Episode 4
*(Wild Pages – One Week Later)*
Ash carter (ML)
arrives exactly at 3:00 PM.
Lia (FL)
looks up from the counter, a small smile tugging at her lips. There’s a book already set aside—*“No One Belongs Here More Than You”* by Miranda July.
Lia (FL)
Thought you might like this.
Ash carter (ML)
picks it up, traces the cover. His thumb brushes the edge where her fingers just were.
Ash carter (ML)
Why this one?
Lia (FL)
*(shrugs, but her eyes are knowing)* The title felt true.
Ash carter (ML)
*(He wanted to ask *for who?* but They both know.)*
*(Two Weeks In – Back of the Store)*
*(Lia has cleared a space—two armchairs by the window, a small table between them.
Ash carter (ML)
freezes when he sees it.)*
Ash carter (ML)
*(voice tight)* What’s this?
Lia (FL)
*(not looking up from her book)* My lunch breaks are lonely.
*(A lie. She never takes lunch breaks. Ash sits. They read in silence for an hour, the turning of pages was their only conversation.)
Ash carter (ML)
When he leaves, he leaves a single word on a scrap of paper: **“Thanks.”**
Lia (FL)
He stayed for an hour today. Didn’t say a word.
Mira (FL's best friend)
And you’re… happy about this?
Lia (FL)
*(biting her lip)* It’s the best hour of my week.
*(One Month Later – Rain Again)*
Ash carter (ML)
( appears, hair dripping. He’s holding something—a battered copy of *“The Stranger”* by Camus. He holds it out to her.)*
Ash carter (ML)
You should read this.
Lia (FL)
*(takes it, their fingers overlapping)* Why?
Ash carter (ML)
*(looking at their hands, not her face)* Because I think you’ll get it.
Lia (FL)
*(A beat. Then Lia, brave in a way she doesn’t recognize:)
Lia (FL)
What should I call you?
Ash carter (ML)
(The question hangs. Ash’s breath catches. For a wild moment, he considers lying. Then—)*
Lia (FL)
(testing the name) Ash.
Ash carter (ML)
(Even though he knew her he asked her)
And what's your name
*(It sounds like a beginning.)*
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