Light 》a.I. [au]

Tears ( 4 )

(Rachels' POV)

Ashton offered to give me a ride home. I didn't want to be rude, so I said yes.

We were driving down this street in silence when I noticed this picture he had hanging from his rearview mirror. It was a picture of a little boy that I looked a lot like Ashton,  two little girls and an older woman. The two little girls looked a lot like the older women, more than Ashton did.

They were at the beach and they all looked so happy.

"Is that you?", I ask.

"Whaat?"

"In this picture? is it you?", I ask again as I point to the peice of paper hanging.

He doesn't even have to take his eyes off the road and look where I'm pointing to know what I'm talking about.

Instantly he starts smiling.

"It is. ", he says.

Based on how big his smile was, I expected him to say a little more than just "it is". I wanted to know more but I didn't feel like pushing it. Not today when I just made a friend.

It went back to silence for a bit which didn't bother me at all. It was nice to just have someone to sit in the silence with.

When we got closer to campus Ashton began to ask me for directions to my house.

I directed him down back streets so we could avoid getting caught in evening traffic.

We pulled into my street and Ashton stopped the car on the driveway of this tiny house I pointed out to him. I wondered if I should've invite him in but knew he probably wouldn't want to come in. 

"It was nice... everything. .. lunch and uhm thankyou.", I say steping out his car.

"I'm glad you had a good time. ", he says, smiling.

"Yeah me too. I ..I'll. . uhm..Have a safe drive home. ", I say shutting his car door.

Immediately I regret saying that. I was never good at greeting and saying goodbye to people. It was always so awkward for me.

Before I could make it up my driveway to my front door, Ashtons car had already driven away.

I search for my key and unlocked the door and wasn't surprised to find an empty house.

"Mom?", I screamed. My voice just echoed through the halls and bedrooms.

No one was home.

No one was here... ever.

I walked to kitchen and made myself a sandwich and took out all of my course books. I did homework until I got tired. 

When I could feel the fatigue taking over I went up to my room. I looked at my clock on my dresser and it was only 9pm so I decided to take a shower.

I hoped into the tub and turned on the hot water. As the warm water poured down on me, my thoughts became clouded by Ashton.

He was warm. He made me feel warm. Everything about him is so positive. He is the type of person that would do anything to make anyone smile just so they could be happy. You don't have to be important to him for him to care about you. He just genuinely cares.. about everyone.

Once I was cleaned up, I dried off. I wrapped a towel around my body and walked from the bathroom to my bedroom. I began to look for pjs in my drawer when my phone buzzed on top of my drawer.

I grabbed my phone and walked over to my bed. I lay down on my back with my phone in my hand.

I knew it had to be Ashton but it still surpised me when I viewed the message.

-

*I had a great time! Sleep tight ! (:* he wrote.

-

My heart began to flutter.

How many times in one day is this boy going to make my heart beat this fast?!

I didn't want to seem so eager so I waited a few minutes to respond.

-

*Thanks me too! Goodnight Ash.* I replied.*

-

I  quickly got dressed and lay back into my bed. I put my phone down on my bedside table and picked up ny favourite book.

I was halfway through the first chapter of Every day by David Levithan when I heard my moms key in the lock.I didn't bother to go and greet her. I rather her think I'm asleep anyways.

She quietly rummaged through things downstairs before she came up to my room.

By the time she was upstairs,  I was on chapter 3. She stood in my doorway and knocked on the side of the door.

"Can I come in sweetie?", she said.

"I guess..", I said. I didn't really feel like talking to her and normally I would say no but it was the first day of school. I knew she'd want to know how it went.

" How was your first day?" she asks as she walks over to the edge of my bed.

She takes a seat and smiles this weak and tired smile at me.

"It was ok. New classes, same teachers. "

I debated telling her about Ashton but decided not to. She would just say the wrong things anyways.

"That's good sweetie. I had a long day..." I cut her off before she could say anything else." Its getting late and I have school. You should leave.", I say.

I wasn't up for this whole mother daughter bonding thing. I know she doesn't care so why must she pretend?

She looked down into her lap and smiled a bit.

" I understand. Goodnight Rach.", she said as she walked towards to door.

"Please don't call me that." I say very quietly.

Once she left, I got up to lock my bedroom door and went back into my bed.

I began to let myself think about all the things wrong in my life. I thought about my mother and her phony love. I thought about my father and his terrible past and I even thought about Hailey,  my ex bestfriend. I missed her.... a lot. I thought about Ashton and how if this was four years ago Hailey and I would be  gossiping all night about him. My life was ruined and it was the simplest things I missed the most.

As it got later into the night , I turned over to lay all my weight on my right side and for the first time in a while I cried myself to sleep.