Celeste walked across the campus grounds, the weight of her conversation with Liam slowly dissolving with each step. The school gates came into view, the golden hue of early evening casting long shadows along the pavement.
But then—
A faint hum of an engine.
Tires slowly rolling behind her.
She glanced over her shoulder.
A sleek black car was tailing her at a careful distance.
Her brows furrowed.
Okay, that's weird.
She quickened her pace.
The car matched it.
Just enough to stay behind.
What the hell?
Her phone suddenly rang, making her jolt. She quickly pulled it out—Ash.
She picked up in a rush.
"A-Ash?"
"Cel," Ash's voice crackled through the speaker, light with amusement. "Don't freak out."
"H-Huh?—Wait—what?" Celeste turned in place, eyes darting around. "Are you seeing me right now?"
"Yup. Look behind you."
She whipped around.
The black car crept forward just a bit—and then the window rolled down.
Ash was behind the wheel, phone still pressed to his ear, wearing that soft, shy smile of his.
Her eyes widened. "Ash?"
"Sorry," he said gently, lips curving. "Didn't mean to scare you. I just thought it'd be fun to tease you a little."
Celeste narrowed her eyes, lowering her phone with an unimpressed sigh.
"You're lucky I didn't throw something at your windshield."
She ended the call and walked toward the car, arms crossed—but her lips betrayed her with a small smile.
Ash leaned over and opened the passenger door.
"Get in?"
"…Since when do you have a car?" she asked, sliding into the seat beside him.
"Since exactly three hours ago." He gave her a modest grin. "Get in, and I'll tell you."
Without a word, Celeste leaned in and slid into the seat beside him, pulling the door closed, the soft thud echoing in the quiet interior.
She looked around. The car smelled brand new. Leather seats, a neat dashboard, the faint hint of cologne—probably his.
Ash glanced sideways at her as he slowly pulled the car back onto the road.
Celeste turned slightly toward him.
"You're telling me you woke up this morning, walked into a dealership, and bought a car just like that?"
Ash let out a quiet chuckle, eyes on the road.
"Not quite. I've been planning to get one since a few months back—just waited till work settled a bit. The paperwork was already in progress weeks ago. They called me this morning and said I could pick it up."
Celeste gave a low whistle.
"Impressive."
Ash glanced at her, a little flustered.
After a moment, Ash cleared his throat.
"…Actually, there is a reason I wanted the car."
Celeste turned her head to look at him, curious.
His voice softened, almost nervous.
"It's not just for errands or convenience or… whatever. The truth is…"
He exhaled.
"I didn't like seeing you step out of Liam's car."
Her brows lifted, surprised.
"I mean—I know he's just helping, and it's not like I have a right to say anything. But every time I saw it… I just kept thinking, I want to be the one waiting for you. The one driving you home. Not him."
The air went quiet between them.
Celeste blinked slowly, her heart beating just a little faster.
She turned toward him and smiled—warm, bold, and just a little mischievous.
"You jealous, Ash?"
Ash's ears flushed bright pink.
"N-No—! I mean—Not in a weird way, I just—"
Celeste leaned closer, her voice teasing, her tone dipping just slightly.
"So you bought a car… just to drive your girl home?"
Ash's breath caught.
He gripped the steering wheel like it might fly out of his hands.
Celeste smirked, leaning back against the seat as she crossed one leg over the other.
"That's kind of… charming, actually."
Ash made a small, breathless sound—barely a squeak—as his grip on the steering wheel tightened.
His ears flushed bright pink, and he kept his gaze stubbornly on the road, jaw slightly tense.
"…I-Is it?" he mumbled, barely audible.
Celeste glanced at him, amused.
"Are you blushing again?"
Ash didn't answer—just blinked hard and focused like the traffic ahead held the secrets of the universe.
But even then, his lips curved up—quietly proud.
Because she was there.
In his car.
Beside him.
And this time… not with Liam.
Celeste glanced around the sleek interior again, running her fingers along the edge of the armrest with a lazy kind of interest.
"You know…" she said, voice casual but a little too deliberate, "since this car's brand new…"
Ash glanced at her warily, catching the glint in her eye.
"…Yeah?"
"…Don't you think it'd be a waste if it stayed too clean?"
He blinked.
"Uh… you mean like… eating in here? Or getting mud on the mats?"
She snorted softly, amused.
"No, Ash."
He frowned slightly, still driving, completely unaware he was walking into a trap.
"Then what?"
Celeste leaned in just enough for her shoulder to brush his. Her voice dropped, smooth and unhurried.
"I mean getting it dirty the fun way."
Ash blinked again.
Then it hit him.
His eyes widened—his hands jerked slightly on the wheel before he righted it again.
"Y-You mean—You don't mean—"
Celeste just tilted her head with a smug little grin.
"I mean exactly what you think I mean."
"C-Cel—!" His voice cracked.
She turned to him fully now, arm resting along the center console, her face far too close for his nerves.
"It'd be kinda hot, right?" she whispered. "Backseat… doors locked… steamed-up windows…"
Ash looked like his soul had momentarily left his body.
"I—We—You—" he stammered, gripping the wheel tighter. "I'm driving right now, Cel—!"
She laughed, unabashed.
"That's okay. I'm just saying we could break it in later. You know. If you're up for it."
Ash's entire face was tomato-red now.
