? |DREAMS TO REALITY| ? [SCHOOLBUSGRAVEYARD X READER]

CHAPTER 45 - Complications

But then, as the vibrant colors of the sunset blurred in her vision, she felt a sudden clash of beauty and despair that left her feeling more lost than ever. The sounds of laughter continued to swell around her, but all she could feel was the emptiness echoing within as she silently pleaded for someone to notice her, to reach out, and pull her back into the warmth of their world.

"You good?" Ashlyn asked, her voice steady yet unusually gentle. It wasn’t the kind of question someone asked just to fill silence; she genuinely wanted to know. Y/N hadn’t even seen her approach until she noticed the shadow looming beside her, her gaze focused on the ground. Ashlyn's quiet footsteps had gone unnoticed, a soft presence that contrasted sharply with the raucous laughter of the party.

When Y/N looked up, she was startled to see Ashlyn standing there, her slate-green eyes holding a soft but knowing gaze. Her expression wasn’t just concerned—it was understanding, as though she could see straight through Y/N's defenses. The noisy chaos of the party seemed to fade into the background, leaving just the two of them in this moment of unguarded vulnerability. Ashlyn's gaze fell on the open sketchbook, and Y/N noticed a flicker of recognition cross her friend’s face as she caught sight of her own figure captured on the page.

Y/N let out a nervous laugh, closing her book and mustering a smile, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. "Yeah, just... taking a break," she replied, her tone light but unconvincing. The slight tremble in her voice betrayed the truth she didn’t want to admit, even to herself. Quickly, she deflected. "What about you? Shouldn’t you be out there enjoying the party?"

Ashlyn tilted her head slightly, her eyes narrowing as she studied Y/N. The warmth of the moment enveloped them both, and for the first time that evening, Y/N felt the weight of her solitude begin to lift, if only just a little.

Ashlyn let out a small sigh, sitting on the adjacent tire beside Y/N. Her presence was comforting in its simplicity, as if she understood that sometimes words weren’t needed. "Honestly?" Ashlyn said, her voice low enough that it felt like a secret. "I needed a break from the noise, too. Crowds can be... a lot for me." She shrugged, but Y/N could hear the weight behind her words. Ashlyn's usual confidence was there, but so was something more fragile, a vulnerability she rarely showed. For once, her armor wasn’t quite so impenetrable.

Y/N looked at her, surprised. "I didn’t think this kind of thing would bother you," she admitted. "You always seem so... in control. Like you know exactly what you need and how to handle it."

Ashlyn’s lips twitched into a small, almost self-deprecating smile. "I guess I’ve just had a lot of practice knowing when I’ve had enough." She paused, her eyes flickering back to the group of friends in the distance. "But that doesn’t mean I don’t get overwhelmed, too."

Y/N’s admiration for Ashlyn swelled, but this time it wasn’t solely because of her strength or leadership. It was because Ashlyn wasn’t pretending to be anything she wasn’t in that moment. She was simply herself, unguarded, and that was something Y/N deeply respected.

"Yeah," Y/N said quietly, her voice more sincere now. "I get that." She glanced at Ashlyn, feeling an unexpected sense of connection. "I admire that about you, though. The way you just... know yourself. You know when to take a step back."

Ashlyn didn’t reply immediately, but her slight nod and the softening of her features were answer enough. They sat in shared silence, the party continuing on without them, and for the first time all night, Y/N didn’t feel so alone.