Hitch Hiking • WHY DON'T WE [#1]

eighteen

week 4

I was sitting on the couch minding my own business whenever the bathroom door opened, I didn't think anything of it at first, but then whoever left the bathroom came and sat beside me. That person was Zach and he was only in his boxers.

"Where are the rest of your clothes?" I question, repulsed by the idea of him being half naked and sitting on my couch.

"In my room."

"Why aren't you wearing them?"

"Because I just showered and it's hot."

I look Zach dead in the eye, "my mother will be here any minute, you need to put on some clothes."

Zach winks. "make me." With that he jumps up off the couch leading to a five minute chase of my trying to catch him and make him put on clothes.

"ZACHARY DEAN HERRON YOU WILL NOT GO AROUND PANTS-LESS IN MY HOUSE."

It was a sight to see; me chasing a half naked boy around my house.

Zach pokes his tongue out at me right as I corner him in the living room. At some point I grabbed whipped cream and had it ready to spray at him. "You're disgust-"

"ANSLIE JANE LEWIS I KNEW IT."

Zach and I freeze. "Mom, it's not what it looks like, I swear." I say slowly turning around to face my horror stricken mother and her angry looking boyfriend.

Zach, trying to lighten the mood, gives her his award winning grin and waves. "Hi, I'm Zach."

I face palm and my mother stands there, mouth gaping and horrified.

"Why is this boy only in his underwear and why are you chasing him with whip cream?"

"I like it kink-" Zach doesn't finish his sentence because I throw the whip cream can at him.

"I'm going to be sick." My mother grimaces.

I bite my lip and glare over at Zach whose rosy cheeks were redder than normal as he tried to hold in his laughter. How could he laugh in a situation like this? My mother was about .3 seconds away from going off and Steven looked like he just walked into the wrong house. Where was everyone else when we needed them?

"Yo, what's all the screaming for - oh, hello." Daniel says entering the living room. His eyes cut to Zach then to my mom and Steven. "I'm interrupting something, aren't I?"

"Not at all, where's Tayla?" I ask, my voice hushed. I was glued to my spot and I didn't want to leave Zach alone with my mom.

"She took Zander to a souvenir shop."

The horror had left my mothers face and now was replaced with anger, "Why don't you boys leave Anslie and I alone for a moment? And you should go put on some clothes." She glares at Zach. Daniel and Zach both take off outside where I'm assuming the other boys are. Bea and Jack were who know's where but at the moment, I couldn't care.

I meet my mother's eyes and motion to the couch, "You're welcome to sit." I mumble.

My mom eyes the couch warily, "you haven't-"

"Oh my- Mom! I am a virgin. Nothing is going on between me and any of the boys." I burst out. Mom holds her hand up in defense as she and Steven take a seat.

"Then why was that boy running around in his underwear?"

I shrug and sit across from them, "There's really no answer to it."

Steven gives my mom a side glance and she nods before turning back to me. "I want you to come live with Steven and I, obviously your aunt is doing a horrible job at taking care of your brother and yourself."

I hold my aunt to stop her, "You're kidding right? My aunt has taken care of not only Zander and I, but these five idjits plus Eben (who doesn't even stay here) too! She's done a way better job than you have. You've been where? Europe? With your new boyfriend or whatever who, no offense Steven, looks like belongs behind bars for fraud! Tayla has taken better care of my brother and I in four weeks than you have in years, mother." I spit, the anger building up inside.

Mom looks taken aback so Steven takes this as his chance to speak. "You ought to show more respect to your mother, Anslie. I agree, you should come live with us."

"Where the hell do you even live?"

"Language young lady!"

I glare at my mom and turn back to Steven who found it necessary to join the discussion. "We're moving to California soon, I'm sure you'll love it there. We'll get you enrolled in a nice private school, and-"

"Hell no! I wanna stay with my family."

"We are your family, Anslie." Steven argues. I scoff and shake my head, "I barely know you! Why would I ever want to live with you? You're the reason my father is sitting at home drinking himself to death. You're the reason my family is torn apart, you- you-" I couldn't finish my sentence, I burst into tears.

"Anslie, calm down. You and your brother should start packing because we're leaving tomorrow and as soon as we get back home you need to start packing for California because that's where we're going, we have the court order ready and everything. And don't expect to have any contact with those boys you're so fond of, they're poison for you."

I was beyond upset. How dare they tell me who I can and can't be friends with? How dare they try and take away my life? I stand up and with a shaky voice say something along the lines of "You know what? Fuck you, fuck both of you." but I couldn't hear what their response was due to the pounding in my ears.

I dart up the stairs to my room, slamming the door shut, and flopping down into my bed. That's when I let all of the emotions I've been holding in.

Tomorrow was my last day with the guys before going home and I wasn't sure if my mother and Steven would even allow me to stay in contact with them. All I knew is that I would have to leave my old life behind and start a new one.

Though all of this was stupid, I'd be 18 in a year, but it's whatever, there was nothing I could do.

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AUTHORS NOTE

should i make a sequel or keep all the chapters all in the same story bc if i made a sequel i'd probably make a third book mainly focused on zonah

idk what do y'all think? pls lemme know i'm desperate lol

10/10/17