I'll Meet You There

Chapter 3

It was the Sunday before high school was about to start, and Ally and her parents were eating breakfast.

"Ally, your mother and I were thinking of sending you to a therapist." Her dad said over his newspaper.

"Okay. But physical therapy starts this week on Thursday nights so.." Ally trailed off.

Her dad nodded. That's how things were now. Slow, short and quiet. Everyone in the house missed Nathan, but no one talked about it. Ally sighed under her breath and continued to find different arrangements that her food could move into. She was not ready for school tomorrow. Her parents gave her the option of waiting another week or so but she couldn't do that to them. It would only give them another thing to worry about during the week. Plus, it would raise even more questions from everyone at school, so she might as well get it over with. She was starting eleventh grade, she already knew most of the kids in her grade but that wouldn't mean going back would be any less terrifying.

"Ally? Are you here honey?" Her mom asked gently, taking Ally from her daydreams.

Ally blinked, regaining focus.

"Yeah, sorry, what were you saying?" She asked.

"I was asking if you had gotten all the supplies and clothes for this year." Her mom continued.

Earlier this week Ally's mom had send her out with her credit card to get whatever Ally needed. Ally guessed it was too hard for her to back to school shop without Nathan. It was almost too much for Ally too. But she had gotten new supplies and some new clothes.

"Yeah, I did. Thanks mom." Ally said.

Her mom just smiled. After all the dishes were cleaned up, Ally went up to call Ashton.

"Ello." That's the way Ashton always answered the phone with everybody. Almost with a British accent but not quite, and it was a statement, never a question. Like she knew who you were without hearing your voice.

"Ash, it's me." Ally said quietly.

There was a pause.

"Ally."

Ally didn't say anything after that. She didn't know what to say. The night she had checked her Facebook messages and saw Ashton's, she just didn't repsond. It wasn't like Ally was mad at her, she just didn't respond. And if Ashton was mad at Ally, she had every right to be.

"Hi." Ally said eventually, "can you come over?"

More pause.

"See you in five minutes." Was the only response, then the dial tone.

There was a small knock on the door followed by, "Ally, Ashton's here for you."

She got up and opened the door. Her mom was standing there with Ashton by her side.

"I'll leave you two." Her mom said.

Once Ally's mom had left, Ashton stepped into the room and closed the door. And then she turned to Ally and hugged her. It was tight and long and what Ally needed.

"Ally, I'm so sorry." Ashton said into Ally's shoulder.

All Ally could do is nod, because if she tried to say something, she knew she'd start crying. They stayed like that for what seemed like ages and then finally let go.

"Are you going to school tomorrow?" Ashton asked, sitting on the floor against the bed.

"Yeah, not excited but going." Ally said, joining her.

"If you want a ride, I can pick you up."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

And then there was no more talking. Ally rested her head on Ashton's shoulder and sighed. Ashton didn't even mention Ally not going to her party the other night.

"It's going to be hard." Ally said.

"School?" Ashton asked.

"Everything."