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[indent]Staring up at the ceiling, with her hands resting on her stomach, Aisling was stuck in a long, restless daze. This was so surreal. Was Jackson back in her life? Truly? Her gaze glazed over as she thought about the good, the bad, and the ugly. [i][color=lightslategray]Do I have something on my face?[/color] [color=crimson]No, Ash, you're just really beautiful. Call me cliche but I can't take my eyes off of you.[/color][/i] [i][color=lightslategray]Can you be serious for one fucking second?[/color] [color=crimson]Oh, and you're just so damned PERFECT, huh Ash! Where do you think you're going?![/color][/i] [i][color=lightslategray]Jackson, I don't think we should continue... this.[/color]  [color=crimson]If that's what you want...[/color][/i] His face. The pain in his blue orbs. The sinking feeling in her chest. His words could flood her senses. Years ago, he had the ability to make complicated things seem simple and yet she pushed him away. Lifting her left hand in the air, she deeply stared at the diamond that adorned it. 

"[color=lightslategray]Lucas[/color]" she muttered out loud. 

[indent][color=lightgray][i]"[color=f9ad81]Ms. Hawthorne![/color]" A teacher standing at the front of a dull lecture hall glared at Aisling, who was smiling at her laptop deeply staring at pictures of her time at Camp Liberty. The picture her brown orbs rested on was when the pack (and a couple that unofficially joined the wolves) had just finished competing in Mud City Flag Football. Yes, they were all filthy from their wild game. Tate was hugging Oliver, which made the youngest grey member obviously uncomfortable and Kitt had pounced on the blonde puppy with the goal of taking him off his crush. Fiona was on the other side of the picture glancing over at Tate as Luisa whispered dirty little secrets to her. Adi had slipped in the mud and pulled Elijah down with her, on top of her. Jackson and Ghost were holding Ash up. Ghost held onto her legs, Jackson held onto her upper half. His eyes were left peering down at her, soft and genuine, while she stuck her tongue out at the camera. Meanwhile, Ghost held onto her possessively and looked like he was huffing in annoyance. Their darling Ariel was the one taking the picture.

Looking up from her laptop with a stoic expression, Ash apathetically glared at the teacher which stunned the older woman with how intimidating her student came across with just her eyes, "[color=lightslategray]Yes?[/color]" Placing her hand on the top of her laptop, Ash closed it and tilted her head waiting for the woman to say something. 

Clearing her throat, slight sweat dropping from her forehead, the journalism teacher asked, "[color=f9ad81]Can you reiterate what I just told the class?[/color]" All eyes were on her, as if everyone was waiting for Ash to royally mess up, since they believed she wasn't paying attention. 

Rolling her eyes, Ash leaned back in her chair and lowly answered, "[color=lightslategray]The face of journalism has changed over the years. There is a continuing decline in newspaper circulation. Along with their readers, journalists are abandoning their broadsheets in favor of mobile phones and tablets. In order to compete with the tech-savvy gen, journalists are requesting up to date training. Video and social engagement seem to be where everyone's focuses are. Regardless of the changes of journalism, traditional values such as trust and reliability remain essential. The increasing dominance of social media is leading people to distrust us as writers since our readers are more likely to agree that social medial makes news less reliable.[/color]" Pausing for a moment, her dagger-like brown orbs locked with her teacher's, Ash yawned and then asked, "[color=lightslategray]Did I get the gist?[/color]" Shock was written all over her teacher's face, like she couldn't believe how attentive Ash was to her words, even the students beside her had to turn their head toward her. Their expressions read: Did that just happen?

"[color=f9ad81]Thank you... Alright, where was I?[/color]" 

As the teacher went on with her lesson, Ash felt a light nudge and a whisper, "[color=dodgerblue]You're pretty smart, huh?[/color]" Bringing her head over to the comforting voice, she took notice of gorgeous hazel orbs, short-cropped hair, and a man that probably stood at 6'1". He also looked like he went to the gym daily. Leaning in toward her, he smiled, "[color=dodgerblue]The name's Lucas. Lucas Henderson. I shouldn't even be here but I wanted a reason to talk to you.[/color]" 

Blinking for an instant, Ash narrowed her eyes, but in a friendly manner, "[color=lightslategray]You went inside a boring lecture just to--?[/color]"

"[color=dodgerblue]Okay. I know it's foolish of me, but you're always in the same spot on campus during your lunch... I think. The pond is near one of the PSYC buildings. For the past week, I've seen you just staring out, not touching your lunch, and I can't help but think: I wonder what's on this girl's mind. Sorry if that's creepy of me, but--[/color]" He leaned away to give her space, his face was incredibly charming. He took notice of her and even entered one of her lectures just to talk to her? "[color=dodgerblue]I'm just going to be straight with you. You're gorgeous and I want to take you out on a date.[/color]" 

Her eyes widened. Wahhhh? "[color=lightslategray]You... don't even know my name.[/color]" She appeared that intriguing to someone?! 

Slipping her a piece of paper with his number, he chuckled, "[color=dodgerblue]I know your surname is Hawthorne, thanks to your teach... but I'd love to know your first.[/color]" His hazel orbs had a puppy touch to them, something that made her feel like, at all cost, he would get his date with her, kind of like...

