“Ashleigh, When can I meet your family?” I was lying on Laurence’s bed. There was so much I hadn’t told him as to why he couldn’t meet them yet. “Erm I’m not too sure Laurence. Honestly you’re obsessed with wanting to meet them” I sat up and started putting my shoes on. I always got in such a mood whenever he asked if he could meet my parents. “I’m only asking Ashleigh you’ve met my parents I just want to meet yours” I turned to him after tying my left shoe. “Why Laurence they’re not special” I turned to tie up my other shoe. He held my hand so I turned to face him, “Maybe not but you’re something special to me. We’ve been together for almost a year now. Why can’t I meet them?” Every time Laurence mentioned it I would get so annoyed. “Laurence. I’m not ready for you to meet them ok. And do you want to know the reason? Because they don’t know I have a boyfriend Ok!” Laurence’s eyes seemed to start to glow. They filled with sadness. “I didn’t realise you were ashamed of me” I felt so bad. I didn’t know what else to do. I decided it was best if I left. “I’ll call you later Laurence” He sort of smiled and I walked out.
“Hey Laurence” I rang him as soon as I got in. “Hey” He sort of moaned. “Look I was thinking. Why don’t you meet my mum? I’ll come to your house and take you to her” Laurence sounded confused but he agreed so off I went to take him.
Laurence was standing outside his house. He attempted a smile but I could tell he was still hurt. I hugged him. “I’m not ashamed of you Laurence. It’s me I’m ashamed of. It’ll all make sense when you meet my mum” He just smiled and took my hand as I lead him off to where my mother would be.
Rest in Peace Tabitha Young. A mother A wife A daughter A friend. I stood by my mother’s grave. “Mum this is my boyfriend Laurence, Laurence this is my mum” Laurence didn’t look at me. He didn’t say anything. He sat down next to the grave. “Hello Mrs Young. I’m so happy to finally meet you. I’m Ashleigh’s boyfriend as she just said. May I point out your daughter is extremely beautiful and I love her more than you can imagine, and I promise you. I will look after her more than you know” Laurence looked up to me and smiled. I smiled back and wiped away some tears.
We walked back to Laurence’s house in silence. He held my hand all the way until we reached it. “Hey Ashleigh. I’m sorry I didn’t realise your mother was dead. I’m sorry for always asking I understand” I kissed Laurence. “It’s fine I could have told you. But thank you for what you did when you sat by her grave and spoke to her. It meant a lot”
“Ashleigh where have you been you know you’re meant to call me if you know you’re not going to be back until after 5pm” As soon as I shut the door my dad was on my back. He was really protective since mum died and he was in the army so he is really strict. “Sorry dad I was with my friend I didn’t realise the time. Sorry” My dad had obviously been cooking dinner. “Ok don’t let it happen again or now computer for a week. Now go and watch Leo he is in the sitting room” Leo was my little brother. He was 4. “Ashleigh Ashleigh look!” Leo ran up to me and sat on my knee. He was watching some rubbishy children’s TV show. Obviously I had to pretend to like it. “Wow look at that” My dad laughed from the kitchen. He just enjoyed me and Leo getting on and being close.
My mum had Leo and 3 months after she died of cancer. My dad has looked after me and my brother ever since.
