recognition: (noun)
1. identification of someone or something or person from previous encounters or knowledge.

✣

"One hundred hours community service," my mum exhales as we exit the town court. She grabs onto my dad's shoulder and nods. "It could be worse, thank yourself lucky, Ash."

I glance down at my feet, the clunky tag bracelet clung to my ankle. "Yeah because I'm sure as hell going to be setting trends and making opportunities with this thing." I say sarcastically, shaking my leg.

My mum opens her mouth to speak but my dad gets there first. He sweeps between us and offers me a supportive smile. "Hey, tag isn't so bad. It could have been twelve weeks in prison, you got off lightly."

"I know," I nod in his direction.

"Right," he claps his hand onto my back. "Let's head down to the probation office and meet your probation officer, we don't want to keep them waiting. Need to set a good example that you're serious about this."

I follow them to the car and my mother drives us a few minutes down the road. We park outside a rundown building, of course this had to be it. Like the government wanted to spend their money on a meeting ground for previous offenders.

We sign in and wait to be called, my mother continues to glance around, her knee jolting in an annoying jitter. Why she feels nervous is beyond me... I'm the one who has to give back to the community and walk around with this fucking tagging machine.

"Ash Knight?" A woman pokes her head around the edge of the room, papers glued to her hand.

I stand and my parents instantly follow me. She smiles and holds out her hand, my eyes gravitate to her black suit with a white shirt. "Hi Ash, I'm Carol and I will be your probation officer for the duration of your community service. If you'll follow me."

My parents follow close behind me, Carol holds open a door which I presume is for her office. We take a seat as she sits opposite at her desk, shuffling with some papers before she speaks.

"Well," she flicks her eyes up to us and places her arms onto the desk. "It's nice to meet you guys. I've just been sent over all of your paperwork, Ash. Has your electronic tag been fitted?"

"Yes."

"Great. So there are a few things to discuss." She glances at me and then between my mum and dad. "First of all your court order is one hundred hours community service, this means during this time you will have to help with community restoration."

My mum leans forward and I wish that she doesn't speak, but of course she does. "So what exactly will Ash be doing, for his community service?"

Carol looks at my mum and nods. "The local community has recently invested in an abandoned manor in the centre of town. It hasn't been touched for years and it has been purchased so we can turn it into a meeting place for the people of this community. A place to hold events and fundraisers."

She hums at her words and soon settles back into her seat, I huff a silent breath of air.

"You will spend either three or four days a week doing your community service, as long as you manage to do between ten and fifteen hours a week." Her eyes grip onto some paperwork that she slides over to me. "I won't be able to pop by every day to check that things are in order but there will be someone to sign you off for the day, either myself or another officer who is in the area."

I nod back at her and she studies me.

"Understood?"

"Yes."

"As for your electronic tag, it is a curfew tag meaning that you will need to be back in your home by nine thirty PM. You may leave again at seven thirty AM. If you are not home during this time, it will alert us and you can face going to prison." Her tone drops deeper and I swallow harshly. "There will be someone round today to fit a tracking device in your home, do not disobey the law. Make this easier for us and for yourself, once those one hundred hours are over, you are free to go."

"Okay," I say in response.

"If you need to contact me for whatever reason, to say you can't make your community service, if you're late or if you have any questions. Here is my number," she jots it down with a black pen on the top of my paperwork. "We will meet here every Tuesday morning at ten o'clock to go over your progress and to keep track of your sign off sheet."

I take the paper from her hands and force a smile. "I've got it."

"Do you guys have any questions?"

"Yes," my mother perks up instantly, my eyes clench and I wish we can leave now. "What about work? Can Ash still work during this time?"

Carol clears her throat and leans further onto her elbows. "Yes he can work, if it interferes with his community service, then he must work around his job to complete the hours set per week. If this is not completed, he can risk going back to court and serving a harsher sentence."

Anger bubbles inside me, of course that's all she fucking cares about. That's the only thing she's worried about, not my wellbeing or what could happen to me. Whether or not I can work.

My jaw clenches and it instantly begins to ache from how hard I'm pressing it together.

"Oh that's great news," her tone is chirpy. She grips my shoulder, her fingernails digging into my skin. "Isn't that amazing, Ash?"

