Set Me Free - Chapter 10
Rated: T
Preparations
Chapter Summary: The group meets up to discuss the game plan before heading to confront Buster Moon…
Oh My Gosh, y'all… Your support constantly astounds me. Well over 100 follows and faves only at 10 chapters in!? What!? O_o You guys are simply AMAZING. I cannot believe how many of you are enjoying my little fict so much. T_T Thank you! I love reading your comments and seeing how many people follow, fave, kudo, and bookmark this story - it just makes me so happy! It's nice being a part of such a supportive fandom that enjoys my work! It's because of you that I find the inspiration and drive to keep consistently writing and updating as often as I can! Xoxoxoxoxo
I also apologize for the minor delay (almost a month O.o), but between being out of town and finishing up other JohnnyxAsh stories, I kinda lost this chapter in the midst. It's been in the works for awhile and just came together these past few days. I digress to tell you but I am yet again leaving town for another week and shall not commence submitting further chapters until the last few days of this month. I apologize but the next chapter is well underway so look forward to that!
P.S. Happy Easter! 3
P.P.S. Also, since you guys have been so patient (and since this is the 10th chapter) I thought you deserved an extra long chapter! ;-)
The week leading up to the following Friday was more or less of a blur.
Ash still couldn't believe (even after more than a week to comprehend it) that she had actually agreed to help - to try and coerce Buster on trying to continue the competition regardless of the lack of prize money or even a real stage to perform on. Still had absolutely no idea what possessed her to call Johnny and tell him that she actually wanted to assist - to count her in to their most-likely fruitless attempts at some kind of reconciliation.
Yes, she was frustrated and miserable at the fact she hadn't been able to get a single gig of her own volition and perhaps that was one of the main reasons for her lack of logic and judgment, but now it was far too late too rethink or re-take back any previous statement. The date was set and she'd already spoken to Johnny multiple times this week - if she backed out now, she'd just end up looking like a total jackass.
It hadn't been easy regardless.
More like a tug of war of sorts; keeping her head above water and depression at bay as she watched her life crumble around her yet she grasped to this diminutive hope as if it was her only lifeline…
Perhaps another chance to sing her own song and to showcase some semblance of forgiveness toward Buster Moon was exactly she needed. At the very least, going to see him would perhaps give this traumatic chapter of her life a nice bookend so she wouldn't have to even think about it again. With it out of the way, she could move on with her life - push forward, possibly ask her dad for a loan so she could start college if nothing or no one else was there to lean on. Ash could start over, do things like she should have done years ago and get a degree and a job like a normal animal instead of chasing her unrealistic dreams…well, that's her mother called them anyway…
…the very inking of it killed her inside…
To imagine that talking Buster into doing something about this show could possibly be the last chance she had at singing - to make a career out of something she lived and breathed for as long as she can remember. Giving those childhood dreams up would possibly be the final nail in her coffin but Ash really saw no other way out. Working a mediocre job and performing at bars and the such on weekends (if she could get the gigs at all) was hardly a glamorous life of a rockstar she so badly desired…
The more optimistic side of her, that had long since fled to the back of her subconscious, secretly hoped this would be the beginning of perhaps something better. The possibility of Buster readily agreeing, they would perform, the news would cover it, and some record label would eagerly sign them all up!
…yeah, right…
The bitter part of her laughed it off for Ash was no optimist, she was a realist and in the end, it would serve her well.
If this inevitably didn't work out, if Buster refused and she had to go back to square one - she had begging her pops for college money to look forward to. To get a degree in something non-music related for what else was college going to teach her about music that she already didn't know? …to give up the dream of selling-out stadiums to screaming fans and instead working the dreaded nine-to-five in a steady job so she could support herself. A part of her dreaded that moment she would call her dad but another expected it.
Yet somewhere in the vast recesses of her optimistic side, there was this part that held onto the unquenchable hope that Buster would at least hear them out and consider it.
But for now…all she could do was wait.
So she did. Spending this past week continuing to clean her apartment and re-organizing things to make it her own space - to divulge the last of her apartment away from how her and Lance decorated it when they first moved in together. It now only held her flair and she was able to do so while simultaneously trying to cut back on certain things such as cable television, name brand foods, and sparingly uses of household things such as electricity and gas to save on bills (also making a few extra bucks by pawning Lance's extensive music and movie collection). Ash wanted to be sure that the money she had saved would last for awhile in the off-chance that perhaps this may just work out and she was in limbo as things got back in order and her would stay on dream on life-support.
