Me in 20 Years
Liam took him home. Ash crossed his fingers hoping his family wasn't there. No one had arrived yet, so he went straight to bed. At that moment he got a text from Liam "Good night, see you on Monday." Ash smiled, now he had a friend.
—
The next day, over breakfast, Nicky suggested taking Ashton to the Exy court. According to him it would be a bonding experience. The twins reluctantly agreed, but Ashton could barely hide his excitement. The last time he had been on a professional court was with Simon and his father. They went to see a game of professional players. Anthony bought them two hoodies of the teams they were playing and some hot dogs. Ashton remembers that night fondly.
Neil seemed to have the same energy as him, Ashton wondered if he had spent the night on the couch. Kevin wasn't here, unlike Neil he had stayed in the dorms. Nicky called him to let him know about his excursion.
—
Playing in a place like this was incredible, nothing could be compared, especially since the high school's court was designed to be used in other sports.
The fox court was a hundred times better. Aaron lent some of his equipment to Ashton. Although Ashton was a bit taller than the twins, the outfit fit him perfectly. Nicky commented on the height difference between the brothers as they changed, Ashton couldn't contain his laughter. The twins shot him a look, even though it was dark, it only made Ash laugh harder. Nicky wouldn't stop making comments, until he saw Andrew approaching him and he ran out onto the field. The others followed him to start playing.
-Let's see how you play- Kevin commented. Ashton swallowed, he was nervous, they were professionals, he had only played for entertainment. Andrew noticed his nerves.
-Relax Kevin. This is not a workout, we're just here to have fun.
-I thought you hated the exy?- Kevin replied.
-I do- Andrew ended the conversation going to his goal.
-Okay. Nicky and Aaron are backliners. And Neil and I are stickers. You are an offensive dealer right?
-
They play for hours. It's obvious that the others went easy on him, so that he could keep up with them. Even so, he is having fun and he feels comfortable with his family. When he stops he lies down on the ground tired. Nicky crouches down next to him.
-Are you have fun?
-Yes, this is great.
Nicky smiles.
The rest come and sit around him.
- You are a good player. If I train you and improve you could...- Kevin began to say.
"Shut up!" Aaron told him. Ashton sat up so he could see the expressions of the rest. They looked tired but not as tired as him.
Andrew was staring at him. Ashton looked at him and raised one of his eyebrows in question, Andrew looked away.
Neil rested his head on Andrew's shoulder. The two seemed close friends.
Something about Neil was unsettling for Ash, he wasn't sure if it was his appearance or something different.
-Hey Ashton! At Christmas, you will come to Germany with us, you have to meet Erik.- Nicky interrupted his thoughts.
"Who is Erik?" They all sighed, Ash wondered if he had said something wrong. But Nicky grinned.
"Only the best person in the world," he said enthusiastically, "and my fiancé. He will like you, you're like a softer and taller version of the twins. Erik is German, I met him during an exchange year there. You have to learn German. He likes to climb, he is strong…”
After twenty minutes Ashton realized why the others had complained. Nicky wouldn't stop talking about Erik, and while on the one hand he liked learning about his family, it was too much information in such a short time. Kevin gave him a pitying look.
-Okay enough. I'm hungry.-said Aaron getting up.
-Ooh Aaron don't be envious, you'll tell him about Katelyn. Aaron seems unfriendly, but when his girlfriend is around he turns into a total softy. Right Aaron? You're a pookie.- Nicky lifted Aaron off the ground, surrounding him with his arms affectionately while his cousin struggled.
-Ugh Nicky stop, I can't breathe.
—
After buying food, they head to the apartment. Nicky puts a blanket on the living room floor and puts cushions around it, all of them can't fit on the kitchen table. Ashton sits on the corner of the blanket leaning his back on the sofa, Andrew sits on his right, and hands him a hamburger.
-Ashton, what do you plan to study after high school? Do you want to go to university?- Aaron asks, sitting in his place.
The question feels to Ashton like being hit by a stone. He stands still, and feels his nerves return. What is he going to do? A month ago he thought that his life would end under a bridge. The best version he had imagined was jail, just like his father.
"I'm not sure," he managed to answer in a low voice.
"Well, you still have time." Aaron replied, smiling at him.
After this Ash was lost in his thoughts. The boys were busy discussing with Kevin how bad eating junk food was. Although Ashton tried to follow the conversation, he couldn't stop thinking about his father.
For the first time in months he realized that he missed him. Anthony wasn't the best father, but Ashton would go so far as to say that he was a good father. Maybe he sold drugs and that sometimes he overindulged in marijuana, their relationship was complex and they had argued many times; but Ash loved his father and he knew that he cared about him. So why hadn't he called him yet?
Suddenly a wave of sadness washed over Ash. He stopped eating his burger and stared at his hands.
-Ashton? Ashton?-Andrew snapped him out of his thoughts. The man was staring at him, Ash felt like he was trying to read to him and he didn't like it.
-I'm going to my room, I'm tired. - He didn't want to be seen like that. He stood up and without looking at the others, he went to his room. He lay down on the bed and checked his call history. It was empty.