"I'm going to seriously miss you."
"Trish I think you are crushing my bones." I wheezed out because Trisha was hugging me tight.
Too tight.
"Oh sorry." She pulled away and I felt myself breathe again.
"That's better." I smiled. "I'm going to miss you too Trish." I had to go home today. And Lucy's memorial is in a week.
"Don't worry, I'll be there for support."
"Thanks." I smiled.
"No problem." She added. Christian came in sight and gave me a smile.
"Hey Chrissy." I smiled back.
"Please don't call me that."
"But your mom does..." I pouted.
"And you are not my mom"
"Whatever." Before Christian could reply me, Trish interrupted him.
"I'm sorry I can't stay to take you home Ash because I have to babysit in like ten minutes and it's a twenty minutes drive so bye!!!!" She blew me a kiss and dashed out of my room.
"When are you leaving?" Christian asked facing me.
"I'll just say my goodbyes to Emily and I'll be on my way."
"Want me to drop you off?"
"What?"
"Do you want a ride home? I'm not doing anything right now and I don't have practice today."
"Oh sure. I will go say my goodbye then." I grabbed my suitcase and walked out of the room.
I was dressed in a denim blue jean jumpsuit with a black long sleeve turtle neck top, a black beanie and brown uggs.
I walked into the kitchen to see Emily sitting on of the stools in front of the counter with her laptop on the counter and pile of papers around the counter. Her hair was in a messy bun, she was in grey sweats and she looks kinda tired?
"Hey Emily." I greeted her.
"Oh hi. Sorry for the mess. Got to write some paper work." She explained.
"Don't you have people to do that kind of stuff for you?" Christian asked as he walks to the fridge and grabs the OJ, drinking it directly from the jar.
"Christian!!!" His mom shouts.
"Sorry forgot. Next time."
"That was what you said the last six times." She said and I laughed.
"Thanks for the update mom." Christian says dryly.
"Anytime dear." She smiles sweetly.
"I'm going to drop Ash off at her place." Christian tells his mom.
"Oh you are leaving already?" She asks directing the question at me.
"Yeah." I smiled. "I have to go home since it's near." It seems she catches on because she just smiles.
"Okay hun. It's was nice having you here dear. Hope you come by more often okay?"
"I will." I smile and she stands up to hug me.
"See you next time sweetheart."
"Yeah sure. You too." I say and she pulls away.
She walks us to the door and we said our goodbyes once more.
Christian as always opened the door for me. And I felt as always. Happy.
"So...." Christian started as soon as he drives out of the driveway. "You ready for the tough week ahead?"
"Nope." I reply with a short laugh.
"Oh. Well if you need me, just know I'm one call away."
"Sure." I give him a smile and fell silent. I think Christian knew I needed the silence because the whole ride home was quiet.
I didn't know he had stopped in front of my house until he called my name.
"Sorry. Lost in thought." I apologized.
"It's nothing. We've all been there."
What?
"Thanks for the ride." I say as I unbuckle my seat belt still unsure about what he said.
"Sure. Want me to walk you inside?"
Thanks but no." I got down, got my things from the back, waved goodbye to Christian and he drove away.
I paused at the door counting from one to ten before unlocking the door and going in. The first thing I felt as I entered was the coldness of the house and I don't mean the 11°c kind of cold. It was warm actually but had a cold kind of dead feeling. I shut the door behind me, walked to the living room first, then the kitchen, my parents' room, the guest room, Lucy's room, and even knocked on Tyler's door before I settled down in my own room and sighed.
As always the house was empty. I got cozy on the bed and didn't know when I drifted off to sleep.
I woke to the sound of shattering glass and raised voices. I got off my bed and walked downstairs to see where the voices were coming from.
I walked into the living room to see my parents arguing and the glass which shattered was an old vase in the corner of the room which belonged to my great grandma. She gave it to my grandma when she married and then to my mother when she got married and was supposed to be mine when I marry but now it's broken. Just like me. The vase was like a hundred years old. I felt a terrible headache coming and the voices were getting louder.
"Oh come on Henry. I saw you smile at her all lovey dovey. You never smiled at me like that!" My mom shouted at my dad.
"Are you serious right now?!!" My dad asked in disbelief. "I was being polite! And when you went to Paris and came back, I didn't ask who you smiled at or slept with!!!!!"
Oh
"Guys." I tried to call but their voices were too loud.
"Really Henry!! Really!!! I go for a well deserved vacation and you are accusing me of cheating?"
"Guys."
"Well you read too much into a single smile and didn't I recall you saying Paris was for work?"
"Guys." I was getting irritated now
.
"Don't you dare change the subject!"
"GUYS!!!!" I shouted and everywhere fell silent. I look between my parents in disbelief.
"I can't believe you guys. The whole neighborhood is asleep, your daughter's death memorial is in less than a week and you guys are here arguing about what? A smile?? I have a bad headache possibly migraine. I come home to find it cold, dead and empty. I was away for almost a month and you welcome me with an argument? I even doubt you even knew I was away. Why? BECAUSE YOU DON'T FUCKING CARE!!!!!"
"Language!" My mom said sternly.
"Too hell with language!" I was practically shouting now. "I live with a family who don't care about anything except for themselves. I live a family where a person death is not acknowledged!"
"Ashley!" My mom again shouted.
"Don't you dare Ashley me mom. You don't get the right to talk. You treat me like a complete fucking stranger but you are here calling my name acting like you care!!!!! The saddest day of our lives is coming but you all are here arguing about a smile! A FUCKING SMILE!!!!!" The silence was so eerie that you could hear a pin drop.
"What happened to your hair?" My dad finally asked in shock and I out my hands up in frustration, walked to the kitchen to get aspirin and a glass of water for my headache and stomped up to my room.