05: Wild Ride

Chapter 5

Wild Ride

Makayla grabbed Ashley’s hand, leading them through the festival grounds of SolarisFest. They felt butterflies in their stomach as their hands intertwined and the glowing lights and lively music danced around them. They arrived at the towering metal structure with screams zooming past them and the butterflies scattered chaotically, shifting into apprehension. Ashley’s heart sank, and they swallowed hard, glancing up at the tall, looping roller coaster ride above them.

Ashley: “W-Wait! I-I don’t know about this, Makayla…”

They stammered, holding up their hands. Makayla smiled at them.

Makayla: “Aww, are you scared, sweet pie?”

She cooed, stroking their cheeks.

Ashley: “...Yes.”

They nodded meekly, staring down at their feet as they felt the shivers pulsing from the soles of their feet to the crown of their head.

Makayla: “Don’t worry, it’s okay. I’ll protect you. I won’t let anything bad happen to you.”

She assured Ashley, stroking their head. Ashley smiled and breathed a sigh of relief.

Ashley: “O-oh, that’s good. How about we ride on the Ferris wheel or something, then?”

They offered, gesturing to the Ferris Wheel ride with red mushroom carts and fairy lights draped around it. Makayla gaped at them and laughed.

Makayla: “Aww, you’re so cute!”

She jumped into the rollercoaster carriage and pulled them in it with her.

Ashley: “M-MAKAYLA!”

They yelped and froze turgid with fear as the metal bar locked them into place.

Makayla: “It’s okay, sweet pie, you’ve got me! I’m here for you!”

She assured them, draping her arm around them, holding them close to her.

Suddenly, the rusty chains clattered as the rollercoaster train ascended the hill. Ashley shivered with fear, holding her back and gripping onto her. Makayla smiled widely at them.

Makayla: “You’re such a cutie patootie!”

Suddenly, the roller coaster came to a halt, and Ashley sighed with relief. Ashley’s heart sank when they saw the people on the ground looking like ants beneath them, and they felt the cool breeze across their faces.

Ashley: “O-OH NO!”

They cried and screamed as the train cart suddenly plummeted down at a sharp angle, and screams surrounded them.

Makayla: “HAHAHA YESSSS!”

She screamed with glee. Ashley clung onto her tightly like a scared little kitten, and their heart raced as they zoomed at high speeds through the loops. Their hair blew all over their face as they hung upside down and were thrust side-to-side at high speeds. Ashley shut their eyes tightly, overwhelmed with a fear they had never felt before, and suddenly, it was over.

Makayla: “Well, it was fun while it lasted.”

Ashley staggered out of the cart, still trembling.

Makayla: “Aww, are you okay, sweetheart?”

She pulled them into a hug.

Ashley: “...I-I’m fine.”

They forced a smile and laughed awkwardly.

Makayla: “I know what you need.”

She smiled at them, poking their tummy, making them shiver.

~

Ashley and Makayla sat together at a table full of hot dogs, burgers, fries, ice cream, and donuts from various vendors.

Ashley: “W-wow, that’s a lot of food, haha.”

They scratched their head.

Makayla: “You can never have too much food!”

She declared, biting into her hamburger. Ashley tilted their head and gaped at her.

Ashley: “Uhh, if you say so.”

They laughed and bit their hamburger.

Ashley: “So, uh, what was Lazaros’ food like?”

They asked her with curiosity, thinking of Lazaros’ delicious food earlier. Makayla frowned.

Makayla: “You’re not missing much. It was nowhere near as good as Voyage Burger!”

She laughed bitterly. Ashley’s eyes widened.

Ashley: R-really?!”

Their jaw dropped. Makayla nodded.

Makayla: “Yeah, he thought his food was better than Voyage Burger. Ego much?”

She rolled her eyes and ate her burger.

Ashley: “Well… he IS a masterchef. It must have been nice having someone cook for you. No one’s ever cooked for me before…”

They smiled, munching on their burger. Makayla scoffed and laughed bitterly.