As far-fetched as that idea may seem, Ash clung to it harder than she wanted to admit…
A soft sigh escaped her throat before she jumped off her couch; about to head to the bedroom to finish getting ready for the day when a sound froze her mid-step. Cell phone suddenly buzzed from atop the white leather couch followed by an annoying ringtone Lance chose months ago rang out through the apartment (she reminded herself to change it).
"Be there in a few." Johnny's text read and her eyes widened.
"Shit!" she gasped under her breath; tossing the cellular device onto the couch where it bounced once before becoming still. The obnoxious notification ringtone still going on for a few seconds until her apartment became deadly silent once again.
Ash had not even noticed when time was slipping away from her. She really needed to stop spending her days staring at her apartment walls lost in her over-crowded mind… Without another spare thought, she ran back to her room to finish getting ready for a pre-planned "meeting" at Rosita's house before they'd all go to see Buster and Ash's stomach churned at the very thought. Maybe it was seeing everyone again that had her turning into a panicky bundle of nerves…
Rosita, Gunter, Meena, and Miss Crawly (not to mention the very depressed Buster) - more people she was so certain she'd never see again in her lifetime. Thought the whole Moon Theater Saga was behind her and would ultimately end up to be nothing but a strange memory or recollection of images taken from multiple weeks ago, but no… Yet as she stood there, her more logical side of why her stomach was in knots was probably more or less the fact that Johnny was going to be here any minute to pick her up.
Damn bus stop not being in reasonable walking distance to the vast recesses of suburbia that Rosita called home left her with absolutely no choice but to call up Johnny and ask him for a lift.
Well, technically he offered in an earlier phone call:
"Hey, Ash, I finally got some petrol for my truck." he sounded way too damn happy as usual, "A-Are you going need a ride to Rosita's? I can give you a lift if you want -"
She gave him a firm, "No."
Moments later, Ash found out to her growing horror that the train nor bus did not go that far into Suburbia and she'd end up walking over an hour just to reach Rosita's house. Having little to no more options, Ash ended up having to mope for a good twenty minutes before calling Johnny back and un-rejecting his offer and instead had to re-ask him for a ride.
"...still got an empty seat for Friday?" she asked, cheeks burning and throat clogging up with embarrassment as the words fled out from her mouth.
Johnny, chuckling lightly (which simultaneously caused her fur to prickle and annoyed the hell out of her) replied, "Of course, Ash. I'll pick you up around a quarter after 12. Is that alright?"
Couldn't he just say 12:15?
"Just peachy." she replied before she listened to his pleasant goodbyes and hung up without so much as a response.
Ash hated relying on other people and especially of how many times she'd already relied on Johnny in the short month they'd known each other.
After the phone was long since hung up, Ash spent the remainder of that night internally cringing at the swift change in direction her life had taken. Wondering just why the hell just listening to his voice made her stomach feel so damn weird!? There was something really wrong with her but before she could think of any more connotations, she pushed her face into a pillow and hoped either she'd suffocate or fall asleep.
It sadly ended up being the latter.
"Dammit…"Ash muttered while pulling on her shoes and brushing back her quills for the umpteenth time. 'What the hell is wrong with me?' she pondered bitterly as she stared at her reflection in her bedroom vanity, adjusting her eyeshadow and eyeliner yet again. She looked like a damn raccoon already so another swipe of the black pencil wouldn't hurt, right?
Why was she so nervous?!
Ash's stomach was filled with apprehension and hands shook as she finished applying her make-up. It felt too much like those times she was performing for those managers and owners; nervousness about her future at stake didn't seem the time or place as of now.
What the hell?
All they were only going to do was confront a depressed koala that lost his entire livelihood and business. Going to try talking him into reworking the rubble of what used to be an old grand theater into a stage and hope he takes the bait. The possibilities flitting through her mind should he agree - a chance to perform her song and get this heavy baggage off her chest.
To finally move on with her life in one way or another…
A sudden knock on her door had her jumping nearly a foot in the air.
"Coming!" she screamed probably louder than intended; wondering in the back of her mind just why her neighbors hadn't complained about her more.
Fixing her skirt, she ran over to door and opened it up.
"'Ello, Ash. How are you?" Johnny greeted; standing at her doorstep with his normal laid-back smile plastered on his face.
