airports // 5sos au

xxxii.

| ashton |

"I haven't seen you around here in a while," my mom smiles at me.

"Yeah, I've been a little busy," I shrug as I hop up onto the kitchen counter.

'How's everything?" She adds cut up butter to the pot of mashed potatoes in front of her.

"It's good," I nod.

"I feel like we haven't talked in a while, you know? I just want to know what's going on in my son's life," She chuckles.

"Okay, what do you want to know?" I hand her the salt shaker.

"Tell me about school."

"Well, I'm passing all of my classes, so that's good. I've had a lot of homework in science, but I'm getting it done during work."

"That's good, and you've made friends?"

"Yeah, I have. They're really great, I think you'd like them," I nod.

"Have you met any girls?" My mom asks with a small smile.

"Mom," I whine as I feel my cheeks heat up.

"Well, have you?" She chuckles.

I open my mouth to answer when my phone rings and I pull it out of my pocket and answer it.

"Hello?" I ask.

"Hey, Ash," Meghan says quickly, "I have a quick question."

"Is everything okay?" I ask, noticing how Meghan sounds like she's freaking out.

"Yeah, well no, I need you to do something."

"How can I help?"

"Can you watch Nessa and Andy for a little bit? I know it's kinda late, but something came up-"

"Sure, of course."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I'll be there in ten," I assure her as I hop off of the kitchen counter.

"Where are you going?" My mom raises her eyebrow.

"Meghan, one of my new friends, needs my help. Can I go?"

"Sure, but let me know what time you'll be coming home, alright?"

"Will do, mom, thank you!" I smile and hug her before making my way to the front door. I groan and realize that I'll have to ride my bike over to Meghan's house. I don't have my license, so I normally just either ride the bus somewhere or have my mom drive me. My mom can't leave in the middle of cooking dinner and there's no buses that go towards Meghan's house. Riding my bike it is, I guess.

About fifteen minutes later, I pull into the familiar driveway. I leave my bike on the grass and ring the doorbell. Meghan opens the door almost immediately and grins, "Thank you so so much."

"No problem," I shrug as I follow her inside.

"I should be back around midnight or so, but I can come back earlier if you need me to," She says, "I haven't fed Nessa and Andy yet, but just like make a sandwich for them or something easy like that. If you have any questions, call me or Emily, she's babysat Ness and Andy before, so she knows what to do."

"Okay, got it," I smile.

"You have no idea how much I appreciate this."

"It's no big deal, Meg, I'm always here for you."

"Thank you," She grins and wraps her arms around me in a warm hug. I wrap my arms around her and we stand there for a few moments, holding one another close. She pulls away at the sound of a car horn, says goodbye to me and Nessa and Andy, then leaves and shuts the door behind her.