#2p1s

When it came to taking trips back home during short hiatuses from filming Misha always opted to take the train instead of driving. He found the long train rides relaxing and used most of his time sitting there to think. Sometimes he would read or even go over scripts but mostly he spent the hours lost in thought.

 After his most recent relationship ended he was going over what went wrong in his head as the train pulled out of the station. It was yet another breakup in a long string of failed relationships and he was starting to think that maybe he was the problem, especially because he was never the one to end the relationship. He was almost certain that they had all ended because of his crazy work schedule and even though he knew it shouldn’t bother him, it did.

 As the train rolled down the tracks he’d come to the decision that he would just give up on love for a while and focus on work. It seemed like that was all he ever did anyway so the only thing he would really be missing was someone to come home to after a long day. The longer he thought about it the more he realized that was something pretty big to be willing to give up, but it wasn’t like he had much of a choice.

 The train he was on made a few stops throughout the trip and when the train came to a halt at the first stop something fell from the overhead compartment and landed with a thud at his feet. He looked down to see what it was a noticed a small, leather bound, book. He picked it up and upon further inspection noticed that it was a journal. Stamped on the worn black leather in gold writing, situated in the bottom right hand corner, was a name. Ashley.

 He knew he shouldn’t be reading someone else’s private thoughts but the neat, cursive, writing he saw adorning the pages as he flipped through it piqued his interest. He figured it wouldn’t hurt to read an entry or two, just to see if he could find out more information about the journal’s owner and find a way to get it back to her safely.

 When the passengers at the station had finished boarding the train and it pulled away from the station he opened the front cover and looked at the first page. There wasn’t much there just a small note stating that the journal belonged to her. He was hoping for an address or phone number or something but there wasn’t anything, so he turned the page and found the first entry.  It was dated July 1st.

 I don’t normally do this, write down my thoughts in journals, but mom thought it would be a good way to chronicle this new adventure. Well, that’s what she called it anyway. I don’t know if I would consider moving across the country for work an adventure, although, most people probably would.

 I honestly don’t know what I’m expecting to happen once I finally reach LA, all I do know is that it’s going to be completely different than Jersey. I haven’t even boarded the plane yet and I’m already homesick. I’m literally twenty minutes from home and I miss it already, how is that even possible?

 Well, my plane is about to board. I guess I’ll write more tomorrow? Maybe? I’m not even sure how long I’ll keep this going. It’s not like anyone is going to read it. Oh well, next time I do decide to jot anything down I’ll be in sunny Los Angeles.

 Not finding what he was looking for and also slightly curious about what it was that Ashley did for a living that required her to move across the country he found himself turning the page to the next entry. It was dated a few days later which lead him to believe that she wasn’t one for writing every day like the first entry had stated. He knew he should shut the book and put it down but he found himself compelled to see what she had written on July 5th.

 This was nothing like I anticipated it being. Who was I kidding, though? Sure doing makeup for Broadway shows and the occasional music video or red carpet event in the city was one thing but why on earth did I ever think doing makeup on a movie set was a good idea? I am in no way as talented as the people I’m working with. I’m starting to think coming out here was a mistake.

 Mom convinced me to tough it out though. I know I have to work my way up and there are still things I need to learn but it’s a lot more difficult than I thought it would be. On the bright side, the crazy hours leave me no time for a social life, which is a good thing. The last thing I need right now is for him to be following me around like a lost puppy. You’d thinking moving across the country would cause your ex to give up. Apparently I was wrong about that one too.

 I mean, why did he have to move out here? There’s nothing here for him and to top it all off he had to move in to my building. Is he serious? Maybe he’ll find someone else while he’s out here. Maybe then he can just move on from me. Honestly, I hope that happens because if I could never see his face again that would be fantastic.

 I’m running late for work. Maybe I’ll write again tomorrow. At this point who knows. These entries are probably going to be very sporadic.

 Misha was so engrossed in Ashley’s life as he continued to read through the pages in the journal that he almost missed his stop. He gathered his things quickly, making sure to keep the journal with him, and made it off the train with seconds to spare before it pulled off again. His apartment wasn’t far from the station and as he walked down the sidewalk, pulling his suitcase behind him, he almost couldn’t wait to get home and continue reading through the journal.

