2 A Happy Family

Ashley closed her laptop and massaged the bridge of her nose slowly. She was exhausted from doing her presentation which was due the next day. She picked up her phone from the bedside table and saw that a couple of her friends had messaged her.

She was suddenly reminded of her friend's party tonight, unexpectedly she wondered if Jamie was going come too. She wanted to go. It's been a month since she last went to a party, she missed going out and enjoying herself. She needed to loosen up from all the stress that increased due to her school work. 

She began to type a message to Jamie, asking if he's going to the party. She wished he would go, but she knew that he was probably busy. It was known to her that he was secretly working but he didn't tell her.

The reason for that, was because he was saving up for her anniversary gift, which his friends told her about, first she thought he was cheating on her. But no... when she spied on him and found him serving tables, she was ashamed of herself for not trusting him.

Jaime wasn't rich and he wasn't poor either, his family was in an average-earning household where they only paid for his schooling and nothing else, for the other things where he needed money. It was the belief that he's supposed to earn it himself.

That was one of the reasons why Ashley admired Jaime so much, he's very hard-working. He wasn't popular either but he was a smart guy, and he didn't relinquish in nightlife and other party stuff.

Despite that, many girls would chase after him even daughters from rich families would die just to date him, he was the total package but that wasn't the case for her. She didn't care about those things, what mattered was that she loves him and he loves her.

Many would call her a sucker for romance but she didn't care, She was in love.

The sound of notifications popped up on her phone, one was from Jamie's while the other was from her dad. She opened her dad's message and smiled when she saw it. He was asking her what she'd like when he was coming back from his business trip. He was currently abroad and today was his last day before coming back home.

Ashley replied that she didn't want anything and opened Jamie's message next. Her guess was correct he wasn't coming she tossed her phone on the bed and got up.

She walked to her vanity table and opened one of its drawers. She pulled out two plane tickets that had the words Paris written in bold letters. It was her gift for him she smiled. She wondered what his reaction would be and how they'll spend their trip.

She blushed at the thought that maybe they'll be able to finally do... it?

She cupped her red-tinged cheeks and scolded herself. What was she thinking? This was super embarrassing, she wondered if Jamie thought of this too, what if he did? What if he didn't? She composed herself and decided to take a bath, she didn't want to be late for the party. 

She came out of the shower with a towel wrapped around her slender body, she headed to her walk-in closet to pick out her outfit for the night, she picked out a snake print cropped halter top, a pair of skinny leather pants, she threw on a pair of beige stilettos.

After getting dress, she went to her vanity mirror and did her makeup.

She applied light makeup because she didn't want her face to feel heavy, besides she knew that she'll just be wasted and will probably forget about her appearance, after that she decided to do her hair.

She blows dry it since it didn't need any work done, it was naturally silky and was slightly wavy, the jet black color shone a blue hue under the light it was beautiful. 

Many people asked her how she kept her hair like that, and she didn't know what to say it was naturally like that. 

She picked her phone up and dialed her friend's number, informing them that she's coming. She took a small purse from her rack of bags and headed down the stairs to tell her mom that she was leaving. 

"You're leaving tonight?" Her mom asks taking out a freshly baked pie from the oven, the scent floated in Ashley's nose and she absentmindedly nodded, she wavered the instant she caught the smell of it. 

 Why did it have to be today?

This was her favorite lime pie they were talking about! And it was rare for her mom to make it, she was always busy with her work she rarely made one, she frowned when she realized she couldn't enjoy it with her. 

Her mom guessed what she was thinking and laughed at her daughter, this pie was her weakness. 

"Hey Ash, it's alright you could eat the pie later after you come home," she said. 

"But mom!... I don't like it cold," she whined.

"Well, you could always heat it, we have a microwave." Her mother reasons.

"But... But then it wouldn't be good anymore." Ashley said and revealed a cast down expression. 

She snorted at her daughter, she was acting silly again there were times when she did that and she looked quite childish, it added as one of her charms though. 

Her mom changed the topic afraid that her daughter will stay home for the pie, she was all dressed and was looking beautiful she didn't want her efforts to go to waste. 

"Partying again?" 

Ashley narrowed her eyes, she knew her mom was intentionally shifting the topic, it was not because she objected to her partying, she supported everything she did including going to social events. 

"Yeah..."

Ashley just rolled her eyes. It's not like it's the last time she'll eat the freaking pie anyway. She pouted and just hugged her mom goodbye.