when seth walked into the cafe the next morning everything was back to normal.

sasha continued to be her shy self as if their "babysitting date" hadn't even happened.

i told him too much

that was all that ran through sasha's mind anymore. she was absolutely terrified that she'd screwed herself over.

of course seth didn't care, right? he was just bored and everyone else was busy. why else would he pick sasha to come over?

"quiet again?" seth asked, a smirk growing upon his face as he leaned against the counter.

sasha cowered, letting out an awkward laugh as she continued to brew the coffee.

seth bit his lip.

she's adorable...

sasha handed him his coffee as he dropped her the cash, their hands making awkward contact.

"so, what do have going on tonight?" he asked, slightly tilting his head.

sasha shrugged mumbling, "nothing."

"would you like to take a walk around downtown? it's not too cold anymore, maybe we could stop by the lake?"

sasha blushed, ducking her head as if she were hiding herself.

why is he asking me to hang out again?

"i-uh i actually promised i'd spend the night with my mom," she stuttered. she quickly grabbed the money and put it in the cash register before hurrying over to the next customer.

seth furrowed his eyebrows. hadn't he broken down this wall already? was she scared of him?

he took a sip of his coffee, letting the strong flavor shock his tastebuds. he watched the blue-haired girl interact with the customer, bringing the donuts out of the display.

guess i gotta try harder...

𖦹𖦹𖦹

sasha arrived back at home, hanging up her coat on the newly installed hooks by the door. her mother had brought it upon herself to do a few home projects with her recent paychecks.

"hey mama," sasha smiled, walking to the kitchen where her mother had been mixing some sort of batter in a bowl.

"hello darling. i'm making cookies for you since you've been working so hard at your job!" she exclaimed, clearly excited about her idea.

sasha laughed, "thank you mom, but i could've just brought some home from the cafe."

her mother shrugged, continuing to stir the mix. "homemade is always better."

sasha set down her purse and then walked upstairs. her mother seemed to be back to normal for the most part, maybe she was just having an off day before?

she looked around her room which had a little more life to it. she taped a few of her drawing up by her bed, which now had a fluffy white rug beneath it. she also now had her dresser back, along with the mirror.

she dreamed that one day the walls could be painted. she could have her drawings framed; a desk to actually do her drawings on. maybe some fairy lights or a bunch of aesthetic pillows.

but those were just dreams.

𖦹𖦹𖦹

it was around midnight when sasha woke up to her mother yelling. she curiously stumbled out of her room, shivering at the cool temperatures of the house.

she crept over to her mother's room. the door was slightly opened, allowing her mother's booming voice to spread throughout the house.

sasha stood by the wall, trying to listen in on whatever was happing.

"i told you, i just want her to be happy! don't you have a heart?"

silence.

"thank you ray. goodnight."

sasha's heart dropped at the name.

it couldn't be? her mother was the one to encourage they move away from him after all.

please be a different ray! please!

but sasha knew there wasn't a different ray. it was her father. the man that still gives her nightmares.

sasha hadn't heard her mom speak like that since they moved away. it just had to be him.

a tear trickled down the side of her face.

she felt betrayed.

"mom," her voice croaked out, pushing the door open.

"oh sasha! i thought you were asleep hun!" she exclaimed, slightly jumping back.

"why were you talking to him?" she whispered, knowing if she rose her voice any higher, she'd lose herself.

judith sat silent, looking down at the floor. "i- i don't know what to say."

sasha fake laughed, shaking her head. "how about the truth mom. why are you talking to that monster?"

she still held her silence.

sasha walked out of the room, storming down the stairs. she didn't know where she was going, but she couldn't sit in that house any longer.

she impulsively ran out the door, not even having her phone with her. she was only in sweatpants and a tank top which didn't mix well with the chilly winter air.

she crossed her arms over her chest, shivering as she walked towards town. she probably looked like an absolute lunatic, but she didn't care.
it was pointless to care about what anybody thought anymore. she already thought badly about herself and that was enough.

"sasha?!" a voice called out from the distance.

must be a different sasha.

"hey, hey what're you doing? it's freezing out here and it's so late!"

seth

his footsteps came closer, but she didn't bother to lift her head. his shoes and the bottom half of his legs entered her vision meaning he was now in front of her. great.

"cmon, i'll take you home," he said softly, grabbing her arm.

she pulled back, finally looking up, "no! i don't want to go home!" she sobbed.

"ok, ok, i won't take you home. let's go to my place, alright?"

sasha hesitantly nodded. seth reached out for her ice cold hand, guiding her to his car which was parked next to the old fashioned, vintage arcade/bowling alley.

he opened the passenger side and then hurried to his side of the car to turn it on and get it heated up for her.

after a few minutes she stopped shivering. she sniffled, turning her head to look out the window.

"what happened?" he asked, beginning to drive down the dimly lit streets.

sasha uncomfortably shifted in her seat, "i don't want to talk about it," she said just barely above a whisper.

"that's fine. i'm always here though, alright?"

𖦹𖦹𖦹

a/n ITS BEEN 84 YEARS SINCE I UPDATED THIS