Never the Same

Thirty-two

Aspen's POV.

The car ride home was silent and nobody said a word, we dropped Ryder off at his house. "Bye Aspen, text me later," Ryder said and he left to get his bags. I remember I would sit near the window for hours and debate on if I should call him or not, his number is the most important to me.

We park our car next door and I look over towards Ryder's house, I wonder what it's like there now. It's probably exactly the same, a horny Carlos and a cute Daniel. My mom parks the car and just starts sobbing, trying to make words out.

"Your dad is gone because of me. You left because of me, I thought you died to baby. I got your texts, always one at four in the afternoon. I tried calling, you changed your number, the texts stopped. Did you get my texts," she was sobbing out, that was the only sentences I understood. I rubbed her back, hoping she would feel better.

"I got every single text mom," I say softly. I did get every single text, they were more like paragraphs from long books.

"I just try so hard to be a good mom Aspen. I really try." She has her forehead against her steering wheel.

"You are. It was my mistake that drove me away, I never intended on hurting you. You were hardly home, you were with your BOSS. He's not my dad, he won't replace dad, you know damn well he won't. But he tries, that's what pisses me off. He tries to be my dad, he's not. You and him and have your own family." I blow a hair out of my face and unbuckle my seatbelt.

My mom just sits there, looking at me as if I'm not her daughter. I hate that look, I'm trying to find myself and she isn't giving me props for that. She opens her mouth to speak, but quickly shuts it and starts biting the inside of her cheek.

"Taylor and I aren't friends anymore," I say quietly to break the tension.

"We're going tomorrow to get you fitted for your dress. The wedding is in two months," my mom says and shuts down the engine.

"Have you already been fitted for your dress?" I'm happy for them but part of me still hurts. I'd love to see the dress though.

"Come inside and get settled, your room hasn't changed since you left it." She unbuckled and slides out the car, helping me get my bags.

"Honey, the cri-," Dave started but quickly shut his mouth when he saw us, "Aspen, get your stuff up to your room and come into the living room once you're done." My mom and Dave walked into the living room together, muttering.

When I got into the living room they were muttering still, I cleared my throat to tell them that I was in the room, both of their heads shot up, into my direction.

"Sit down honey," my mom said softly, her and Dave were sitting on the lovers seat so I sat in the chair across from them, waiting for someone to say something.

"Soooo," I say, raising an eyebrow.

"We have some news," Dave said and grabbed onto my moms hand, the sight made me want to puke my guts out.

"What is it? I plan on hanging out with my friends tonight." I lean back in my seat, with my hands in my lap, good posture, perfect good girl.

"Well, you're grounded lady," my mom said, trying to steer the subject away.

"Just fucking tell her," Dave said and nudged my mom, telling her that he'll tell me if she doesn't.

"Aspen, I'm pregnant." My mom bit her lip and squeezed Dave's hand.

Wait, let's take three steps back, my moms prego? She's like 39. Nice joke mom and Dave, I'm not falling for it.

"Nice joke you guys," I say and laugh awkwardly, getting up to go change. My mom grabbed my wrist, there were tears in her eyes, they weren't joking... EW.

"Y'all aren't lying. Oh my god. Ew. That's so nasty," I scream and yank my wrist out of my moms grasp, running upstairs. I pull out a shirt and shorts with tights quickly. I run into the bathroom to change.

Ew, that's nasty, he's like 50 and she's 39, I don't approve of their relationship, at all. Why do I have to get a sibling that I won't even see because I'll be far away from here? They obviously need protection, I'll beg Ryder to get some for them. Wait, I wonder if his mom knows? I'll see when I go over to his house in a minute. I decided to wear a white over the shoulder shirt, black shorts, black tights, white vans. I redid my mascara and let my hair go in it's usual natural curl.

On my way out the window, I grab my tan, over the shoulder purse and threw my phone in it. I hop onto the tree, where me and Ryder climbed up to the roof and kissed, I couldn't help but a little blush come to my face.

I hop off the tree and go to the front door, knocking. As usual, Carlos answers shirtless, but this time there were no rude comments, no hitting on me. His jaw just hung there, his arm was blocking my way to get into the house.

"Can I help you," he asks, his eyebrows knit at the top of his head. He doesn't remember me, at all.

"It's Aspen. I'm here to talk to your mom real quick," I say and smile, his jaw just hung there again, like he didn't believe it was me.

"Is it really you?" I nod my head and smile. He pulls me into a hug, he's gotten taller, at least taller than me. His hands tended to wander down to my ass.

Right when I was about to scowled him, Ryder decided to come in, "Take your hands off her ass before I chop your hands off." I smile as Carlos let's go of me and Ryder is standing right behind him.

"Language," I heard Ms. Johnson yell from Daniel and Carlos' room, I couldn't help but laugh. I see Ryder in sweatpants and no shirt, I bite my lip lightly. I feel the blush on my cheeks.

"Whats up with the Johnson boys being shirtless," I ask and flip my hair over my shoulder. Ryder and Carlos turn to look at me and I just wave at them.

"Aspen," Daniel screams, running down the stairs. I assume he ran too fast and tripped over his own feet, hitting the ledge because the next thing that I hear is Daniel screaming from the pain. Everyone was frozen but I was the first one to run over and see him, he hit his chin and cut it pretty deep.

"Ryder, get me bandaids and one of your tee-shirts," I yell to him, and he runs upstairs, following my orders. I place the bandaid on his chin, carefully and change into Ryder's shirt, so I don't get blood on mine.

"We need to get him to the ER," Ms. Johnson says and runs outside to start her car. I was left with Ryder and Carlos to get Daniel into the car.

"Nice boobs Aspen," Carlos says, smirking. Ryder hits him hard in the back of the head.

"You're gonna be okay Daniel, I promise you. Shhh you're gonna be okay," I say softly to Daniel.