said.

"Okay..."both Jason and Darien said together, looking at each other, and then shrugging their shoulders, as to say, "Women!"