Makayla: “Not really. He’d throw these tantrums whenever I ate Voyage Burger or ordered pizza. He’s a total control freak!”

She rolled her eyes and squirted the ketchup all over their basket of fries. Ashley winced at the ketchup running all over the fries.

Ashley: “Oh… I don’t like ketchup.”

They frowned. Makayla gaped at them.

Makayla: “WHAT? How could you NOT like ketchup?!”

She laughed.

Ashley: “I just don’t… it makes your fries soggy and they don’t need them when they’re already salted and herbed.”

They sighed, eating their donut.

Makayla: “...You sound like Lazaros.”

She laughed bitterly, eating the fries that were becoming a red potato mush. Ashley winced and looked away from them.

Ashley: “Well, he’s right…”

They muttered under their breath, licking their ice cream. Makayla recoiled as if she had been punched in the face.

Makayla: “What did you just say?”

She slammed her fist on the table, startling them.

Ashley: “...O-Oh! I said that I agree with him! …Is everything okay, Makayla?”

They knit their eyebrows.

Makayla: “NO! He’s a pompous asshole! How could you agree with him, Ashley?!”

She cried into her hands. Ashley knit their eyebrows.

Ashley: “I-I’m sorry… why are you upset with me?”

They stammered and recoiled.

Makayla: “Because you’re taking HIS side against ME!”

She bawled. Ashley’s head spun for a loop.

Ashley: “I-I’m sorry! Just because I don’t like ketchup on my fries and he doesn’t either, isn’t a slight against you, Makayla…”

They countered, embracing themself.

Makayla: “Whatever.”

She pouted, sitting back down in her seat and resuming to eat her donuts in silence, looking away from them. Ashley felt the cold tension from her, which made them feel on edge.

Ashley: “Anyway, we should get back to Måneravn now…”

They stammered, putting down their half-eaten hot dog and glancing over towards the market stall.

Makayla: “You didn’t finish your hot dog.”

She huffed, picking it up.

Ashley: “Oh, I can’t eat anymore, I’m so full, haha!”

They laughed awkwardly, patting their tummy. Makayla pouted.

Makayla: “I bought you all this food and you didn’t even finish it.”

Her bottom lip trembled with hurt in her tone. Ashley knit their eyebrows.

Ashley: “I’m sorry! I’ll make it up to you!”

They assured her with a smile. Makayla brightened a bit.

Makayla: “I’d like that.”

She smirked.

~

Blake stood at Måneravn, watching them like a hawk and seething at what he witnessed.

Blake: “I’m putting a stop to this!”

He huffed, straightening his jacket.

Andreas: “Why?”

He pressed him. Blake turned to gape at him.

Blake: “What do you mean, why? Did you see how she treats them?”

He huffed, gesturing to Makayla, who was dragging Ashley through the festival grounds, pointing at various rides. Andreas slowly nodded.

Andreas: “Why do you have to put a stop to this?”

He challenged him.

Blake: “Because, Ashley is my younger sibling and I have to protect them!”

He huffed. Andreas cross-examined him.

Andreas: “Are you protecting them, though?”

He challenged him, stroking his chin.

Blake: “What’s that supposed to mean? Are you saying I’m a bad protector?!”

He gaped at him. Andreas paused for a moment, sipping on his chamomile tea.

Andreas: “Making decisions for them and fighting their battles for them isn’t protecting them. It’s stifling them.”

He pursed his lips, swinging his gaze to Craig at the bar.

Blake: “How? They’re making all these terrible choices that will hurt them! What am I supposed to do? Just sit there and let it happen?!”

He countered. Andreas took a long sip of his tea.

Andreas: “Yes.”

He nodded. Blake gaped at him and furrowed his eyebrows.

Blake: “W-what?!”

Andreas held his hand up.

