#new normal comic

Nothing good ever came outta New Jersey /hyperbole (… I mean all my favorite parts of the Slenderverse are NJ—)

Ashley used to play piano at the insistence of her mother to learn an instrument but nowadays she can’t figure it out at all. Matt has idle knowledge of how to play the piano but can’t remember learning to play.

Ashley was teased for keeping a vintage rabbit plush in her backpack, and eventually she lost her at Matt’s place. He meant to give her back but eventually that just… got away from him. It sits on his desk while he masks himself study and struggle through homework.

Matt kissed her on the cheek once when she came by on Christmas Eve for a small family party and she proceeded to hide her face in her sweater. Sometimes he wonders if that’s why they don’t talk until he can’t make it make sense timewise but until they speak again it keeps coming up.

Sometimes Matt would sit out during gym with a fake sprain to keep her company on the bleachers. Sometimes she’d use the time to help him get any homework that had been assigned out of the way early, other times they’d goof off and push each other around — Matt really hamming up that supposed injury.

During one of these instances he stopped a balls that had been aimed at her head. Ashley would come to miss this protection during gym, getting hit no less than six times despite not even participating. By the fourth she barely reacts anymore.

Ashley didn’t stay for after school and she didn’t go to events… except for her elementary school’s production of Alice in Wonderland. She was disappointed by the lack of songs given what she knew, but it still delighted her to see Matt on stage.

Ashley was confused the day after when he said that he wouldn’t do it ever again and for the first time snapped at her, telling her to drop it.

Always pair yo and sit together on school field trips. They spent all their trip money on each other at the gift shop of an aquarium visit. They still have matching clown fish keychains.

Ashley grew up extremely touch averse and even shirked away from her mother sometimes, much to her chagrin. She always welcomed physical affection from her father, sister, and Matt… and his sister Janie. Envies how close Matt and his sister are.

Matt didn’t recognize her through middle school. Her hair was in her eyes and partially shoddily died play and she had like three layers of baggy black clothes on and an extra two pounds of black eye liner on.

Thought she was cute though… and the trouble maker she hung out with. He knew it was Josh only because that mane was regularly screamed by teachers and faculty.

Ashley recognized Matt and figured he went the Jess and Emily route of not wanting to be seen with her. (Note: I’m not condemning anyone here, she holds onto an other girl vs snowflake mentality until she’s like 20).