int. carroll county high ice rink - day. @angstfactory (claude)
That was.. a strange text coming from Claude. Ashton didn't know what to think of it, because it was unlike them to straight up asked without context whether they could talk in person. Ash was taking a break from doing skating drills as he leans over to the benches where he placed his phone and bottle, the entire rink was he his since school was out and no other trainings were happening on the weekdays, unlike official Kings training, no coach to tell him no phones on the bench this time. And probably lucky that he didn't leave it in the locker either or he would've missed Claude's text, phone buzzing just as he was taking a water break. The notification was enough for Ashton to pick his phone up immediately instead of waiting till he was done with his solo training. In just a few texts exchanged, Claude was quick to decide to immediately coming by instead of waiting got Ash to get out and meet somewhere else. Things.. certainly felt off.
Ash cut short and quickly wrapped up his puck handling routines and got to the showers before Claude could show up. Ashton made a conscious effort to be speedy, and he was changed and keeping the pucks and goal net when Claude texted that they were here, unlocking the locked doors into the rink, "hey.. you okay? You wanted to talk?" Ash pulled open the door to the arena waiting for them to come inside, concerned blues trying to study his friend to figure out what was wrong.