Chapter 9: Chapter 9

I opened my eyes for a split second and went back to sleep again. I had no urge of waking up. I just wanted sleep.

“Ashley! Wake up!” I heard my mom yell for the fifth time.

I groaned and put my pillow over my head to cover my ears.

“Ashley! Don’t make me come up there!” Mom warned.

The pillow never works. I’ve seen this in movies and it never works. Besides, why can’t a girl get some sleep?

I heard the door to my room open and before I knew it, my room was hijacked by sunlight. After letting the sunlight take over my room, mom turned off the air conditioner and fan sending sudden warmth through me.

Why can’t I sleep?” I asked my mom while resting my head on the headboard and sighing loudly.

“Because it’s 12:45,” she replied.

“It’s what?” I asked loudly, lifting my head off the headboard and getting up from my bed.

Mom chuckled and walked over to me. Kissing my forehead, she said, “Freshen up, then tell me all about your trip.”

Smiling, I nodded.

I walked to the washroom lazily and lifted my brush, applying toothpaste on it. I stuck the brush in my mouth and walked back to my room, searching for my phone. I unlocked it and saw that there were 3 missed calls and a million messages from Erica.

Wake up!

Wake up you lazy ass!

It’s morning, sunshine!

Good morning!

I love you Ashh, wake upp!

Oh great! It’s afternoon -.-

I laughed and called her while spitting out the foamy toothpaste from my mouth into the sink.

“Good afternoon, sleeping beauty!” Erica exclaimed.

I giggled and said, “I was really tired.”

“Yeah, I get it,” she replied lazily.

“What was so important that you sent me a million messages?” I asked and bent near the sink to rinse my mouth.

“Nothing, I just wanted to talk to you,” she replied.

“Sure,” I replied. “Oh! Question! You enjoyed camping right?”

“Only the part where I got to sleep,” she said.

“I’m standing here with a poker face woman,” I responded.

She laughed. “Yeah, yeah, it was fun.”

“I knew it,” I said proudly.

“Well, I’m going to finish my homework, bye!”

“Okay, bye,” I replied.

I grabbed my towel from my room and went for a shower. After bathing, I dried my hair and went downstairs and found my mother making pancakes.

“Hmm, I smell something tasty!” I exclaimed.

My mom looked at me and grinned, “Hungry?”

“A lot!” I walked towards the counter and sat down, waiting for mom to give me a pancake.

She took one plate from the cabinet, placed two pancakes on it and handed it to me with maple syrup and whipped cream. I grinned at her and put some maple syrup on it with a lot of whipped cream. I cut one big bite and plopped it in my mouth, moaning as the amazing taste of whipped cream made my taste buds go wild.

“This is so good,” I said dreamily.

She smiled and started wiping the wet dishes. “So how was camping?”

“Oh! It was fun! It was really fun!” I said happily.

Mom gave me a closed mouth smile and nodded. She seemed disturbed; she looked like she was deep in thoughts.

“Mom? Are you alright?” I asked, furrowing my brows.

“Huh? Yes, yes sweetie,” she said, wiping her hands.

I raised my eyebrows and tilted my head. Mom sighed and closed her eyes.

“So,” Mom started. “I have to go for a business trip.”

“Okay,” I said slowly, waiting for more details.

“It’s three weeks long,” she said, looking away from me.

“Oh,” I said, not sure how to react to this.

“Do I have to come with you?” I asked.

“No, you don’t but you do have to stay at someone else’s house for those weeks,” she replied.

“Okay but why are you so tensed?” I asked, raising a quizzical eyebrow.

“It’s just that I’ve never left you on your own for such a long time,” she said, sitting down.

“Mom,” I said calmly, placing my hands on hers. “I’m not going to be alone; you said you’re leaving me with someone.”

Honestly, I hated staying at someone’s house. Especially when I don’t know them, it’s really weird. You have to formal and think twice before you do anything.

