Chapter 10

The next day, I woke up feeling really nervous. Ash hadn't been to my house before so I was worried what he'd think of it. I also didn't want to do anything stupid in front of him.

I got ready and had breakfast, but then I couldn't sit still. I kept getting up and doing things that weren't even important, like sorting the laundry then going back and resorting it. Or rearranging the books on a shelf in the living room. I was so restless.

When Ashton finally arrived, we went up to my room and he got out the books he'd brought with him.

"Which one do you think I should read first?" He asked, holding up two books so I could see.

I looked at them carefully then picked the one I thought looked most interesting.

I'd already started reading one of the books he chose for me so I grabbed it off my shelf and slumped down onto the beanbag opposite my bed, which Ash was sat on.

It felt so nice having him here, even though we weren't talking, just reading. Knowing that he was there was comforting.

Around midday, the silence was broken by Ash asking if I was hungry.

"Yeah, I am actually," I said, suddenly realising my stomach had been rumbling.

"Great, I know this place not far from here. Do you wanna grab lunch there?"

"Sure."

I drove down, Ashton giving me directions, to a small cafe along the beachfront. It was so small and sweet, and had a few tables outside with candles gently blowing in the wind. Inside, it was lit up by fairy lights that were strung along the walls and around the doorways. Succulents and leafy plants sat on every table, holding the menu between them.

We sat down and a sweet old lady came to take our order. It was really quiet in there, so the younger girl behind the counter started making the food before she'd even been given the slip of paper with our order on.

"So," Ashton said, "I was actually thinking of asking April if she wanted to come here tomorrow."

"Oh," I said, trying to keep the disappointment out of my voice. "Yeah, that sounds nice."

"Do you think she'll like it?"

"Oh yeah, definitely. It's so nice in here!" The old lady seemed to overhear me because she flashed a huge grin towards me right after. I was trying to sound a bit more enthusiastic for Ash but it was so hard. "Are you er- are you still talking to her then?"

Of course he is! Why did I ask that? He's asking her on a date.

"Yeah, yeah, I think it's going quite well, actually."

"Really? That's good, then."

Luckily, I was saved by the sweet lady bringing us our food.

Once we finished eating, Ash said he had to get back home so I dropped him off at his house before heading home myself.

As soon as I got home, I raced upstairs, slammed my bedroom door shut and slumped against it, slowly sliding down until I hit the floor. Tears streamed down my face and I screamed internally. He was going to ask April on a date. The guy I liked was taking another girl on a date. I really tried to feel happy for him, he seemed to really like her, but it was still torturing me.

Suddenly, I heard a knock on the front door and rushed to the bathroom to splash my face with some water. I didn't know who was at the door but I didn't want to let anyone see I'd been crying. Especially over a boy.

I opened the door, expecting to see the mailman or something, only to come face to face with Ashton. He was the last person I wanted to see right now.

"Sorry, I think I left my book here- wait, are you okay?"

"What? Oh... yeah, I'm fine, I-" I paused, desperately trying to come up with an excuse as to why I'd been crying. "I er, I fell down the stairs."

I mentally kicked myself for coming up with something so stupid and unbelievable. Before Ash could question it, I ran back upstairs and returned a second later holding his book.

Once he'd left, I went back upstairs and lay down on my bed, falling asleep almost instantly. Being upset was exhausting.

What must have been hours later, I woke up, still fully clothed on top of my sheets. I glanced out of the window next to my bed and saw that it was pitch black outside. How long was I asleep for? I didn't have a chance to check a clock though, as I rushed to the bathroom and threw up, barely making it in time.

I flushed the toilet and then stood there, utterly perplexed as to why I'd thrown up. I felt fine until just a second ago.

"Hayden?" I heard my mom say from outside the bathroom. "Are you okay?"

I opened the door and she came in.

"What's wrong? I heard you run across the landing." She said.

"I'm fine, I think," I said, not entirely believing myself. "Yeah, I feel fine now."

"Did you throw up or something?"

"Yeah, but it was nothing."

She furrowed her brows before shuffling away back to her room.

Deciding to worry about it later, I went back to my room, changed into something a bit more comfy, then crawled into bed, snuggling into the covers. I wasn't the least bit tired, though. I'd just slept for - I checked my phone to see it was one in the morning - ten hours, I didn't need to sleep any longer.

I tossed and turned for just over an hour before giving up and watching something on Netflix.

When I woke up in the morning and couldn't get back to sleep, no matter what I tried, I realised how extremely hungry I was. I hadn't eaten since yesterday at lunch and then I'd thrown that up in the middle of the night.

I crept downstairs as it was only six in the morning and made myself some scrambled eggs on toast. I was sat at the kitchen table eating it when mom walked in.

"How come you're up so early?" I asked.

"I could ask you the same thing." She raised her eyebrows at me.

"I couldn't sleep any longer, not after sleeping for half the day yesterday," I explained. "So, why are you up?"

"Couldn't sleep either."

"Do you want some?" I asked, gesturing to the remaining scrambled eggs in the pan.

"No, I'm good, thanks." She seemed to pause for a second. "Actually, there's something I should probably talk to you about."

She came and sat next to me at the table and I was growing steadily more concerned.

"Hayden, I'm pregnant."

My fork clattered as it hit the plate.

"You're- you- there's a baby... in you?" I stammered stupidly.

Mom nodded.

"But you're... old."

"Well thanks, Hayden!" She laughed.

"Sorry, I just meant- well never mind. Is it... dad's?"

She nodded again.

"What are you going to do?" I asked.

"I don't know," She whispered, her eyes tearing up.

I sat there in a stunned silence. I was going to have another sibling. Mom was having another baby. I suddenly felt very worried. Did that mean dad would be more involved in our lives again?