Chapter three- take me back to you

6 years ago, 9 months before Lenlee's death…

Ashley groggily opens her eyes. The sun is streaming through the curtains of her room. She lazily turns over to her bedside table, looking at the clock. It is 7 am, that's late for a school day.

"Wait…" Ashley murmurs, before shooting out of bed. "I'm going to be late for the bus!" Ashley shouts to herself, throwing on a hoodie at sweatpants before running out of her bedroom. She grabs her backpack and picks up sandals on the way out before running out the door.

She makes it to the bus stop right as the bus gets there, she sees Chris looking around for her. He sees her and smiles, she smiles back and runs up to hug him. They both then go take a seat on the bus.

"You're late today," Chris observes. He is wearing a red shirt with red basketball shorts.

"I forgot to set my alarm, it's the first day of school and I'm so used to summer," Ashley explains, it technically still is summer since it's August. Chris chuckles and kisses her forehead, Ashley smiles.

"We all make mistakes, have you learned what your classes are yet?" Chris asks.

"Yep, I only have three classes since I did a bunch of honors stuff. I have Math, Art, and Criminal Justice, in that order." Ashley answers, Chris gives a half-smile.

"That's good, I don't have any classes with you this year. I only have 2 classes this year, but I think I'm going to join a club. Which reminds me, I wanna ask you something." Chris says.

"You can ask me anything," Ashley reassures.

"Well, you failed your drivers' test, and I don't think you want to take the bus the rest of your senior year. So maybe you would want me to pick you up every morning?" Chris offered.

"Oh, Lenlee already offered. Even though I'm not sure how she didn't fail her drivers' test. Maybe you can drive me sometimes?" Ashley informs, feeling awkward. Chris sighs in disappointment, looking out the bus window.

"I'll talk to Lenlee and ask if she won't mind you driving with me," Chris murmurs. Ashley nods her head, not wanting to get in between it. Ashley knows that Chris and Lenlee don't like each other, Ashley doesn't know why though. The rest of the bus ride is silent between the couple, until the bus stops and they get off the bus.

"Ready for your first day of school?" Chris questions, wrapping an arm around Ashley's shoulder as they walk into school.

"You sound like my mother," Ashley chuckles, leaning her head on Chris's shoulder. Her head perks up when she sees the familiar face of Lenlee at her locker. Lenlee is wearing a light blue sweater with black pants, a white choker, and black combat boots. Ashley walks up to Lenlee.

"These are your new shoes for the year?" Ashley teases, shrugging out of Chris's hold and running up to Lenlee. Ashley has always thought it was so weird that Lenlee only wore one pair of shoes. She only changed shoes after the previous pair were too worn out to be wearable.

"Yep, if these last as many months as Chris's IQ level I should be good until May." Lenlee answers, smiling. Ashley hears Chris sigh from behind her.

"What are your classes this year?" Ashley asks.

"I have art and biology class. I'm also in the theater club this year." Lenlee answers.

"Really? In what order?" Ashley questions.

"I have biology, then art. Theater is last." Lenlee responds. Ashley is happy Lenlee is doing theater again this year, it has always been one of Lenlees favorite things.

"I have art second period too!" Ashley makes known, smiling.

"Great, where do you want to meet me to pick you up after school?" Lenlee asks. Chris steps forward and wraps his arm around Ashley's waist.

"Actually, I would like to drive Ashley home from school." Chris cuts it.

"Really? That sucks for you because I already agreed to drive her," Lenlee says, flashing a smile.

"I was wanting-," Chris starts but gets interrupted.

"Want in one hand and shit in the other, see which one fills up first, lover boy." Lenlee sneers, then walks away. Ashley and Chris both sigh.

"I'll meet you at the front of the school!" Ashley yells after Lenlee. Lenlee gives a thumbs up. "Sorry about her," Ashley apologizes, hugging Chris.

"It's fine, sometimes I wonder how she came to be your friend," Chris mumbled, rolling his eyes.

"She'll warm up to you eventually," Ashley assures, patting Chris's shoulder.

