I GET A message from Margot, telling me that herself and Mr Ashford are gonna be late tonight. Parker went out a while ago, so it's just Jack and I. They said I could sleep over in the spare room, or I could wait up and just go home once they're back. To be honest, I'd much rather stay the night. I hate driving in the dark. I only have my clothes from earlier and the clothes i'm wearing right now. Parker's clothes. I absolutely despise not being clean.
"Okay," I clap, standing up from the couch.
Jackson looks up at me, chewing on the straw of his juice box.
"Wanna come on a little trip to my house?" I give him a pleading grin.
He pouts, snuggling down in his paw patrol onesie.
"You can play angry birds on my phone." I hum.
A cheeky grin appears on his face.
"Deal." he jumps up, switching off the TV.
Once Jack gets his shoes and coat on, we get in my car. I don't know if 8 year olds need a booster seat. I don't have one either way, but I doubt I'll be checked at 7pm on a fifteen minute drive.
We pull up to my house not long after. It feels like a shoebox compared to the Ashfords'.
"Welcome to my house, Mr Ashford." I open the passenger seat door for him, helping him down onto the sidewalk.
Jackson looks up at it, smiling.
"I like it." he gives me a nod.
"Thanks, kiddo." I smile back, taking his little hand and leading him to the front door.
The house is dark since I've been out all day. I flip on the lights and we make our way up the stairs.
"Okay, you can... I don't know. I'm just gonna pack a few things." I look around frantically.
I don't remember the last time I slept away from home. Probably when I was around Jackson's age.
I walk over to my closet and pull it open, taking out a pair of jeans for tomorrow and packing them in my backpack.
Moving over to my drawer, I pull out long sleeve shirt, a t-shirt and a cami. I can't help but pack for any weather conditions. Finally, I pack underwear, socks and pyjamas. I shove my makeup bag in along with my skincare. I'm probably, definitely overpacking for a one night stay, but better heavy than... I don't think that's the saying but whatever.
"Elena?"
I turn to Jackson.
"Yeah bud?" I slip my hairbrush down the side and zip it up, not without a little struggle.
"Who's this?" He holds up a picture frame.
My heart aches, my throat catching.
I sit on the bed beside him. "That's my mom."
I take the frame from his hands, stroking the glass. We took this picture on my 11th birthday.
"Where is she?" he looks up at me innocently.
I give him a sad smile. "She got sick. And... she died."
"Oh." he furrows his brows a little.
"Yeah." I put the frame down on my bedside table.
"What about your dad?" he swings his legs a little.
"My dad works away. So I don't see him often." I shrug.
"So you live all alone?" he frowns and I nod.
"Oh." he says again.
"Oh-kay! I'm all packed up. Let's get you home in time for bedtime, kid." I clear my throat, standing up.
The car journey back to the Ashfords' is quiet, and once I park up in the drive, I realise it's because Jackson has fallen asleep. I pull my backpack on, next picking up the sleeping boy and taking all of us in to the house. I manage to get him upstairs and tucked into his little bed.
I find the spare room, which happens to be the room beside Parker's. Lucky me. I unpack my things, which doesn't take long considering, before getting ready for a shower. The fresh heated towels kept in the bathroom are pretty much the highlight of my month. I feel the best I have in days after the shower, and I change into my tank top and bed shorts.
My hair is still damp when I slip into bed. The sheets are crisp and I snuggle down beneath the covers, closing my eyes and letting myself drift off.
What feels like minutes later, I open my eyes. The time on my phone reads 4:27am and I groan, pulling the duvet from my body. The house is completely silent, and pitch black. I try my hardest not to make a sound as I walk out into the hallway and down the stairs. The marble is freezing cold an I begin to wish i'd but my socks back on. Finally, I reach the kitchen. The moon shines in through the window, the light illuminating the room a little.
I take a glass from the cabinet as I walk over to the island, taking the jug of filtered water and pouring some. Sighing, I pick up the glass and bring it to my lips.
"Hey, Kinsley."
I jump, the glass slipping from my hand. It falls to the ground with a loud crash and I gasp, stepping back as the water soaks my feet.
"Shit." I mumble, crouching down and beginning to pick up the glass.
"Let me do it." Parker crouches beside me, taking my hand as I reach down again.
"It's fine." I huff.
"Let me do it." he repeats, and I look up at him.
He takes the glass out of my hands and picks up the rest. I take a couple sheets of newspaper from the counter and hand them to him to wrap the glass with.
"What are you doing down here?" I sit on the barstool, swinging my legs a little.
"I was wondering the same thing." he glances up at me. "Or what you're doing here in general."
"Your parents told me I should stay the night." I explain.
He stands up, towering over me again.
"Oh?" he says.
"Mhm." I jump down from the stool, grabbing a kitchen cloth.
I bend down, wiping the water and attempting to scoop up the tiny remainders of glass on the tiles. When I stand back up, Parker is in my former seat. I throw the cloth in the trash and huff, turning to face him.
"Why do you hate me?" I blurt. I feel like his presence just makes me throw up words at this point.
He looks up at me. "What?"
"I try to be nice, but you shut me down." I tilt my head. "Why do you hate me?"
Parker looks slightly amused. "You're kinda adorable."
"What?" I snap.
"It's also adorable how you think everybody has to like you."
I falter a little. "Ouch."
He lets of a quick breath from his nose. Was that a laugh? I shouldn't have felt as much amusement from that as I did.
"I don't hate you Kinsley." Parker adds as he walks away.
I hate how much better that made me feel.