Blue Moon

4-Contracts And Ultimatums

I wake up to my phone ringing. I ignored it the first four times but it won't stop. 

Reaching for it I swipe to answer it. 

"Hello." I say groggily. I run my free hand against my eye. 

"Why haven't you been answering Ava?" Austin asks. 

I shoot up in my bed, my hair flying forward. 

Looking over at the time I realize it's nine a.m. here which means it's six a.m. there. 

This three hour time difference is going to confuse me. I have never had to worry about it before. I've always only known people in my timezone.

"Sorry I just woke up." I admit stretching my arm above me. I hear my shoulder pop. 

"You didn't call me last night like you promised." He says and a surge of guilt rushes through me. 

I had promised. 

Running a hand through my hair I say, "Yeah I'm sorry I was just out late last night and-"

He cuts me off, "Why? Where were you?"

"My roommate wanted to show me around the city and we ended up at a club."

"A club?" He asks exasperated. 

I stand up from my bed before heading to the closet finding an outfit for the day. 

"Yeah they go there all the time. It was cool actually." I admit. I have had so many new experiences in the past two days. 

I got on a plane, left Georgia soil, went shopping at a real mall, live away from my family, met new people, went to a club. 

"Maybe you should steer clear of clubs Ava, you know how places like that can be." He says and I sigh. 

I know he is just looking out for me but I wish he wasn't so over protective. Especially when I know and can take care of myself. I own pepper spray. 

Putting the phone on speaker I begin to get dressed, I have the meeting at ten thirty today. 

"I know but everything fine Austin don't worry about me." I say pulling my shirt over my head. 

A beat goes by before he speaks again. 

"I miss you Ava." I bite my bottom lip looking down at the ground, "I miss you too."

I put on a pair of green and blue plaid pants and a white short sleeve crop top. Pairing it with my black doc Martens. 

"You're parents miss you too." He adds. 

"I miss them too." I say throwing my hair into a ponytail. 

"Then you should come home. I am sure you can still go to college here and everything-" 

I stop him. "No Austin I miss them but I don't want to come home." I admit and I hear him sigh. 

"I need to go." 

"Wait-" I start but he ends the call. Great so now he's mad at me. 

The thing is I don't want to hurt my parents. I get that following the path they want me to take and going to college is the safer choice. 

It's just not the choice that is right for me. 

Grabbing my purse I head out to the main area of the apartment. 

Desiree is sitting on the couch flipping through a magazine. When she see's me she places the magazine down on the coffee table. 

"Oh hey good morning." She says and I smile, "Good morning."