The Only One » cth [en]

16. jade cries in happy

I check my phone and I roll over to the middle of the bed again.

It's 3pm and I should have gotten up long ago.

Thank god Ash only comes home at 17 so I can make some house chores before he arrives. It's my turn and if I don't clean the place he'll throw it in my face when it's his.

I hope Calum doesn't come over. To be honest, I wish none of them comes over today. They would know something is wrong.

I've been able to avoid them the last couple of days giving my cousin the excuse I had to work till late. 

I wonder if Calum told Ashton about what went down.

No. I'm not thinking about it. I managed not to until now.

I hear the noise of plates clinging together and I open my eyes, scared.

I double check my phone only to confirm -ash hasn't text saying he was coming home earlier.

Without making a sound I open the door with a blanket over my head.

What if it's a thief? I should ask him why he's robbing our only 6 plates.

But I'll probably scare him away with my messed up hair and my lack of proper sleep face.

I approach the kitchen door and it comes to my mind I shoulf be holding something to defend myself from the intruder.

The door suddenly opens and I'm not sure if the squeals that leaves my mouth hides fright or surprise. Maybe both.

"Anne!" I exclaim, way louder than it was necessary and I throw my arms around her neck, almost knocking both of us down in the process.

"Darling, why are you crying?" She hold my face, a smile still lingering over her expression.

I become aware of the tears coming out of my eyes.

"I just missed you so much!" I hug my aunt again. "Oh my god, I look awful."

When they laugh, I find two more figures standing inside the kitchen and I make a run to throw myself in the arms of Ashton's dad this time.

"Good evening, little J!" Aaron jokes, hugging me tightly. From the corner of my eye I can see Ash observing the scene with endearing eyes as he holds the stupid blanket I just dropped.

"What are you guys doing here?" I question, trying to put my hair decently, but end up putting it in an ugly bun instead.

I sit at the table with them, noticing the box of chocolate-flower-shaped cookies I love so much.

To answer my question my uncle speaks, "We heard you might be going through a break-up so we decided to visit."

I almost do a 360 flip as I face Ashton wide eyed.

"Dad! You could have least made it a little less obvious!" The young dark blonde states and gives me an apologetic smile.

"Is that why you brought the cookies?" I eye them knowingly and cross my arms, leaning further into the chair.

"We also know you don't have them here." Anne pulls the box in my direction, as if it was always meant to be an apology.

We are all from Hornsby but the guys moved to Central Coast for college and I tagged along.

She's right, they don't sell the cookies here and my cousin refuses to drive an hour just to get food.

"I'm not going through a break-up." I'd have to be in a relationship for that.

I push the cookies away from me.

Ashton looks at his parents and there must be some secret family telepatic conexion involved because they leave, saying they will buy more food since 'comfort food is the best food'.

When we're alone he gets closer to me.

"Calum told me what he said." My cousin says what I wished he'd never say and he doesn't even have a guilty look on his face. "And I know when something you don't like happens, you don't let it take over your thoughts so it won't upset you."

I lower my head and roll my eyes.

All the times Ashton has told me 'You can ignore it, but it's not going to disappear.' repeat furiously in my brain and I rub my temples.

"I'm fine,really. It's not like I'm going through an heartbreak or something." Except that my heart aches if the slightest thought of him comes to my mind. Why am I being so dramatic?

"I talked to him. I see where he's coming from and I believe his heart was in the right place, just confused where to go next. But he still hurt your feelings so I tried to put some sense into him. He's lucky he's my friend or I would have said things my parents wouldn't like to hear."

"But you're with me?" I ask weakily. A pout stands proudly on my face, as if it just arrived to a pity party and wants to stay for a drink or two.

"Jade, he might be my friend, but you are like my sister. I will always be with you."

His hand rests on top of mine. I feel my eyes begin to water and my lip begins to tremble so I lay my head on his shoulder.

It should feel awkward but it doesn't seeing as we've always been very supportive with each other.

My mind starts to fill up with all the memories from two days ago. I remember how I drew to exhaustion and then cried myself to sleep.

I know I'm sobbing by now and probably drooling all over Ash's shirt but he doesn't seem  to care as he keeps rubbing my back. God, what did that handsome guy do to me? I never cry. Maybe that's part of the problem.

"Everything will be okay. If Calum doesn't see what a catch you are then believe me when I say it's his loss." My cousin's soothing voice sounds in my ear.

"He can't see, Ashton. That's the whole point." I whimper an attempt of a joke and the man next to me chuckles.

"You don't need to see to feel, J."

And that just makes me cry more.