Trickery → irwin

Chapter 15

Ashton POV

I sat beside my mom's hospital bed. I hated this place. The smell was terrible and the white lights blinded me. Everyone always stared at me when I walked down the halls and I would make sure to send them a wink making them turn around and scurry away.

"So when do you get out of here?" I asked sipping on the cheap coffee I got from the cafeteria.

Mom shifted on the white sheets trying not to move the large cast on her leg, "The end of the week. I'll have to take off work but at least I'll be able to spend Christmas break with you, unless you have plans with a certain someone." She smiled.

"No, Kori's moving." I admitted.

"Oh?" Mom perked up slightly taken aback. She pushed some stray hairs behind her ears then took my hands in hers.

"How are you taking it?"

I shrugged. In my head I had convinced myself that it wasn't a big deal but I knew that it was bothering me way more than I let on.

"It is what it is."

Mom patted my hand stealing my coffee from my hands, "I haven't had real food in days." she complained taking a big gulp.

"Take her on a date." she said suddenly taking me by surprise.

"A date?" The word scared me and went completely against my moral code.

"Oh god Ashton grow a pair." she scolded hitting me on the head, "Ask her out to the movies, the carnival, or something. Have some fun and make some memories she can hold onto once she leaves." she advised with a stern look.

"I can't." Ashton Irwin doesn't go on dates.

"Give me your phone."

I began to protest, "But mom-"

"Now Ashton or I will beat you with my cast."

Since when is my mom so sassy? I grunted placing it in her awaiting hand. I watched as she began typing and my eyes widened.

"What are you doing?"

She placed the phone on my lap with a satisfied smile, "I just asked Kori out for you, you're welcome."

I couldn't breathe. This woman was obviously high off of whatever medication she was on.

My phone dinged scaring the hell out off me and as a result I fell off the side of my chair. I threw the device at the hospital bed not daring to see what it said. My mom was having a field day laughing at my misery.

She glanced at the screen then handed it over to me, "Looks like you two are going bowling at six."

"Bowling?" I asked getting off the polished floor. Why is everything in this place so white and clean it's unnatural.

"You use to love bowling." she pointed out drinking some more of my coffee.

"Yeah but that was before-"

"Stop using the fact that your dad was sent to prison as an excuse for everything. I know it was hard, it still is, but you can't blame him for everything. You need to stop letting his choices affect your life and take control of your future." she sighed trying to stop before she got worked up, "Now you go home and get ready for your date and tomorrow I want to hear all about it."

We hadn't talked about my dad for a while and the very thought of him made my stomach twist uneasily. A nurse walked in saying she had to do some routine check up so I took that as my cue to leave. I ended up leaving my coffee with my mom so during the drive back home I stopped at some diner and got something other than the cheap black liquid provided at the hospital.