 He walked through the front door of his apartment and set the journal down on his kitchen counter before unpacking his things. He put everything it it’s rightful place and then took a shower, needing to get the feeling of traveling off of him. Once he was showered and dressed he ordered some food and grabbed a beer from the fridge before picking up the journal again. Settling himself in one of the chairs on his balcony, he popped open the beer and opened the journal to the next entry dated September 3rd.

 Things have gotten easier. I’m finding that I love going to work and I don’t dread it nearly as much as before. The cast is so fun and the hours are still crazy but a good kind of crazy.

 Collin still hasn’t left me alone. I’m pretty sure he’s using again. Which is definitely not something I need right now. Even though it’s been a few months he hasn’t found anyone new and it’s becoming a problem. I can’t go five minutes being home without him knocking on my door. I’ve been debating a restraining order, but I doubt it will do any good.

 This is the first night off I’ve had in weeks. Normally I would just spend it inside with a giant glass of wine and catch up on the episode I’ve missed of my favorite shows but that’s not the case tonight. Some of the other girls want to go out for drinks and I decided to go. Why not right?

 Who knows, maybe I’ll meet my prince charming or something. Now that would be an interesting turn of events.

 Misha sat there for hours reading through the journal. He found himself wanting to know more about Ashley. Just through the writing on the pages he found her appealing. She was funny and witty and seemed to be driven when it came to her career. It surprised him that he wanted to punch her jerk off of an ex-boyfriend in the face and as he continued to flip through the pages and read about her life he was suddenly hoping to find an address or phone number not only to get the journal back to her but so he could actually meet her.

 Luck was on his side the next day when he picked up the journal at breakfast to read through with his morning cup of tea. The last entry in the book was dated a few days before and in the margin of the page was a phone number.

 If I don’t write my new home number down somewhere I’ll definitely forget to give it to mom. I’m on my way to meet her in San Francisco. She’s on vacation with my aunts and since I had a few days off I decided it would be easier to meet her instead of making them all come down to LA.

 I don’t have enough room in my apartment to fit all three of them and it would just save us all a ton of money and time if I just got a room in the same hotel as them. It was also her suggestion to take the train instead of trying to make the drive.

 She insisted it would be a much more relaxing way to start my mini-vacation and so far she’s right. I think I needed this, some time away from the hustle and bustle of the city. At least Collin has left me alone for now. It’s been almost a week since he showed up at my apartment unannounced and that’s a record for him.

 I saw a girl leaving his apartment the other day. It’s either his dealer or his new girlfriend. I’m hoping it’s the latter, I may hate the asshole but I don’t want him doing drugs and ending up dead. If it is his new girlfriend I’m happy for him.

 The train is pulling into the station. I’ll write more tomorrow. With mom around she’s going to be forcing me to write every day and document our girls weekend. She’s ridiculous.

 All the following pages were blank. Misha knew she didn’t leave it behind on purpose. It must have fallen out of her bag. He glanced at the phone number in the margin again and picked up his phone. He knew her work schedule was crazy and he was hoping she was home from her trip as he dialed. He wanted to get in touch with her and find a way to get her journal back to her.

 He sat there patiently as the phone continued to ring. It was clear she wasn’t home and decided to take a chance and leave a message when the machine picked up. He gave her his name and mentioned that he’d found her journal on the train and was hoping to give it back to her. After leaving his number he hung up the phone and went on with his day, all the while hoping that she would get back to him quickly.

 When a few days went by without any response from her Misha debating calling her again and the only thing that stopped him from doing so was his friends showing up in town unexpectedly. He never minded when they stopped by and it was a welcome distraction from his thoughts, which he noticed were constantly plagued by Ashley. He found himself wondering what she looked like and what she sounded like. In fact, he spent most of his free time thinking about her.

 “Who’s Ashley?” Jensen asked, picking the journal up off the coffee table.

 “Not sure,” Misha shrugged and sipped his beer; “I found it on the train when I was on my way home. I called the number in it but she hasn’t called me back.”

