Little Montgomery: A Station 19 Story

Chapter Eight: Car Crash

Hartley's POV:

The prank went off perfectly. Sullivan, Travis and Dean all went for the cupcakes at once. They got so freaked out when they realized they were tuna, and then Maya and I dropped the bucket of tuna on them. I think I already won. Travis, Emmett and I are having dinner a couple days later. Emmett managed to not burn it tonight, which is a first for him.

Hartley: Dinner's really good tonight, Emmett.

Emmett: Thank you, Hartley. See Travis? Somebody likes my cooking.

Hartley: Yeah (laughing) when it's not turned to charcoal.

Travis and I laugh and he high fives me. Emmett picks up a piece of chicken and throws it at Travis, hitting him in the face. We all laugh some more, we're laughing so hard we almost don't hear the doorbell ring. We all look at each other confused.

Travis: Are we expecting someone?

Emmett: I don't think so.

Travis gets up to open the door, and immediately steps outside and closes the door behind him.

Hartley: Who was that?

Emmett: I have no idea.

Travis' POV:

When we're eating dinner the doorbell rings so I get up to answer it. I open it to see my mom, so I step outside with her.

Travis: Mom, what are you doing here? You didn't tell me you were coming.

Mrs. Montgomery: Is it so wrong for a mother to drop by and see her only son?

Travis: No, but now's not really a good time. We're a little busy.

Mrs. Montgomery: We? Oh, so Emmett's here? Let me say hi to him.

Travis: I- alright. I'm not gonna win this anyways.

I open the door and lead her back in. I send a warning look to Emmett. I really don't think it's a good idea for her to meet Hartley yet.

Emmett: Hi Mrs. Montgomery.

Mrs. Montgomery: Hi Emmett.

Hartley sends me a panicked look. I really screwed up.

Travis(mouthing): I'm sorry.

Mrs. Montgomery: Who's this?

Travis: Oh, um. This is Hartley, mom. You remember her?

Mrs. Montgomery: Oh, this is Hartley? She looks very grown up. Hello, dear.

Hartley: Hi Mrs. Montgomery.

Mrs. Montgomery: I'm your mother, Hartley. You can call me mom.

Hartley(grabbing Emmett's hand behind her back): Oh, that-that's okay.

Travis: Yeah, mom. We don't want to rush anything.

Mrs. Montgomery: Where are you visiting from? It's so nice that you have dinner with Travis and Emmett.

Hartley: I, uh, live here.

Mrs. Montgomery: She lives with you? For how long?

Travis: A few months now.

Mrs. Montgomery: You've been living with your sister for months and you didn't tell me? What is wrong with you, Travis? I raised you better than to lie to your mother!

Travis: You have no right to judge me for this, mom. You're the one who put her in foster care! Do you have any idea what she went through because of you?