The quilt stabbed Ashlyn's heart and didn't want to go away. Such an bad moment - it was her own fault though. Indeed she knew how to get to the nursing room where the bandages were, and she knew how to get there from the front door. She made sure to remember the way as the teacher showed them around the hotel.

But how to go there from the other side - she had no idea. She didn't want to lie to her friends. But she also didn't want to worry them. 

"I'll let them know if I don't find the room in ten minutes", she said it aloud to make it more real. Sure she'll have to force herself to actually do it. 

Not my fault I always want to deal with everything myself. 

Or maybe mine...

Maybe I just care about- 

She didn't finish the thought because a random phantom noise hurt her ears. She cringed, pressing against the wall. Maybe if she won't breath, the phantom won't notice her. 

Now it hit her how creepy the hallway was in the dark, with low ceiling, wooden creaking floor and faded wallpaper. And even though Ashlyn used to live like this, her heart was pounding. 

She was scared for too long. 

The noise suddenly stopped and now she heard only the silence ringing in her ears. She closed her eyes. 

She needed to slow down, to stop thinking, to wait. 

She wanted to lay in a bed and sleep the whole week, just to sleep. 

She wanted to spent time with Taylor reading with her those stupid romance comics that her friend loved so much. 

She wanted to make instant noodles with Ben and eat them together, playing video games. 

She wanted to watch stars through Logan's telescope and listen to his stories about the formation of stars. 

She wanted to have a great, health argument with Tyler about what is better - jellies or marshmallows - and try to beat him at table football. 

And she wanted...

She wanted...

Yeah, about Aiden.

Ashlyn opened her eyes, her face suddenly started to burning her. 

Because the first thing she thought of was dancing with him at a Valentine's Day party. 

Before she managed to stop it, her mind flashed the memories. His eyes when he looked at her. His hands on her waist. His breath on her mouth, close enough to-

"Stop", she suddenly moved away from the wall and ran along the hallway. 

Stop. 

 She didn't want to think about THAT now. She had to focus on important stuff. 

Why did she even start to think about him like that? She didn't know. It was like her mind randomly started to bombard her with memories those moments when they were close. It happened rarely, but always when she was alone. She was still stubbornly trying to block those thoughts and forget about them. But they were at the back of her mind all the time, waiting for the right moment to explode. 

She was afraid of them. 

What's wrong with me? 

 And Aiden did nothing. Except being. Near. 

Stop thinking! 

She stopped and crouched on the floor, hiding her face in her hands.

I'm just tired. I'm just being tired. 

Let's do it quickly and come back. 

She stood up, realizing she knew this place. She accidentally turned into the corridor they passed the teacher showed them around - she recognized it by the sofa standing in the alcove. From there it was just a few steps to the nursing room. 

Ashlyn ran the rest of the way so as not to waste any more time. The bandages were right on top when she opened the medicine locker, thank God. she reached for the disinfectant and a first aid kit, and then quickly headed back. 

What a surprise. 

The door was closed. 

________

I wrote all this today. That's my success of the year 😢

but I was too lazy to look for mistakes. You can blame Ashlyn, she finished me off with her stupid "I dOnT kNoW wHaTs WrOnG wItH mE wHy Do I tHiNk AbOuT AiDeN LiKe tHaT"