REKINDLED

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Forty Six
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Asher's fingers trembled as she pulled out a brown envelope from the box that night.

She looked up at the couple who only nodded reassuringly for her to continue.

She was curious, and nervous but she didn't stop until she pulled what was in the envelope.

Her breath hitched in her throat "What the...?"

"That's right" Harry chuckled "Lara, are you recording this?"

"Yup!" Lara nodded excitedly but Asher could only stand there feeling like her soul left her body.

Adoption Papers.

"It's something Harry and I have thought about for quite some time now" Anya explained as she stepped forward to touch her shoulder

"You've always been family to us Yellow, I only wanted to make it official..."

Asher lifted her teary gaze to his face, her heart running in her chest as her hands have out.

Anya pulled her close and Harry closed the distance between them.

"You're one of us now, Asher. Officially" Harry uttered lowly as Asher sobbed.

**

"This is a total disaster!" Laramie dramatized, turning from her closet one evening.

Asher cocked a brow "Excuse me?"

"It's a movie Laramie, not a date. Don't be too hard on yourself"

Lara sighed

"Why do I feel like you're doing too much for this guy? " She had to prod

Lara raised a wary gaze to her "I'm not"

Asher narrowed her gaze at her "Lara, there's something you're afraid of, isn't there?"

In the past two years of their shaky friendship, Asher had to come to understand that Lara had a lot of insecurities. She was a beautiful girl with a fantastic personality but having a great fear of losing people... Sometimes the fear motivated her into making wrong decisions, one of which was enduring an eight month old toxic relationship and refusing to go back to the US after school like she originally intended.

Getting up from her chair, she walked up to her friend and put a hand on her shoulder "Can you not force relationships?"

Lara stared at her like she'd grown horns "What?"

"With Mark, with anyone"

Lara stuttered

"Listen, everyone may desire you but one person will have you. I know you don't want to lose the guy, but don't rouse what isn't there"

Her friend's eyes glossed over with tears

"This is the time for us to grow, Lara. Grow in God, and in ourselves. When the time is right, He will make stuff happen"

Lara licked her dry lips "Oh Sher...you're like that one string of sanity that keeps me from losing myself"

"God is your sustenance, Laramie. I'm just a sister"

A crooked smile formed on her face before they comforted each other with an embrace.

**

The girls arrived at the cinema much later because Lara had to put herself back together.

Someone squealed their names before they saw Raquel writhing through the crowd to them.

"Hello firecracker" Lara giggled when she gave them a group hug

She'd added red highlights to her dark hair, other than that she was just radiant.

"Where's everyone else?" Asher asked

"We're waiting for Jaden and Everest" Raquel explained "Jaden forgot his inhaler"

Asher checked her bag then, relieved when hers sat there.

"Are you alone?" Lara inquired through the noise

"Nope. Mark and Oren are keeping me busy"

They followed her to where the guys were chilling in the lounge.

"Tickets" Mark handed them their tickets

"Thank you"

"Aw look, Asher and Oren are wearing matching sweaters!" Raquel pointed "Lord could this be a sign?" She continued, looking heavenwards

Asher fought a blush, while Oren chuckled.

"What's funny?" She couldn't help but murmur

"You" he shrugged innocently and she nudged him

"Stop stealing my dressing ideas, you wizard" she hissed

Oren chuckled again "Wizard, seriously?"

"Only a wizard would read other people's minds and go ahead of them"

Oren hummed, a slow smile forming on his lips "You know I actually believe it's a sign"

Asher shook her head "A sign of what exactly?"

He had that knowing smile she just couldn't take anymore.

"Guys, I'm getting popcorn" Mark announced getting up

"Me too!" Lara jumped up to her feet.

Asher passed her a knowing look and she gestured as if to say Relax, I'm not being forward.

The couple walked off and Raquel plugged in her Air pods.

Then it was silent.

"I'm going on tour, Asher" She heard Oren announce

She felt like her heart skipped a beat "Cool"

She really didn't want it to show how let down she was already beginning to feel that he wouldn't be around anymore. If she confessed it, she feared what he'd think, if she denied, she also feared what he'd think.

"So...you're okay with it?" He asked cautiously

"Of course. Why wouldn't I be okay with it?"

Uh there it was...the denial.

"Really" she heard him utter to himself before looking away.

No!

No no no no no!

This was the exact opposite of what she wanted!

Now he thought she didn't care about his company when she deeply did

"It's not like I want you to go away..." She blurted out nervously

He turned, his brows slowly lifting

"I'm just saying, it's cool that you get to take your music everywhere else"

"Do you want to come with?" His question took her totally off guard

"W-what?"

"On tour, to other countries" he explained excitedly and she felt a fire ignite

Was he really serious? "Oren, I...I can't"

"You don't have to worry about anything, your dad already knows this and I have his blessing" he shrugged and Asher's face paled at how fast things were going

He wanted her to go with him, he saw it in how his clear eyes gleamed with hope.

She started to decline again when he cut her off "Just think about this...I have up till Friday" he touched her hand

She eyed the contact and touched his too. A gesture that defied everything her subconscious was screaming.

Everyone else showed up and they proceeded to watch the movie. Asher lost focus at some point, lost in the melodious sound Oren produced when he laughed

She knew she didn't have anything to think about. She wanted to follow him wholeheartedly but it was hard.

Somewhere inside she still felt like she couldn't trust him.

**