This time when I ported to Chaotic Sarah was already waiting for me in the Port Court.
"Since I'm the last person you chose to ask about getting some new location and creature scans I'm a little hurt," Sarah said and I winced, trying to think of some way to apologise to the only other female member of our group until Sarah grinned. "Just kidding, Ashley. It's nice having another girl on the team. Now let's head to Mount Pillar." She added and I grinned back, hoping that this time nothing bad happened.
Porting to Mount Pillar I breathed out when nothing happened to get a strange look from Sarah who started to head out making me hurry to catch up. I kept close to my friend keeping my eyes out for any trouble even when Sarah led me inside Mount Pillar I found myself unable to relax though Sarah knew her way around guiding me through the maze of tunnels and entrances.
"Just keep your eyes peeled for any guards," Sarah told me not long after and I blinked, staring at her until she just shrugged. "We're fine now but you never know." She added offhand and I rolled my eyes wondering if maybe this was an entirely bad idea. I followed close looking around as I did which caused me to see someone walking past our hiding place and my eyes widened as what looked like a giant red beetle approached us, holding some sort of weapon in its claws.
Seeing how worried I looked Sarah laughed walking closer and I blinked, confused as Sarah smiled at the red beetle. "Ashley, relax. This is my friend, Wamma. Wamma, I'd like you to meet Ashley." She explained, walking towards me when I just stood there unable to move. A few seconds later I was being pushed toward the beetle who tilted his head to stare at me before he chuckled.
"Your friend's a little nervous." Wamma pointed out and I blinked, feeling a little silly at being scared of Sarah's friend who guided us through the Danian hive. Feeling more confident now I still kept close to my friends silent as I didn't know my way around. "Now I'll stay outside and keep a lookout. If anyone comes past port out with your scanners." He told us, shaking his head as I quickly darted inside what I assumed was the Danians' arsenal. Giving her friend a shrug Sarah followed me as I breathed out, nearly jumping out of my skin when she grabbed my arm.
"It's only me, Ashley. You're jumpy today." Sarah pointed out, scanning the rows of battlegear before she settled on one and as she scanned it I rolled my eyes.
"Can you honestly blame me when everything bad keeps happening the moment I port to Perim?" I replied, keeping my voice low and Sarah shook her head. Nodding towards the rows of gear she waited patiently for me to scan one. "Okay, I'm just going with this one." I finally sighed, scanning the battlegear without really checking it and Sarah nodded. As we emerged from the room Wamma greeted us, his eyes travelling the immediate area for any sign of danger.
"Oh and before I forget would it be alright for Ashley to get a scan of you for her Chaotic battles, Wamma?" Sarah asked as I shifted from one foot to the other, listening for any Danians heading our way.
"Of course but you'd better make it quick. We're going to have company soon." Wamma replied, holding his spear up and I nodded holding out my scanner. Just after I scanned Wamma I heard footsteps swallowing when I realised we'd have company soon.
"Thanks, Wamma. Let's go, Ashley." Sarah said, porting out just after I did and Wamma rolled his eyes as several soldiers trooped past.
"You know we could have waited a few more seconds before we ported out, Ashley," Sarah told me as I sat at the Port Court. "You're very jumpy all of a sudden."
"You would be too if you got chased by Staluk, attacked by Slurhk, and knocked unconscious as well as the unfortunate trip into the Forest of life when Tom got attacked. I just know that location has it in for me." I replied, leaning back in my chair.
"Plus you almost got put into Overworld prison for trying to steal battlegear for Chaor." Sarah pointed out and I groaned, running a hand over my face.
"Exactly. I haven't had a moment's peace since I ported to Chaotic." I agreed though I couldn't help smiling at how many times Tom helped me. Noticing the grin on my face Sarah grinned for an entirely different reason. "Okay, what did I say?"
"You know ever since you came to Chaotic you've been spending a lot of time running around Perim with Tom. Care to share why that is?" Sarah asked, the question coming so out of the blue I couldn't think of a response except to stare at her. "You can tell me I can keep a secret." She added, leaning in and I raised an eyebrow unsure what she was talking about.
"Sarah, I'm a little lost. What do Perim and Tom Majors have to do with anything?" I asked her, very lost when she shrugged which made me raise my other eyebrow. "Is there something you're not telling me right now?"
"Actually it's more like something you're not telling me. You have a little crush on him don't you?" Sarah asked and I snorted, thinking it was all a joke until she broke into a smile leaning back. "I knew it!" She exclaimed and I blinked back at her, not making the connection as she laughed. "I promise I won't say a word to him." She promised, looking on speechless as my face started to turn a bright shade of red.
"What? I don't….I never said that…." I stammered, my head and mouth suddenly out of working order as I tried to think of an excuse but when that failed I covered my head with both arms. "Why did you have to put that thought into my head?" I mumbled as Sarah tried unsuccessfully to uncover my face by pulling my arms away. She managed to pull one arm away but I just wrapped the other around my face and she sighed.
"Ashley, I was just kidding." Sarah insisted but seeing how red my face was and my sudden inability to think of a logical excuse as to why my face now resembled an overripe strawberry she blinked. "Wow, I never even considered that's why you like hanging around him so much."
"I like hanging around him because he's nice and he helped me get some cool scans for my Overworld deck." I protested once I lifted my head and Sarah tilted her head to one side, studying me as I cleared my throat. "I mean what's wrong with a girl hanging around with a guy? That doesn't mean that she's dating him." I protested and Sarah's eyes widened as I coughed.
"You really do like him, don't you? Otherwise, you would never spend so much time with Tom." Sarah breathed, making me wish I had the Mipedians' invisibility trick. "Aww don't look so embarrassed I think it's kind of cute." After a long pause, she nudged my arm. "So when are you going to ask him out?" She added and I groaned, pulling my other arm over my head.
Tom, Kaz, and Peyton arrived a short time later all three staring at me when they found me resting my head on the table with both arms covering my head. As soon as they approached Kaz cleared his throat first. "Don't tell me; the trip to Mount Pillar was a bust?" He asked and I raised my scanner without a word letting everyone see my scan of Wamma.
"Hey that's great but why are you hiding?" Tom asked, curious and Sarah just shrugged giving me a smile as I groaned. "Is she okay?"
"Yes and no, Tom. I'll let Ashley explain since I have a match coming up in fifteen minutes and I need to get going." Sarah explained, climbing from her seat and I waved as she walked away.
"Okay, what happened?" Tom asked, sitting in the now vacant chair and I gave him a shrug which wasn't easy with my arms draped over me and he blinked. "It must be pretty bad if you don't want to talk about it."
"I'm perfectly fine just...don't want to talk about it," I replied, sitting back as Peyton and Kaz joined us. When I noticed all three guys staring at me I groaned tempted to hide my face until Tom smiled at me. "Please can we talk about something else?" I begged and he blinked, nodding as Peyton stared at Kaz with both eyebrows raised and Kaz shrugged equally as lost.
"Yeah sure if that's what you want." Tom agreed after a pause, taking out his scanner and as he showed me a new card he'd managed to pull for his online deck I breathed out grateful for the distraction.