<span style="font-family: 'Georgia'">Twenty minutes and one proper hand-wash later, there came a firm rap on Theo's apartment door. And even though he was expecting company, it still gave him a jolt, and he had to fight against the niggling of paranoia that tightened in his gut. It wasn't as if <i>anyone</i> could just come knocking at his door. It'd been one of the first things he'd looked into when buying the place. Security was important. And no one who wasn't on the approved list could even reach his floor without him knowing first. But nothing was perfect, was it? And there was no such thing as a hundred-percent safe.<br/>
<br/>
Even knowing who was at the door, Theo still checked the video intercom. The petite brunette stood on the other side of the door, waved a white paper bag at the camera, and Theo shook his head as he approached the door, chiding himself for being so damn paranoid. He still couldn't stop himself from peering through the door hole, just to be sure, before finally unlocking the series of custom locks he'd had installed. Just in case. <br/>
<br/>
"Took you long enough," Ashleigh muttered as she stepped inside and headed for the kitchen, where she sat the paper bag and drink carrier on the black marble counter top.<br/>
<br/>
Dressed down in a grey knit sweater and tie-dye leggings, her dark hair done up in a messy bun and noticeable dark circles under even darker eyes, Anna looked anything but happy to see Theo, and he didn't blame her. He had dragged her out of bed for purely selfish reasons. Sometimes he wondered why she continued to bother with him. Though he was more grateful then he'd ever be able to admit. He honestly didn't know would he'd do without her. <br/>
<br/>
Theo had many 'friends' but none came even close to Ash. She was a constant. She was safe. The one person in his life that he could count on. Not to mention she was the closest thing to family he had. <br/>
<br/>
...Family.<br/>
<br/>
The lure of pore-clogging crap advertised as food drew Theo from the spiraling direction that his mind was heading in and over  to the island. Where he proceeded to set out the contents of the bag, shoveling greasy, salt laden fries into his mouth as he did so. <br/>
"Don't forget to save some for the rest of us." Climbing onto one the glass bar stools, Ash stabbed a straw into one of the foam cups which she slid in front of Theo; that was without a doubt a cherry fudge shake with extra fudge. <br/>
<br/>
Theo made a face at her as he passed over one of the burgers. "Didn't know I had to share." <br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, well, tough luck." <br/>
<br/>
Leaning over, Theo pecked Ash on the cheek. Rolling his eyes when she playfully batted him away, "Ok, ok, that's enough. I get it. You're welcome."<br/>
<br/>
A companionable silence fell over them then as they worked through four of the six double cheeseburgers and extra large fries. Theo was never up for conversation tonight of all nights, and Ash had kept him company through enough birthdays to know that he wanted the company more than anything else.</span>