Fate's Intentions (2 page)

"I can see you now putting shelves and rods all around the room, and then calling your dad telling him you don't even have enough clothes to fill your closet, you need shopping money." They both laughed at the thought.

"I am way overdue for a nap." Ashlynn said yawning.

"I'm with you on that. Let's try to get some shut eye before we do anything else. I know your going to wear me out wanting me to help you decorate our new pad."

Ashlynn walked out of the room murmuring "You got that right sister!"

Scarlett turned back to the full size bed and lunged onto it. The room didn't have much. Just the bed, a small end table with two drawers and a tiny window with a blind and a white lace curtain. But it did seem to have charm. The walls were painted a soft yellow and the bedspread was a light blue and white quilt with blue roses on it in random places. She didn't climb under the covers or even kick off her shoes, just laid there on her back staring at the ceiling. She tried as hard as she could not to think about Aaron. She tried to think about other things, anything else. But it was in vain. She finally drifted off to sleep with Aaron still in her thoughts and now in her dreams.

Chapter 2

Scarlett woke up and grabbed her phone to check the time. It was 2pm. She sat up and rubbed her eyes wishing she had seen 'text from Aaron' when she'd unlocked her phone. As she tried to shake out of her sleepy state, she opened the bedroom door and walked out into the hall, peeking into Ashlynn's room to see if she was still sleeping. She was sound asleep. Scarlett took another little tour of the house and then made her way to the sofa in the small living room. The living room was painted in the same soft yellow as her room and the sofa was over stuffed with giant cushions upholstered in a silky off white fabric with maroon flowers all over it. She reached for the remote and turned on the TV, but there was no cable. She turned it off and sat in silence. She turned sideways and pulled the curtain behind her to the side to see out the window. There wasn't much yard space to the side of the house. She stared into the woods and saw two squirrels chasing one another up and around a tree. Then she heard a voice coming from the short hallway.

"Are we gonna get some grub up in this joint or what?"

She laughed at Ashlynn and shrugged her shoulders. "I guess maybe that would be a good idea and while we're out we can pick up some videos. There isn't any cable but there is a DVD player."

"Well just so you know, Scarlett, we aren't going to be sitting here like two bumps on a log watching TV day in and day out. We need to get out and mingle and meet people. And most definitely need to find out what interesting things there are to do in this town!"

"In case you haven't realized, I'm not exactly in my normal, smiling, people meeting mood!''

Ashlynn turned heading for the bathroom as she said, "We'll just have to fix that! Now are you coming with me to freshen up or are you coming to town with me like that?"

~

They drove around until they saw a little market. Ashlynn pulled into the parking lot and found a space near the entrance. The girls got out of the car and walked into the store.

"Ash, you get some snacks I'm going to go grab stuff to make actual meals. Lord knows if it'd be up to you we'd live on Cheetos and snack cakes."

"You bet your ass sister! I'm no chef. I can't even make mac and cheese. It always sticks to the bottom of the pan."

Ashlynn grabbed a shopping basket and Scarlett shook her head as she pulled out a cart from its corral. Scarlett weaved through the isles and picked up canned goods, potatoes, meats and vegetables. She pushed her cart into the breakfast isle and got some cereal, oatmeal, pancake mix and syrup. She rounded the corner and found Ashlynn standing in the snack food isle with only Cheetos and Little Debbie snack cakes in her basket. Scarlett walked up behind her and said "All this time and you've only gotten two things?" Then, she looked up and realized Ashlynn was talking to a guy. "I'm sorry!" Scarlett said to him. "I didn't even see you there. I figured she was just confused whether to get Oreo's or Chips Ahoy." She laughed.

"That's quite okay miss. I was just helping your friend here pick up the junk food avalanche she caused. My name is Adam. You must be Scarlett."

"Um, yea" she said sheepishly.

"I was just telling Adam we are new in town. He's a doctor." Ash said with a wink and a nudge.

