rena williams – Thanks for the review. I hope you continue to follow my story.
KaylaSimms1990 – Thank you for all of your reviews. Glad you like this story as much as the others.
kvsgrl aka Marguerite – Thank you so much. I've read "The Words Written" as well and it's also one of my favorites. Glad to know I'm doing something right : )
w8ing4rain – Thanks Tiff. Glad you like it so far.
Dear Constant Readers,
Thank you so much for all of the positive feedback. It's really been very encouraging and a bit of a relief. I wasn't sure if a lot of people would like this new story. Also, thanks for voting for your favorite banners. If you haven't yet, go to my profile and you can look at all the banners before you vote. I'm going to be keeping the poll going for awhile so there's still a lot time to vote. Here's the second chapter to Time is Running Out. Hope you all enjoy it and review. Thanks again.
xoxo
Kris
RECAP:
"Uh…hi," she muttered, looking down at her food.
"You two know each other," Kate asked, giving her a knowing look.
"Not really," Reid shrugged. "I helped her get her drunk roommate back to her car last night."
"Well that was sweet of you," Pogue teased, earning a glare from Reid.
"I know, you should come to Nicky's with us tonight," Kate exclaimed.
"Ummm, I don't know. That's more Ally's scene," said Asher.
"You should come," Tyler agreed. "It'll be fun."
"Yeah, I would be nice to have another girl in the group. The boys always go off to play pool or foosball and I'm always left at the table alone," Kate added, giving Pogue and the boys a short glare.
"I'll think about it," promised Asher.
"See you tonight Ash," Kate called out as they walked off to their respective classes; the boys laughing as they followed. Out of the corner of her eye, Asher noticed Reid take one last look at her before heading off.
"How does a night at the dells lead to this," Asher muttered to herself as the bell for class rang.
Chapter Two: Just Two Lost Souls
"And just where are you going all dolled up like that," asked Allison as she enter her dorm and saw her roommate wearing a strapless, red baby doll dress and black, peep-toe pumps with her hair let down and straightened.
Asher took one last look in the mirror before turning around and saying, "Nowhere, just out."
"Oh my god, you have date," her roommate squealed.
"I'm not going on a date Ally," Asher told her over-excited roommate.
"Yeah right, you can't be going out dressed like that unless it's a date," Allison accused. "Besides, who else would you hang out with?"
"I have other friends besides you Ally," said Asher. It annoyed her that Allison thought she didn't have any other friends besides her; that no one else would talk to her. Asher grabber her keys and phone, wanting to leave before she got even more pissed at Allison.
Nicky's wasn't that far away from the school so the parking lot was always packed with kids from Spencer. Luckily, Asher found a spot as someone pulled out and left. She headed over to the bar and ordered herself a coke before turning to look for Kate and the rest of the sons. It wasn't too hard. She, Caleb and Pogue were seated at a table near the dance floor.
Kate was the first to notice her arrival and shouted, "Asher."
"Hey Kate," she waved to the mocha-skinned girl. "Hi guys."
"You look nice," Kate complimented.
"Thanks so do you," Asher smiled sitting down. "So where are Tyler and Reid?"
Pool tables," Caleb answered. "Chances are they're going to get kicked out within an hour."
"Why's that," she asked.
"Oh they're bound to get into a fight with Aaron soon," Kate said.
"I'm going to go say hi," Asher said getting up.
There was a crowd at the pool tables obviously watching the game, but Asher squeezed through the mass of people. Reid was lining up for a shot when his eyes found her in the crowd and he scratched the ball.
"Bad luck," she said, teasing the blonde.
"Yeah, well maybe that'll change now. You can be my good luck charm," smirked Reid.
"Yeah, it's going to take more than good luck," Tyler laughed, punching Reid in the shoulder. "Hey Asher, you made it," he greeted the girl.
"Yeah well I figured Kate would force me anyway so I can willingly," she laughed.
"Speaking of Kate, we better head back to the table. Our food's probably ready," suggested Tyler.
"You guys go on," Reid walked off.
Frowning, Asher turned to Tyler and asked, "Did I say something wrong?"
"Nah, trust me it's not you," Tyler assured her.
Kate was sitting by herself when they got to the table. "We added a burger and fried to the order for you Ash. Caleb and Pogue are getting our food now," Kate told her. "Where's Reid?"
"He's probably outside getting some air," Tyler chuckled.
"What happened," Kate asked.
"He missed a shot and lost to Aaron," Tyler scoffed. "You'd think it was the end of the world with him." Kate just laughed, shaking her head in amusement.
"Here you go babe," Pogue said, setting a plate of fries and a burger in front of her. He slid the second plate over to Tyler as Caleb joined them.
"Here's your food Ash," he smiled.
"Thanks Caleb," Asher thanked him before popping a french fry into her mouth.
Eventually everyone had finished eating and Reid still hadn't joined them. "I'm going to go see if he's even still here," Asher said before getting up. The cold hair hit her face as soon as she stepped outside the bar. She hadn't even thought to bring a jacket.
