neighbors ≫ a.i. [on hold]

Two

After finishing my shift at the grocery, I drove home quickly to shower. After showering and putting on a comfortable t-shirt and shorts, I brushed my hair out and let it air dry, and quickly ran the straightener through it. I apply little amounts of mascara, just enough to coat my lashes, but not enough to clump. I brush my teeth and grab my backpack on my way down the stairs. I run into my mother carrying the plastic green laundry basket full of clothes to fold and put away. I told her over the phone this morning that I'm tutoring Ashton and she thought it was great I'd taken the opportunity. I slipped on converse and crossed the street before stepping onto the porch.

Minutes later of waiting for someone to answer the door, I'm told that everyone was out except Ashton himself. I took off my shoes, and walked with him.

"Where do you want to start?" I ask, wondering. He shrugs and when he sees my massive hold of books he shakes his head.

"No, no no. Violet, I don't know about you but I am not going to go all nerd on everyone, I mean I'm not nerdy." He spills and I give him a disapproving look as I sit down across from him.

"I'm not either big boy. If you want to actually make this time benefit you, then I'd suggest you letting go of your current habits and having an open mind instead of playing Mr. Cool Guy and acting as this is all so easy." I simply reply, and he's smirking right at me, classic Ashton.

"Whatever, Just let's start with english I guess." He says because he failed english and history, and even I know he hates history.

I pull out the book titled "To Kill a Mocking Bird." and slide it over to him. He looks at the book's cover, how many pages it contains and shakes his head in a disapproving way.

"No, this is too long. This would take me a year just to open." He says and I giggle. He sort of smiles and then I stop being obnoxious.

"It's a great message and it's one of my favorite books ever. I can totally promise you that it's great." I insist and he shakes his head while rolling his eyes. "I'm serious Ashton, if you aren't going to at least try then I am wasting my time here." I seriously say and he puts his hands up in defense, and I roll my eyes.

"Hey, if this was up to me I wouldn't have bothered you, it's practically impossible to get me to do anything." He says. I cross my arms and stay silent. "But I'll try," He says. I nod and look down at my book-bag to pull some papers out and I hear something faint. "I'll try for you," He whispers and my head snaps up, and my eyes stare into his, and I swallow hard as my palms start to heat.

"What?" I ask for clarification as my heart pounds faster, so much that I can hear it in my ears. I bite my lip and wait for a response and he just shrugs and looks through the book. I try to shake it off but I'm still shaken up by the time I leave. I stumble into my house after talking with Lauren for a couple minutes on my way out, and take off my shoes and pull myself into the living room with my books to complete my homework.

"Hey sweetie, how was Ashton's tutoring session?" My mother asks and I shrug.

"It was okay, I mean it's Ashton so.." I exclaim and she laughs. She is reading a book on her iPad on the love-seat, as always, and its minutes until she speaks again.

"I think it's great you decided to do that for her, She was telling me today that she was thankful you could do it because she knows you have excellent grades and could handle something like this, I'm proud of you." She says and then goes back to her book, and I'm a smiling idiot for the rest of the night.

On my way to bed, I get a text from Lauren, telling me to look at my Instagram. I tell her an okay, and open up the app. In my notifications tab I have a comment I was mentioned in. I click the picture and it's a picture of Ashton with his homework out on the table, put up by his mom. I smile and slightly admire the adorableness and like the picture. I comment too, saying "Looks like good habits have taken course!"