Just what was he always so happy about? She swore this guy was always in an annoyingly good mood…some perfect life he must have been living to be so damn pleasant...
Without even responding to his question, she said "Come in for a bit - I need a few more minutes." before turning around and disappearing back into her apartment.
"Oh… Sure. Alright." she heard him respond, footsteps following her into her the living room as she made a bee-line for her bedroom to change her skirt for probably the dozenth time that day. Why today of all days did her clothes decide not to fit right or constantly ride up!? She hadn't eaten that much crap lately that her clothes were getting too tight, was she? …ugh, just freakin' perfect…
"I'll just be a couple minutes. Sit down for a bit or stand - whatever floats your boat." Ash muttered before closing her bedroom door behind her and running back to her ransacked closet.
It was half-empty since she tossed Lance's clothes out but somehow still felt strangely crowded. The remaining garments she had yet to try on just filled her with dread - she hadn't worn most of them since freshman year in high school (part of her wondered why she hadn't thrown them out). Disheartened, her eyes fell and she took in a pile of clothes she just wore yesterday staring back at her from their rumpled appearance shoved next to her dresser. Slightly wrinkled and the same outfit they'd seen her in before but right now? She didn't care.
They were worn, comfortable and the skirt stayed in place - a final glance in the mirror showcased the multiple wrinkles but they didn't bother her.
Exiting the bedroom, she took in Johnny sitting rather awkwardly on her couch - the piece of furniture looking rather diminutive underneath his larger frame not to mention how the cushions caved underneath his weight. The smile that tickled her lips came from nowhere and Ash didn't like it one bit. A few seconds passed with her just taking him in, the windows open and bright sun filtering though and showcasing the brunette patch of hair on his forehead and bright chestnut eyes that were focused on the phone in his hand. It was rather strange yet reassuring to have someone else in her apartment since she kicked Lance's ass out over a month ago.
So much had happened since…
Before Ash even realized it, Johnny was looking right at her with the most befuddled look on his face. Ash jumped at his stare and internally berating herself for blatantly staring. Her internal mantra of "idiot, idiot, idiot" going uninterrupted when Johnny spoke up.
"Have you finished getting ready?" Johnny asked, taking a second to slip his phone back into his signature leather jacket pocket.
"Y-Yeah. Let's go." Ash muttered out, still refusing to meet his eyes while she made a show of grabbing her phone (which Johnny thankfully avoided sitting on) and shoving it in her jeans pocket. Johnny stood up right before Ash began heading toward the door; apartment keys jingling softy in her hand.
Johnny seemed a bit more surprised at her urgency than anything but followed her out of the apartment without another word.
Ash puffed out a sigh of annoyance as Johnny opened the vehicle door for her, again offering his hand to help her into the tall truck bed. Instead of allowing him to assist her further, she ignored his proffered hand and climbed up the metal step before hoisting herself onto the worn leather seat. Even experiencing a small sense of victory when she was able to click her seat-belt into place on her own.
Johnny more or less ignored her avoidance, smiling and making sure she was all in before he quietly closed the door behind her. Within a few seconds, he was sitting beside her in the driver's seat, seat-belt clicking, and the engine coming to life with a turn of his keys.
A quick glance in his mirror and they were off.
The radio was much more noticeable this time around; soft soothing sounds of R&B filling her ears and while it wasn't exactly her type of preferred music, it wasn't making her ears bleed. She needed more calming music to get through today anyway. Johnny's driving was much less manic this time around even if he cut corners a bit too sharply, causing the tires to harshly squeal underneath them a few times, it was a vast improvement. There was almost a familiarity between the two now; after speaking with him by phone multiple times this week and their once terse meeting was water under the bridge, it felt much more at ease.
Almost friends it seemed even if Ash denied it - acquaintances just felt far too impersonal now…Yet Ash refused to acknowledge this fact - she wasn't in this to make friends. If none of this worked out, these people wouldn't be in her life any longer so clinging to any so called "friendship" she was building was useless…
…that's at least what she told herself…
The drive was a lot longer than Ash initially expected, her own mind drowning in doubt and curiosity of what exactly was to take place later today. Johnny tried speaking with her a few times, to open up some kind of conversation but Ash gave him one word answers or let out a "mm-hmm" or something similar. After awhile, Johnny stopped trying by turning his complete focus on the road and allowing her to get lost in her own mind and the rather catchy song on the radio. Something about it sounding oddly familiar but far more important things were taking precedent over them for the moment.
