Arranged •{ONC 2020}•

《 Chapter Eight 》

The credits started to roll and she took that as her cue to leave. Standing, she was just tugging her coat on when Wesley poked her elbow. "What are you doing?"

"Getting ready to leave."

"Sit down; we haven't seen the bonus at the end of the credits yet!"

Ashlynn stared at him unamused. He was literally pouting like a child. They could watch the end scene whenever they wanted; she could only stand being with him for a few more minutes. But his unwavering blue eyes could not be denied, and she sat down with a huff.

Ten agonizing minutes of credits revealed that there was no bonus scene. Everyone else had looked up whether there was one or not and had left right away. The two of them sat alone in the theater.

She gave him an annoyed look when the screen went black and stayed black. Wesley was sure he'd end up in a coma now. Instead of throttling him—which she really wanted to do—she stood and zipped up her coat. "Come on, I want to go home. I'm hungry."

Thinking he was let off the hook, he quickly obliged with her demand. He was wrong.

As soon as he turned his back, she smacked him upside the head in a way that was reminiscent of a certain federal agent. "Hey!"

"That was for making me wait for nothing. Let's go." Ashlynn stalked past him towards the exit.

On their way out of the building, they passed the teenager who had sold them their tickets. When she caught sight of Wesley's hair, which was sticking out at weird angles from being smacked, she looked at them slyly. "I hope you enjoyed your movie!"

Wesley, grinning like an idiot, looped his arm through Ashlynn's and replied confidently, "We did."

She snickered and went back to work. (It wasn't until the next morning that Wesley put two and two together.)

Arnold was waiting by the doors to take them home. At Ashlynn's request, he went through a drive through before heading home.

Wesley arched his eyebrow at her order of three cheeseburgers, a small size fries, and a large chocolate milk shake. "I know it's the weekend and all, but are you going to be able to sleep after eating all that?"

"Never underestimate a girl's stomach." She bit into the cheeseburger. "Besides, my ability to sleep doesn't concern you."

"Not yet, it doesn't."

Ashlynn frowned. She was trying to forget that they were going to be roommates for a week. Not even a sip of the chocolate milkshake could wash the bitter taste from her mouth. She gave him a dirty look and the spent the rest of the trip in silence.

《♡》

Most of Saturday was spent walking around the gardens. Aunt Leah had thrown coats at them and shoved them out the door, threatening to make Ashlynn move in a day earlier if they didn't get things sorted out.

In other words, Ashlynn was being forced to have the conversation she'd been dreading.

It was time for her to come to terms with Eric's accidental death, and Wesley's involvement.

The air was just cold enough to nip at her exposed skin, prompting her to bury her face in her scarf. Her hands were tucked in her pockets, as were Wesley's in his. The extensive garden spread before them, it's once bright colors now muted and dull brown. The clouded sky above matched their gloomy aura.

"Come on," she mumbled through the scarf. She didn't need to say anything else; Wesley knew.

They wound their way through the garden, past empty fountains and overgrown planters. Neither spoke; they were too preoccupied with collecting their thoughts.