Andreas: “Let Ashley make their own choices and mistakes, even when you disagree with them. How can they make the right choices when they don’t have those life experiences to gain that fortitude?”

He challenged Blake. Blake paused, drinking in his firm words.

Andreas: “Do you want Ashley to end up like THAT?!”

He pointed at Maxx in the distance. He was fumbling over his large green jester boots and dressed in a pink leopard zoot suit. Blake shuddered and twisted his mouth.

Andreas: “Maxx was raised with a silver spoon up his ass by his rich parents. They paid off all his battles until he became too much for them to bear. He is now twenty-eight and doesn’t know how to work a microwave and doesn’t know what a golddigger is.”

He rolled his eyes. Blake drew a breath and looked pensively at Maxx and then at Andreas.

~

Ashley ventured through the hall of mirrors. They were illuminated by blue and pink neon lights and mandala patterns bouncing off each mirror around them. The floors were projected with twisting spiral patterns around their feet.

Ashley: “Makayla?!”

They called out for her, looking around for her. Ashley’s reflection distorted in the mirrors and lights as they passed by them.

Ashley: “Where are you?”

They knit their eyebrows, starting to panic. Suddenly, they heard her voice as she shouted at someone.

Makayla: “Where is he?! Where is my cutie pot pie?!”

She cried. Ashley rushed in the direction of her voice and saw her cornering Maxx against a mirror. Her reflection bouncing off several mirrors.

Maxx: “Owwh, damn, fiesty, baby!”

He purred at her.

Ashley: “...Makayla?”

They tilted their head, approaching her. Makayla froze and turned to Ashley in several mirror reflections.

Makalya: “O-oh, Ashley! There you are!”

She smiled at them, wrapping her arms around them. Ashley smiled at her and hugged her back, admiring their reflections in the mirrors.

Maxx: “Owwwh! Hey, baby!”

He grinned and winked at Ashley.

Ashley: “Maxx? What happened to you at that party? Where did you go?”

They pressed him. Makayla turned to Maxx, looking just as curious as Ashley.

Maxx: “Ohh, I was gettin’ down ‘n dirty with Jacky-babe, owwwh!”

He gloated. Ashley tilted their head. Wait, so he ran off with Jaclyn? So she lied to us? They pondered. Or did he lie just now?

Maxx: “Don’t be sad, baby, there’s plenty of Maxxy to go around! We can have a threesome!”

He assured Ashley. Ashley twisted their mouth.

Ashley: “Uhh, no thanks. Besides, I’m with Makayla now.”

They smiled at her. Makayla smiled back at them and draped her arm around them.

Maxx: “Even better! We can do a foursome! OWWWH!”

He grinned at Makayla. Makayla furrowed her eyebrows at Maxx.

Makayla: “Ugh, HELL NO, you gross clown!”

She huffed and slapped him across the face.

Maxx: “Dayum! Feisty, baby!”

He cackled, rubbing where she slapped him.

Ashley looked deep in thought, glancing down at their tattoo.

Ashley: “So, you lied about the band, and I don’t know who’s lying between you and Jaclyn, so… were you lying about Sunshire, too?”

They pressed Maxx, presenting their Sushire tattoo. Makayla gaped at them.

Makayla: “Of course he was, Ashley. It’s Maxx! He’s a lying jerk clown!”

She assured them.

Maxx: “Nah-ah! I’m NOT a clown!”

He huffed and stamped his feet.

Ashley: “...Then how would he know what Sunshire is? That’s impossible, unless he knew someone from there… but there was never anyone named Brad… unless he changed his name like we did…”

Their voice trailed off as their head spun with confusion. Makayla’s eyes widened.

Makayla: “He was lying about that, too! He was just trying to get in your pants, Ashley!”

She exclaimed.

Maxx: “Yeah, baby, but I ain’t no liar! Dat fatty asshole Brad is from dat freaky cult, too!”

He declared. Makayla glared at him. Ashley frowned.