The city she knew the streets by heart began fading away as they drove deeper into more residential areas. Recalling her mother's house looking far too similar to those she was seeing the tops of now was a bit too familiar for her own liking. Last Christmas when she took Lance with her to visit her mother was the equivalent of hell on earth and it was best it remained lost in her subconscious.
"We almost there?" Ash asked, desperately needing to think about something, anything than her mother and Lance, the bastard of an ex-boyfriend.
"Yeah, a few more minutes." Johnny responded, showing her the screen of his phone where he was using a navigational app.
Ash smirked at that.
"You didn't know the way either?" she asked.
"Nah. Don't recall the last time I drove around here - no one I know lives in nice homes like these - mostly flats, condos, and whatnot." Johnny replied before turning down another winding street filled with seemingly endless cookie cutter houses.
"Yeah, same here." Ash replied.
Within a few more moments, Johnny pulled over in front of a bright, baby blue house. Quaint, adorable, homey - all the things Ash knew precious little of anymore. Her life was too bleak for all this happiness.
"Wow. She has a nice house." Johnny commented, "Oh, there's Meena and Gunter!" he continued a second later when his eyes landed upon another arriving car. Ash could not see anything because of her stature but seeing the gorilla waving gave her a good idea of where they were. Within seconds, Johnny was out of his seatbelt and the truck.
Ash undid her seatbelt but didn't bother with the door until Johnny opened it and she hopped out, immediately receiving an enthusiastic wave from Gunter and a more shy one from Meena, who was standing close to an old-fashioned car with an older elephant still in the driver's seat. Johnny was less shy; pleasant greetings and questions abounded from him easily as he approached and began speaking to the two. Ignoring their conversation, Ash's eyes strayed toward Rosita's house just wanting to get this over with…
"There you guys are!" Rosita was suddenly opening her door and waving at where they still stood on the sidewalk. "Don't be shy - come on in!"
Well, here goes nothing…
Being in Rosita's house was strange to say the least. First off, it was a helluva lot cleaner than she expected a house with 25 piglets living in would be. It wasn't a pigsty like she expected and later on, she knew that was a stupid joke.
There were strange contraptions everywhere; on staircases, doorways, ceilings, doorknobs and pretty much everywhere else you could think of. If Ash didn't know any better, she would think it was some fun house or strange factory. Sparing a glance at Johnny, she suspected his mind was roughly in the same place hers was.
Meena was more or less just trying not bump into anything with her gargantuan frame; awkwardly skirting, ducking, and maneuvering around in that way she was known to do. Gunter strutted around (wearing more sequins than should be legal) like he owned the place and made himself comfortable right away; probably the only one of them (besides Rosita) that felt somewhat normal and at peace in this environment. It had a homey feel and the furniture not too much larger than her own and that alone was enough to put her at ease.
"Thanks for coming you guys. Hope it wasn't too out of the way for you; the city just isn't mine or Norman's cup of tea." Rosita chuckled, gesturing for them to sit at her dining room table; twenty-seven chairs all circling the large wooden table. "Also would be way too expensive to find an apartment big enough for all of us...not to mention the noise complaints we'd receive..." she sighed, an exhausted chuckle escaping amidst the fray.
Ash still was trying to absorb the fact that Johnny wasn't lying and Rosita really had twenty-five kids…how was that even possible!? Rosita looked way too young for that to be normal…
"You have a beautiful home, Rosita." Johnny spoke up politely, thankfully bringing Ash out of further thoughts, "Thank you for inviting us."
Of course he would be the one to speak - he had that easy charm about him. She hated to admit that she envied it.
"Aww, why thank you, Johnny… Um, well, we might as well get to what we came here for, right? B-Before we get started, you guys want anything to drink? I have milk, juice, or maybe some candy? Lord knows my kids don't need to eat it all." Rosita chuckled.
"No dank-ooh." Gunter replied with a smile.
Johnny, Ash,and Meena each gave each other sideways glances before Johnny spoke for all of them (admittedly in a much less shy or impolite tone than the other two would have used.)
"No thank you, Rosita. We're quite alright." Johnny spoke and Rosita just smiled before sitting down to join them.
