Ash and Chloe manage to escape. Ash runs as fast as he can, he stops a few blocks away, panting and sweating hard.
Chloe gets off him and stretches loudly. "Oh man, my body feels sore, but it was worth it i guess." She says.
"Yeah...well, anyway... where are you going from here?" He asks.
"Hmmm, just follow me from here, i know a shortcut.
She says, running ahead of him.
"Seriously though, i cant believe you did that, You cant just steal money you know." He said, following close behind.
She shrugged. "Eh. He stole my time, so we're even."
Ash couldn't argue with that logic. Mostly because he was too tired to think.
They walked toward a small park nearby, a place they used to hang out in after school back in junior high. Nothing had changed — same chipped slide, same broken swing set, same graffiti that definitely wasn't there legally.
Chloe plopped down onto the swings and motioned for Ash to sit. He did.
The wind carried the faint smell of cold grass. The sky had that early-evening orange glow that made everything feel peaceful, despite the chaos they left behind.
"So," Chloe said, kicking at the dirt, "what's up with you, Ash? You look… different."
Ash chuckled lightly. "Different how?"
"I dunno. You've got that 'my-life-is-a-disaster-but-I'm-pretending-it's-fine' look. Like a raccoon that pays taxes."
Ash snorted. "That specific, huh?"
"Yeah."
Ash leaned back in the swing, staring at the sky.
"It's just… everything lately," he said softly. "Nightmares. Pressure. Expectations. I feel like everyone is telling me who I'm supposed to be, and I'm just… going with it because I'm too tired to care."
Chloe watched him carefully, expression softening.
"That's not you."
"Maybe it is now," Ash said. "I don't even know anymore."
Chloe didn't respond right away. She just let the silence hang there, letting him breathe.
Finally she said, "Ash… you don't owe them anything. Not your parents. Not your teachers. Not the government. Not anyone."
Ash lowered his gaze. "I wish it were that easy."
Chloe rolled her eyes. "I didn't say it's easy. I said it's true."
He sighed. "They want me to choose a career already. Doctor, lawyer… something 'respectable.' Something that pays well."
"And what do you want?" she asked.
Ash opened his mouth.
Closed it.
Thought.
"…I don't know," he admitted.
Chloe laughed—not at him, but in that Chloe way, full-bodied and chaotic but somehow comforting.
"Well, that's normal. You're eighteen, Ash, not eighty. You shouldn't have your whole life planned out."
Ash rubbed his face. "Yeah, try telling my parents that."
Chloe reached over and flicked his forehead.
"Hey! What was that for?"
"For being stupid," she said bluntly. "You think your worth is based on whatever job they want for you? Dude, you're Ash Moon. You were the smartest guy I knew back in junior high." She paused. "Still probably are."
Ash felt his face warm. Chloe always had a way of saying things that stabbed him emotionally but also stitched him back together.
"Besides," she added, leaning back in the swing, "you've always had shitty taste in friends and women .Your judgment isn't perfect."
Ash choked on nothing. "What? What does that have to do with—"
"You're probably gonna fall for some crazy girl who ruins your life," Chloe said casually. "Calling it now."
Ash glared. "Why would you say that?"
"Because you attract chaos and stupidity," she said, pointing at herself. "Look at me. Exhibit A."
"But seriously dude, you're giving ypurself way to much pressure."
"You're 18, not 38, you've still got enough time to decide, look at me, i have all the time in the world to choose."
She said, her smile wide and genuine, something that even surprises him.
Ash blushes slightly, feeling warm and a bit hot inside. Its been a while his felt so free and just be himself.
Mostly it was just books, studies, staying home. The usual shit he'd go through every day.
"Thanks Chloe, i feel kinda better now....and you're not stupid, you're-" he was cut mid sentence.
His phone rang loud and sudden, it was his mom. The color drained from his face, he knew his fun had ended.
"Oh shit its your mom, long time ,long time." Chloe said, grabbing his phone.
"Hey wait, dont-" before he could protest or grab it back, Chloe had answered already.
"Hello Mrs Moon,.... Yes Ash is here,....no his fine."
"No im with him,.....yeah this is Chloe..... yes im back in town, no Dad is still in jail.. ..no mom is still gone."
Chloe pouted, puffing her cheeks and looking at Ash, she handed him his phone.
"Here you go, she wants to speak to you." She said.
Ash swallowed hard, placing the phone on his ear, his nerves on edge.
"Hello Mo-", he didnt even speak when his mom started speaking.
"Ash!! What are you doing? Where are you? Why are you with Chloe? Tell me now!!." His Mom shouted.
Chloe saw that Ash was in trouble and decided to take action.
She grabbed his phone and threw it into the nearby pond.
Ash looked at Chloe, his shock written on his face.
"That was my phone. ....i needed that-you know." He said, defeated.
"Pffffff, dont worry, i'll buy you a new one." She says, showing him the money she stole earlier.
"Anyway lets go, im starving here and Max lives not far from here." She said, standing up from the swing.
"Max, like your gay cousin Max?" Ash asked, still worried about the lecture he'll receive from his parents.
"Yeah but his like queer now i guess, anyway follow me." She said, skipping away.
Ash sighed deeply, the evening was still young and Chloe was the most fun his ever had.
"Alright...im coming." He said, following her behind.