"Oh, you look pretty young to be a doctor." Scarlett said looking astounded.

Adam laughed. "I'm 28. I don't mean to hold you ladies up any longer. I'll let you be on your way."

"Oh we are in no hurry!" Ashlynn said sounding kind of desperate.

Adam grinned. He had a beautiful smile. He wasn't a really tall guy standing about 5'10. He had piercing green eyes and dark brown hair, not short but not long. Grown out just enough that it had a little wave to it.

"Well I'm sure in this little town of ours I will see you around." Adam said staring into Ashlynn's big blue eyes.

"You can count on it!" Ashlynn told him with a wink.

She stood looking mesmerized as he turned and walked away. She was still staring as he turned and waved one more time before disappearing around the corner.

Scarlett glared at her from behind. "Are you okay?"

Ashlynn turned and began to fan herself.  "Girl is it hot in here, or is it me?"

Scarlett rolled her eyes.  "Don't make me find a hose!"

Ashlynn ignored her eye-rolling and gripped Scarlett's arm in excitement.  "He's a doctor Scarlett! And he's fine as china!"

Scarlett laughed at her friend. "I'm not even sure that makes sense but okay. I agree."

Ashlynn had a starstruck look on her face Scarlett had only seen when they were watching Channing Tatum movies.

"I think I just became ill Scarlett! And he's all the medicine I need!"

"Well let's grab a couple more things and head on back to the cottage. Maybe the fine as china doctor makes house calls."

The girls made a couple loops through the store and added a few more things into their cart then made their way up to the checkout.

Scarlett overheard part of a conversation going on between two older gentlemen in the line next to them. "I don't know why the damned game commission doesn't do something about it! This is the third time this year!"

"I know George. It's not just your livestock. Guys all around the outskirts of town are having the same problem." The other man said to the one he called George.

"I'm tired of complaining and not getting anything done about it! Something needs to be done about those wolves!"

"Ash did you hear that? Did he just say wolves?" Scarlett turned back to the direction she was whispering and Ashlynn wasn't there. She spun on around and saw her standing a few steps behind with a magazine in hand.

Ashlynn realized Scarlett was looking at her in a questioning manner. "Did you see this crap? Brad cheated on Angie! She totally deserves it after what they did to Jen!"

"Ash! Pay attention! Those old men over there are talking about wolves killing their animals!"

"I was on such a high from meeting hottie docky!. Why are you spoiling it talking about scary things?"

"Hottie docky?" Scarlett laughed. "Seriously, that's what we're calling him?"

"Oh my sweet Scarlett, I could come up with better, but my other pet names would make you blush!"

"Well, I'm sorry to bring you down from your 'hottie docky high,' but would you listen to what I'm saying for a minute? They are talking about wolves!"

"Scarlett, did you really believe there weren't any wild beasts living up in here in these mountains? My dad used to tell me old folk lores about this place and wolves."

"I am so not happy that you didn't share this with me before inviting me on your little journey to killer wolvesville!"

"Girl, you don't jog or get up every morning and do yoga in the backyard. You are totally safe from savage beasts!" Ashlynn said laughing.

"Oh I wouldn't be so sure about that!" A voice said from behind.

Ashlynn and Scarlett whipped around. "Adam, I didn't realize you were still here!" Ashlynn said with her eyes fluttering.

"Yea, I got out to the car and realized I had forgotten a few things. I only caught the tail end of your conversation. I wasn't trying to eavesdrop. Your whispering was getting louder." Adam laughed.

"Ash, here was just telling me that there are some freaky stories about this place!" Scarlett said giving her friend a dirty look.

"Well yes. But I think most little towns have some kind of crazy story from long ago."

Ashlynn shot Scarlett's look back to her, "Yea just like back home we've heard legends of some kind of dragon type, lake monster."

Ashlynn adored the way Adam's face lit up as he laughed. "Well, I have to say I think that's a little stranger than any stories of wolves around here!"

