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I HATE YOU
::  xxiv. | home sweet home

It was an hour before Ashely's flight began bordering. She sat at the airport with a book in hand, reading each page intently. She was so wrapped up in the words that her reaction to some hot drink spilling on her lap was delayed a bit. She soon looked up and there was a guy standing in front of her, a bit embarrassed.

"I am so sorry. I wasn't paying attention."

He continued to ramble on and she stood up, facing him.

She lightly chuckled, "It's fine, really." She walked around him, "I'm just going to go clean up."

He quickly turned to her, "I can watch your things for you?"

On her way to the bathroom she gave him a thumbs up, not even looking back. The thought did cross her mind about if he was going to rob her or not, but he seemed like a genuine person and there are other people surrounding the area, so that thought quickly left her mind.

Ashely spent a good ten minutes getting the stain out her shirt and pants. Water and soap can only do so much, but very little in this case. Ashely tossed the paper towel in the trash before leaving the bathroom and returning back to her things.

As she approached her seat, there sat the guy next to her things. She sighed as she sat down. She passed him a glance.

"Thanks."

He smiled, "No problem, im July by the way."

"Ashely." She stuck out her hand for him to shake.

He took it, "So what's in North Carolina?" He gestured towards the flight.

Ashely simply shrugged, "Family, friends. You?"

He softly nodded, "Same."

The two continued their small talk while they waited and trust me, they had at least an hour and a half to go. But nonetheless, waiting in the airport wasn't that boring anymore to Ashely.

• • •

Rachel and Brooke had just woken up to get ready for school. As usual, Brooke was the first to make it to the bathroom. After last night, once they got home, Brooke started looking through the answers that they stole. Today, that very day, it was math test day. Those answers were a lifesaver to Brooke, so she knew she owed Rachel one. She went over the answers a ton as she got ready for the day.

Even in the car, she flipped through the packet of answers, while Rachel drove them both to school.

Deep down Brooke knew it was wrong but she didn't think it would necessarily harm anyone. Rachel on the other hand, she didn't care that much.

Once they got to school, everyone headed to their first class. Today, math was first which meant it was showtime for the test. The two walked into the classroom and took their seats. Rachel in the front row and Brooke in the middle, two rows behind.

"Test day!" The teacher announced, as he closed the door so there would be no noise from the outside — no interruptions. He then went to his desk to pick up the stack of papers with the test on it. He went down each row and signally handed each one out. He returned back to his desk after handing out the last of the test, "And it begins now."

Rachel picked up her pencil and began the test. The first thing she wrote was her name and date at the top of the page. Then she continued with question one. She knew what she was doing but couldn't say the same for Brooke.

Brooke looked through the packet of answers back and forth but she couldn't remember a damn thing. So she had no other choice but to just wing it.

After an hour and twenty minutes later, the teacher called time. He asked if everyone could pass their test up front. So everyone began to do so and deep down, rachel knew Brooke most likely didn't do too well. So when she realized she had Brooke's test in her hand, she erased Brooke's name and wrote her name. Then she erased her name from her test and wrote Brooke's instead. After doing so, she passed the rest of the papers up and leaned back into her chair, waiting for the bell to ring.

Not only a second later did the bell ring and everyone got up and exited the classroom.

Rachel and Brooke both headed out the classroom together, walking to their next class.

"So how you think you did?" Rachel turned to Brooke as they continued to walk down the hall.

Brooke nodded, "I think I did alright. You?"

Rachel forced a smile, "Same."

So the two continued to class, not worried at all of what the consequences of their actions could be. Barley a care in the world.

• • •

It was nighttime in Tree Hill now and Ashely's flight had just landed. She got up from her seat and walked into the aisle, following the line as everyone began walking off the plane.

Since she wanted to surprise everyone, she didn't have a ride or anything. So after getting her bags from baggage claim, she stood near the exit for a couple minutes trying to figure out what to do. As she stood there, July headed her way,

"Hey. You got someone coming for you?"

Ashely turned in his direction, "No. I'm surprising them, so . . "
He nodded understandably, "They don't know, so you need a ride. I could help with that."

She smiled at the gesture before picking her bags back up and then following July out the airport to his car that sat in the airport's garage. Once the two reached his car, they loaded their bags in the trunk and then got in. Ashley gave her address to July before they headed out onto the road.

From the airport to Ashely's house, it was about a little over an hour of a drive. The two shared a little small talk on the way and Ashely slept a little while as well before they pulled up in front of her home.

July put the car in park, "We're here. Your place, right?"

Ashely fluttered her eyes open at the sound of his voice. A groggy tone escaped her lips as she glanced out the window, "This is me."

"I'll walk you." He opened his side as he popped the trunk open.

Ashely got out the car as well and walked to the trunk. July helped her take her things out before closing the trunk back. The two then walked up to the front door.

"Thanks." She mumbled, pulling out the keys.

He walked down the steps, "See you around, airport buddy."

She smiled before turning towards the door, inserting the key in. The key turned and the door opened. She walked inside and let out a major sigh as she closed the door, then leaning her back against it.

She was too caught up in her head to even hear footsteps running down the stairs. Next thing she knew, the light was flicked on and there stood her brother with a baseball bat clutched in his hands.

Chad was breathing heavily, "You scared me half to death. I thought you were in an intruder."

"Hello to you too, dear brother."

He approached his sister, the bat now in one hand and used his free arm to hug her. He soon let go and stepped back to look at her as he spoke,

"What are you doing here?"

"Is it fair to say i was feeling homesick?" She shrugged.

He swung his free arm around her shoulders, leading her to the kitchen so they could catch up a bit and whatnot before going to bed.

Once again, their parents weren't in town which is why Chad is all alone in the house. Since she got home so late, she decided it was best to surprise everyone else the day after. Besides, her brother was top on the list anyway.

a/n:
finally updated !! sorry for
the long wait !!

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