"[color=lightslategray]Aisling... but my friends call me Ash.[/color]" 
[/i][/color]
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Siting up, Aisling knew she couldn't sleep. She had too much on her mind. After standing up, she tiptoed away from the bed, but stopped to look at Jackson's resting face. She knelt down to get a better view of this boy she hadn't seen in years. Light snores escaped his lips, as he laid on his stomach. Brushing a small strand of blonde locks out of his face, she whispered, "[color=lightslategray]I missed this too.[/color]"

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The next couple of hours passed her by like a blur. When Aisling was flooded with an abundance of thoughts, she just needed to do something to get her mind off of... life. She knew that once Jackson was asleep, he wouldn't be awake until something deliberately got him out of his slumber. With that in mind, she lowly played music off of his laptop. There was a few songs by this band called [i]East of Eden[/i]. She never had the pleasure of knowing this group but the female vocalist had a beautiful voice that made chills run up her spine. 

When Ash put her mind into whatever, more often than not, she would be completely enveloped in her work. Cleaning and cooking was something she did while she was 'in the zone' or well, avoiding addressing the creeping thoughts in the back of her mind. Unfortunately, Jackson's house was not well prepared with cleaning supplies or healthy food choices (he needed to go grocery shopping, that's for sure). She ended up slipping on his pants, and Adi's sandals to go on a little adventure to find the nearest convenient store. 

With that, she grabbed Jackson's keys and went to a store just a block or two away, to stock his closet with absolutely necessary cleaning products. She even bought pancake and parfait ingredients to add to the bacon, sausages, and eggs that he already had. Fast forward an hour more and the entire house was polished, scrubbed, and smelt like [i]summer[/i] since she bought a Verri Berry air freshener scent or in other words, a strong mixed of berries. If she wasn't mistaken, he loved blueberry scones... but she could be wrong. Observing her work, she smiled to herself. Yes, this was much better. She could actually walk around without tripping over a pizza box! His apartment smelled delicious and there was no dust or stains to be found. Granted, there was this nasty brownish black stain on his rug that she had to scrub the fuck out. He really needed to keep up with his house or he'd get rodents and bugs. Gross. 

Before she started cooking, she texted her best friend, Alex, to see if they were still on for 12. 

[quote][center][b]To: [color=#808080]Alexander Bryant[/color]
[color=lightslategray]Lunch at 12? If so, here's my address: 9615 La Canada Way, Shadow Hills, CA 91040. Pick me up at 11:45! You choose the place.[/color][/b][/center][/quote]

She wasn't going to take no for an answer. Alex better make time for her or she would hunt him down. She missed the fool! 

On the counter, there was a bowl of blueberries, since this fruit in particular was among the highest anti-oxidant value fruits and had a lot of health benefits if you ate a handful of blueberries a day. That being said, you shouldn't have too much of it either. Everything should be portioned to stay healthy and in shape. However, Ash was starving, so she may have gotten carried away with cooking. Beside the bowl of leftover blueberries (that she didn't use in other things) was a stack of buttermilk pancakes (some with blueberries in them), two small cups of orange juice, a cup of chocolate milk for him (she doubted he's changed much so she put his red and white bendy straw in it), a cup of Joe for her (that was already half gone, mind you), berry breakfast parfait (strawberry, blueberries, and yogurt mixed together) that they could share, and she currently had the plates of bacon, sausage, and eggs beside her, while she was finishing up the last batch of bacon. There also may have been a dessert surprise in his fridge he could eat later, since there was this cute little bakery she stumbled upon during her walk. She should encourage him to eat healthy, but... this could be her cheat day. Glancing down at her phone, she hadn't received a text from Lucas yet - was he sleeping in? Maybe she should... 

“[color=crimson]You’ve been a busy bee, Ash.[/color]” Her ears perked up to the sound of Jackson. Turning off the stove, she brought the last three plates to the counter, as he commented about how Lucas was one lucky man. Her response to that was a simple eye roll.  

Placing the plates down, she teased, "[color=lightslategray]And you were out like a light.[/color]" Going back to his kitchen cabinet, she got two empty plates for them so he could serve himself, "[color=lightslategray]I made... a lot.[/color]" She was far too lazy to tell him everything that was on the counter, so instead she placed his plate in front of him (there was already forks and serving utensils on the table), and she grabbed the single bowl of parfait. Scooping some up with her spoon, she gestured for him to try some, building anticipation by slowly bringing the spoon close to his lips, "[color=lightslategray]Fun fact. Parfaits are hella easy to make.[/color]" Ash would always be Ash. When she trusted someone, she was far too friendly for her own good. A natural flirt by heart. After he tried it, she immediately scooped more for herself - not really thinking about the whole he just used this spoon - she put it in her mouth and gleefully smiled. Her hunger would soon be satisfied. 

Placing the parfait down with the spoon they both had the pleasure of using, she began to fill her plate with food. In the background, his laptop continued to play music softly (another East of Eden song was on). "[color=lightslategray]This is a really good band, you have a lot of their music. Are they pretty big?[/color]" She paused realizing she should tell him all the things she bought for him, "[color=lightslategray]Oh! Before I forget. In that closet over there[/color]" She gestured near the front door, "[color=lightslategray]Is microfiber cloths, extra sponges, rubber gloves, disinfecting wipes... and yeah, other things. You should be good for a week in groceries with fruit, frozen meats, all that good stuff. It's my gift, so don't worry about it.[/color]"

After she finished decorating her plate with one pancake, three bacon strips, and some blueberries on the side, she reached for her cup of coffee, her eyes glancing over at her phone (still nothing from Lucas), before turning her head to her friend, "[color=lightslategray]Do you remember at camp when Emilia ended up pulling me on top of her during a Mud City Football match? That caused Fiona to trip over me and somehow that turned into a downright girls wrestling match. I don't even know how it happened... but god, you were such a dork. To this day I can remember all the guys' faces.[/color]"

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