To the Moon & Back

Chapter 29- Linh

Joy arrives shortly after us, & I try to put on a smile as we do our daily routines, but for some reason, it's hard, & I don't know why...

I still feel disappointed... About what Ash said, for some reason... Why was that? He had said we were friends, after only a few days, which was surprising but... Why did I still feel weird about it?

"Linh?" Auntie Joy pokes me with the bread basket as she's passing it around. "Penny for your thoughts?"

"Oh..." I laugh nervously, scratching at my neck. "I... wasn't really thinking about anything really?"

"Ok..." She furrowed her eyebrows. "But you might want to get your head out of the clouds. College starts in 2 weeks, ya know."

"Yeah..." I sighed. "Yay..."

Ash looked on, his eyebrows knit together. "You don't seem so excited about it..."

I sigh. "No, I kinda am... But mostly nervous..."

"What about, darling?" Aunt Joy asks, taking a bit of her food, while still maintaining eye contact with me.

"Oh... It's just-" I scratch my neck again, & Ash puts his hand on my arm for support. I stiffen a little bit out of surprise, & he withdraws. I try to ignore it. "I'm- I've never been the best at making friends, you know... & a whole new school with a bunch of new people & a campus that I don't know... Is kinda intimidating..."

Joy nods & Ash looks on. "Yeah, that certainly does sound daunting."

"Hey!" Ash brightens up. "What if I come with you? Then you could at least know someone."

I frown slightly. "I'd love that, but... You don't go to college... You have to register first & pay for it..."

Ash frowns, making me feel bad. "Oh. Yeah. Sorry."

I smile sadly. "No, it's ok. It was a nice gesture... I mean, it's just community college, I guess. So I won't be going far, & I'm not dorming there like a normal college... So... I'd still see you after every day... If you're still here by then..."

He grins. "Of course I'd still be here then. If you'll have me, that is..."

Auntie Joy beams. "Of course, darling! Wouldn't have it any other way!"

Ash smiles, eyes soft. "Good. Because I'd miss you guys too much."

I find my face reddening slightly, & I turn back to my food. Unsure of what I was feeling... Some misplaced feeling of... Hope? Sadness? Longing? What, I didn't know. Didn't want to know either.

Hope this chapter was ok :3. Another POV change coming up, so be prepared... See ya later :]