Ashley and Emma
Original Timeline
It was a quiet Friday in early October, just around the time when days began noticeably becoming shorter and the daylight gave way to night sooner. It was after school, the golden sun hung low in the sky, casting chilly shadows across the pavement, leaves scrapped the concrete in hues of red and browns, and the air smelled faintly of chimney smoke. Most Fridays the three friends, Emma, Ashley, and Lily, all would ride home together with Ashley and hang out for the night, sometimes even into the next day. Though, today Lily wasn’t able to come because her family was going on a weekend trip.
The two girls walked, side by side, Ashley wearing a cardigan underneath a flannel and Emma in a pullover sweatshirt and jeans. They left the red brick building and climbed into the backseat of Ashley’s mom’s car. Her brother, Nathan, sat in the front seat quietly, as if he was trying to ignore his sister, which Ashley didn’t mind, secretly wishing he didn’t even come.
“How was your day hun?”
Mom asked, eyes focused on the road.
“Fine, fine, hah- Emma actually totally forgot her locker combination today. It was so funny, she had to admit it to the principle!”
Ashley said with a giggle, Emma joining in.
“Oh, thats nice Ash-”
Suddenly a call came over the car radio, moms tone changing as she answered.
The grin that painted Ashley’s face slowly faded and her ears drooped as she slowly turned and laid her head on the cold window.
Emma turned, looking for a moment before a frown also grew on her face. She placed a soft hand on Ashley’s thigh, recognizing her frustration. Ashley didn’t move, just kept staring at the golden light reaching through the trees.
They all arrived home after the short drive, mom staying in the car to finisher her phone call as the three step out into the chilly fall air. Nathan putting his hands in his pockets and going inside ahead of everyone. She glanced his way for a moment, hoping he wouldn’t turn around and make eye contact. She always wished she and her brother could have a better relationship, but it was as if there was a wall between them stopping them from connecting in any sort of way, the awkwardness between them was crippling a lot of the time.
The moment the two stepped inside the house’s quiet warmth wrapped around them like a heavy coat, the days weight finally beginning to settle in. Ash’s house was modern, stylish but not homey. It was clean and well furnished though impersonal. Most of the walls painted in soft whites interrupted by neatly arranged furniture that felt more staged then lived in.
The two girls headed up the stairs, being greeted by the dark carpeted hallway of the second floor. They went into Ashley’s room which was adjacent to Nathan’s, who had already began his typical quiet retreat for the night.
Ashley’s room was neat, a double bed sits comfy in the corner, a desk with a bookshelf built in adjacent from it, and miscellaneous framed posters hang on the wall. They drop their bags by the door, Emma retrieving a little notebook first, and both join each other on the bed.
Emma laid on her stomach, tucking one of Ash’s stuffed animals under her chest for comfort as she opened her notebook and began sketching aimlessly. Ashley changed into a sweater and shorts before joining Emma with a quiet sigh, the soft bed euphoric as it washed over her senses. She just laid for a bit, eyes closed, the back of her hand lazily placed on her forehead.
“Wish lily was here. I made her a bracelet like I did for you and I haven’t had the chance to give it to her.”
Emma said with a casual disappointment.
“Yeah, it feels like her dad drags her all over the place when she stays with him. Have you been to her dad’s house recently? Her brother gave her his old Playstation with a ton of games on it, she said she’d bring it over so we could play on the big TV.”
Ash Responded with a rustling of the sheets as she rolls on her side to face Emma.
“Oh, you’re parents would let you? My dad is really strict about the TV, he thinks ill mess it up or something.”
Emma never really talked about her Dad, whenever she did it was never anything good. It made Ashley wonder about her, she wanted to ask about it, but the prospect of maybe making Emma upset always deterred her. Instead, she just limply watched Emma draw with her face half smushed into her pillow.
“Yeah. I mean, its not like they are ever around to say no anyways.”
She limply said.
They stayed silent for a bit, the sound of cars passing outside the only thing to break the droning of Emma’s pen scratching across her notebook. Ashley found herself making eye contact with a distracted Emma. Weather it be the delirium of a sleepy day or something else, Ash couldn’t help but make note of all Emma’s feline features, her green eyes, softly freckled nose, the deep blacks of her fur, her upper half moving steadily up and down with each breath. She let out a scoff as she turned and buried her face into her pillow, feeling embarrassed for gawking at her.
“W-what? Whats so funny?”
Emma said, laying her pen down and smiling.
“Ahah, its nothing! I just… I don’t know…”
Ashley said muffled into her pillow.
“what, did I drool or something? Comeon’ you gotta tell me now!”
Ash’s face heated as she peek out from the pillow
“no, no, its not that. I just… think you’re pretty, I guess”
Ash struggled to say, her words coming out clumsy and stumbled, instantly wishing she could stuff them back down.
Emma blinked in surprise, then softened into a grin. She lay down facing Ash and placed a light hand on her arm.
“Aw, your pretty too Ash, always have been.”
Emma smiled, casually remarking.
They both held each other’s gaze for a moment, for Ashley, the words she really wanted to say crowded in her throat, her mind wouldn’t let her speak them. She gave a nervous laughter before burying her face again, heart thudding far to fast.