 “Did you read it?” Jared asked, taking the book from Jensen.

 “Yeah, but only to find out a way to get it back to her.”

 Jared and Jensen exchanged looks, not convinced that Misha was telling the entire truth, but they let the subject drop. For most of the night the journal was forgotten until a few hours later when the phone rang. When Misha saw the number on his screen he suddenly found himself unbelievably nervous.

 “Hello?”

 “Hi, is this Misha?”

 She sounded different than he expected her too. Although now that he thought about it he wasn’t really sure what he was expecting.

 “Uh, yeah. That’s me.”

 “Thank God. I thought I dialed wrong,” she laughed, “you left me a message saying you found my journal?”

 “Yeah, I found it on the train.”

 “I knew I left it there. Are you in LA? Would you be able to meet up tomorrow? I kind of need that back.”

 “Yeah, absolutely. Just name a time and place.”

 They decided on a local café at noon and after she thanked him profusely for keeping the journal safe for her they disconnected the call.

 “That was her, wasn’t it?” Jared asked and Misha nodded.

 “Why do you look so nervous?” Jensen chuckled.

“I’m not nervous,” Misha said, grabbing another beer from the fridge, “why would I be nervous?”

 Jared and Jensen let the subject drop once again and they continued on with their night. They left sometime after midnight and Misha went straight to bed. The next morning he actually was nervous. After showering he spent entirely too much time deciding what to wear and he was almost late to meet Ashley because of it.

 He walked into the café with five minutes to spare. He ordered something to drink and sat down at one of the tables, placing the journal in front of him where she could easily see it, and waited. It was just after twelve when a petite brunette approached his table.

 “Misha?” she asked, adjusting the strap of her purse on her shoulder.

 She was shorter than he thought she’d be. Just by looking at her standing there he knew he had almost a foot on her. He noticed that her makeup was done perfectly as was her hair but he had a feeling that she didn’t go all out like that all the time. In all honesty, he wasn’t expecting her to be so attractive.

 He nodded. “Ashley, I’m assuming?”

 “That’s me,” she smiled and sat down at the table across from him, “I really can’t thank you enough for not just leaving my journal on the train.”

 “Don’t mention it.”

 “Really, what can I do to repay you?”

 He thought about it for a second. He had every intention of telling her he didn’t want anything in return but then a thought occurred to him. He wanted to get to know her, really know her, and not just know what she wrote down on those pages. He knew what he was going to say next could end in disaster but he decided to give it a shot.

 “You don’t have to repay me for anything, really,” he smiled and cleared his throat, “but would you like to have dinner with me?”

 She looked a little taken aback at first and Misha thought he might have over stepped his boundaries, until she smiled.

 “Sure,” she nodded, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear, “my schedule is insane, but I’m sure you figured that out since you found my journal.”

 Misha looked at her, shocked, and tried not to let his face show that he was in fact guilty of reading it.

 “It’s ok if you read it,” she laughed, noticing the look of panic on his face, “I would have done the same thing. I’m free tonight for dinner if that works for you.”

 Misha nodded and Ashley pulled a pen out of her purse before grabbing his hand. She wrote down a number and an address before capping the pen and putting it back in her purse.

 “That’s my cell,” she explained, “I’m much easier to reach there. And that’s my address. Pick me up at seven.”

If you’re not already familiar with my two-prompt fics, here’s the masterlist. I give two prompts, and you lovelies vote which one you’d like to see! Winner gets written. It started as Two Prompt Tuesdays, and I did it nearly every week -- then life got crazy, so I changed it to Two Prompt One Shots and did it whenever I could. It’s been a damn minute, but here we are again. 

How It Works: Reply, DM, or send me an ask with your vote on which prompt you’d like to see, and which character or actor you think would work well with the prompt. Because I have to work the hospital tonight, I’m making the vote cut-off 3:00 PM CST. I’ll tally the votes and bust something out between jobs. You may also ask for it to be written as part of any fic on my masterlist, series or otherwise! 

Prompt #1: “I give a fuck. I give lots of fucks, actually. I’m a prostitute of feelings.”

-OR-

Prompt #2: “Underestimate me. That’ll be fun.”