Ashley: “It’s NOT a cult!”

They knit their eyebrows.

Ashley: “What did this ‘Brad’ look like?”

They pressed Maxx. Maxx spread his arms out and pressed his face to form a double chin.

Maxx: “He looks like a XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXL fatass!”

He cackled like a hyena. Ashley sighed and shook their head. Makayla rolled her eyes at Maxx and stomped on his foot.

Maxx: “OWWH!”

Makayla: “You’re an asshole!”

She huffed.

Makayla: “You’re wasting your time, Ashley. The clown always lies. You can’t trust a word from his pouty lips!”

She glared at Maxx and shook her head at him. Ashley heaved a defeated sigh and had a feeling they couldn’t shake, but couldn’t place.

Maxx: “NAH-AH! I’m NOT a clown and I’m NOT lying! He ate ALL of my Chickie-nugz and spilled bong water all over my American Pizza tapes! And now he ditched me to eat hamburgers!”

He whined and stamped his feet. Makayla gave him a look, and Ashley gaped at him disbelievingly.

Ashley: “...I don’t know what to think anymore. You lied to me and used me to rob Makayla’s band…”

They sighed.

Craig: “MY BAND! FUCKIN’ OATH, HE DID!”

He hollered, towering behind them, locking his glare onto Maxx.

Craig: “Where’s our rent money, jester-fuck?!”

He grabbed Maxx by his collar.

Maxx: “OWWWW!”

He wailed.

Craig: “I know you’re loaded! So pay up, or I’ll make your life hell!”

He shook him like a ragdoll.

Maxx: “Nah-ah! You ain’t gettin’ nothin’, bogan asshole!”

He taunted him.

Craig: “YOU CLOWN SHIT!”

He rasped, slamming Maxx into the mirror with a loud crash, followed by Maxx’s piercing wail. Ashley gasped and cupped their mouth.

Man: “HEY!”

A low voice called from behind him. Craig turned on his heel to see a group of circus clowns forming around them in multi-coloured clothing and pointy jester hats and boots.

Clown: “Hands off the clown, asshole!”

He glared at Craig, standing in front of Maxx.

Maxx: “NAH-AH! I’M NOT A CLOWN!”

He protested. Craig stumbled over a laugh and burst out laughing.

Craig: “Wahahaha! Here comes ya real band, jester-fuck!”

He cackled. A tall, muscular clown towered over Craig, cracking his big knuckles. Craig’s laughter died on his lips as he was punched into the funhouse mirrors.

Craig: “YARGGHHHHH!”

He roared. Maxx grinned smugly.

Maxx: “Take dat, dero!”

He taunted Craig. The clowns surrounded Maxx, lifting him over their heads.

Maxx: “H-HEY! What are you doing?!”

He whined and thrashed around in their grip.

Clown: “Come on, we got a show to do, pink bozo!”

He honked his horn and they carried him away, blowing on kazoos.

Maxx: “I’M NOT A CLOOOOOOWN!”

He wailed as they dragged him off to the circus tent. Ashley scratched their head.

Ashley: “So… he was lying about not being a clown, too?”

They laughed a bit. A group of security guards approached Craig.

Security Guards: “Come on, mate. It’s time to leave. You’re harassing the clowns and breaking property.”

He clicked his fingers.

Craig: “WHAT?! B-But he! BUT!”

He stammered, and the security guards grabbed him, dragging him out of the festival.

~

Andreas watched from Måneravn and rubbed his forehead.

Andreas: “Goddammit, Craig.”

He groaned and shook his head.

Blake: “What do you see in that idiot anyway?”

He rolled his eyes at Craig being kicked out by the security guards.

Andras: “I’m asking myself that question more and more these days…”

He drew a breath and poured another cup of tea.

Blake: “Why do you stay then?”

He pressed him. Andreas paused and pondered.

Andreas: “It’s complicated…”

His voice trailed off.

Blake: “Why is it complicated?”