“But,” she sighed. “I don’t know, it’s just this motherly concern, you know?”

I chuckled and said, “Yes, I do. Whose house are you leaving me at?”

“Erica. I talked to her parents, they are more than happy to let to you stay,” she said quickly.

I could feel a smile forming on my face. Three weeks! At my best friend’s house! It’s like a never ending sleepover.

“Really?” I asked.

“Yes, love,” Mom confirmed.

I grinned at her and stuffed my mouth with more pancake.

“I’ll be leaving today evening. Erica’s parents said that they will send someone to pick you up. So, I suggest you better start packing,” Mom said waving her hands towards the stairs trying to indicate my room.

“Okay,” I said softly even though I was really quite excited.

Stuffing the last bites of my pancake in my mouth and spraying some whipped cream in my mouth, I ran up the stairs and called Erica. She picked up on the first ring.

“Oh my god! Oh my god! Oh my god!” I screeched through the phone.

“If I ever become deaf, you’re going to be the reason!” Erica shrieked back.

I grinned and said, “Didn’t your parents tell you?! I’m going to be staying at your place for three weeks because my mom is going out of town for a business trip!”

“Oh my god! Oh my god! Oh my god!” she screeched through the phone.

“If I ever become deaf, you’re going to be the reason!” I shrieked back, mimicking her voice.

She laughed, “Wow, we’re going to have so much fun! Three weeks! That’s twenty one days!”

“Uh huh,” I replied happily. “I’ll call you later; have to start packing.”

“Okay!” She yelled into my phone causing me to pull the phone away from my ear.

I groaned in the phone. “Erica!”

“Revenge is sweet,” she said and disconnected the call.

I laughed and walked to my closet to search for my suitcase which was easy to find since I had recently unpacked. Oh my god! I am going to be spending three weeks in my best friend’s house! It’s going to be amazing!

Wait a minute; she has an absolutely annoying yet cute brother. No matter how much I prefer to stay away from Ethan; I always end up being with him.

*

Mom checked the time again.

I sighed loudly, grabbing her attention, “Mom, it’s alright. I think you should leave. I’ll wait here till my ride comes. Then, I’ll lock the door and leave. Okay? Go. Your taxi is waiting.”

Mom bit her lip and took a look at her watch again, “Fine, send me a message when you reach Erica’s house okay?”

“Okay” I replied, bending down to pick up her bags.

Reaching the taxi, the driver opened the trunk for us and helped us with the bags. The driver got into the taxi and waited for mom to enter as well.

Mom turned towards me and put her hands on my shoulders, “Take care, don’t eat a lot of gummy bears and study regularly.”

I smiled, pulled her in for a hug and nodded, “You too, take care of yourself, don’t stay up late working.”

Mom rubbed my back and smiled at me.

“I’ll meet you soon,” I said with a small, assuring smile.

She nodded giving me a big smile and sat inside the taxi. She waved and I waved back, smiling and watched the taxi drive down the road. I walked back to the house and locked the door. I sat down on the couch and turned on the TV, switching through the channels. I heard my phone ringtone and ran upstairs.

“Hello?” I asked, trying to catch my breath.

“It’s me. Are you done with your packing? Ethan will be at your place soon,” Erica said.

“Ethan?” I asked, confirming what I heard.

“Yup,” she replied, popping the ‘p’.

I groaned inwardly, “Right, when is he going to be here?”

“He’s going to leave-oh, he’s leaving now,” she said.

“Okay,” I replied with a sigh.

Erica laughed, “Don’t like my brother? What are looking at Ethan? Go, stop eavesdropping.”

Rolling my eyes, I said, “Nothing like that.”

“Okay, I’ve got to go, mom needs some help,” Erica said.

“Right, bye,” I said, wiping my hands on my pants and leaving my room.

“Bye,” she responded and disconnected the call.

