― UNKNOWN NUMBER! (IRWIN)

7

Michael

I called Nikki as soon as Ashton figured out I'd stolen his phone.

"Hey Nikki!"

"Hi Michael!"

"I was just wondering if you could not mention this to Ashton,"

"What do you mean this?"

"I mean like me calling you, ok?"

"But why though?"

"Ashton has sort of already claimed you or whatever,"

"What the hell does that mean?"

He didn't hear me.

"Shit! Ashton is coming! I'll talk to you later bye!"

"Oh yeah, bye I guess,"

I hung up on her just as Ashton walked into the living room. Ashton opened his mouth to say something to me, but I ran out of the room before he could say anything.

Ashton

Michael was acting weirder than normal, but I ignored it as I dialed Nikki's number.

"Ashton?"

"Yup! It's me,"

"Well then hello there,"

I could almost hear the smile in her words.

"Hello to you too,"

"One sec,"

She moved the phone away from her mouth but I could still make out her words.

"You're home early,"

I couldn't hear the reply.

"Oh, I'm just talking to my...mom,"

Her mom?

"Yeah, yeah I'm almost done,"

She sighed as she said it.

"Hey, Ashton I'm going to have to call you back sometime later,"

"Oh, ok, I love you,"

She seemed to choke on thin air.

"You what!?"

"I'm your mom apparently so what am I supposed to say?"

She was silent for a second.

"I love you too, Mom,"

That was all she said before she hung up.