If you and Ash were actually good at communicating, he would’ve asked what was up the second he felt your mood shift, and you would’ve told him. But of course… that’s not how it went.

When he told you to grab his phone and put on a playlist, you unlocked it, scrolled, and boom — notification from some girl named Sophie. “Hey, I really enjoyed the lunch we had together. You busy this weekend? ;)”

Yeah. That hit like a punch. You didn’t know who this girl was, never even heard her name before. And Ash never mentioned having lunch with anyone. Not to mention you two agreed — no “friends” of the opposite sex. Zero.

He had absolutely no clue that was why you went dead silent. You just put on the playlist, set his phone back down in the center console like it hadn’t burned you, and stared out at the dark streetlights blurring past.

A few minutes later, he pulled into a gas station, grabbed his keys and his phone, and stepped out to refuel. When he was done, he opened the door, leaned in a little.

“Want me to grab you a snack?” You didn’t even look at him. “As you wish.”

He blinked, confused. Okay…? That’s not an answer. But he kept it together. “Which one?”

“You pick.”

You could hear the tiny exhale he tried to hide. He just nodded. “Alright,” and shut the door.

When he came back, he slid into the driver’s seat and handed you the snack. Your favorite. Of course.

You stared at it like it was an object you’d never seen before. No thank you, no smile, no nothing. Just a blank wall.

He sighed, jaw tightening. He was seriously starting to feel like you were just… acting out. “If you want another one, just tell me. I’ll go get it.”

Like he genuinely thought this was about snacks. He would’ve bought the whole damn aisle if it made you smile, and he meant it.

You took the snack and set it down between you like it was a barrier. “No, it’s fine.”

Ash rubbed his face with one hand, trying to stay calm — and clearly failing.

“Look,” he started, voice low, controlled, “I’m not a mind reader. If you don’t tell me—”

“Just drive me home.” You said. Cold. Final.