He challenged him. Andreas sipped on his tea and drew a breath.

Andreas: “When I first came here, I barely spoke English, and I was bullied for being the gay ‘satanist' kid… until I met Craig. He protected me and accepted me… and I helped him accept himself, too, as we fell in love... I always dreamed of being a musician, but I had terrible stage fright. I never would have been able to do it if he hadn’t believed in me when no one else did.”

He began and smiled a bit.

Andreas: “I don’t know what changed…”

He sighed and bowed his head.

Blake: “You did.”

He offered. Andreas’ eyebrows rose.

Blake: “But he never did.”

He added and shook his head.

Blake: “I saw you on that stage. You had stage rage, not stage fright. You’re not that shy kid anymore, but he strikes me as someone who peaked in high school and never grew up.”

He rolled his eyes.

Andreas: “Huh… perhaps you’re right. Craig hasn’t changed… he still dresses the same way he did when I first met him.”

He sipped on his tea, reflecting. Blake rolled his eyes.

Blake: “That was then, but this is now. What does he do for you now?”

He challenged him.

Blake: “Other than being a nuisance.”

He rolled his eyes. Andreas laughed bitterly.

Andreas: “...I… don’t know anymore.”

He slowly admitted with a defeated sigh.

Ashley came rushing back to the market stall.

Ashley: “Hey guys, Craig got kicked out and I can’t find Makayla… did you see where she went?”

They frowned. Andreas heaved a sigh.

Blake: “Don’t know and don’t care. It’s for the best.”

He huffed and rolled his eyes.

Blake: “You’re supposed to be here anyway, Ashley.”

He added. Ashley bowed their head.

Ashley: “I’m sorry…”

They sat down with them at the booth.

Andreas: “Did you want to go on those rides with Makayla?”

He pressed them gently.

Ashley: “...I don’t know…”

They mumbled, looking down at their feet.

Blake: “In other words, no.”

He huffed, folding his arms across his chest.

Andreas: “Do you want to run this market store, Ashley?”

He asked them. Ashley’s eyes brightened with a smile.

Ashley: “Of course, I do! I’ve been looking forward to that all day!”

They beamed with excitement. Andreas observed their energy and nodded.

Andreas: “Then you should do what you want to do. Not what others want to do. You don’t have to do things you don’t want to do.”

He said firmly, but gently, to them. Blake’s eyebrows rose surprisingly at Andreas.

Blake: “He’s right. You don’t have to do what that idiot wants you to do!”

He nodded in agreement. Andreas swung his gaze to Blake.

Andreas: “Or your brother.”

He added. Blake gaped at him.

Ashley: “Really?”

They brightened and smiled. Andreas nodded in confirmation.

Ashley eagerly sat down at the table, neatly reorganising their remaining handmade wreaths, tea leaves, and cookies. Andreas smiled a bit, feeling their passionate energy.

Andreas: “By the way, someone bought one of your wreaths when you were gone… and I drank your tea. I liked it.”

He handed them the money.

Ashley: “YAY!”

They beamed, staring down at the ten-dollar notes.

Ashley: “Oh, no, you don’t have to give me money, Andreas! I owe you for being away for a while… if you want, you can go have a break, and I can watch over the store?”

They offered. Andreas’ eyebrows rose surprisingly.

Andreas: “Really? Are you sure you can handle that?”

He asked them. Ashley nodded.

Blake: “Yeah, I’ll be here.”

He assured Andreas, waving his hand. Andreas swung his gaze to Blake.

Andreas: “Actually… I was thinking you could come with me, Blake.”

He said to Blake. Blake paused, taken by surprise.

Blake: “...You want me to come with you?”

He gaped. Andreas nodded and swung his gaze to Ashley.

Andreas: “I think Ashley can handle this.”

He flashed them a smile.

Ashley: “Thank you!”

They beamed. Blake forced a smile.

Blake: “Sure.”