"Alright. Um, from what the conversations I've been having with Miss Crawly, Buster is staying at Eddie's poll house." Rosita explained with a shrug.
"So, he's hiding out basically." Ash muttered out before her mind could even filter it out.
Rosita flashed her a rather disciplinary motherly look out of sheer instinct but it was gone before Ash could really recognize it.
"...Yeah." Rosita let out a sigh. "He is kind of hiding out, I suppose."
"Who could blame heem? Oh, da heart - it must ache ta lose all ya have." Gunter commented sadly.
"Yeah. That is awful." Johnny agreed and Meena nodded. Ash more or less remained silent. "I think that's why we should cheer him up a bit before confronting him about the show itself."
"That's a great suggestion, Johnny." Rosita approved.
"Ooh, Yah! Dat's a great idea!" Gunter readily agreed.
"Uh - I-I guess we mention how great of a job he was doing and how excited we are to perform regardless of the money, right?" Rosita asked and the group (sans Ash) nodded, "Good. So, what else can we do to cheer him up?"
"I-I-I baked him a cake…I-It's in my grandpa's car." Meena's sweet voice was muffled mostly behind her ears when she spoke up.
"Oh, you did? That was a great idea, Meena." Rosita praised with a kind smile.
"Yah! Ooh doesn't love cake?" Gunter chuckled.
Meena's freckled cheeks grew red and they started further disappearing behind her huge ears.
"From what I heard from Miss Crawly, she's planning on her own speech." Rosita laughed.
"We might just be there all day if that's the case. Miss Crawly can drone on for quite some time." Johnny weighed in and Rosita laughed more, even Meena let out a small chuckle.
"Ees always gud to zee preepared!" Gunter acknowledged.
"Yeah! If he's cheered up and willing to hear us out, we can discuss the idea of perhaps renovating what's left of the Moon Theater. I'm sure we can work something out." Rosita suggested.
"I'm sure there's still some of the foundation left. When I was there digging in the rubble a few days after the theater fell, there was quite a few seats and pillars and whatnot that survived the fall." Johnny explained and Ash worried for a split second that he'd mention that he salvaged her guitar in the rubble or one of the animals would be curious as to why he was digging there at all but thankfully, no one asked.
"Really? So some of it may be salvageable even after the crew went through it?" Rosita asked.
"From what I saw, yes." Johnny answered.
"Dis may just work!" Gunter nodded happily.
"W-We could even help put it back together. I-If we work hard enough, I bet we could come up with something resembling a stage." Meena weighed in, her ears now pulled back enough from her face so it wasn't too muffled anymore.
"Ooh! Oon oonce zee theater is up and we perform, perhaps we can do za charity concert!" Gunter exclaimed excitedly.
"Yeah! To raise money, perhaps even start rebuilding! I-If there's enough people willing to donate time or money, I mean -anything is possible!" Rosita was excited at this point.
"We could do that." Johnny agreed.
"Y-Yeah, it might even be kinda fun." Meena said with a nod.
"Perfect! Even during rebuilding, we can hold concerts elsewhere to raise money and keep the funds steady!" Rosita said.
"That's an excellent idea, Rosita." Johnny smiled and the group (sans Ash again) readily agreed.
The group started weighing different ideas, pleased about the direction of the conversation when a voice rang out.
"...but what if Buster doesn't agree to any of it?" Ash again spoke out before she could stop it and within a split second the once excited voices stopped and Ash just felt horribly out of place.
Four pairs of eyes were suddenly on her very small form and she fought the urge to slink down in her chair. Why was she always the harbinger of harsh reality? Well, she guessed because someone had to - all this optimism was beginning to need a dose of reality eventually.
At first, it was just silent.
Eyes eventually turned away from her as everyone simultaneously got lost in their own heads. As the moments slowly passed, the clock above the nearest window could be heard ticking the seconds away, there was now an almost somberness leeching into the once bright happy room.
Atmosphere changing from hopeful to sheer dread and it was nothing of which Ash wanted to hear or experience right now. Sure, she probably shouldn't have spoken out with such a dreary tone but frankly, she expected more optimism from this group. But with the way Rosita was now eerily quiet and how Meena curled up further on herself and even a rather morose expression filling Gunter's face made Ash realize none of them really thought their plan was 100% really going to work.