"You've been saying that since we started dating." Chris pointed out.

"I know, you just have to be patient when it comes to Lenlee." Ashley insisted.

"Fine, I'll be patient. For you," Chris gave in, tucking a strand of hair behind Ashley's ear. Ashley leaned into the touch and smiled.

"Thank you," Ashley thanked, kissing Chris's cheek before pulling away. "I have to go to class now, I'll see you later?" Ashley asked. Chris nods and gives a thumbs-up, Ashley then walks to her first class.

Ashley thinks the setup for the classrooms at the school is the same. There's a whiteboard in the front of the classroom, the teacher's desk to the right of the whiteboard, and 25 desks with 5 rows and 5 columns.

She takes a seat in the back of the classroom, she has always been decent at math. She isn't a genius but not bad either. Soon enough, someone sits in the seat beside her.

"Hey, I'm Martha." The girl sitting next to her introduces, holding out her hand for Ashley to shake. Ashley shakes her hand and smiles.

"I'm Ashley." Ashley introduces, smiling.

"If you ever need help with anything, you can always ask me. I'm pretty good at math." Martha brags, smiling as well.

"I'll make sure to ask you first." Ashley chuckles, and soon enough the teacher walks in and starts the lesson. The class flies by and soon enough the class ends and she walks to art class.

She then goes into art class and sees Lenlee already sitting at a desk. Lenlee waves to her and gestures for Ashley to sit beside her. Ashley smiles and sits at the desk next to Lenlee.

"I don't even know why I'm in this class, I took art in sophomore year." Lenlee grumbles, folding her arms and leaning back in her seat.

"You have to do art again because you failed art in sophomore year, and you had to take another elective this year," Ashley explains, rolling her eyes.

"Oh, right." Lenlee chuckles.

"Idiot," Ashley murmurs.

"Shut the hell up," Lenlee smiles, elbowing Ashley. Ashley chuckled and elbows Lenlee back. The class then starts.

After art class, Ashley steps into criminal justice. She almost trips on her feet at the door, because Skylar is there. Not only that but the only empty seat is next to Skylar. Ashley sighs and sits in the seat.

"How is Lenlee? I haven't seen her yet." Skylar asked, glancing at Ashley.

"She's good, you're in the theater club this year, right? Lenlee joined again this year." Ashley informs. Skylar nods, they don't talk the rest of the class period. Ashley walks to the parking lot, sees Lenlee's car, and decides to wait for her.

Meanwhile, with Lenlee, she is sitting on the stage with one of her friends. This friend is a boy with light brown skin, ink-black hair that is tied up in a short ponytail. He is wearing a white shirt tucked into black jeans with chains in the belt loop. He has emerald green eyes and is 5'8", Lenlee's height.

"You know Toby, I don't understand how you can like Chris of all the men in this school." Lenlee sighs, taking a bite out of the chocolate bar she was holding. "It's like he is always there, like a dog following its owner." Lenlee complaints.

"You may think that but he is a good person, and he's hot." Toby chuckles, taking a bite of his chocolate bar. They are both sitting on the front stage, dangling their feet off. Theater class just ended. The stage overlooks the auditorium with multiple seats and an aisle leading to a big double door. The stage is fairly large without any sets on it. To the left is the instrument pit and the ghost light is plugged in, but not near them.

"You're supposed to pick up Ashley today, right?" Toby pointed out.

"Ya, I'll have to go soon. Her class gets out later normally." Lenlee confirmed.

"We should all go somewhere this weekend," Toby suggested. Lenlee raised her eyebrow.

"You're already thinking about the weekend? It's only Monday, and what do you mean by 'we all?'" Lenlee questioned.

"Me, you, Ashley, and Chris," Toby answered.

"Oh god no, I can't spend any time with Chris." Lenlee groaned, throwing her head back.

"Please? For me?" Toby begged.

"Fine..." Lenlee gave in, rolling her eyes. Toby cheered and pumped his fist in the air.

"You're the best Lenlee! Thank you!" Toby beamed, hugging Lenlee and then standing up.