I pull my shoulder away from her grip and stare ahead at Carol, she watches the interaction and I can see her wince. "So when do I start my community service?" I ask, changing the subject.

"I can drive you down today, you can see what we have in store for the manor and you can get started now. You'll be working with another person who is also on probation so you won't be there alone, hopefully together you can get it done with some trusty teamwork." Her pink lips twitch up into a bright grin.

"Better get this over and done with," I mumble under my breath.

Carol's lips fall back into a sympathetic smile. "Let's sort out some paperwork first, we just need some legal documents. Then we can make our way over."

I exhale a soft breath and relax into the chair, might as well considering this is going to take longer than I expected. Especially if my mother asks any more questions.

✣

My parents part with me outside the probation office. Carol grabs me a uniform, light brown dusty overalls. She gives me a look when I study them and she smirks. "It's not a fashion show honey," she's amused. "You sure as hell won't be impressing anyone there. Maybe the ghosts of the manor."

Ghosts?

She chuckles and pats my chest. "You should see your face. Let's go."

We jump in her car and I actively don't say anything, not that there is anything to say. Carol turns up the channels on the radio, settling on KISS. We listen to the hip-hop song which blasts through the speakers.

I glance out the window, wanting to get to the manor more than anything. The air-con in her car is blasting me directly in the eye and I'm too polite to touch anything in her car, so I sit and endure it.

Considering it's the start of summer, the weather is getting warmer, at least she has air-con that works. My mum's has been broken for ages and she refuses to get it fixed when she says that's what windows are for.

"Here we are," Carol says as we turn down a long dirt trail.

The white manor at the end of the long road. In the middle of nowhere.

I had no idea this place even existed, it's been tucked behind trees and nature. The grass growing around the manor is overgrown and untamable. I gawk at the length of it. Carol chuckles at my reaction. "Don't worry, we've got maintenance coming over to sort out the garden. All you have is the manor to sort."

She pulls up and turns to look at me. "Your probation partner should be here any moment now." She says before popping open the door and stepping out. I follow her lead and stand in front of the manor.

Never in my life have I seen anything so big. It's humongous

Perfectly rectangle with more windows than I can count. I beautifully raised roof with overgrown plants floating between the tiles. Then below stood two large pillars at the entrance of the manor, wide set steps leading up to the front door.

It didn't necessarily look old but it looks like it needs some love and care. I guess I'm still yet to see what the damage is inside.

"Ooop," Carol turns towards the road we just came from. "Looks like he's on time."

I turn and watch the large range rover pull up behind Carol's car, I could barely see into the windshield from the reflection of the sun that only shows me the blue sky.

When the door pops open, a body slides out, shutting the door behind him.

My heart skips a beat, then another and another. I part my lips to attempt to swallow, realising my mouth has become increasingly dry.

He doesn't look up for a few moments, but keeps his eyes on the floor. His body also dressed in the gross overalls I had been given.

I couldn't be sure if it's who I suspect it is, I need to have one glance of his face and then I could know for certain. I hate how my body becomes hot underneath these work clothes, the sun not helping my situation.

When he glances up, he looks at Carol first. Then it confirms all my suspicions.

I remember those dark brown eyes, those plump lips and tall stature. How could I forget?

He's the guy I met at that party months ago. He's the guy I couldn't stop looking at, he returned the favour and we ended up fucking upstairs over some person's desk.

His presence somewhat frightened me, not that he's a scary person but the fact we had a one night stand and now we're standing together.

Oh fuck. Oh fuck.

One hundred hours.

We have to spend one hundred hours together, alone.

Once his eyes take in Carol, he flicks his gaze over to mine. For a second I don't think he recognises me, then when another second ticks by I realise he doesn't. His expression is completely unreadable, not even phased to be facing me.

I blink back at the situation and shake it from my thoughts. It happened months ago and who's to say he hasn't slept with a handful of people since then. He didn't even want to know my name, that speaks volumes. He just wanted his fuck and he got it.

So him not recognising me doesn't surprise me the more I think about it.

Maybe this will be easier if he doesn't remember.

"Bodi," Carol says warmly. "Pleased to see you're on time."

Bodi.

"Don't want to set a bad example, Carol." His deep voice rockets through my body and straight into my stomach.

"Well, now that you're both here. Bodi this is Ash, Ash this is Bodi. Introductions over." She says quickly.