"You're going to get sick like that," a voice called out from her left. And was Reid, leaning against the wall with a cigarette in his hand. "What," he asked, noticing the look she was giving. He raised his hand, getting ready to take in another breath of smoke but Asher quickly walked over and grabbed the cigarette out of his hands. Dropping it to the ground, she crushed it with her heel to put it out. "What the hell Asher!"
"Do you realize what you're putting in your mouth," she asked horrified. Reid just scoffed at her outburst and being walking in towards Tyler's hummer. "Reid," called after him.
The blonde didn't pay any attention to her as he got into the truck. He never expected what came next though. Asher quickly opened the passenger door and got in as well. "What are you doing," he asked shocked.
"Wherever you're going, I'm coming with you" she said, her arms folded across her chest.
"Really," he asked, lifting an eyebrow. "Even if I drive off to some deserved road and have my wicked way with you?" Judging from the glare she was giving, Reid could tell Asher didn't share his sense of humor. Putting the keys into the ignition, Reid started the truck and pulled out of the lot; not knowing where to go with the girl currently frowning in the seat next to him. He could always drive back to the dorms but chances were she wouldn't get out of the hummer unless he followed.
"And you better not be ditching me back at the dorms," she told him.
A few minutes later, Reid pulled up at the dells and parked in the same spot they had on the night last night. Without a word, he got out and closed the door behind.
"Reid," Asher shouted after him when she noticed him walking off without her. "What are doing here!" She took of her seatbelt and got out of the hummer.
"We aren't doing anything," he called back. "You followed me here and would you put this on before you kill yourself," he said, handing her his hoodie. Asher quickly put it on. It was warm and smelled like him she noticed.
"So you just go around looking for creepy abandoned cliffs on cold, autumn nights," she asked dryly. She could hear him chuckle but Reid had disappeared. "Reid, where are you," she panicked. A twig snapped somewhere behind her and she turned; eyes frantically searching for the blond-haired boy. She was just about to turn around when a hand grasped her shoulder.
"Reid," she hissed, biting back a scream. The boy nearly scared her to death.
"Come on," he said, rolling his eyes.
When they got to the very edge of the cliff, Reid sat down so his legs hung off the edge. Asher sat down next to him, copying his action. And that's when she saw them. "Fireflies," she gasped softly.
"I found this place a few months into my sophomore year," he explained.
"Reid Garwin likes to watch fireflies," Asher's voice obviously giving away her amusement.
"I come here to think," he defended himself. "The fireflies are gone by winter."
"What do you think about," she asked curiously.
"Forget it," he told her. "You don't want to know."
"No come on, tell me," Asher told him.
"Alright," Reid sighed. He hesitated before saying, "I think about my life and I'll the things I'm privileged with and wonder if eventually, I'm just going to end up like my parents."
"What do you mean," she asked.
"Well, my dad's a Harvard man and he's dead set on me going to his alma matter and majoring in law," explained Reid.
"And that's not what you want," guessed Asher.
"That's the problem, I don't know what I want," he told her. "Not like a have a choice though. Everything seems to already be decided for me."
"Wow, that is a lot to think about," agreed Asher.
"Tell me about it," Reid smirked.
"Would your father really be that upset if you decided not to go to Harvard," asked Asher.
"Are you kidding? He'd freak," Reid laughed.
"My parents divorced when I was ten and I lived with my dad until he died in a car crash the summer before my freshman year. I was sent to live with my mom in California and she did care what I did. Some days I would sit at the dinner table just waiting for her to even knowledge I was in the same room as her," Asher told him. She quickly wiped away the tears forming in her eyes and added, "Now I'm here at Spencer and she's cruising the Caribbean with some old, rich guy."
Reid hesitated before wrapping his arm around her shoulders. They sat like that for a few minutes, enjoying each other's company and the silence. "I'm sorry," he whispered in her ear.
She pulled her head back so she could look at him and said, "Don't be. You can't change people if they don't want to. You know, you parents may be controlling and overbearing sometimes but that's only because they care about; because they worry about. I'm sure this isn't something that can't be fixed if you talk to them. Make them sees things from your perspective and don't be sorry for all the good things you have in your life," she told him. "The money, the name, and all of the connections your family has give you chances to do something with your life that other people would kill for."
"Thanks," Reid smiled before getting up. He offered Asher his hand and helped her up. "Let's get back to the dorms."
"Yeah, it's getting late," she agreed.
The drive back was just as quiet as the drive there but now the two had a better understanding of each other. Reid still couldn't believe that Asher was able to act so happy and content after losing her father and having a mother that sent her off to boarding school because she didn't want anything to do with her own daughter. She put on an act so that the people close to her wouldn't worry.
Reid may be a player but now Asher understood there was more too him. He was smart and could actually be very sweet. He just didn't know what he wanted to do with his life; just like Asher didn't know where she belonged in hers. Yes, she wanted to go Yale but what about after that? Where would she fit in her mother's life. Would she find someone in school, fall in love, and get married? Maybe then she'd have her own home with a family; a place where she belonged. But for now, they were just two lost souls that found each other amidst the chaos of their own personal hells.