My Fallen Angel

"Ken?"
I blinked, opening my eyes. I sat up, and then scrambled to my feet hastily as I realized I'd dozed off.
I looked back toward the gravel, seeing Ashley walking toward me.
"What are you doing out here?" he asked, grimacing as he swept through the higher grass.
"Enjoying myself. Why aren't you with the others?" I asked, resting my hands on my hips.
"They were worried about you out here by yourself," he shrugged, his thumbs slipping into his pockets as he came to stand in front of me. "So I figured I could check on you."
"I'm fine," I muttered, looking at my feet. "You don't have to babysit me."
An awkward silence grew.
Ashley blew out an aggravated breath.
"Look, Kenali, I'm sorry, about the other day, okay?" he muttered. "I, uh, shouldn't have pressured you like that."
My eyes flicked up cautiously. He was apologizing? Really?
I stared at him, then shrugged. "Let's not talk about it, okay? Ever."
He hesitated, then nodded, his hair moving with the sudden breeze. "Okay."
The silence grew again, and I shifted my feet uncomfortably. I felt like I needed to make amends with him somehow. I hesitated, glancing around, then smiled.
"Race you?"
Ashley blinked, then grinned. "You know I was a warrior, right?"
"And I was a dancer. I'm just as atheltic as you!"
And then I ran, leaving him behind me. I heard him laugh as he chased me, catching up with me quickly as we darted through the field, keeping our pace mostly human as we ran. I could feel the grass whipping across my legs, but my skin was too tough for it to cut, and it felt so good to stretch my muscles.
We made it to the end of the field at the same time, and I turned in a flash, my hair blinding me for a second before I brushed it out of the way.
I wasn't even winded.
Ashley laughed at me, and tousled my hair some more. "This is your element, huh?"
"Its so beautiful," I twirled around. "And warm, and the air is clear! It smells so nice."
I took a deep breath, closing my eyes as the sun came out from behind a lone cloud.
Ashley chuckled, and caught my hand as I twirled again. He whirled me back to him, and I landed against his chest with an oomph.
"When this is all over," he waved one hand, "I have a house out in a place like this that I never use. You can have it for as long as you want."
"Really?" He would do that? He must really feel guilty.
"Yeah." he sent me a hesitant smile. "I won't bother you any there."
I sighed, pressing my fingers against his chest thoughtfully. "You don't bother me, Ashlandil. You infuriate me."
He blinked at me, then grinned. He let his hand trail down my cheek, and I knew he was going to kiss me again, and I almost let him.
Instead. I pulled away, and dashed back the way we came, shooting him a smile over my shoulder.
"Catch me if you can!" I called as he started after me.
He liked challenges, so I gave him one.
He caught up with me as I was almost to the pavement, my pace slowing as I saw the guys starting toward the bus. I felt his hands close around his waist, and then I gave a squeal of surprised laughter as he lifted me up and threw me over his shoulder.
I laughed, smacking his back lightly.
"Ashley! Put me down!"
"Nope, you might run away again," he told me, his hand planted in the center of my butt as he walked with me back to the gravel.
"Hey, Ashley, watcha got there?" I heard one of the guys laugh, and I sighed, my hair cascading down to where I couldn't see anything even when I raised my head.
"It's a field fairy! What, have you never seen one?"
I pinched his butt, and he yelped, swatting me hard.
"Ow! Hey!"
"Well, I can say I have now," it was Andy who laughed, and I raised my head in consternation.
"Will someone help me?" I demanded, holding myself up by bracing my hands against Ashleys lower back. I held a hand up, holding my hair behind it as I gazed at the guys beseechingly.
"Well, when a field fairy asks for help, who are we to say no?" Jake laughed, and I grinned at him. I offered him my hands, but Ashley abruptly whirled, and I yelped, narrowly avoiding hitting my head on the bus.
"ASHLEY."
"Whoops, sorry, babe," he apologized, and I scowled.
"Hey, never trust the fairies! I caught her," Ashley told them proudly, and I rolled my eyes, "so I get to keep her."
That was not how it went, and I could feel all the blood starting to rush to my head. I squirmed, but his grip was like iron.
"Ashlandil, put me down before I do something drastic." I said softly where only he would hear. He snorted, like saying "as if", but turned, leaning down where I could stand up finally.
I shoved my hair out of my face, and Andy picked a leaf out as he walked by absently.
"You must have actually liked living in the country," Jake commented as we all piled back on the bus, as much as I didn't want too.
"It's nice. I like it better then the cities," I sighed, sitting down on the sofa. "They're so dark and smoggy. It's not like that out here."
"Ash couldn't wait to get to Cali," CC said as he headed towards the bunks. "I think he said once he would never go back home."
I glanced at him, wondering if he meant his true home.
"I think he will, one day," I said lightly, and he glanced at me. "Given a chance."
We all go home in the end, I suppose. It just might not be how it was before.

Notes

Sooo, maybe Ashlandil isn't quite as hard core as he likes everyone to believe he is! Do you think he actually wants to go home? What (or maybe who?) Was the reason he Fell?
Food for your thoughts!