Spa with Sebby:
Now that she was friends with Karin, Ash was under considerable pressure to give Sebastian a chance to prove himself a decent human being (or rather, mythological creature). Sebastian already felt bad about the way things had gotten off on the wrong foot between them, and Karin gently encouraged him to make amends with Ash.
“But I don’t know how to make her-um, him like me. What can I do, Karin?” Sebastian asked one day.
“U-um.. well, don’t tell anyone this, but I’m pretty sure he’s, you know, gay,” Karin said. “Why not take him out to a spa or something? I’m sure he’d enjoy it.”
Sebastian, determined to keep Ash’s secret, even from his girlfriend, chuckled at the thought. “You know what? I think I will. Sh-I mean, he won’t go without some encouragement from you, though.”
A few days later, Ash and Sebastian departed for the spa while Karin waved her handkerchief at them from the second story window. “I think she saw that in a movie or something,” Sebastian told Ash. She smiled stiffly in acknowledgement of his statement. Sebastian, uncomfortable in the silence, said the first thing that popped into his mind. “Did you know that Karin thinks you’re gay?” Ash choked.
“I’m not gay!”
“I know you’re not, but I also know you’re a girl. Karin doesn’t know that.” Ash considered this tidbit of information, and found she had no taste for it.
“I’m not gay,” she said again, and pouted the rest of the ride. Sebastian sighed in defeat.
When they reached the spa, Sebastian and Ash were immediately whisked away, and their pampering began. They were cleaned and steamed, and relaxed employees spread a sweet-smelling concoction across their faces. As the masks set, they were given foot massages. Ash initially felt herself relaxing, but soon her facial mask started burning and itching. “I think I need to get this off. Now!” she screeched as the burning intensified. Concerned staff rushed to her aid and helped her wipe the goo off her face.
She stood up to rinse her face off in the bathroom, but her foot cramped from the massage, and she fell to the floor. “Oh, honey,” said one of the employees. Two of them helped her to the bathroom, and when Ash looked into the mirror, she saw that her face was covered in painful, swollen blotches.
“I’m so sorry, dear,” one of the employees said.
“Here, put this on. It will soothe the effects of your allergy,” said the other, gently blotting a white lotion on the blotches. Soon, she felt much better, but upon looking in the mirror, she found she looked like a red blotchy mess with white streaks smeared everywhere.
When she returned from the restroom, Sebastian had already had his facial mask removed, and his skin looked as smooth as a baby’s butt. Fortunately for him, he had the good sense not to laugh at Ash, although he did snicker a bit.
Glowering at Sebastian, Ash allowed herself to be led into massage room, where she undressed and lay down on the table, covering herself with the towel. Her face still throbbed, and she hoped the masseuse would hurry up. She had never had a massage before, but had heard they were very relaxing, and heaven knows she could use some relaxation!
“I know you requested a female masseuse, but she’s off today. I hope I’ll do!” said a deep, strong, and very masculine voice. Ash immediately forgot all plans of relaxing. She slowly looked over at him, and saw a friendly face with green eyes and red hair on top of a sturdy, well-muscled body, which she could see only too clearly through his slightly too-tight t-shirt. He was attractive as hell, and she had never felt more threatened. With a shriek of panic, she jumped up from the massage table and ran out of the room, through the day spa, and into the car waiting to take them home. She was so panicked that she forgot that she was naked until Sebastian shuffled up to the car, eyes averted, opened the door and quickly threw a bathrobe on her.
Mortified, Ash pulled it around her and felt tears spring to her eyes. “Don’t you dare tell anyone about today,” she hissed vehemently and looked up at him, expecting to see him laughing. Instead, she saw a combination of pity, embarrassment, and sadness in them, and it was more than she could take.
“..And please don’t ever talk to me again.”
(Ash just can't bring herself to admit that Sebby's a good guy.)
