(We need ship names! 🤣 Cash= Lucas x Ashley? 🤣🤣)
Lucas’s POV:
Ever since Eden got home, she had been distracted. Usually, it wasn’t something to be worried about, but this time, she was more out of it than she normally is. Eden wasn’t the type to tell anyone about her problems. She’d rather fix them on her own. I, on the other hand, talked to her about everything. It made me feel like a pathetic older brother. Not even a little reliable.
“Did Eden tell you anything?” I finally asked Ashley, opening my eyes and looking up at her from her lap. I was tired, and it was comfortable. I loved it when she ran fingers through my hair. It made me feel at peace. “Whatever that’s bothering her?
(Yes!!! I love that.
Hm… Steed = Sterling and Eden?)
Ashley's POV:
My smile wavered at Lucas' sudden question, and I shook my head in response. I frowned a bit as I twisted a piece of his hair between my fingers, looking down at him softly.
"No, she hasn't. I'm starting to get worried about her," I admitted quietly. "Has she been eating at home?"
(That sounds cool! So Cash and Steed. Weird names! 🤣)
Lucas’s POV:
I bit my lower lip, sighing.
“No,” I reponded just as quietly, watching as Eden scrolled through her phone, earphones in her ears. I could hear the music blasting from across the room. I kept telling the idiot to stop listening to music with the volume too loud, but it seems she just wants to go deaf. “She hasn’t. I’m worried she’s relapsing. Mom cooked her favorite food yesterday and she barely ate anything. She hasn’t even told anything to mom, and that’s extremely worrying because Eden is such a mama’s girl.”
Ashley's POV:
I sighed and glanced over at her as well. It was nearing the time where she'd been broken, so I guess it made sense that she was feeling it more than usual. But she still needed to eat.
"I'm getting worried about her," I whispered, closing my eyes as I hung my head. "She's going to get sick if she keep this up."
Lucas’s POV:
“Let’s take her to the zoo,” I suggested, remembering my sister’s love for animals. Perhaps if she spent time with some, she’d feel better. “She always feels better once she has fun with animals.”
Right when I finished, Eden’s music suddenly turned off.
“Luke,” she addressed me with her eyes narrowed before moving on to my girlfriend. “Lee. Let’s play a game on the PS4.”
Yes, if Eden wants to play a game with me, then there was definitely something to be worried about.
Ashley's POV:
Opening my eyes, I looked up at Eden, raising my eyebrows. "Um. We were actually thinking of going to the zoo together. You know, just the three of us, like old times," I said hesitantly. In all honesty, I would rather go out than play a game, anyway…
Lucas’s POV:
Honestly, you couldn’t tell what Eden was feeling unless you knew her better. The easiest emotion to understand was happiness. When Eden was happy, her ears would perk up and there would be a twinkle in her eyes. It made her look adorable.
“The zoo?” She echoed, a small smile on her face. I looked at Ashley and grinned. “They’ve added hedgehogs recently. I’ve been meaning to check them out myself.”
We’ve been to the zoo so many times that we know every inch of that place. When Eden was more fluffy, she’d convince mom and dad to take her there every day. Dad could never refuse her. It was funny, and adorable.
Ashley's POV:
"Great! Let's go, then!" I exclaimed, trying to wiggle out from under Lucas' head. "Who's car are we taking? Because you both know I'll vote we take mine."
Yeah… I really liked my Jeep. Like, a lot, if you couldn't tell.
Lucas’s POV:
“I vote for Ash’s, too,” I shrugged, not wanting her to be upset. She loved her Jeep like it was her life. I faintly saw Eden roll her eyes, but I pretended not to notice. I was just glad that she was at least trying to enjoy herself. Going to the zoo would lift her spirits.
Eden didn’t say anything, but she simply walked outside the house and stood in front of Ashley’s Jeep with an expecting look on her face. She looked impatient.
“Let’s go before she kills us,” I joked, grinning at Ashley.
(I'm just gonna do a bit of a skip…)
Ashley's POV:
I finally pulled up at the zoo and found one of the few parking spaces that was actually close to the entrance. Putting the vehicle into park, I took out the keys and glanced at the twins with a smile. "Let's go, shall we?" I said, my voice holding a bit of laughter as I opened my door and stepped down.
Eden’s POV:
I didn’t wait for Lucas and Ashley as I quickly went and paid for our visit. I simply couldn’t wait to see the hedgehogs.
There weren’t things that caused me to get excited like this. My mom is a vet, so as a child, she’d occasionally take me with her to spend some time with the animals. I deeply grew attached to them, and I want to follow in mom’s footsteps. Taking care of animals is something I want to do. They deserve it.
I turned back with an annoying expression, irritated at the laziness Lucas and Ashley displayed. They were definitely doing this on purpose, like they always did.
(Lol. Yes!)
