about forty minutes to get ready before she had to leave. She would be cutting it fine with the time, but she hoped that for once the bus wouldn’t be busy, or that it would at least arrive on time—although it wasn’t likely.
Considering Marco had gone out by himself today at his own request, she didn’t feel too guilty in arranging to meet-up with Ben. After all, he was aware of Ben and the dates they had been on, so it wouldn’t come as too much of a surprise when he came back to find that she wasn’t there. And there was also going to be tension between them from the kiss, which she wanted to try and avoid.
Ripping her hoody and sleep shorts from her body, she immediately reached for her deodorant while trying to juggle putting toothpaste onto her electric toothbrush.
“ For God's sake,” she cursed, dashing into her bedroom twenty minutes later. She hadn't managed to apply a full face of make-up which she was annoyed with. Very rarely did Ashley leave the house without ensuring her face was completely covered. Even with pelting rain and thunderstorms, she would always make sure that adequate make-up was applied. “You look so rough!” She moaned at her own reflection in her bedroom mirror. Although she had covered her face sufficiently, she hated that she hadn’t been able to apply mascara or a little bronzer to take the attention away from her birthmark.
There wasn’t enough time. Her face would have to go a little naked for a change.
Grabbing a hair bobble and some hair grips from her vanity unit, Ashley went to work on the mass of frizzy hair that encased her face. Taking in her reflection, she suddenly regretted her lack of hair washing over the past few days. Her usually soft and naturally wavy hair now looked like a birds nest perched awkwardly on the side of her head. She looked awful. Actually, worse than awful. She looked like a complete train wreck on the inside and out. No matter what she did, she couldn't make herself look even half decent if she tried.
P ulling her hair into a mid-high ponytail and securing the flyaway pieces with some grips, she felt a little better with her appearance. She was going for the casual look... she continued to repeat this over in her head like a mantra as she opened the top drawer of her dresser and selected a simple black cotton bra and matching thong. She decided that she may as well dress for comfort in the underwear department as well.
“ Come on, come on, come on,” she mumbled, throwing on a pair of dark blue skinny jeans and a faded white leopard print jumper. She knew that if the weather was anything like it had been recently, then it was going to be bloody freezing. “Boots... boots?” She pulled open the door to her wardrobe and grabbed her Uggs.
Dashing back into the kitchen, she snatched her phone and headed straight for the front door. She didn’t need to look at the clock to know that she was going to be late.
~
Thankfully, Ashley was able to catch a bus right outside of her flat that dropped her nearby the restaurant where she was meeting Ben.
Based in the centre of Greenwich High Road, Caramel was an old family run business that had occupied the same unit for the past fi fty years. It was a story that Alex, the old man who owned the restaurant, loved to tell her every time she visited.
With the dental practice only a five minute walk away, it was safe to say that Caramel had turned into a weekly hotspot for not only Ashley and Gabby, but for the rest of the employees as well.
Despite the restaurant's aging and worn exterior, the food and service levels were top notch and the best within the immediate area. The simple comfort food offered on the menu was always a welcome break away from whatever drama was currently unfolding in either her or Gabby's life.
“You’re late,” Ben said, shaking his head as Ashley approached. “How long did it take you to get ready today, hey?” He gave her a warm smile and her shoulders a
Considering Marco had gone out by himself today at his own request, she didn’t feel too guilty in arranging to meet-up with Ben. After all, he was aware of Ben and the dates they had been on, so it wouldn’t come as too much of a surprise when he came back to find that she wasn’t there. And there was also going to be tension between them from the kiss, which she wanted to try and avoid.
Ripping her hoody and sleep shorts from her body, she immediately reached for her deodorant while trying to juggle putting toothpaste onto her electric toothbrush.
“ For God's sake,” she cursed, dashing into her bedroom twenty minutes later. She hadn't managed to apply a full face of make-up which she was annoyed with. Very rarely did Ashley leave the house without ensuring her face was completely covered. Even with pelting rain and thunderstorms, she would always make sure that adequate make-up was applied. “You look so rough!” She moaned at her own reflection in her bedroom mirror. Although she had covered her face sufficiently, she hated that she hadn’t been able to apply mascara or a little bronzer to take the attention away from her birthmark.
There wasn’t enough time. Her face would have to go a little naked for a change.
Grabbing a hair bobble and some hair grips from her vanity unit, Ashley went to work on the mass of frizzy hair that encased her face. Taking in her reflection, she suddenly regretted her lack of hair washing over the past few days. Her usually soft and naturally wavy hair now looked like a birds nest perched awkwardly on the side of her head. She looked awful. Actually, worse than awful. She looked like a complete train wreck on the inside and out. No matter what she did, she couldn't make herself look even half decent if she tried.
P ulling her hair into a mid-high ponytail and securing the flyaway pieces with some grips, she felt a little better with her appearance. She was going for the casual look... she continued to repeat this over in her head like a mantra as she opened the top drawer of her dresser and selected a simple black cotton bra and matching thong. She decided that she may as well dress for comfort in the underwear department as well.
“ Come on, come on, come on,” she mumbled, throwing on a pair of dark blue skinny jeans and a faded white leopard print jumper. She knew that if the weather was anything like it had been recently, then it was going to be bloody freezing. “Boots... boots?” She pulled open the door to her wardrobe and grabbed her Uggs.
Dashing back into the kitchen, she snatched her phone and headed straight for the front door. She didn’t need to look at the clock to know that she was going to be late.
~
Thankfully, Ashley was able to catch a bus right outside of her flat that dropped her nearby the restaurant where she was meeting Ben.
Based in the centre of Greenwich High Road, Caramel was an old family run business that had occupied the same unit for the past fi fty years. It was a story that Alex, the old man who owned the restaurant, loved to tell her every time she visited.
With the dental practice only a five minute walk away, it was safe to say that Caramel had turned into a weekly hotspot for not only Ashley and Gabby, but for the rest of the employees as well.
Despite the restaurant's aging and worn exterior, the food and service levels were top notch and the best within the immediate area. The simple comfort food offered on the menu was always a welcome break away from whatever drama was currently unfolding in either her or Gabby's life.
“You’re late,” Ben said, shaking his head as Ashley approached. “How long did it take you to get ready today, hey?” He gave her a warm smile and her shoulders a
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