Memory 2

The next morning Skye, left her home in a hurry. She wanted to look for Ash and thank him for caring for her the previous night.

Although his house was not far from hers, she still had no idea how to reach him.

"Looking for me?"

Skye jumped up in fear after hearing his voice suddenly from behind her. "Were you standing there the whole time?" She quizzically raised a brow at him.

"I was."

"Thank you for yesterday!" Skye loudly thanked Ash. She was too shy to look him in the eye hence her words came out exaggeratedly.

Ash stared at her in silence. He didn't expect her to be that awkward especially since it wasn't their first meeting. "No problem."

Noticing he was walking away, Skye ran toward him. "Do you want to play with me?" She asked with innocent-looking eyes.

Ash stared at her for a moment before saying. "Why would I play with a kid?" He taunted her.

"Twelve years old isn't a kid." Skye pouted. "Besides, you're fifteen and your father treats you like a child so can't we play together."

Ash's eyebrows twitched. He couldn't believe she was actually calling him a child because of what his father said the previous night.

"I'm still three years older and I don't want to play with a kid."

"You might be older, and taller, and bigger, and stronger, but that doesn't make a kid compared to you," Skye whined.

"It's alright little one, no need to cry." Ash patted her head and laughed at her outburst.

Skye slapped his hand away and stared at him angrily. "I'm not a little one."

"Talk to me when you reach my shoulder length." Ash started walking off, making fun of her short stature in the process.

"I'm not short, you're just too tall for a child." Skye countered.

"Ash..."

"Aash~"

"Coal Ash~"

"Ashy~"

Skye called his name severally and followed him until he finally gave in to her request.

"Fine. I'll play with you, but stop saying my name like that." 

Skye smiled with satisfaction after Ash gave in. She finally found a friend to play with and that made her more than happy. "What game are we going to play?" She asked while following him around.

"Come with me."

Ash took her to a garage by the side of his house and brought out a box from a cupboard. "This is what we're going to play." He brought out a chessboard from the box.

"Chess?" Skye's jaw dropped.

"Yes, chess."

"Isn't it meant for old people? Kids aren't supposed to play it."

"Everyone can play chess. Besides, didn't you say you're not a kid? This is what us grown-ups play you know." Ash teased her, wanting her to back down and give up.

"You're right," Skye said with determination in her voice. "Teach me how to play then." She sat on the table, waiting for him to set up the board.

Ash stared at her in shock, he expected her to give up and refuse to play chess with him but contrary to his expectations she agreed. "Well, what type of games did you want to play?" He asked, not wanting to force her to do something she didn't want.

"Rock paper scissors, tic tac toe, or hopscotch." She innocently replied.

"You really are a kid." Ash laughed.

Skye furrowed her brows and crossed her arms above her chest. "I'm not! Just teach me how to play chess and I'll show you."

"If you say so."

Ash set up the board and taught her how to play. Shockingly she was able to master the tricks in an hour and another hour later she could hold her ground in a match against him.

He found her very interesting and smarter than most people her age.

"You're really good at this," Ash said.

"I told you I'm not a kid." Skye proudly declared with her head held high.

"Just take the compliment."

*Grrrrr*

Skye blushed in embarrassment at the sound her stomach made.

"Looks like you're hungry," Ash said.

"No, I'm not-"

*Grrrrr*

Her stomach gave away the lie.

They had been playing for so long that none of them forgot it was way past their lunchtime.

"Alright, we'll play later. Let's go sort out the monster in your stomach first."

Skye shyly followed Ash to his house, ashamed of the grumbling sound her stomach made. 

'Why did you have to be so loud?' She reprimanded her stomach inwardly.

"My parents aren't around right now but the workers are," Ash said as soon as they got into the house.

"O-okay."

"What do you want to eat?" Ash asked while putting on an apron.

"You're going to cook?" Skye asked with widened eyes.

"Yes."

"You do things kids you're age aren't supposed to do, are you normal?" Skye asked.

"Once again, I'm not a kid, also, who said kids aren't supposed to cook?" Ash raised a brow at her.

"No one..." She shyly said, "You can make anything you want."

"Alright, sit over there, the food will be ready soon."

Ash got straight to work and prepared pasta for the two of them and in no time they were seated at the table, enjoying the masterpiece he made.

"You're a really good cook... Thanks for the food." Skye did a little dance as she ate.

"You're welcome." Ash smiled at her.

The two went straight to their chess battle immediately after their lunch and it became a daily routine for them.

They would meet up and play chess while talking about their life and everything going on in them.

They bonded over the summer and Skye felt happy to have a friend who made her happy contrary to the sadness she felt living with the Lanes.

Things went well between them for weeks until Clara Lane caught wind of the happiness Skye was feeling and decided to make her more miserable. She made the family move suddenly one night and made sure not to give Skye room to say goodbye to Ash. 

She made sure to separate the two and give them no way of ever contacting each other anymore. 

Skye was miserable and heartbroken after that. She lost the only friend she made and with time ended up withdrawing back into the hole Ash pulled her out from.

Ash, too suffered a great loss when he realized Skye had moved overnight without saying a word and he could no longer reach her.

The two, although miles away from each other, felt the pain of being separated and thinking they would never meet again.

Ash held on to the memories of Skye and vowed to find her one day while Skye, with time, forgot the happy memories she made over the summer.