"C-Can we talk about this when we're not on a public road where I might crash into a tree?!"
Celeste giggled and leaned back into her seat, clearly proud of herself.
"You're cute when you're flustered."
"I'm always flustered around you," he mumbled under his breath.
She smiled at that—soft, sincere.
"…Good."
And even though Ash didn't say another word right away, the red on his face lingered… and the quiet little smile tugging at his lips stayed too.
He shot her a side-glance, cheeks still blazing.
"Seriously though… it's still early. Want to stop somewhere before heading home?"
Celeste turned her gaze toward the window, pretending to think.
"Hmm…"
Then she turned back to him with a straight face.
"Love Hotel."
Ash choked on air.
"E-Excuse me?!"
Celeste fought the grin tugging at her lips.
"You heard me."
"C-Cel—can you be serious?"
"I am serious."
He stared at her, jaw opening like he wanted to object—but no sound came out. His ears were glowing red now.
She burst into laughter, unable to hold it in any longer.
"Your face right now—priceless."
Ash gave her a helpless look, somewhere between stunned and exasperated.
"…I just thought we'd maybe go for coffee or something," he muttered.
Celeste tilted her head, softening a bit.
"Fine, fine. Let's not scar your new car today."
He sighed in relief.
She added, voice a little gentler this time, "How about somewhere we can see the city lights instead?"
Ash blinked, eyes flicking to her, surprised by the sudden calm.
"The city lights?"
"Yeah," she said with a light smile. "Drive me somewhere quiet. Somewhere high up, maybe—just you and me, looking out over the skyline while drinking something."
Ash's shoulders relaxed.
"…Convenience store first then," he said with a small, genuine smile, starting to turn the wheel.
And just like that, they drove off—laughing, still teasing, but heading toward something softer. Something only the night could hold for them.
___________
The wind was calm, and the sky vast, speckled with stars.
Ash and Celeste stood on a quiet hilltop road, overlooking the glowing city below. The skyline sparkled like scattered jewels, and the soft silver light of the moon bathed everything in a dreamy haze.
Celeste took a long sip from her can of beer, the fizz tickling her lips.
"Mmm… I forgot how pretty the view is from here."
Ash, standing just beside her, held his own can loosely—juice, not beer—barely taking a sip.
"It really is."
But he wasn't looking at the city.
He was looking at her.
The way her dark hair caught the moonlight. The curve of her lips as she smiled. The dreamy glint in her eyes as she stared at the lights. To him, the entire city looked dull compared to the girl next to him.
Celeste turned her head slightly, catching the way he was watching her.
She raised a brow.
"You're staring."
Ash blinked, immediately looking away.
"N-No, I wasn't— I was just… thinking."
She stepped a little closer.
"Thinking about what?" Her tone was playful, mischievous.
"Just… stuff," he mumbled.
She tilted her head, pretending to ponder.
"Hmm. Stuff like… how much you wanna kiss me right now?"
Ash's face turned pink.
"I-I—Cel…"
She leaned even closer, her voice a whisper now, teasing and low.
"Or maybe you were wondering how I'd taste if you kissed me after I've had a drink?"
His ears went red.
"C-Cel, please—"
She smirked.
"Or maybe you're thinking about how good it would feel if I climbed on top of you in that new car of yours and—"
"Stop!" Ash blurted, flustered, his voice cracking. "I-I'm trying not to crash my brain right now."
Celeste burst into laughter, throwing her head back.
"God, you're too easy to tease."
"I'm trying to be respectful!" he cried, embarrassed. "You're the one saying—saying crazy things!"
Before she could reply, a cold droplet hit her cheek.
Then another.
And then—
Drizzle.
Ash looked up just as the rain started to fall, soft at first, then quickly turning heavier.
"Ah, crap—come on!" he said, grabbing her wrist.
They both ran toward the car, laughing as the rain poured over them. By the time they slammed the doors shut, they were both soaked.
Ash shook his head, water dripping from his bangs.
"I should've checked the forecast…"
Celeste was giggling beside him, pushing back her damp hair. Her clothes clung to her frame, the neckline of her top drooping slightly from the rain. She turned to him with an amused look.
"See?" she said breathlessly. "Now your new car really is getting dirty."
Ash turned his face away, utterly red again.
"Don't say stuff like that when you're soaked—"
Without thinking, Celeste began peeling off her outer layers, leaving her in just her bra and jeans.
"Don't look at me like that," she said with a grin.
"It's wet. I'm not about to sit in soggy clothes."
Ash's face turned scarlet.
"Y-Yeah… that makes sense."
"You should take yours off too," she added, gesturing to his soaked shirt. "You'll catch a cold."
When he started fumbling with his buttons, Celeste leaned over with a teasing grin.
"Let me help."
"I can do it—" he tried to protest, but his voice softened as her fingers brushed his skin.
He shrugged out of his office shirt—long-sleeved and tossed it to the backseat. For a beat, they just stared at each other, breathless and close. Rain pattered hard against the roof, muffling the world outside.
Then, without a word, Celeste leaned in.
Their lips met in a deeper kiss—slower, hotter. She climbed onto his lap gently, cupping his face as she kissed him again, more deliberately this time.
Ash's hands hovered at her waist, unsure.
She whispered against his lips,
"You don't have to hold back."
The windows fogged up around them as they remained in that moment—lost in the warmth between them while the storm raged outside.
___________