Ashley's POV:
"Calm down, Eden. The hedgehogs will still be there in a few minutes," I laughed.
Lucas and I were walking together, obviously, and our arms were wrapped around each other's waists. It was nice to be able to be with him like this. Especially since we hadn't gotten very far into our relationship the first time before it broke.
Lucas’s POV
I grinned at Eden who was ahead of us, trying to contain her excitement.
“I swear, this is the only time she acts like she’s the younger twin,” I said to Ashley, wrapping my arm tighter around her. “She’s so adorable when she’s like this, like a little girl. I feel like a dad at this moment.”
Ashley’s POV:
I couldn’t help but laugh a little at Lucas comparing Eden to a little girl and himself to a dad. That was just a funny picture in my mind. Not the Lucas-being-a-dad part — that part was just cute — but the Eden-acting-like-a-little-girl part.
“Yeah. It’s good to see her happy. This was a good idea, Luca,” I said, looking up to smile at him.
Eden’s POV:
I looked around slowly, watching all the animals interact with each other, or simply laying down in laziness. A small smile spread across my face.
I had been… out of it lately, and being here made me feel better. It always did.
“Hello, there,” I murmured, bending down next to a large cage, where a tiger lay peacefully. “Are you doing okay today?”
I wasn’t particularly fond of zoos in general, but it was the animals I always looked forward to. As long as the animals were treated right, I was okay with it.
The tiger didn’t move from its spot, nor did it acknowledge my presence.
“Aren’t you just plain rude,” I smiled again, and this time the tiger did look at me. We stared at each other for a while before it looked away, going back to sleep. “Lazy…”
Sterling’s POV:
I laughed at my little brother Tobias’ antics. He was making faces at the monkeys, who had decided to mimic him and make the faces right back. It was getting pretty ridiculous, and I was thinking I’d have to pull him away soon when I saw her.
Eden was standing by the tigers, talking to one of them from the looks of it. I didn’t even realize that I was moving toward her until I was right behind her.
“Is he a good conversations?” I asked, trying to be funny.
Eden’s POV:
“Is he a good conversations?” A teasing voice behind me made me turn around. My eyes narrowed. It was Sterling. He was the reason why I was like this currently. Because of him, I remembered what I feared and didn’t want. Suddenly, my day at the zoo went from exciting to annoying.
My eyes darted around, trying to find Lucas and Ashely, who were both looking at me with confusion. I looked back at Sterling, whose smile didn’t waver.
The tiger immediately stretched its limbs, stood up and walked away.
“If I remember correctly,” I addressed Sterling. “You said you would leave me alone.”
Sterling’s POV:
And now she looked ticked. Did she really hate me that much?
“Actually, I said that I wouldn’t try to ask you out. Not that I would leave you alone,” I corrected with a half-grin. “Also, you didn’t answer my question.”
Eden’s POV:
“I’m not obliged to, am I?” I countered with another question, my eyebrow raised. He was stubborn—I could give him that. Others didn’t stay that long. After being rejected, they’d never show their faces to me again. What made Sterling so different? Why wasn’t he embarrassed and angry?
The grin on his face seemed pleasant and peaceful. He seemed pleasant and peaceful. I immediately shook that thought out of my head.
Sterling’s POV:
“No, I suppose you aren’t,” I said, shaking my head. “Anyway, how are you? I don’t think I’ve seen you since Monday.”
Eden's POV:
I furrowed my eyebrows at him. Why was he so adamant on conversing with me? Surely the humiliation wasn't worth going out with me.
"Why exactly…" I said slowly, having to strain my neck to look up at him. "Are you doing this?"
Sterling’s POV:
“Because, Eden, I actually like you. Whether you want to believe it or not,” I said, my smile softening slightly. Not enough that she would notice, but it did. “And I want to get to know you.”
Eden’s POV:
The look in Sterling’s eyes made me waver. They had intense sincerity present in them, but it was that sincerity that made me want to push him away. I didn’t know what was so great about me that he wanted. I didn’t even know him. He wanted to break down my walls, but I couldn’t let him.
So I would play his game.
I walked towards him until the distance between us was dangerously close, looking down at my feet.
“Well, then…” I looked up slowly, meeting his eyes head on, our faces dangerously close to each other. Had I been a little taller, the position would have been far more intimate. I didn’t let my expression waver as I spoke the next words. “I’ll give you a month.”
Sterling’s POV:
Wow, she was very close… Had I not known that she would slap me if I did it, I might have kissed her right then and there. But, no. It was neither he time nor the place for that.
“I’ll give you a month,” she said.
I saw a fierce look in her eyes, and I knew this wasn’t going to be easy. But I had fully expected that. I hadn’t begun liking her because she was easy, but because she was a mystery that I wanted to unfold.
With a smirk, I agreed, sticking my hand out the best that I could. “Deal.”