When Emma felt Ash’s heartbeat she pulled her closer, Ashley lifting her head to face Emma, curiosity and fear lingering in her body. Emma pulled Ashley against her chest and rested her head on top of hers, they laid quietly wrapped up in each other. Ash’s first instinct was to pull away, but the embrace settled her, grounding her like nothing else had all day. The heat seeped in slowly, like slipping into a blanket straight from the dryer. Emma’s breathing rose and fell comfortably, and Ashley found herself matching it without even trying.
They laid for about half an hour with each other before Ashley’s mother called them downstairs to eat dinner. The two girls pulled away from each other with a shared smile and both began downstairs to the kitchen. The first floor smelt like garlic and was warm from the stove, Mom had made a pasta. The two girls sat next to each other at the bar that faced the kitchen, Ashley softly adjusted her hair after laying for so long and Emma was more focused on the meal than anything else.
“I hope you two don’t mind but I have to go to a PTA meeting soon, ill be there for most of the night so make sure the dishes get done before you go to bed.”
Mom said politely as she stir a pot of red sauce, not even averting her gaze.
“Sure, Mom, I’ll remember. Me and Emma were just gonna stay here tonight so it should be no big deal.”
Ashley said as she finished with her hair and rested her arms on the counter.
Nathan walked in from the hallway, eyes avoidant but calm, taking a seat so that Emma was in between him and Ashley.
“And you too, I need you to get your clothes from the dryer tonight since ill be away.”
Mom said to Nathan.
“Alright, Mom...”
Nathan said shly.
Nathan had always acted antisocial when Ashley was around, very quiet and distant.
Mom soon fixed bowls for the four of them, though she left for the dining room through the door in the kitchen. Ashley and Emma chatted about some music they both were actively listening to, Nathan sat silently as he ate, quietly finishing his meal and leaving the kitchen to go back to his room. Mom came and sat her bowl in the sink as well before heading off to get ready to leave. Ashley and Emma hadn’t even finished their food yet as they continued to chat and laugh together.
Once dinner was done Emma and Ashley washed up then retired to the living room, settling into the familiar comfort of the L-shaped sofa. The room was cast in a hue of orange from the remaining light of the days waning sun, the muted notes of a wind chime tinkle outside in the cold breeze. The two sit next to each other turning something on the TV, eventually, Mom went to leave the house, saying goodbye to the two girls as she did, leaving them both alone with each other.
Ashley went to pull the heavy quilt from off the back of the couch and opened it to spread it over them both, Ashley folding her legs and tucking them underneath the blanket. Her heart fluttered a bit as she found herself leaning on Emma, she could feel Emma’s breath once again, after the moment they shared in Ashley’s bed earlier she began wondering if their closeness was beginning to mean something more, something Ash wasn’t sure how to name yet. The two relaxed, enjoying the post-meal comfyness, the coziness of the blanket, and each other, being their final refuge from the chilly home. Slowly, sleep took them both. Ashley further shifted her weight and leaned into Emma more as she dozed, her head resting gently on Emma’s shoulder. Emma moved slightly, just enough to let Ashley settle in closer. She just went limp, calm and comforting, letting Ashley melt into her in the quiet of the sterile house.
They awoke hours later to a dark living room, the only light being the flashing colors of whatever was on the TV, it hummed quietly with noise as Ashley, now with her head in Emma’s lap, stirred, she swallowed and shifted a bit against her, Emma then also beginning to open her eyes feeling Ashley’s movements.
They didn’t want to move, the warm sleepy closeness they both happened to share being to blissful, Emma even getting more comfy and shifting to lay on her back, Ash following her so that her head now laid on Emma’s chest. She let out a sleepy croak.
“we have to get up… its getting late and I still have some chores...”
She said taking an audible deep breath and lifting herself a bit to be at face level with Emma.
“Hmmm…? You’re so comfy though Ash, lets just stay a minute longer…”
Emma said, opening her eyes slightly and turning away from the harsh light of the TV.
She stared into Ashley’s, half closed, deep blue eyes, and smiled as she softly rested a hand on Ashley’s cheek, rubbing the short fur on her face. Ashley giggled, the familiar feeling of her heart racing from Emma’s touch began to creep up. She put her own hand on Emma’s and softly leaned her face into Emma’s touch. Ashley wanted to speak, to say something, anything, something meaningful, something to describe her feelings, but her mind wouldn’t let her. She froze, the moment turning awkward and anxious for Ash. Her eyes shifted away from Emma and she slowly pulled Emma’s hand away from her face. Emma frowned and furrowed her brow in confusion, embarrassment grew as Ashley got ready to apologize, but suddenly The bittersweet moment was broken up when someone was able to be heard in the kitchen that was attached to the living room. They both abruptly pulled away from each other and lifted themselves to look behind the couch into the kitchen. It was Nathan, cradling a bowl of cereal in one arm with a gaming controller and a glass of water in either hands. He grew red as he saw the two girls embraced.
“I…. uhhh, I was just getting some food… didn’t know you were still down here….”
he said, his eyes darting as he became more and more flustered. Ashley flopped back down onto the couch with an “ugh” when she noticed who it was. Emma just grinned and waved with sleepy eyes. Neither was worried what Nathan would think, they were more worried about Ashley’s mom seeing them.
They both sat for a moment as Nathan left, the rejection of Emma’s touch lingering painfully in the air for both.
