Crystallized Truth

Chapter 34 - Murderer or Not

"Are you okay?"

Ashley lifted his head, tired grey eyes stared at her, face blank and silent.

"Why this particular inquiry?" Ashley asked turning back to his orange cake, slicing a piece nonchalantly.

"Well, maybe because of your choice of breakfast?" Ava answered back easily. She took a bite of her sandwich as she stared at Ashley for response.

Who eats Cake for breakfast?

Certainly not someone like Ashley who had fit figure and usually avoid sugary confections. It was something not Ashley. No, not at all.

She knew the poor thing was upset for various reasons, some she knew and some she could only imagine.

"I like oranges and as there was no orange, I got the second best things," Ashley said pointing at the slice of cake l he was eating leisurely, he sounded too relax and sure to be lying but Ava just couldn't bring herself to believe his words.

He was worried about something, that was for sure even if he wasn't willing to inform her.

"I never saw you eating either one ever," Ava insisted placing the fork on her empty place and looking at him intently.

"Never?" Ashley frowned tilting his head as if thoughtful.

Ava folded her arms over table waiting patiently for him to say anything to explain his unusual behavior.

Ashley relaxed and gave her indulging smile before turning back to his cake. "That's easy. How many times did you see me at breakfast before?" Ashley questioned smugly.

Eyes widening, Ava stared at him. There was surely something wrong with Ashley. He never sounded so reasonable. Never ever. This behavior was not so Ashley.

"You're worried about something aren't you?" Ava accuses rather than answering, eyes narrowed at his relax figure even if he was right and reasonable for once, she knew he was hiding himself.

She noticed the way he paused for a second, body going rigid, before he relaxed once again and stared her lazily. And that made her believe it was stress eating rather than choice.

"Who isn't worried about nothing? I mean since we came here when did nothing cause us worry? So you see it doesn't matter, I simply enjoy orange cake and your worry is undue." Ashley spoke calmly, placing special emphasis on worry in the end to make his point.

Ava pressed her forehead, not knowing what to say for the first time, and that too due to Ashley. Another surprise.

Echoing of soft footsteps snapped Ava's attention to newcomer. Amelia appeared stopping by the threshold and staring from Amelia to Ashley and to forth.

Ava turned to Ashley immediately and observed carefully. He straightened for a moment before turning back to his cake and pretending all focused on eating.

So he know how to act. Ava mused. She could've never imagined the way his temper flared at little to no issue.

"Do I need to know something?" Amelia asked.

Ava shook her head casually and had the sudden urge to question about her impromptu date with Ethan last night but decided against the action when her eyes settled on Ashley. She didn't want Amelia to say something that might hurt Ashley. Even though she so wished to advise Amelia against this new relationship of ever being surviving in the end she knew Amelia might consider her elder sister and listen to her advises, this particular advice would not be easily welcomed or heard. She never indulged her impulses before and she wasn't going to start now. It was better to play that elder sister and advisor role with Ashley rather than Amelia at this junction.