From the position right next to him, Ash couldn't see Johnny's face and the little she did see gave her no indication of what the gorilla was thinking. Just his normal lax pose as he lightly drummed atop the countertop with fingers as if he was on a piano. If anyone was still confident they could get to Buster whatsoever, it would be him…and the reason it was somehow comforting to her blew her mind…
The room was almost too quiet as a loud timer suddenly went off; all the occupants other than Rosita and Gunter flinched at the sudden sound.
Rosita immediately perked up as she slipped on oven mitts and walked over to the oven. The fresh scent of chocolate chip cookies suddenly wafted through the air the second she opened it.
Ash's stomach automatically grumbled at the sudden nostalgic aroma. The last time she had real homemade cookies (that weren't just a log of refrigerated dough from the supermarket) was when her granny was still alive - that was well over seven years ago.
Life seemed so much simpler back then…
The scent of pure nostalgia and a promising music career teetered on this delicate string and Ash just was becoming simply overwhelmed even though she was valiant to not show it. Face hardened and expression blank as she watched the kind motherly pig start placing the warm cookies upon a large plate.
"That's true, Ash. We do need to face that possibility as well…" Rosita allowed a frustrated sigh to escape before she continued with a more determined tone, "Regardless of the outcome, we're here to at least give it a try. And that's what we're going to do. Alright? Okay. We all needed a little pick-me-up before we go see Buster. We should hurry because I need to pick up by kids by three." Rosita said almost as an afterthought, "So, please help yourselves! We'll head out when everyone's done."
Rosita's smile looked forced, not as bright and peppy as it was when they arrived and Ash felt partially to blame…alright, mostly to blame.
Yet those thoughts faded when Rosita placed the cookies right in front of her. Rosita caught her eyes for a moment and Ash swallowed at the gentleness in those motherly eyes to let Ash know it was alright. Much like when the kind pig comforted after her horrible break-up and embarrassing herself by sobbing through a horrendous pop song.
Ash felt as if she no where near deserved any of this kindness…
"Thank ya, Rosita!" Gunter said, happily reaching for a cookie which prompted Meena to grab one as well.
"Yes, T-Thank you, Rosita." Meena spoke out.
"You're welcome - well, enjoy. I'll be a down in a few." Rosita said before she left the room leaving the remaining four with the plate of cookies.
Suddenly feeling a bit more at ease, Ash reached forward and took the still warm cookie in her paws. Not even hesitating before taking a big bite; shoving the moan that wanted to escape down as she was hit with huge chunks of real chocolate and a gooey, almost molten center. Why was something as simple as a cookie this effective in making everything seem better?
A sudden recollection and confusion hitting her when she realized Johnny made no move for the plate, his head turned toward a window yet his hand continued the light drumming motion. As strange as his sudden change in demeanor was, it was forgotten when she ignored him and took another bite instead.
Ten minutes later, the group was back outside, Rosita getting into her car with Gunter as Meena got climbed back into the passenger car with the elderly elephant still waiting inside. Ash was rather confused as Johnny never took a cookie even as Ash managed to score an extra three in a small baggie for later. Sure, there were more higher priorities now considering they were about to head to Eddie's house to talk to Buster, but it was still a curios observation nonetheless.
Once in the truck, Ash was going to ask but the question died on her tongue. Rather opting to remain silent as Johnny started the truck and followed after Rosita's red car.
A sudden lump grew in her stomach, things she tried not to think about started plaguing her with doubt and before she can reason them in her own mind, she spoke.
"...do you actually think this is gonna work?" The words left her mouth before she could stop him. His ever present optimism being put to the test by the drag in her voice. Daring him to say something that wouldn't contradict the tenseness of this entire situation and the uncertainty in nearly all the voices they heard today. Between all the optimism and hope, there was always the lingering doubt…
Johnny remained silent for a long time - not speaking even as if he shifted gears multiple times and guided them through traffic to keep up with the others.
Enough so that Ash lifted her head and stared at his profile. An expression on his face she wasn't used to seeing; the barest hints of nervousness and his internal pondering were mostly hidden behind more of a blank stare. Ash watched as his right hand moved, switching the truck's gear shift and speeding up slightly as they got on the freeway. His left hand ever present on the wheel as his deep chestnut eyes refused to leave the road.
Questioning suddenly if he was even listening, Johnny suddenly spoke.
"...heh. I really dunno." he chuckled, accent thicker than usual, "but what I do know is that we have to try. What other option do we have?"
Ash supposed that would have to be enough…