Melting

chapter 10

by Castianna

The next morning Ashley woke up early, had a shower and dressed for work. She made a pot of coffee and put toast in the toaster. She quickly smeared raspberry jam on the toast and sat down at the table and picked up yesterdays mail. Flipping through it she didnt see anything of interest. She quickly finished her toast and her coffee, Grabbed her house keys and ran out the door. She went down the stairs two at a time. She made it to the bus stop just in time to catch the bus. The whole way to work she was caught up in a vivid flashback of the night before. Her cheeks were stained slightly pink.

A guy sitting across from her leaned forward... "Are you ok miss...You look flushed..."

Ashley snapped back from her daydream and looked at the guy talking to her... "Ooh... umm no Im fine..."

"Are you sure?" He asked. The man had shoulder length blonde hair and captivateing violet eyes.

Ashley smiled and nodded, "Ya, I'll be alright. Oh, this is my stop." The bus stopped and Ashley got off the bus.

Malik watched Ashley walk towards a small diner. He smiled and made a note to stop by there on his lunch break.

Ashley's morning was going rather well. The diner which served all day breakfast was semi busy, keeping Ashley from going insane. By lunch time she was ready for her break. She had just sat down with her book and a sandwich when someone walked up beside her.

"Can I join you?" A familiar voice asked. Ashley looked up into the face of the man from the bus.

"Oh hi. Sure I guess you could join me, but I only have a half hour break." She smiled. "Im Ashley, by the way."

"Im Malik, And you look much better than you did this morning." He smiled.

"Ya, I had skipped breakfast and was feeling a little light headed." She giggled nervously.

"Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, you shouldnt skip it."

"You sound like a nutritionalist." Ashley said.

"Nah, Im just a bit of a health nut. Three square meals you know, that kind of thing."

Ashley giggled, This guy seemed really nice. "So what do you do Malik?" She asked.

"Im taking a business degree at Domino Tech, I was working a summer internship at Kaiba Corp before it got shut down, Im hopeing that if it reopens that I can get a job there. But whats your story, Why are you working here?"

"Well I was in the process of being hired at Kaiba corp when it closed its doors. I have an administrative business certificate, basicly its a fancy way of saying that I went to school to become a secretary. Right now I am saveing up money to go back to school."

"What do you want to do?" He asked. Genuinely curious.

"I really want to become an Archeologist, With a major in Egyptology. Im also going to get my Anthropology degree at the same time."

"Those are quite some goals and I wish you luck. But my lunch break is up and I need to head back to the museum. Say, Why dont you stop by there when your done work, I can give you an after hours tour of the Ancient Egypt exhibit." Malik said.

"That would be great, But can you do that?"

"Sure I can, My sister manages the exhibit, and Im her assistant. Just drop by around 4 and I will give you the tour." Malik said and he placed a small card on the table. "Here is a number you can reach me at if you cant make it..." He looked her directly in the eyes, "I hope you can make it." Then he turned and walked out and down the street.

Ashley looked down at the card. Malik Ishtar. What a strange name. She placed it in her pocket then rushed back to work.