New Girl // A.I (completed)

sixteen

< Thursday >
< Thanksgiving >

{ Payton }

I woke up and stretched out while slowly opening my eyes and adjusting to the sunlight. Today's Thanksgiving and my mom, brothers, and I are at my grandparent's house in San Diego. They're my dad's parents and they've always lived here. My mom's parents moved to Hawaii when we lived there and haven't left. They absolutely love it there.

Once my eyes had adjusted to the sunlight, I grabbed my phone off the side table and saw I had a text from Ashton already,

-messages-

  Ash🥰: [ Good Morning!!! I hope
you've slept well! Happy Thanksgiving ]

[ Morning Ash! Slept gr8! Miss you!
And Happy Thanksgiving ]

————

I chuckled a bit and sat my phone down. I could hear the commotion downstairs so I figured I needed to get up and get ready- I mean, it was already 10:30 am.

I stepped into the bathroom and changed into jeans, a sweater, and booties. I brushed my hair out and decided on curling it. I quickly did my makeup then headed down the steps, finding my dad's side of the family all here.

"Payton!" My cousin, Holly, yelled as she saw me. We hugged tightly. She and I are the oldest kids in the family. She's one year younger than me. Even with me moving a lot, we've managed to stay close,

"I've missed you" I whispered,

"I missed you too!"

She pulled back then gasped and grabbed my hands,

"I heard you have a boyfriend"

I chuckled,

"I do" I nodded,

"My little Payton has a boyfriend," my grandpa asked. That gained everyone's attention,

"I do. His name is Ashton. He's pretty great" I smiled,

"He is a good kid. Hundred times better than Logan" Mom agreed.

****

I sat in the kitchen while my grandma cooked. Everyone else was outside. Grandma doesn't like people helping her so she kicks everyone out, but today she let me stay.

"Have you talked to your dad lately?" She asked. My dad is only allowed to contact my mom, my brothers, and me, so my grandparents don't get to talk to him,

"I haven't. He hasn't called" I shrugged,

"I'm sure he will call soon" she smiled with hope, "So, tell me about Ashton"

I laughed,

"Ashton's great. He's so nice and sweet. He'd do anything for anyone"

"Is he cute?"

"Very cute"

I continued to sit and chat with her as she cooked. I offered to help but she told me to just sit. We talked a lot about my new school and my new friends. Grandma seemed pretty happy with hearing how happy I was in Los Angeles.

****

Everyone gathered around the table at dinner, passing plates around and grabbing food. Once plates were full, we all grabbed hands and my grandma started the prayer,

"Lord, thank you for allowing us all to gather today. Thank you for keeping us healthy and safe. We ask you to continue watching over Clint as he serves our country and spends time away from us. We thank you for this food and the opportunity at life, Amen"

We all unlocked our hands and dug into our food.

"So Amy, when is Clint due to come back?" My uncle asked. My uncle is kind of an asshole,

"We don't know. Whenever he gets done with his mission. We don't even know where he is at this point. We haven't been able to talk to him in a while"

"He better get back before his daughter gets beaten again by a boy. We all know you were too blind to see it happening. Hell, I bet Payton brings it on herself"

"Ashton would never" I defended,

"That's what you said about Logan"

Everyone went quiet,

"Can I be excused?" I asked. My grandpa nodded and I got up and walked up to the room I've been sleeping in.

****

"Wait, so your uncle says I'm gonna start beating you?" Ashton questioned, eyes furrowed, as we talked on Facetime,

"Yeah. He said I bring it on myself and that my dad needs to hurry home so he can keep me in control" I rolled my eyes,

"Pay, I'd never hurt you"

"I know Ash"

There was a knock on the door and my mom walked in with a plate of food,

"Hi Ashton" she smiled as sat next to me and put the plate in my lap,

"Hi"

Mom sat and talked with Ashton and me for a while. She assured us that she trusted us and that she knew Ashton wouldn't hurt me.

"So when do you get back?" Ashton asked once my mom had left,

"Tomorrow afternoon. You wanna hang out?"

"Yeah. I can come to yours and we can just watch movies or something"

"That sounds great" I grinned, followed by a yawn,

"Go to sleep Pay" Ashton chuckled, "Sleep tight"

"Goodnight Ash" I laughed and hung up, settling down under the covers and falling asleep.