Secondhand Life

Chapter 26

Ash's P.O.V.

A couple months later *** 

"I wonder why they called this the Gretchen Poliper Disease." I said to Christopher while unpacking some more boxes into our home. We were finally moving in everything at last and no longer lived in the townhouse and this house. Now that the physical dreams were over I wanted to know why our house was considered after a girl had lived here with the same disease I had.

"Well, from what I looked at, she was one of the youngest girls to ever have Physical Dreams. And she was the youngest to die from it so tragically." He said picking up more boxes.

"That's so sad. I just turned fourteen and she died at around twelve years old." I sighed. "But at least I made it out alive. I really wonder what her dreams were about." 

I picked up the last box for my room when a screeching scream came from no where.

"Maria!" I said yelling at her almost dropping the box. "You scared the day lights out of me."

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry." She said not meaning her apology and snickered. "I couldn't help it."

"I see that now." I said turning my back to her trying to make her feel bad. 

"Hey don't ignore me." She whined grabbing my arm forcing me to turn around and look at her.

"Careful don't pull to hard or I'll drop the box." I said facing her slightly irritated now.

"Oh come on Ash." She called chasing after me as I walked into the house to my room.

I ignored her and kept walking to my room and put the last box into my storage closet. Maria walked in behind and closed the door.

"Hey you alright?" She asked me.

"Yeah you just scared me that's all." I said sighing and stretching after hours of unloading boxes.

"Sorry Ashley." She said sounding innocent and walked near me.

I leaned against the wall and stared at her. "How are we supposed to tell our families that we like each other?" I asked shyly feeling my cheeks redden. 

She smiled at me and leaned her hand against the wall to block me from getting away.

"I don't know, but it sucks not being able to act flirty around you." She leaned closer to my face and smirked.

My cheeks went scarlet and I felt my stomach jump.

"U-uhh." I muttered and put my face in my hands. I was embarrassed and confused on what I should do. Maria is someone I love, but I didn't know how to make her happy.

I couldn't make up my mind with what I could do different, I just did something I already knew. 

I lifted my face up to hers and kissed her lips. When I released from the kiss I was greeted by no other than Christopher standing there with a box of my clothes that I forgot about downstairs.

"Christopher-" Maria started guarding me by standing in front of me.

"You? Her?" He asked Maria with his mouth hung open pointing at us.

"Y-yeah." Maria said turning her head around to look at me.

Christopher closed his mouth, placed the box down and left the room with his eyes open with surprise and fear.

Maria's family and my family all helped move the rest of the boxes into our new house and finally sat down to dinner to eat. We ordered a huge order of Chinese food and enjoyed being in a house that was big enough for our large family. Maria and I sat down next to each other eating and occasionally looking at each other when she held my hand without warning. I looked at her in surprise as she stood up holding my hand. 

"Maria what-"

"Ash come on." Maria said hoisting me up without letting go of my hand after she did so.

"Hey guys." She started. "I have an announcement."

Christopher smacked his head against the table hard. I could feel tension and confusion rising. My parents eyes seemed to be gazing into my soul trying to tear it apart.

"I wanted to tell you all personally together." Maria took a breath and I braced myself mentally for what she was about to say.

"I really love Ash. And it would be a pleasure if you would let me date her." 

Silence.

***

Hours later behind the closed doors of our dining room Maria's parents were yelling at her full on while my family didn't really mind and was fine with me being with who I choose. We stood awkwardly in our kitchen listening to screaming and eating ice cream nervously. Surprisingly from what I could hear Maria was yelling just as much as her parents, if not louder. 

"So what if it's a girl? Does it really matter?" Maria asked getting her point across.

"Of course it does, that's not acceptable to schools, your friends, your cousins, or this family!" Her dad boomed shaking the closed door.

"A college will still accept me no matter who I date!" Maria was getting frustrated and so was I. If dating a certain gender was unacceptable of schools then that school isn't worth going to. Maria was sixteen, almost seventeen. College's were becoming more important to her and her family but a school that wouldn't accept a student based on who they are is terrible.

"This is ridiculous." Her Mom stated. "This has to be some sickness or something. Do you want to go home and rest? Your mind isn't in the right place, you must be tired." Her Mom tried to sound nice, but it aggravated Maria and I. 

"Mom, Dad. I'm not sick, I'm not faking it, school is not more important than my happiness, I really don't give one fuck about what our family thinks, I don't even care what you both think. Neither of you can make my decisions for me so please let me be. Were done talking about this now. I'll be staying here at Ash's house until you can understand me." Maria spoke and I heard the door unlock.

She came out through the door, took me by the hand, and without another word to her parents we went up to my room.