Bodi's eyes trail down my uniform, not like he's wearing the exact same thing I am.

Carol guides us into the manor and explains what she wants us to do for the first couple of weeks and then she'll update us as we make progress. I could barely listen as she speaks whilst Bodi is standing right beside me.

His arms flexed across his chest, even in this ugly uniform you can still see the imprint of his muscles. Not that I should be looking but I couldn't help it, how he pulls off these shitty overalls is beyond me.

"Right, is that clear?" Carol claps her hands together.

For the first time I actually take a glance around, this place is a dump. Cobwebs everywhere, shattered chandeliers and broken chairs. Sheets covering furniture, wallpaper peeling from the walls. I can't even ignore the smell of dampness, most likely from a leak.

"Let's start with the living room," she instructs pointing to the set of doors, one has been broken and is hanging on by a thread. "Anything that is broken, put directly into the skip. Anything that can be saved please place into the back room so we can inspect these items."

I nod as she flicks her eyes between us, waiting for someone to say anything but we don't.

"Great," her heels click against the floor, she struts to the front doors again. "Another officer will come to sign you out in approximately–" she checks her watch. "--two hours. Any problems, don't forget to call."

She waves us off and steps out of the manor, leaving us all alone.

I hesitate a shaky breath and force myself not to look in Bodi's direction. He doesn't remember me and that's just embarrassing alone.

Carol leaves us a thick pair of gloves on the side, I grab them and head straight to the living room. Standing for a moment and deciding where to start first, not that any of it looks appealing but we needed to show some kind of progress so our hours could get signed off.

I start sifting through the chairs, putting the broken legs and arms in one pile. It doesn't take long until Bodi walks across the other side of the room and attempts there. He glances down at the shattered glass, the chandelier debris everywhere.

Bodi grabs a broom and sweeps the glass to one side, his chest releasing a rather loud and frustrated sigh. I avert my gaze before he catches me watching him, I focus on what I'm doing and pray that this goes by quickly.

I already felt on edge and neither of us have said a single thing to each other. Is this how it's going to be for one hundred more hours? Lord, give me strength.

After separating the broken furniture from the usable furniture, I take a few trips to the skip having made a small dent in the living room.

Bodi does the same after me, cleaning his mess. When he returns he stands in the doorway of the room and brushes off his gloves, I could feel his gaze burn into the back of my head but I refuse to turn.

I hesitate when I grip onto a chair, the leg falling to the floor beside my foot. The sound echoes off the walls painfully loud, my head dips and I grumble out a curse.

Footsteps walk behind me but not close enough to feel his presence. "You not going to talk to me, Cherry?"

So he does remember me.

His words spark heat at the back of my neck, I lower the chair to the floor and take a moment to control my breathing. I suck in a breath and pluck up the courage to turn around to face him.

When I do, his brown eyes are already settled on mine. Not wanting to focus on how hard my heart is thumping inside my chest.

"I thought you didn't recognise me." I admit.

Bodi smirks and looks down to the ground for a second. "Almost didn't with that new hair."

A hand automatically moves to touch my hair. I had decided to dye it blonde and shave it short a month ago. Time for a change, something to take my mind off the situation with my court date.

I didn't know what else to say, but I knew I had to say something. "My names not Cherry."

My eyes want to shut at my ludicrous comment, why did I have to sound so fucking lame?

"I know."

"It's Ash."

"I know." There is a glint in his eye that looks playful.

We stand looking at each other for a few seconds more before he stalks away, to the back of the living room continuing his work. When it's safe I release a deep breath from my lungs, one that I didn't know I was holding.

Bodi starts lifting heavy objects out of the way, showing off his mighty strength. I scold myself for looking and turn away, focusing on another part of the living room.

He's just another person, Ash. I tell myself. A person who you fucked, but it's fine. This is going to be fine.

It has to be fine.

✣

Author's Note:
Read up to chapter 9 on Patreon. Link in bio!

Hello my loves. What did you think of this chapter?

Eeeeeppp, they're back together again. Who is sensing tension and drama already?

Please don't forget to vote if you enjoyed. It helps a lot and means the world to me.

Bodi's POV is next and most of the book will be back and forth between their POV's.

Who is excited?

See you all on the next one, love Savanna x

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