Scarlett laughed, "Yea I guess it probably does sound odd to someone who doesn't live near the lakes!" Then her face grew serious. "But what do you mean 'You wouldn't be so sure'?"

Adam replied, " Just that wolves are the most cunning and intelligent creatures out there and once they lock eyes onto their prey, it very seldom escapes in tact."

Ashlynn glared at him with big eyes. "Gotta admit you kind of freaked me out on that one!"

Scarlett began to place the things from their cart onto the checkout counter. Her mind was consumed with wolves.

Adam glanced up to Scarlett and then back to Ashlynn. "I apologize, it wasn't my intentions to frighten you or 'freak you out'." He half laughed.

"Oh don't worry about me,"  She nodded her head in Scarlett's direction.  "Scaredy Pants up there is the one you should worry about! She won't watch horror movies by herself, won't go out into the dark alone, she's literally scared of her own shadow at times!" Ashlynn rolled her eyes as she spoke.

Adam laughed. "Well, perhaps I should watch what I say around her, even if I am only kidding."

Scarlett stood and watched as the cashier scanned the last of the items and then handed her the debit card she had been fiddling with. The cashier handed it back to her and she stuck it in the back pocket of her jeans. She paid no attention to the conversation behind her, still lost in her thoughts as she put the plastic bags back into the cart. As she finished the last couple bags she turned to Ashlynn and Adam. "Are you two going to hold up the line all day?" She said, laughing at the obvious attraction between the two.

"You better button it up girl or I'm going to get you a red hooded cape and a basket of cookies and send you in search of Gramma's house in the woods!"

"Such a sweet friend you are to me Ash!"

Adam broke through the banter between the two girls looking to Ashlynn, "I won't keep you any longer. I hope I haven't completely frightened your friend."

"No, she'll be ok. I'll just have to buy her a nightlight and install deadbolts on the doors."

Adam laughed. "Well it was nice to meet you both. I hope to see you around."

"Oh I'm sure you will. I by no means plan to allow Scarlett to become a hermit! Catch you later" Ashlynn winked at him then turned to follow Scarlett to the exit.

Scarlett turned and waved goodbye and then leaned closer to Ashlynn. "Day one and you've already found your doctor!"

"Who would've thought I'd find one that looks that good though?"

The girls loaded the groceries into the trunk of Ashlynn's cobalt and were about to get inside. "Wait Ash, I wanted to pick up a few videos!"

"There's a video store right there. Let's take a peek and see if we can find any good ones."

They walked into the video store and there were three girls standing in front of the horror section laughing. Ashlynn heard one of the girls say, "Texas chain saw the next generation is the best! It has Matthew Mcconaughey!"

"I second that!" Ashlynn said walking up behind them.

All three girls whipped around and looked Ashlynn up and down. Then the one in the middle spoke, "Hi, I'm Amanda. This is Rose and Heather."

Ashlynn smiled at them. "I'm Ashlynn. Ash for short. This is Scarlett. You girls are exactly the kind of people I was hoping to run into. You see Scarlett and I are new to town and I need to know what there is to do in this town. I haven't seen any clubs or malls around."

The other girls laughed and the one named Amanda spoke again. "Well you can look all you want, your not going to find any malls or clubs." She giggled. "There is a campground outside of town where some of us hang out. There is a party happening out there tomorrow night. If you girls are interested in going, meet us here tomorrow evening around 7pm."

Ashlynn grinned. "That sounds awesome."

"Ok we'll see you tomorrow." She smiled then headed to the front of the store to pay for the video in her hand with the other two girls in tow.

~

Ashlynn and Scarlett pulled into the driveway leading to the cottage. They took the groceries inside and put them away and then went back to the car to unload all the luggage they had piled in the back seat. "Scarlett, I really don't feel like putting my crap away right now. Let's make something to eat and watch one of the movies we picked up. We can worry with unpacking tomorrow."