Falling Apart

Ashley Wren is a year older.

"I'm sorry." Lukas blurted out, a carton of orange juice clutched in one hand as Candice approached him.

"For...?" She prompted, folding her arms across her chest.

"Throwing an axe an at you..."

"...and...?"

He sighed once it dawned on him exactly what Candice wanted him to say. "...acting like a little shit."

"You're forgiven, so long as you quiet down up there; It's 1 am, some people actually sleep." Candice grinned and started walking back to the living room. "Kaili and are going to order Indian food from the place a few blocks down. Want some?"

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Ashley set the dishes down from his tray and onto a table of two in front of him: a plate of shortbread and four chocolate chip cookies, paired with a cup of hot chocolate and Jasmine tea.

"Thank you." Candice smiled up at him from her novel before closing it and sipping at her drink.

"You're welcome." Ashley glanced at the cover, smiling slightly once he noticed which book she was reading. "You like Rick Riordan?"

Candice perked up, eyes lighting up in excitement at his words.

"Yes. You too?"

Ashley grinned and nodded excitedly.

"Yeah, I just started the newest one: 'The Burning Maze.'"

"Oh, I just finished that one," Azmi added, their smile dropped for a second before coming back, just a little weaker. "It's so sad, but great; you might need tissues."

"What-. Nope don't tell me I'm not going to ruin it for myself. Not like last time." He had a really bad habit of spoiling books for himself.

"It's better if it catches you off-guard." Candice agreed, taking a bite out of her shortbread. "Good luck."

Ashley smiled and gave them a little wave before walking back into the busy kitchen.

Martha, the maitre'd or head chef, handed him a tray. "Take this and follow me to table eight." She picked up a tray with a slice of chocolate cake topped with a candle and a platter of fish and chips. "They're having a birthday."

Ashley followed her out.

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Ashley woke up to the sound of off-key singing and the smell of chocolate cake. He sits up and opens his eyes, smiling sleepily at Ethan, who is sitting across from him. He had a slice of chocolate cake with a giant sparkler on top, a stack of pancakes, some bacon and hot chocolate balanced precariously on a tray in his lap.

"Happy birthday beautiful." Ethan shot him a silly grin, brushing his wavy black hair out of his emerald green eyes. "I've got a whole day planned for us."

"I-"

"Is he up yet?" A voice interrupted him from outside the room. "We've got shit to do."

"Bella? Is that you?"

"The one and only. Now have your breakfast and get your ass downstairs." Bella peaked her head in through the door, light reflecting off her silver nose ring. "We've got shopping to do."

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"This one?" Bella held up a dark blue mermaid cut dress.

"It's... nice I guess." Ashley frowned slightly, glancing between that dress and the green one he has folded over his arm. "Are you sure wearing a dress is a good idea?"

"It's a great idea. You're going to look amazing." Bella grinned, hanging the blue one back on the rack and sorting through the rest. "It's not like this is the first time you've worn a dress."

"But it is the first time Ethan will see me in one."

"Oh, that's what you're worried about." She picked up a floral maxi dress and shook her head before returning it. "Don't overthink things."

"Easy for you to say." He set the green dress down. "This would be so much easier if you told me where we I was going."

"Nice try, but I'm not giving away the surprise." Bella grinned and walked over to a different clothe rack.

"When did the two of you have time to plan all this?"

"Well, Ethan doesn't sleep, and I'm slowly turning nocturnal so..." She shrugged then added. "You never told me he listens to Arctic Monkeys."

"Arctic what?" Ashley joked. He knew what Bella meant, they were some band Ethan had mentioned once or twice. He'd even showed Ashley a few of their songs.

She rolled her eyes and shook her head at Ashley. "Never mind."

"Maybe I should wear this with tights?" Ashley picked up a pink slip dress.

"Too casual, you're going to need something fancier." Her eyes go wide, and she let out an excited squeak. "Oh my god. You've got to wear this one."

She held up a red flared dress with a golden belted waist. It had a triangular hole on the chest which was made to show off cleavage that Ashley clearly didn't have. "What do you think?"