Ash eventually got off the phone with Johnny, whom said he'll be over soon. Ash placed her cell phone on a counter and headed outside to help unload the truck. However, she became dumbfounded when the back door was opened. A large assortment of Large crates greeted her. She knew because of her small height, she couldn't even drag the crates out of the truck. She chuckled nervously and twiddled her hands. DT noticed her fidgeting, and chuckled. He took a step closer to Ash and pointed into the back, towards smaller boxes. Ash sighed in relief, she hopped inside the darkened truck, followed by the trio.
"I was getting ready to say," Ash chuckled at the rather goofy sight of small boxes surrounded by ginormous crates. "There's no way I'm hauling those behemoths out of here. She stood upon the smaller boxes.
"Now, these I can handle." She started to pick one up and heaved. "What is in this thing!?" She said, her muscles strained.
DT, already holding one of the large crates poked his head around it.
"Huh?" He called.
He saw Ash's face was turning red from the strain.
"Oh, that's Steve's rock collection. I would not even try to lift that."
She let go and stood up straight to stretch her back.
"Yeah… thanks for telling me…" She groaned, thus showing off her sassy teenage side.
She went for another box, this time she used too much muscle, the box was light, so she nearly threw it. She began to fall backwards and gasped. She knew she was going to slam against the floor of the cargo truck. However mid-fall she felt herself suddenly stop. She breathed heavily and turned around to see what could have caught her. Then, she felt it, two large hands were on her back, preventing her from falling any further.
"You okay Ash?"
"Y-Yeah, I-I'm fine, thank you, Johnny." She said as she nervously brushed her quills back.
Johnny help her up straight again and gazed around at the large crates.
"I can see why you needed my help…" He said.
Ash nodded.
"Luckily DT had these smaller boxes that I could carry in, just watch for the one on the left there…" She said.
Johnny peered around, then turned back.
"Speaking of that polar bear, where'd he go?"
Then the answer came towards them, in the form of indistinctive chattering. They could only hear what they were talking about as they board the truck's cargo hold once again.
"It's so much bigger on the inside…" Steve said.
Jonathon nodded in agreement.
"Sorry we went missing, we went ahead and put a few crates into the apartment." DT said. "Ah, Johnny I see you've arrived."
Johnny said hello to the trio and got right to work. He left a good two crates, while the trio hauled in another three more and Ash handled the more smaller crates and boxes, yet still never came close to Steve's rock collection. Ash game in with a box and set on an empty table. She now finally saw, that every single crate had been labeled. One particular crate was labeled "Lab equipment". She became curious. As much as she wanted to pop the lid off the crate she, kept to herself. She went back outside to crack her back for what seemed to be the third time in a row.
She went back into the truck with a groan, her back now starting to ache. She smiled as only one small crate remained, and went to pick it up. Having realized the crates were all labeled she gave it a spin to find the sloppy, drawn on label. She founded it and mumbled what it said to herself.
"DT's Journals."
Suddenly a shadow appeared above her.
"Ah, my journals, I see you have found them, here I'll take them inside." DT said, before abruptly taking the box out of her grasp, rather rudely and quickly.
Ash saw his peculiar behavior, but shrugged and played it off. She had moved all the boxes she could move. With an aching back, she decided to head back inside her apartment for a break. She saw Jonathon walk by, effortlessly carrying Steve's rock collection. She decided to try and crack her back once more, it cracked but to no avail. She sat down on her couch. Johnny walked in with one of the last few crates, Ash read its label.
"MOAR Lab Equipment", it had a horribly drawn picture of what seemed to be a crab under it.
Ash giggled a bit, before her back pain once again took over. She winced at the sudden attack of back pain, perhaps she pushed herself too hard, trying to pick up Steve's collection. As came back down, smiling.
"Hey Ash?" He said. "Guess what."
"While DT and the others unpack, we have some free time."
She smiled, as best as she could manage.
"That's…" she stretched to crack her back, yet again to no avail. "…great."
Johnny, having a watchful, caring eye saw Ash was in some sort of distress.
"Are you okay…"
"Oooh…. No… not really." She groaned. "Why did I have to go for Steve's five-hundred-pound rock collection?!"
Johnny's expression popped into a smile. Ash took notice.
Oh no… He's planning something… She told herself.
"Ash, love, please lay on your belly, please." Johnny asked, he knew it was a strange request, but went with it anyway.
"Johnny? What are you doing?" She asked, nervously as well as blushing like mad.
"I'm doing this for you, and don't worry, love, its nothing bad."
She became stern at Johnny and pointed a finger at him.
"If you tickle me again I swear!"
Johnny shook his head.
"Alright… but if you do, don't be surprised when your face is full of quills." She finished, finally laying on her stomach.
Ash felt Jonny's hand work their way through her quills. She was careful not to get frightened as she knew the moment she would, quills will shoot out in all directions. Ash felt his hand wrap around her lower back, she jolted at the feeling and felt as though Johnny was about to tickle her again.
"Johnny… don't you…."
However, the unexpected happened. Johnny's hands moved in a rhythmic fashion. Ash's eyes fluttered at the sensation. Johnny worked his hand like professional, without getting himself jabbed either!
"Woah…." Ash manage to say, still melting at Johnny's massage.
Johnny did a few more massage movements and then, as quick as it started, it was over. Ash, to be honest, wanted it to last forever. She sat up to realize her back pain had melted away.
"Wow… Where did you learn to give a massage like that mister?" She asked.
Johnny's answer was as short as it was realistic.
"YouTube." He said.
Ash giggled, then grabbed him by the collar to plant a surprise thank you kiss on his lips.
"Thank you." She whispered in his ear.
"Anything for you, my love." He whispered back.