He swallowed hard.

~

Blake and Andreas wandered through the festival grounds together. Blake kept his gaze locked on Ashley, minding the store alone. Andreas observed him.

Andreas: “Why don’t you trust Ashley?”

He challenged.

Blake: “It’s not Ashley. It’s other people I don’t trust.”

He frowned.

Andreas: “You don’t trust Ashley to make their own choices, though.”

He added.

Blake: “How can I when they choose someone like Makayla?”

He huffed and glared at her, spotting her at the food vendors, buying hamburgers.

Andreas: “It could be worse…”

His voice trailed off, looking at Maxx being pulled around on stage by clowns. Blake frowned.

~

Ashley sat alone at Måneravn, watching the crowd and the rides spin around them. Suddenly, they were snapped out of their daze by a big shadow looming over them. They glanced up to see a tall, morbidly obese man dressed as a cow, grinning inanely at them. His hair resembled a scoop of Neapolitan ice cream with brown, blonde, and pink streaks.

Ashley: “H-Hello! How may I help you?”

They chirped. The man formed a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

Mr. Nice Cream: “Moo! I’m Mr. Nice Cream, the ice cream cow! I’m looking for some… sweet, delicious desserts!”

He declared, licking his lips.

Ashley: “Oh! Well, I’ve got plenty of those! I’ve got macarons, which I call ‘Meowcarons’ haha, and I have some cheesecake slices, and cupcakes!”

They exclaimed, presenting him with their colourful macarons with cat faces, blueberry, lemon, and chocolate cheesecakes, and banana cupcakes.

Mr. Nice Cream: “MMMMMMM, so delicious!”

He hummed, scooping the colorful desserts up like a vacuum cleaner in his large mouth. Ashley’s eyes widened.

Ashley: “O-oh wow!”

They laughed awkwardly. The man pulled out his wallet, tipping all the contents onto the table, which consisted of a fifty-dollar bill, a button, and a photo of a cow.

Mr. Nice Cream: “There you go, it’s all yours!”

He spread his arms out with a grin.

Ashley: “T-Thank you!”

They smiled and accepted the contents, chuckling at the random cow photo.

The man staggered back, forming a frame with his fingers, locking it onto Ashley.

Mr. Nice Cream: “YES! YES! You’re the perfect scoop!”

He beamed.

Ashley: “Perfect scoop?”

They tilted their head and chuckled.

Mr. Nice Cream: “How would YOU like to come work for me at Dessert Ranch?!”

He beamed widely, pointing at Ashley. Ashley’s face brightened.

Ashley: “R-REALLY?!”

They gasped, clasping their cheeks..

Ashly: “Wait, what’s Dessert Ranch?”

They chuckled. The man chortled.

Mr. Nice Cream: “Ohoho, you’re in for a treat! Pun very intended!”

He winked at Ashley, handing them a business card with the logo that read ‘Dessert Ranch’ over a graphic of a red barn cake.

Mr. Nice Cream: “At Dessert Ranch you get to dress up as your favourite animal and favourite dessert, while serving desserts!”

Ashley’s face lit up with excitement.

Ashley: “Oh my stars! That's way up my alley! I'm so in!”

They beamed giddily.

Mr. Nice Cream: “Mooooo! That is moo-sic to my ears!”

He grinned and clapped his hooves. Ashley chuckled.

Makayla: “Ashley? What's going on?”

Ashley turned around to see Makayla approaching them with a tray of hamburgers.

Ashley: “Makayla! There you are! Uhh, what's with all the hamburgers, haha?”

They scratched their head.

Makayla: “Oh, they're for my sweety pot pie!”

She beamed at Ashley, placing them down in front of them on the table. Ashley quirked an eyebrow.

Ashley: “Oh? Uhh, that's nice of you, but I'm not hungry…”

They awkwardly laughed, running their fingers through their hair. Ashley glanced up at Mr. Nice Cream.

