[Song: All Time Low - Missing You]

"Hey Ashton, do you need my brother to give you a ride?" Jack asked.

"No, the bus is fine today."

"Alright, see ya tomorrow."

"Yeah."

"I'm sorry." What? I turned around and saw Charlie. I'm gonna dig a hole and die in it.

"Sorry for what?" I asked annoyed already.

"I'm sorry for acting so rude to you." Her? Rude?

"No, you weren't rude. I was rude. I'm sorry." I'm even proud of myself. That's a first.

"Apology accepted." I smiled lightly, then started walking to the bus.

"Do you ride this bus?" She asked while catching up to me.

"Yeah..." I scratched the back of my neck.

"I do too. Wanna sit with me?" I smiled once again. Trying to be nice to her, since I was a bit rude.

"Sure."

~~~

"So, may I know your name now?"

"Ashton."

"Ashton. I like your name."

"Thanks." I smile.

"You're not half bad at all." Half bad? Ha.

"I'm guessing you heard some rumors?" I chuckled.

"Yes, but, I don't really listen to them. Knowing that they are ninety-nine percent false." I laughed.

"Now that is true. I guess I judged you too much. You're not half bad yourself." Something is weird about me lately.

"Why thank you."

"My house is next. So maybe we can hang out sometime?" I asked, trying not to blush. Do guys even blush?

"Yea, sure. May I tell my dad about you though? That your a friend? I didn't really make much friends today." I kinda felt bad for her.

"Of course. And if he asks if I believe in God or stuff like that. Just tell the truth. Or have him talk to me. I don't mind." She nodded.

"See you tomorrow."

"See ya tomorrow."

~~~

"Hey mum." I kissed her cheek.

"Hi pumpkin." I groaned.

"Please don't call me that." I then laughed.

"I can't help it. So, how was your first day of seventh grade?" Ah oh.

"Boring. I was accidentally late to first class. Then my teacher gave me a detention tomorrow after school."

"A detention already? Ashton. What time do I need to pick you up?" She groaned. Me and my mum are like best friends. As weird as that sounds, we are very close.

"Well I only need to spend a half hour after school."

"Okay. But your father might have to pick you up. I might still be at work." Ugh.

"You can't let him pick me up." I whispered, knowing that he's probably in his "office".

"I'm sorry. As much as I don't like the idea either. I might have no choice. I can't get off work early. I have exams." My mum is studying to be a nurse. I'm proud of her.

"Okay, you're off the hook. This time." I smiled.

"Ashton." I turned around, seeing my dad.

"Yes father." I gulped.

"I need you to go get the mail." I nodded and headed back outside.

Our driveway is like a mile long. Which sometimes sucks, but sometimes it is a good thing.

Mum, dad, mum, mum, dad, dad, dad.

Bills and documents. Wait-.

I looked at one of mum's mail and saw that they were divorce papers.

Then I looked at dad's mail closely. Business papers. Being cut off- hold on. Dad got fired? Does he already know this? Does mum even know this?

I rushed back to the house, almost tripping in a few pot holes on the way; I walked up to my mother and slammed the mail on the table, but also quietly.

"Divorce papers?" I whispered. I love the word divorce in my situation, but if my dad found out, he would be mad.

"Shhhh, I'll talk to you later about it." She covered my mouth with her hand.

"And here, I think dad got fired."

"How do you know any of this if the mail hasn't been opened?" She spun the envelope around.

"My secret. Now what about the situation?" I'm more of the adult at home than school. If you haven't guessed.

"I'll have a talk with him. Go to your room." I nodded and ran upstairs, leaving crack open of the door to listen.

"THIS IS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!" I heard dad yell. Sometimes his yells scares me to much. I'm trying to get use to it so I can stand up to him.

"IT IS MY BUSINESS! I'M YOUR WIFE, I GET TO KNOW IF YOU GET FIRED OR NOT. I'M HERE WORKING MY ASS OFF WHILE YOU'RE PRETENDING TO WORK." Mum screamed back.

"I GOT FIRED A FEW DAYS AGO."

"IT SAYS HERE YOU WHERE FIRED A MONTH AGO. THIS WAS YOUR LAST CHECK."

"IT'S NOT MY FAULT. YOU'RE WORKING, THAT'S ALL WE NEED." He did not just say that.

"NO, WE'RE BOTH SUPPOSE TO BE WORKING. WHAT ABOUT ASHTON?" Mum pointed.

"WHAT ABOUT HIM? HE'S THIRTEEN. A TEENAGER. HE CAN TAKE CARE OF HIMSELF."

"HE'S BEEN TAKING CARE OF HIMSELF SINCE HE WAS FIVE." I could hear mum start sobbing. I wanted to rush downstairs but I knew that dad would yell at me.

"I'M GOING OUT." Dad shouted, then the front door slammed and I could hear the car turn on and drive into the distance.

I did however rush downstairs to see if mum was okay.

"Mum."

"Ashton, pack some clothes and belongings. We're gonna stay at a hotel for a few nights." I did not question her, so I nodded and walked back upstairs.

I packed some shirts, skinny jeans. A belt or two, toothbrush. Some comic books and my nintendo. As I finished packing some other stuff in my bags I walked back downstairs.

"Ashton, go in the kitchen and grab all the money in the cookie jar."

I pulled the money out and as I was walking back I counted it. In curiosity.

"Here. Where did you get all of this. Besides working?" I asked.

"Ashton, when you have two, basically three jobs, you'll understand." I chuckled and helped.

~~~

"Hi, do you have a reservation?" The front lady asked.

"No, but I was wondering if you have any rooms available for a week." I wondered around to look at the fish whole mum did that stuff.

I saw a purple blue seahorse. Seahorse's are my favourite.

"Come on Ashton." I picked up my back and caught up to mum.

"What room number do we have?" I grabbed the key from mum.

"Four thirty-seven." We went up the elevator four floors.

"FOUND IT." Mum giggled. "The room is huge or just only two people." There was two separate rooms. One room had a bed and some other stuff and the other room had the same lay out.

"Pick a room." Mum laughed.

"I'll take this one." I walked into room two.

"Alright. We are staying here for a week, so you will have to take the bus the school, if you don't mind. I have to work at four am."

"I don't mind mum."

"I'm sorry Ashton. You're only in seventh grade. You shouldn't be riding the city bus to school by yourself." Mum hugged me.

"I have no problem. I have my phone too, so if anything happens, I'll call you." I hugged her back.

"Okay. Here. Here some money for the bus to school and after school. And a few extra bucks for school lunch." I grabbed the money she gave me and put it in the drawer of the night stand.

"Thanks. Mum. What's for dinner then tonight?" I asked.

"Pizza Hut sound good?"

"Sounds delicious."

"I'm gonna take a shower." Mum walked in the bathroom with her bag, and I just went in my picked room and turned on the tv.

I wonder what it's gonna be like living in a hotel for a week. Maybe it will be good, or it might just be bad. Who knows.