Love on the Cl🕗ck

EPISODE TWO: TRIAL AND ERROR

"Hey! Why the sad face?" Ash teased toward Elixir. Her grip on her notebook tightens. "It's you! You're the problem I'm stuck with you because you weren't responsible for your tardiness!" Elixir angrily exclaimed at her.

 "So? It's not MY fault my alarm clock kept going off late." Ash scoffed, completely unfazed by the situation. "Just-" Elixir sighed. "Just stay out of my business, please?" She gritted. "Okay! Okay! Someone's grumpy Miss Perfect today." Ash laughed out.

Elixir straightened, eyes hard. "You know what? You're coming over at my place first thing tomorrow, and no, you can't get out of this even if you do try." Elixir declared. Ash's face lit up like a bunch of fireworks. "Deal! Count me in!" She yelled. "Fine!" Though.. Elixir knows damn well she regrets it already.

EPISODE THREE: HOUSE RULES

~AFTER SCHOOL~

Ash visits Elixir's place for the first time. Neat and traditional, but to Ash? Boring. She learns more about why Elixir is so uptight and strict as the class president. The hard pressure, strict household, Elixir gets a load of Ash's unpredictability, leading to a moment of unexpected closeness.

Ash: -whistling- No wonder you're president, you have the whole white house.

Elixir: It's called being organized.

Ash: You mean living in a museum?

Elixir ignores her and steps inside. The living room is spotless. The walls have perfectly aligned picture frames of family achievements, graduations, medals, awards. Ash's eyes wonder, noticing a large framed certificate with Elixir's name on it. "Academic Excellence Award." She smirks

Ash: Nerd confirmed.

Elixir: -sighs- Don't touch anything.

Ash: Oh I surrender officer!

~STUDY SESH~

Elixir: Alright, first, let's plan and lay out the fundraising reports-

Ash: Mehh -leans back stretching- What if we-

Elixir: No what if's we're doing this my way, okay?

Ash: -sighs-

5 MINUTES LATER

Ash starts tapping and spinning around her pen and makes a small drum beat on the table.

Elixir: Can you ATLEAST be still for one second for God's sake?

Ash: Multitasking helps me focus.

Elixir: Oh yeah? Is that why you forgot an entire envelope yesterday?

Ash: -gasps dramatically- Low blow, Pres.

Elixir shakes her head and tries to refocus, but Ash being Ash, bored, leans forward with a smirk.

Ash: Hey, so can I ask one questio-

Elixir: No.

Ash: But it's just one-

Elixir: Still. No.

Ash: Have you ever broken a rule? Had fun?

Elixir: You're asking me? -folds arms-

Ash: Does it look like I'm kidding? Have you ever done something reckless?

Elixir: Following rules are fun.

Ash bursts into laughter. "Wow! That might be the saddest thing I've ever heard from a person like you. No wonder you're boring."

Elixir huffs and snaps her notebook shut. "If you're not going to take anything seriously, THEN LEAVE.

Ash: But you said yourself I can't ever leave, is that right boss?

Elixir glares. Ash grins like she won an argument.

~A GLIMPSE OF HER WORLD~

As Ash wonders around Elixir's house, she notices how strictly structured her life is, her neatly folded uniforms, a rigid daily schedule, and walls covered in academic achievements. Among them, Ash finds a rare childhood photo of Elixir, messy but happy, holding a toy microphone.

When Elixir catches het snooping, Ash teases but also asks her, "Isn't it tiring? Being perfect all the time?" For the first time, Elixir doesn't have a quick response. Instead she stiffens, looking away.

~MIDNIGHT SNACKS, AND TRUCE?~

Later that night, Ash is lying on the couch, lazily flipping through a book while Elixir is still rechecking notes. Suddenly, Ash's stomach grumbles loudly.

Ash:  Gosh, I think I'm dying.

Elixir: You literally just ate.

Ash: Don't you get that it was hours ago? My survival depends on snacks.

Elixir sighs but eventually stands up and heads to the kitchen. When she returns, she hands Ash a small plate of crackers.

Ash: Awww, looks like you do care about me, how sweet of you.

Elixir: No I don't for God's sake, I just don't want to deal a person being whiny on my floor.

~ENDING

As Ash dozes off, Elixir glances at her, really looks at her. She's never met someone like Ash before. Someone who doesn't overthink, who isn't constantly pressured to be perfect. Someone who just... is. She doesn't know if she envies her or hates her for it. But for the first time, she wonders, what would it feel like if she'd be able to live like that? Even just for a day?

With that thought lingering, she quietly turns off the lamp. Fade to black.

That's the end of episode 2 and 3! I'll be posting again tomorrow with episode 4 and 5 (yes ep 4 is short like ep 2.) Sooo I hope you guys like it, and uhhh see you later alligators!