Ashley: “But, maybe Mr. Nice Cream would like some? Are you hungry, sir?”

They offered, but Makayla interjected and pressed her finger to Ashley’s lips.

Makayla: “NO! It's for my sweety pot pie!”

She protested.

Ashley: “Uhh…”

They awkwardly shifted their eyes.

Makayla: “Come now, Ashley, won’t you delight in a bite?”

She sang to them, stroking their tummy. Ashley shivered and giggled and suddenly those burgers started to whet their appetite.

~

Blake rolled his eyes when he heard Makayla singing from the market stall.

Blake: “What the hell is her deal with the random singing? Does she think she’s in a musical or something?”

He pressed Andreas. They both turned to see Makayla singing to Ashley, accompanied by a plate of burgers and a large man in a cow costume hovering around them.

Blake: “What the fuck?”

Before Andreas could answer, Blake was marching back towards Måneravn.

Blake: “Hey! What's going on here?”

He interjected, folding his arms across his chest. Ashley snapped out of their daze.

Ashley: “Huh…OH! Hey Blake! Guess what!”

They giddily shot up from their seat.

Ashley: “Mr. Nice Cream, the dessert cow just gave me a job at the Dessert Ranch!”

They squealed with excitement, gesturing to Mr. Nice Cream. Blake gaped at them as if they had four heads. Makayla’s eyes widened.

Blake: “...The fucking what in the what now?”

He blinked mutely. Andreas quirked his eyebrow, examining the strange man.

Mr. Nice Cream: “Moo, moo! I'm Mr. Nice Cream, the ice cream cow!”

He waved at them.

Mr. Nice Cream: “Ashley MOO-ved me with her tasty desserts! You're looking at the latest scoop of Dessert Ranch.”

He gestured to Ashley. Ashley beamed with excitement.

Makayla: “You’re going to be working at a dessert place?!”

She gasped. Blake drew a long breath as he tried to compose himself.

Blake: “No. You’re not working for some weirdo in a cow costume!”

He huffed and shook his head, folding his arms across his chest.

Ashley: “Why not?”

They knit their eyebrows.

Andreas: “Yeah, why not?”

He flicked his gaze to Blake, folding his arms across his chest.

Blake: “Seriously?”

He gestured to Mr. Nice Cream, grinning in his cow costume, eating Makayla’s hamburgers.

Makayla: “HEY!”

She whined, taking the plate off him. Blake laughed a bit. Okay, that was pretty funny, he thought to himself.

Makayla: “Ugh, you’re just as bad as Craig! He’s always telling us what to do! Ashley should totally work at the dessert place! It would be soooo cute!”

She fired back at Blake, handing Ashley the plate of hamburgers and stroking their head. Blake glared at her, and something in him snapped when she compared him to Craig.

Blake: “Of course YOU want Ash working there with your weird kink! I’m nothing like that loser! I’m just looking out for Ashley, and they shouldn’t do this!”

He countered, taking the plate of burgers from Ashley. Ashley bowed their head and pouted, folding their arms across their chest.

Andreas: “I think Ashley should decide for themself.”

He interjected firmly, locking his gaze onto Blake and Makayla. They both paused to turn to him, and then they all turned to Ashley. Ashley shifted in their seat as all eyes were on them. Mr. Nice Cream grinned widely at Ashley, eating another hamburger.

Ashley: “I WANT to work at Dessert Ranch!”

They exclaimed firmly and excitedly, shooting up from their seat. Blake drew a long breath and rubbed his forehead. Andreas smiled and nodded.

Makayla: “YAY!”

She beamed, kissing Ashley’s cheek. Mr. Nice Cream clapped his hands.

Mr. Nice Cream: “Udderly moo-vellous! See you on MOO-nday!”

He waved and scurried off into the crowd. Blake groaned and rolled his eyes.

Ashley: “Oh my stars! I got a job!”

They beamed excitedly, clasping their hands.