Gently From The Ashes [on going]

4 - Red.

Upon receiving the texts Caroline was more excited than she would've liked to admit to herself, but was relieved at finally having some sort of direct form of communication with the ever-so-elusive Ash.

Now having his number, she wasted little time in messaging him "hello" and enquiring about what he wanted to talk to her about.

To her pleasant surprise, Ash messaged back rather promptly stating that he'd rather talk about it in person or call to avoid any miscommunication that tended to occur over text, as long as she was comfortable with it.

Whether it was the fact that Caroline hadn't seen Ash in a while or some of that femdom attitude she'd been surrounded herself with had bled into her psyche, she texted on impulse seizing the opportunity and saying it was too late to call but that as it was Saturday tomorrow she'd hear him out over a coffee.

Reading the text she'd just sent, her face grew very warm coming to the realisation that it was the first time she'd ever taken the initiative when it came to pursuing her romantic interests. Her heart beat hard in her chest as she waited for his response, but the nerves were getting to her and she was just about to backtrack when she got the reply, "Does the Café Nero near the top of town at 10:30 am work for you?".

Nodding with enthusiasm "Yes!" Then quickly realising she'd said it out loud, she texted back her agreement, with her own embarrassment at her outburst going unregistered, as she was too caught up in the thought of tomorrow.

Having received the invitation for the coffee, all Ash could do was stare at the text. A woman had asked him for a coffee...him! He was momentarily paralyzed. What started as a way to explain himself to Caroline about what she'd seen and apologies for how he acted, just turned into a date. At least he was pretty sure it was a date. He didn't wanna make any assumptions lest he comes off as a creep, but she could've told him any number of ways that she'd hear what he wanted to say without going out of her way to meet him in such a place.

Something stirred in Ash at that moment, the way she'd taken the initiative and directed the conversation made him want to agree.

...

The following day, they met at the café and after a somewhat awkward exchange of "hello's" and "how are you's", they ordered their drinks, Ash with a green tea and Caroline with a latte, and they eventually found themselves a corner of the room to sit.

"So what did you want to talk to me about?" Caroline was unable to hold off her curiosity any longer.

"Ah, well I really just wanted to say that I'm sorry for running off and then avoiding the library altogether... And also about the drawing, I-" pausing for a moment he looked up at the ceiling for the answers "I totally get if you think I'm weird or a creep, I mean did draw someone what was basically you and in such a... evocative way and on top of that without asking if you were okay it, so again I'm sorry." Ash chanced a sip of his tea hoping the heat from the tea would justify the redness in his cheeks.

Caroline couldn't help but find it cute the way Ash's leg had been bouncing as he spoke or how intently he was staring at his tea, clearly unable to look her in the eyes. But she still found it somewhat jarring seeing this side of Ash, having been so used to the cool and laid-back but openly flirtatious Ash of before. She was greatly interested in seeing more of this side of him, this thread that Ash had so precariously left out in the open, she wanted, no, planned to pull and bear witness to what it would really unravel.

"I see. So that's what was on your mind, but you needn't be worried so much Ash. Like I mentioned before I was flattered by your drawing and if anything I should be thanking you."

Ash couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. "Thanking me? Did you like the drawing that much? Because I can always send it to you."

Caroline let go of the smile she'd been holding back. "Although the drawing is very good I wasn't thanking you for that Ash. I was thanking you for helping me discover something about myself."