The Outlier II

SIX

"Why couldn't you leave the country later?" Ashton whinged, "I don't know, maybe after Suzie and Mum are settling into the states so I don't go absolutely mental."

"Santiago is in South America so Mum needs to take a longer break to leave work, and she might as well make the most of it. Besides, it's not like I have loads of stuff to take care of in the States—"

"That's excluding your poor little best friend, who'll spend the summer twisted to insanity by their family."

I wasted absolutely no time flinging a pillow at Ash from across the room, full speed and velocity.

"I've told you before that you should try spending more time with Suzie," I advised, "she only wreaks as much havoc as she does because she wants your attention and to spend more time with you. She's a sweet girl once you give her attention and your mum can't really do that."

I could almost hear Ashton's eyes rolling to the back of their head as I told them, for what felt like the hundredth time, to give their little sister some attention. Suzie was a terrifying force if she didn't feel cared for or loved, and to feel loved by someone like Ashton is enough to suppress whatever terror she is capable of unleashing.

"By the way, I heard Angela has brothers that are the same age as Suzie— twins," I suddenly remembered. "She was complaining about them not being outgoing enough, so maybe Suzie can help them out with that."

Just as I was folding my breeziest clothes to stash away in my suitcase, I heard a loud snicker take over the former loud musing in the room.

"What?" I snapped.

"Aren't you so caring and considerate?" Ashton teased, "you'd make the perfect older sister."

I scoffed.

"Or a mother," they jested further. At that, I had been offended.

"No, take that back," I gasped.

It turned into a full-on tussle, I jumped forward, pillow in hand, smacking the daylights out of Ashton— or as much as I can with a cotton pillow. Ash pulled me down against the bed, attempting to defend myself from my anger-fueled pillow attack. It wasn't long after we both slumped on the bed, exhausted when another person popped into my mind. With the fear of how my words could be misinterpreted, I spoke.

"Maybe I should go see Jake before I disappear for two months," I sighed, "he's been really helpful throughout all this Edward stuff, I'd feel awful if I left him for months without at least a heads-up."

I didn't need to say anymore before feeling Ashton's pure judgment. I could see the theories brewing behind their stormy eyes, clouding what was a formerly readable expression.

"And how do we feel about Jacob?" they asked.

I had especially missed how issues concerning me automatically became "we". I was never alone if a dilemma presented itself before me; and the moment an issue revealed the smallest facet of itself before me, it presented itself before Ashton as well.

"We feel okay about Jake."

Ashton's eyebrow shot up. "Okay like we felt about Edwin or okay like we felt about Kate, or okay like we felt about Theo?"

"Edward and, okay like I do about Theo."

It took me unbelievably long to realise how much everything had been about me these past few weeks. My break-up, my friendships, my enemies, my life. I had forgotten to even ask about how things were for Ashton.

"What about you?" I suddenly, guiltily, asked, "how's your love life been?"

"I don't know," Ashton shrugged, "alright, I suppose. 'Been sexually active, and sexually cautious. Haven't liked anyone enough to be monogamous but I'll live."