"You shouldn't be late getting Ashley, see you tomorrow!" Toby called out, waving before disappearing out the door. Lenlee sighed before walking out the door as well.

The weekend came all too fast, and soon enough it was the four of them in the car. They were driving to a restaurant that Ashley picked out. Toby and Lenlee were in the back seat and Ashley and Chris were in the front seat. The restaurant is Ashley and Lenlee's favorite, they've been going since they were kids. They pull up to the parking lot of the restaurant and step out of the car. They go into the restaurant.

The inside of the restaurant is kind of small. It has two booths on opposite corners of the restaurant, and tables that seat 4 people. It has a bar area too. The restaurant is made of bricks and has a wooden floor. Upon entering, a waiter greets them.

"Welcome to Suzie's, party of four?" The waiter greets, a polite smile on her face. She is wearing a black skirt and a white blouse. The nametag on her blouse says 'Carry'. She has brown skin and dark brown hair. And she is a bit short.

"Thank you, and yes we are a party of four." Ashley smiles, Carry smiles and writes something down. Ashley now notices that the restaurant is mostly empty, except for an old couple who is sitting at a table for two by the window.

"Right this way." Carry directs, walking them to a booth. They all slide in the booth and Carry places four menus down in front of each of them.

"So, how was school this week?" Ashley asks, trying to start a conversation.

"It was okay, I barely have school. I think senior year might be my favorite and least favorite. It's difficult but the day is short." Lenlee answers.

"School is going great for me, the only difficult class is math," Toby responds.

"Ya, same." Chris hums.

"Oh ya, they are having a spring play." Lenlee brings up.

"I almost forgot! I want to try out." Toby beams.

"Oh? What play?" Ashley queries, curious.

"Romeo and Juliet. Classic, right?" Lenlee answers, rolling her eyes.

"It should be entertaining, remember last year during Hamlet when the freshmen kept forgetting their lines? I thought they learned their lesson with Shakespeare and high school students, especially the students who never read Shakespear." Toby laughs.

"Don't remind me, I'm still trying to forget that disaster." Lenlee groans.

"Ya, that was painful to watch." Ashley cringes at the memory. She remembers it being a complete waste of time, and she was only there because Lenlee got cast as Ophelia.

"We should all try out!" Toby suggested. Lenlee shot him a glare.

"Good idea," Chris smiled, which made Toby smile wider.

"It would be fun, even if I don't get in the cast." Ashley shrugs.

"I've been meaning to ask Lenlee, you and Toby are in the theater together, right?" Chris begins.

"Ya, it's actually how we met." Lenlee answers.

"I figured, even before I met you two I remember seeing you guys in the hall together." Chris continued.

"Why do you ask?" Toby queried.

"Well, you two seem kind of close, so I was wondering if you two are dating." Chris finished, raising an eyebrow. Ashley stiffened from beside him and silence spread throughout the table, right before Lenlee and Toby burst out laughing. Chris looked startled and confused.

"Chris, we aren't dating. I'm not really attracted to men." Lenlee chuckled.

"I'm not attracted to women either." Toby laughed. Chris looks confused before making an 'o' shake with his mouth.

"Oh, sorry for confusing you guys." Chris blurted out.

"It's fine," Toby smiled.

"You need to up your gaydar," Lenlee teased. Chris awkwardly laughed.

"Anyways, did you guys hear they're doing a Halloween dance this year?" Ashley points out.

"I forgot, this should be exciting. Are you bringing Chris?" Lenlee hums.

"Of course, she's bringing me, we never go to events apart." Chris chimes in, Ashley nods.

"Then we should go together Lenlee, I doubt any of us will be asked by the time Halloween rolls around," Toby suggests, Lenlee smiles.

"We can do a group costume, Ashley you should join too!" Lenlee proposes, looking hopefully at Ashley.

"Maybe, we can all think of it later." Ashley smiles. Lenlee nods.

The rest of the time they are at the restaurant is spent talking. They all drive home afterward. Chris walks Ashley to her door and kisses her good night. She then walks up to her room and collapses on her bed. She is looking forward to the Halloween dance.