eccentric 》 muke | cashton

thirty 》ashton

"Ashton, dear." Gina called from downstairs.

I sat in the school room with my private tutor. His name was Samuel and he was in his mid thirties. He's really funny and he minded my space.

I got up and walked down the wide stairs and towards the kitchen, where I was guessing she was judging from where her voice was.

Sure enough there she was sitting at the table with a book and a glass of wine. She turned her head and smiled at me.

"So the support group meets today at three thirty." Gina said, "If you're not ready to go yet then that's fine but-"

"No, I'm ready." I nodded.

"Okay." Gina nodded back and turned to her book, "I'll come and get you when it's time to go."

I mumbled a quick okay and went back upstairs.

-
I sat in the passengers seat of Gina's mustang as we pulled up by the entrance of the school.

"Okay..." Gina said, putting the car into park.

I stared at the school, feeling my heart race quicken. It's been so long since I've been here and I've only had bad memories.

"Are you ready?" Gina asked, breaking my thoughts.

I turned over to face her and nodded, "Yeah... I suppose."

"Okay, have fun." She smiled brushing a piece of hair out of my face then gasping, "Was that too soon?"

I smiled lightly and shook my head. She let out a relieved sigh and unlocked the door. I climbed out the car as my eyes immediately locked with Calums who was walking down the stairs.

"I'll see you later, Ash!" Gina called before speeding off.

"So you're finally back from the unknown." Calum said, a smirk across his lips.

"Yeah, I guess." I said.

"I saw you yesterday, with your mum." He stated.

For some reason I didn't correct him, about Gina. It made me feel nice that he though she was my mum and that he didn't know about what happened earlier.

I smiled awkwardly and hoped that he wouldn't ask any further questions, which he didn't.

I walked into the music room and although I didn't check what time it was, I must've been pretty early.

"Oh my God, Ashton." Carol said looking as if she'd seen a ghost, "What a nice surprise."

Looks like I'd better be careful around her or my secret will be out. Just then Luke walked in and I suddenly remembered that he also knew about my mum. He gave me a surprised wave and sat in the chair closest to him.

If I can get both of them not to say anything, then I'll be good.

"We're missing a few students today..." Carol started while standing up.

"Calum and Michael, what's new?" Tessy said.

"It's okay. They'll get here eventually." Carol nodded, "But right now we'll start with a group question. We'll start with Luke and finish with Skite, okay? The question is, how has your family helped or maybe this situations worse."

Luke didn't stand up but he said, "My family don't really pay attention to it- besides my mum."

"Does it help having her around?" Carol asked.

"Definitely." Luke nodded, "But sometimes I wish... You know, she'd kind of lighten up and let me handle things myself than doing it for me."

"Yeah," Tessy said, "My grandma thinks that since I had brain surgery I'm retarted and talks to me as if I'm a child. And my brother won't let me do anything. Not even grab a cup from the cabinet."

"What about your parents, if you don't mind me asking?" Carol said.

"They've been traveling so they can't be at home, but I'm sure they'd be just the same." Tessy shrugged.

Carol nodded and turned to Sabin.

"My foster mum didn't really know what to do. My sisters as well so they kind of make it worse and although they try their best it's still not... good enough, you know? And I have no idea how to tell them" She shrugged, "That's why I have a therapist."

Carol smiled understandingly and looking right past me to Flannery.

"Flannery..." She nodded encouragingly.

"What about me?" I asked.

Carol cocked her head in confusion, "Oh I'm sorry, Ashton. I didn't think-"

"My sister likes to pretend that I don't have anything wrong... Even if it seems like I don't around her since she's the only person who can touch me and I won't be weirded out by it." I started, not knowing where this sudden boost of confidence came from, "But she's always telling me that people choose to take my problem as a disability, those are the people you shouldn't hang out with which is pretty good advice I guess."

"Yeah, I like that." Flannery nodded looking straight at me, "When people see me they act as if I'm some kind of monster. Then other people act like I'm a helpless person and don't get me wrong it's nice to have a little help but not when people act like you can't do anything."

"Exactly." Tessy nodded.

"My parents are probably the only ones, besides y'all, that treat me like I'm normal. Sometimes they even joke around and tell me to fix the light in the attic or something like that." She laughed lightly.

"I have a very big family from both sides of my parents so when I was diagnosed last year the word spread pretty fast and within a day I had relatives coming over with presents and balloons telling me that it's all okay and I'll be totally fine." Skite said, "I didn't believe it, of course. They're family and they're saying that so I won't be scared but... I guess they were right."

Carol smiled at all of us as usual, "That was wonderful."

I had the urge to roll my eyes at her but I didn't. She told us we'll pick up from where we left off tomorrow and to have a good day. I got a text from Gina saying that she'll meet me at the front of the building in five minutes so I left the room and walked out to the front.

Michael was walking up the stairs as I walked to the front entrance. He looked really mad, like he was gunna cry or something. He stormed into the building. I hope he knows the sessions over.