Dinner At Simms Manor:

"We except to see you at home for dinner tonight," Mr. Simms said, eyeing both of his children, before leaving with his wife following behind.

"Shit," Tyler let out.

"My sentiments exactly," Ashlyn replied dryly.

"What are you guys gonna go now," Pogue asked, looking between Tyler and Ashlyn.

"I guess me and Ty will be dining with out parents tonight," Ashlyn sighed.

"I'm not letting you two go there by yourselves," Caleb told them.

"Then I guess they'll have to set another plate at the table," his girlfriend smirked.

- -- --- -- --

"Are you sure about this, baby," Caleb asked Ashlyn for what must have the hundredth time that night.

"Yes Caleb, I'm sure," she told him. "Let's just get on with this." Caleb opened the door to Simms manor and they both went inside. They hung their coats before entering the large drawing room.

"Caleb. Ashlyn," her mother greeted them as they entered. "Dinner will be ready shortly." She just nodded in response. Looking around, Ashlyn noticed that the house, or what she had seen of it so far, hadn't changed at all since she left and suspected the rest of the house was much the same way. The mantel was still adorned with countless pictures of her and Tyler. Some were of vacations while others were of twins receiving various school awards.

After taking in the entire room, Ashlyn noticed her father was missing. Her mother must have guessed what she was thinking because the next thing she said was, "He's in the den, taking an important phone call with one of the company share holders."

Again, all she did was nod her head. Caleb watched the two women with interest. It seemed like Mrs. Simms was trying to coax a wild animal out without getting mauled. Thankfully one of the maids chose that exact minuet to come in and announce dinner was ready and that Mr. Simms was waiting for them in the dining room.

"Shall we," Rosalind Simms asked, giving her daughter a small smile. Ashlyn ignore her mother and allowed Caleb to lead her to the dining room.

"Ah, there you all are," Mr. Simms smiled at his guests. "Tyler just called. He'll be here shortly. Apparently, Reid hijacked his car." Ashlyn merely glanced at her father and then took a seat in the center of the table. Her parents were seated and the ends of the table and she didn't want to be near wither one. Caleb smiled as he sat opposite her on the other side. He held her hand under the table; unnoticed by both adults.

The doorbell rang; putting a temporary end to the awkward silence. "That is probably him now." Just as her father predicted, Ashlyn's twin walked in and took the seat next to her.

"Tyler dear, you are late," their mother scolded.

"I know," he sighed. "I'm sorry. Reid was stuck at the dorms and needed a ride."

"So we've heard," Rosalind reprieved.

The dinner went on with Mr. and Mrs. Simms not making any real effort to talk to their daughter. They had yet to even ask her where she had been since she had left home. After they ate, the adults had the children retire to the drawing room for dessert.

Ashlyn merely picked at her creamed-filled pastry. Tyler and Caleb were doing the same. It didn't surprise Ashlyn that her father was the first one to break the silence, "We found out about the incident with the Pope descendent."

"Evelyn told us when we questioned her about the large use of power we felt," Mrs. Simms explained.

"Were you there while Caleb and the boy fought," her father asked.

"Yes."

"Were you injured?"

"No."

"Did he survive?"

Ashlyn hesitated for the slightest moment. She didn't know if it would be right to them that no body was found at the site. Caleb gave her a slight nod; urging her to continue so she answered, "No."

He simply nodded at her answers; taking in the new information. "That's all. We'll talk more tomorrow night," he said dismissing them. "We'll see you here for dinner."

"Oh and one more think," he mother called out as they were about leave. "We don't except you come back and live at home but we want you in a dorm at Spencer by the end of the week."

"What?"

"It's already been taken care of. The Provost will be expecting you before class tomorrow. I will not have my daughter living with her boyfriend," her father ordered, eyeing Caleb.

"Fine," she muttered before leaving with her boyfriend and brother.

- -- --- -- -

"Well that was just pleasant," Ashlyn let out as she plopped down on her bed.

"Things could have gone worse," Caleb told her. He was leaning against the side of her doorframe with his arms crossed against his chest.

"I guess you're right," she agreed with him.

"I don't want you to move out," Caleb whispered. Ashlyn knew her moving into the Spencer dorms had been bothering Caleb since they left.

"I don't either but if it saves me some grief from those two then I'll put up with it."

"I guess. It's just going to be really quiet without you here," he admitted. "I don't know how mom's going to take it. She was just starting to get better and I think it was mostly because of you."

"Come here," Caleb spread out on the soft bed; letting his head rest in her lap, "You mom's stronger, a lot stronger than she was when she lost your dad. She'll be fine, I know she will."

"I hope so."

Well, there you go guys.

I've been writing to write longer chapters.

Hope you enjoyed the new chapter and please review.

xoxo

Kris Knight