I went back downstairs and continued watching Master Chef US Season 3. I hate Frank so much, that guy is so mean and annoying. The only reason he came so far is probably because his cooking might be good. Pausing it, I went upstairs to check my room again; in case I forgot anything. I found many things that I needed and took them down with me. I bent down on my knees and opened my bag to put the things inside. Sitting down on the couch, I continued watching Master Chef. After watching for around 15 minutes, the doorbell rang. I got up and walked towards the door. Ethan stood on the other side in a hot, black leather jacket, white T-shirt and black jeans.

“Hey,” he said, smiling.

“Hi,” I said, smiling back.

“Are you ready to go?” he asked, pointing his thumb towards the car.

“Um, yeah, I just have to turn off all the electrical stuff,” I replied, leaning against the door.

“Sure, I’ll help you with the bags,” he said, walking past me into the living room.

Carrying the big suitcase, he grunted, “What is in this? I don’t understand why girls need to carry so much with them all the time.”

Rolling my eyes, I looked at him innocently, “I’m staying at your place for three weeks, that’s many days. Besides, I don’t always wear a pair of jeans and shirt.”

He scoffed and walked out of the door. I closed the door and re-checked the entire house. After being satisfied with my inspection, I grabbed the house keys from the kitchen counter and walked out. I locked the door and walked towards Ethan who was leaning against his car. He looked like a mesmerizing male model ready for a photo shoot. He opened his door and sat inside; I walked around the front of the car and sat next to him.

“I should have seen this coming,” he said, placing his hands on the steering wheel and putting the car into reverse.

“Seen what coming?” I asked, totally confused.

He tilted his head towards me. “You. Coming to stay with us; I mean try and be sweet to a girl and she ends up staying at your house for 3 weeks.”

I gave him a serious look. For some reason, his annoying words hurt me. “Stop the car.”

“Why? Did you forget something?” he asked.

“No,” I said, peering through my eyelashes. “Take me back home, I’m going to stay there alone.”

“What?” he exclaimed. “No! I’m sorry.”

I didn’t reply anything but just waited for him to drop me back.

“Sorry! Sorry! Sorry! Sorry! Sorry! Sorry! Sorry! Sorry! Sorry! Sorry! Sorry! Sorry! Sorry! Sorry! Sorry! Sorry! Sorry! Sorry! Sorry! Sorry! Sorry! Sorry!” He kept chanting.

“Stop!” I yelled over his yelling.

He grinned at me, “I didn’t mean. I swear.”

I smiled at him even though I didn’t want to. “It’s alright.”

*

“Ashley!” Mrs. Wilson exclaimed.

Mrs. Wilson is an extremely sweet lady. No matter what you do, she'll always forgive you. Erica and I always pulled little pranks when we were young and she would not scold us but just tell us what we did was wrong along with a disappointed look which literally stirs guilt in you. She has brown hair which is now quite close to becoming grey and beautiful blue eyes just like Erica's.

“It’s wonderful to meet you again!” she said, pulling me in for a bone crushing hug.

I could see Erica snickering from the corner of eye. After Mrs. Wilson let go of me, Erica showed me the guest room I would be staying in which was right next to Ethan’s room, how very convenient.

“I didn’t want you to stay in a guest room but mom said it would be mean to make you stay in an uncomfortable, messy room,” Erica said, rolling her eyes and quoting ‘uncomfortable, messy room’  with her fingers.

I grinned at her, “I’m going to be in your room most of the time, so doesn’t matter.”

“Exactly!” she said, rolling her ocean blue eyes. “Well, mom told me to leave you to freshen up so I will be in my room; I shall see you there soon as well.”

I chuckled, “Of course.”

She gave me one last smile and walked out of the door.

Great, I thought, three weeks. With my best friend. And her brother.

A/N- heyaa! Did you likeee ittt?? :p I hope you did

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And dedicated to @Virusgirlxxzp for the adorable cover on the side! :D