Chapter 3 "Errands" of Seeking Favor

Notes: hey people! I hope you you're liking this, any and all suggestions would be appreciated. I finally got off my bum and decided to type this up :P

If you write Ash fan-fiction and it's NOT rated nc-17 or worse. You can submit it to 'Pink Haze' a all Ash/Mare fan-fiction archive. For details go to the site at http://geocities.com/LamiaAshRedfern/ under Pink Haze, yah and stuff. ^-^

Chapter 3

Laurel stayed in Idaho Falls with the rest of Amanda's Rugby team, not hitting the road again until the horrid hour of 4:30 am. - Glad that she had slept most of the trip to Idaho. Three or four hours left before she would reach Briar Creek. Donuts and hot chocolate from a 24 -hour convenience store was the only thing keeping her awake. Normally she made it a point not to start any mission before at least 11:00am to which Ash wholeheartedly agreed. He was almost definitely still asleep, unless he still up having fun, or just staring at the ceiling. Lucky Bast***!

The sun wasn't even starting to get up. And it didn't until after she had crossed the state line. At about 8:00am she reached the last real town before truly hitting Hicksville. She found a phonebook and located the towns florist who obviously didn't live by her early morning philosophy- it was open. She examined the old woman behind the counter- human. She couldn't feel the presence of magic, which meant it was safe from spies, humans wouldn't be spying for the night world. ESP. if they weren't under some spell. Something Ash had told her Quinn had said about this area came to mind. ' You couldn't pay a night person to live out here, In the middle of nowhere with only humans…' And perhaps 'I need a hobby' Quinn had been right about it. Why would the council worry about an area that most maps didn't cover? With scant humanoid life, let along nightworlders.

"Can I help you?" the clerk inquired

" yah, do you guys have any red roses left? And do you deliver?"

"How many do you want?" The old lady's eyes lit up with greedy glee.

Hmm Don't want to scare her with too many, so axe one for everyday he's been gone. The old lady seemed dismayed when she only counted to four on her fingers distractedly, but soon became estatic when she answered.

"I'll take four dozen, ah heck just make it an ever 50 okay?"

The old ladies eyes bulged out of her head, I guess people don't order much roses around here.

She was handing the clerk the cash when her eyes caught expensive swiss chocolate bars in a box. "I'll take two of those too, one to go with the roses and one for the road." After all she was being a good girl- today.

"Where do you want them sent?"

"Okay, this is going to sound weird but I want them sent to a Mary- Lynnette Carter at this address." She passed the address card over the counter.

The lady gave her a look and said too quickly. "Whatever floats your boat."

Laurel flushed upset. GAH lady don't think like that! "I'm running an errand for her boyfriend, see?" Laurel handed over another card, the one Ash had written to go with the roses signed only with his first name for her own safety.

"This goes with them, and if anybody asks who ordered them say you don't remember or something okay? He was sapposed to do this, not me. I think I'm paying you enough for you to do that." And she was really.

Back on the road again. As she entered Briar Creek she expected to see a sign that read ' 200 people reside here, 150 of whom are already dead.' It was worse than Le Grande or Planada. ((Central Californians make fun of these 2 hick towns.)) But luckily better than El Portal. (( the 'town' right outside of Yosemite that has only 1 tiny dust filled store and a couple of shacs.- Laurel is from around there.))

She was excited about seeing her friends, whom she hadn't seen since she had moved away from the Redfern enclave when she was little. The supposed road the girls lived on was more of a dirt path. The old house looked like crap warmed over. Ash had warned her about that. He hadn't been kidding had he? She really wanted to meet this girl that was the other half of Ash, poor girl. She must be something if she had gotton him to be a human lover and not in the Don Juan way. Ash joining Circle Daybreak. That had been a bet that she had been able to make a large sum of money from. Enough so she didn't have to pay for school, and once Quinn joined although how that was possible beyond what her foresight told her, she didn't know.

I get to play matchmaker and I know something you don't know(! Her favorites.

End chapter 3

Sorry about that, Don't worry, less and less Laurel, I just wanted to explain some stuff that would only come from her perspective. The next chapter is ALL Mare and her feelings. Lots 'o suspense for you! I know cause I've already written it. I just have to go type it. Anyways PLEASE review!