The Swear Jar // luke hemmings

11//"why the hell'd your parents get a divorce"

The ride to Ashton's has felt like the longest car ride ever. He's skipped almost every song on Spotify (what kind of rich ass, he has premium) and has cleared his throat about 20 times since I hopped in the car 5 minutes ago.

"Why the hell'd your parents get a divorce?" Yea, we only met at a party once but I know that Ashton wouldn't mind telling me, even if I asked him in a bitchy way. He's the sort of person who is friends with literally everyone, including people he hasn't met, until they fuck up. Even then he's such a damn good guy I bet he'd forgive anyway. I, on the other hand, can hold a fucking grudge.

He seems shocked at the question, although I'm not sure why since he offered advice only moments before. He clears his throat (for the billionth time !!!! drink water!!!!) and then starts to talk.

"They just didn't love each other anymore. Fucking blows." He says. I don't buy that answer to be honest but don't press him on it.

"Who do you live with?" I ask as I position my legs to be sitting Indian style on the seat, my torso turned towards him. My eyes are staring intently at his every move, analyzing if he's giving me true answers or not.

"My mom." He clears his throat again. I contemplate shoving a water bottle at his chest.

"Where's your dad?" I turn my back to lay against the seat again and try to release the tension I feel in my shoulders by taking a few deep breaths.

"With his family." He says and suddenly none of the story makes sense to me.

"Huh?" I scrunch my nose and hear him giggle. "What?" I ask.

"Nothing. Anyways, he got remarried. I haven't seen him since court where he practically went out of his way to make sure my mom got full custody and never had to deal with me or my sister again." He looks at me for a quick second before turning his head back to the road and pulling into a driveway. His house looks beautiful from the outside. Ashton stops the car and gets out so I do the same thing, running to catch up with him already almost at the front door.

"You have a sister?" I ask as the door in front of us opens. I see no one in front of me and begin to wonder if they're just rich as fuck and have some automatic door shit or are living in a deadass haunted house.

"I'm Maeve." I look down below me and see a little girl holding the door open. I look up over to Ashton who is smiling. He walks in so I follow, again.

"I'm Victoria." I say, trying to be as least bitchy as possible.

"You're pretty. Are you dating Ashy?" WHAT A CUTE FUCKING LITTLE KID! Let me tell you, kids do not normally warm my heart but damn, I'd be lying if I told you Maeve didn't make me wanna pinch her little cheeks for being so damn cute.

"Oh- no." I respond. But I would if that meant I got to see you more often you little cutie!

"Oh. Hey Ashy, wanna play with me and your girlyfriend?" Ashton sits on the carpet, his arms in back of him and his legs stretched in front. I'm sitting next to him and Maeve is standing in front of us.

"May, you gotta ask her if she even wants to play." I giggle and Ashton looks over at me with a smile. He doesn't bother to correct what she said. Maeve walks over to me and begins to whisper in my ear.

"I know where my mom keeps the cookies. Do you want some? I also learned how to pour milk all by myself. But you can't tell Ashy." I look over at him then back at Maeve and nod my head, already having thought of a plan.