More Than a Teacher - Ashton Irwin

41

I dump my heavy bag down by my feet and click my seat belt in faster than Ashton can even turn the car on. I want nothing more than to get out of this place, maybe even never see it again.

"I got a reply to the email I sent to the principal about Mr Parker." Ashton rests his hand on my headrest, keeping a hand on the wheel while he reverses out of the car park.

"Mm?" My eyes immediately shoot in his direction where I desperately hope there's some kind of good news.

This has got to be the sixth time a complaint has been made about Parker from four different people. One from Harry, one from Cal, and Ashton and I have both sent two. Surely it is enough to ring alarm bells in her head. Unless he's got her wrapped around his sick little finger. It's so frustrating and belittling to have the principal brush off a situation like it's some joke. To have a person of authority like her not believe a mentally abusive issue like this makes me question if she's doing her job correctly.

"And at this point I'm seriously considering moving to another school—"

"What?" I cut him off.

My brows furrow. Yeah I don't mind the idea of moving schools but actually hearing it from his mouth makes me anxious. I'm not good with change or meeting new people.

"But I can't do that. Even if you wanted me to move your schools. I'm not your legal guardian and I don't even have any of your documentation like birth certificate for starters." He shifts the gear stick into drive with a sigh.

"Oh."

I've never thought of that. I've never thought about the little important things like a birth certificate. I wonder if my parents even still have it. I bet the moment they m threw it deep in the rubbish bin the moment they got it. Never to be seen or thought about again. Just like their daughter.

"So she just dismissed it again?" I mumble defeatedly.

"Mhm." He nods sympathetically, taking a quick glance at me to gauge my reaction.

I let the air pour out of my lungs heavily. I fiddle with one of the buttons on my school shirt as a way to try and distract myself from the sadness and anger I feel.

"Are you upset?" He keeps his attention on me as much as he can without taking his eyes off the road.

"Yeah, a little bit." I swallow the lump in my throat.

"Want me to pull over?" Ashton's brows furrow with concern.

I shake my head no.

"Do you think my parents still have my birth certificate?" I quietly question.

Out of Mr Parker knowing that I've run away from my home and the principal not believing he treats me so badly, the thought of not having my birth certificate bugs me the most right now.

"Is that what you're thinking about? Darling, there's no need to worry about that. We can get
you a new—"

"No you can't! They aren't going to let anyone who isn't my legal guardian to just be sent a new copy of my birth certificate. Not to mention it would come at a cost." I snap suddenly, spitting out the realistic side of the process.

"Ava there's no need to get so worked up over a birth certificate. You don't need it right now and we will find it eventually, even if that means Cal or I have to become your legal guardian." He speaks calmly, gently curling his warm hand around my thigh.

His calmness frustrates me right now. It's almost like I'm getting sick of being told everything is going to be ok.

Yeah, he makes me feel like things are going to be ok, but always in the back of my mind they're not going to be. I do love that he makes me feel like it's going to be alright but in reality nothing is for sure. It's constantly one step forward, two steps back. It's getting to the point where I'm certain things will stay like this forever.