Hope you all enjoy this chapter. Happy New Years.
"I'm not really in the mood today dad, can we just not go in today?" I ask and he smiles.
"We can't not go in, Ashley. This is our work. We don't take sick days from the CIA." He leans in and whispers the last part. Kyla is in the living room watching T.V, my mom has already headed to work at the CDC lab downtown and my dad and I are finishing up breakfast before heading out.
"I really just want to lay in bed all day." I tell him with a pout.
"Is this about Jasmine?" He questions, grabbing both our plates from the table and placing them in the sink.
"How'd you know?" I turn and asks.
"I'm your father Ashley, we're not as oblivious as our kids would like to think." He says and smiles as he comes and sits next to me at the table. "What happened?"
"We broke up." I say simply.
"I gathered." He chuckles. "Did something happened?"
"Ky was right, she was liar." I say, shaking my head. I should have listened to my sister and I guess this is the price I have to pay. A broken heart and a fragile soul.
"Do I need to-"
"No dad." I cut him off shaking my head. "Don't send anyone to her house." I add and he smiles.
"Well, if someone breaks my little girl's heart I tend to want to break some bones, or at least a pinky." He says as his lips curl up into a smile.
"It's fine. I learned my lesson, never fall in love too quickly. Only bad things can happen." I say and drop my head.
"Lift your head up." My dad says firmly, putting a finger under my chin. "Never let a relationship define your happiness, sometimes they work out and sometimes they don't, that's just the way life is sweetheart." He says looking directly into my eyes.
"Okay daddy." I say and smile. He really does always know the right thing to say.
"Now let's go to work before the CIA comes looking for us." He smiles and stands, helping me to my feet.
–
"What's the first step in this process Ashley?" Tim asks as everyone gathers around to listen.
"I tried my blood on Rebecca." I tell the group and everyone looks at me expectantly. "It didn't work." I add and drop my head. Spencer rubs my shoulder comfortingly. I really don't know what I'll do if we make some kind of serum or vaccine but it doesn't work on the people who are already zombies. I can't shoot Rebecca...clearly.
"That doesn't mean that the already dead can't be cured." Arthur says. "Maybe there are other variables that need to be added to the cure."
"I'm not sure, but I can get started on research now." I say and stand.
"We're not done with lunch yet, though." Spencer says pointing to my untouched bowl of rice and beans.
"I'm not hungry." I tell my girlfriend and shake my head. "Aiden could you..." I trail off, but Aiden gets it cause he's already following me.
"Ash are you okay?" He asks once we're far enough away from the group. I shake my head. "What's wrong?" He moves closer to me and asks. Aiden has never seen me so vulnerable, maybe except the time he saved my life but even then I kept my emotions in check. That's the one thing the CIA taught me that they said would save my life, I mean, besides the obvious other skills. They said to never let anyone get too close, to never let my guard down around another person because everyone should be considered a threat, whether that be to your safety or your sanity.
I broke my own rules and let Spencer in...she's too close and now my emotions have a mind of their own. I don't control them anymore. I fell in love at a time where I need to be on my game the most. She's invaded every part of me now I'm consumed and it's probably clouding my judgment.
"That girl in there..." I pause and turn to look in the lab where Rebecca sits, strapped to a chair, steady trying to break free. "...she's my ex girlfriend." I finally get out and Aiden's eyes go wide.
"Wow." He breathes out.
"Yeah." I nod and grimace. I know exactly what he's thinking.
"It's funny how we're in the middle of a zombie apocalypse yet the universe still makes time for some good old-fashioned ex girlfriend drama." He says and chuckles.
"I don't know what to do, should I tell Spencer?" I ask him and he shakes his head vigorously.
"Absolutely no way, hell no." He says.
"Why not? What if we figure out the cure and cure her?" I ask.
"And what if we don't?" He responds. "Look I'm not trying to tell you what to do or anything because ultimately it's your decision, but if you want my advice..." He pauses and looks at me.
"Please." I nod.
"Don't tell her anything until you know that Rebecca will be a factor. There's no point in risking losing Spencer and you don't even know if this will work yet."
"You're right." I nod and say after a moment. A small smile creeps on my lips.
"What?" He asks, smiling as well now.
"I never knew there was a brain in there." I tell him and ruffle his hair.
He slaps my hand away. "Well if you and Kyla would ever let me get two words in you'd know that I can actually form complete sentences." He rebuttals.
"Touché." I chuckle out.
"I'm gonna back to Glen, you okay?" He asks and I nod.
"Can I help?" Spencer asks, coming up behind Aiden. Aiden points in the other direction, I nod and he leaves.
"Sure." I smile at my girlfriend.
–
"You're gonna be with your mom today, they're working on some new serum so we're gonna spend the next few months giving blood and things of that nature." My dad says as we ride the elevator up to my moms floor. I never understood why the CIA special operations and the CDC were in the same building, that is, until my dad told me about a serum the CDC were working on that directly connected the two entities. I've volunteered for the CIA's special forces for a little over two months now. Once when I came with my dad to his job he had me take a test, he didn't tell me what it was for or anything but after I took it all these people from the CIA came into the room and started congratulating me and shaking my hand. I found out later that I scored the highest ever on the CIA's skills and intelligence exam. Apparently, I was born to be a spy. I guess like father like daughter.
"All day, I have to be with mom?" I question and whine. My dad smiles and nods.
"I'll be in meetings all day. I'm sure you'll have fun with your mom Ashley." He says as the elevator dings and the doors open.
"Right." I say sarcastically.
"I'll see you later, sweetheart." He chuckles and kisses my forehead then gets back on the elevator. I roll my eyes then walk down the hall towards my moms lab.
"Mom." I call out when I don't see anyone.
"Oh Ashley, hello honey." She smiles as she comes and hugs me.
"Hey mom." I say mundanely then sit down in a swivel chair. "So what are we doing today?" I ask as I spin around in the chair.
"You're welcome to watch my new intern and I, create this new serum. It's gonna take a while to complete but we're starting the first step in the process today." My mother says cheerfully. She's always loved her job as a scientist. I'm pretty sure I got my intelligence from her and my badassness from my dad. Such a great combination.
"Sounds boring." I say as I continue to spin in the chair, head leaning over the back. And that's when I saw her for the first time. The blonde haired, green-eyed beauty. "Holy sh..." I trail off, spinning around and sitting up. My mom smiles at my reaction.
"This is Rebecca my new intern, Rebecca this is my daughter Ashley." My mother introduces us. I stand up from the chair and walk towards her.
"Hi." She smiles at me.
Jasmine who?...