“Dinner” Leo ran into the kitchen. I followed him slowly after. My dad was putting Leo’s food out. I sat down at the kitchen table. My dad’s attitude had changed I could tell from his body language. He sat down. Me and Leo were both eating. My dad wasn’t. He was watching me closely. I decided avoiding eye contact would be a good thing. I cut up my meat and was just about to put the fork in my mouth. “Ashleigh. Who’s Laurence?” I practically dropped my fork. My dad slid my phone across the table. Laurence’s text popped up Sorry about today I love you remember that. I looked up to my dad. “Who is Laurence?” Dad was always calm when he needed to talk to me and Leo about serious things but he was strict. “Dad it’s complicated” My dad looked at me for a few moments. I guessed he had dropped it. “Ashleigh. Do you know a boy called Laurence?” Nope. My dad hadn’t dropped it. I put my knife and fork down. “Yes dad I do know a boy called Laurence why might you ask?” I turned to face him in the intimidating way he was facing me. My dad pointed to my phone. “I was just cooking and he text saying sorry and he loves you. Bit weird what’s he apologising for” I looked at my phone again. A picture of me and Laurence was my phone background “Well Dad. Laurence was saying sorry because he wanted to meet my parents so I took him to mums grave. And he wants to meet my parents because we have been together for almost a year he is my boyfriend and I’m not ashamed to say it”
*Laurence’s P.O.V.*
“Ok so what did your dad say?” Ashleigh had rang me up crying down the phone. “He said I shouldn’t have a boyfriend if I’m going to lie about where I am and who I am with and most of all if I won’t tell him” She started crying some more. “Hey Ash it will be ok. What do we have to do to make it work?” She started sniffiling. She was trying to stop crying. She breathed hard. “I need to break up with you but I can’t do it” She paused. I held my breath in thinking this was the end “Or. My dad said he has to meet you to decided if you’re worth of me but this is the reason I didn’t want you to meet my dad. He is completely controlling and I can’t stand living in this house any longer” She started crying some more. I felt bad thinking I had applied extra pressure onto her. “Look it will be ok. Your dad is doing what is best and that’s excusable you’re his little girl and he wants to look after you. I understand it. If meeting him means we get to be together then it’s fine lets do it” She was silent for a minute. Until she finally let out a breath of air. “Yes maybe but honestly it would be easier if I say we have broken up and we keep dating secretly” I sighed. “Yes maybe for you but lets face it you’re keeping me like some sort of secret you say you’re not ashamed of me but you don’t half act like it. I’m not the best person in the world but I care for you more than you know. It’s much better if I met your dad than if you tell him me and you aren’t together when we are and he finds out. Do you get me?” I heard her sigh “Yeah. I’ll see you tomorrow. Love you” I smiled “Love you”
Ashleigh looked rough the next day. “I take it you didn’t sleep love” She shook her head. I played with her hair which was curly for once. “I’m scared dad won’t like you then we have to break up. It’s sucks” I pulled her into me and she rested her head on my shoulder. “You worry far too much little one” She laughed “Seriously though. It will be fine I promise and I will be on my best behaviour”
“Ok just be yourself” Ashleigh’s grip on my hand got tighter as we reached her door. I turned to her “I love you it will be fine. You worry over nothing” She smiled and we walked inside.
“Hey dad I brought someone for you to meet” Her dad walked out of the kitchen. “Hi you must be Laurence” I nodded “I’m Ashleigh’s dad Pete” He put his hand out and I shook it. “Pleasure to meet you Pete” He smiled. “Just take a seat in the sitting room I’ll come in in a few moments” We walked in. “Hiya Ashleigh. Hi Ashleigh’s friend” A little blonde boy waved at me. “That’s my little brother Leo” I waved back at him. There were photos of Ashleigh and her mum. “You look like your mother. You’re both beautiful” Ashleigh smiled and sat down next to me. “I think dad likes you. He hasn’t kicked your butt yet”
“So Laurence. How did you ask Ashleigh to be your girlfriend?” Damn her dad was protective. “Well we were on a walk and we got lost and I told her that despite everything I am having a brilliant day and I want to have more funny memories with her then I just told her that I like her a lot and asked her if she would be my girlfriend” Pete nodded his head. He sat in silence for a few moments. “You know what Laurence. I don’t even know why I bothered bringing you here today. I should have guess Ashleigh would pick a good boyfriend. And she did I didn’t need to even bother checking up on you both. Thank you for looking after my daughter” I smiled. “Thank you. I do like to look after the things I love the most”
This was for Ashleigh from twitter :)
Hope you all like it
