SETTLING IN - PART 1
CHAPTER TWO: Settling in – Part 1
The hood was eerily quiet so Ashley took up her phone deciding to call her aunt.
On the first dial, a sharp and soothing voice penetrated the receiver.
"Ashley darling..." Ashley nodded because it was always her aunt Meryl's way of addressing her. "Are you there yet honey?" the woman asked.
"I think so, Auntie. Unless there is another '79 Georgeton, I think I'm at the one." Ashley said, looking at the top left street sign she'd studied before.
"Oh, honey. Then you just wait there, okay? Tom is almost nearby. You'll be meeting him shortly."
"Tom? Who is T—?"
Ashley could hardly believe it but the call had dropped? Why, though?
Well, she chose to let it slide in anticipation of meeting this 'mysterious' relative that was coming to pick her up.
"Let's hope he isn't some scary-faced dude, I pray."
She'd barely said that when her ears picked the revving of an approaching vehicle. Ashley veered her eyes toward the right only to find an old grey Mercedes car trekking towards her.
'That's my ride?'
The car trotted to a stop right in front of her and Ashley observed the driver jump outside from it in peculiarly gay spirit.
"You must be Ashley right?" the sturdy boy asked while walking toward her side of the road. He was gleaming brightly.
'Looks charming...'
"Hi, I'm Ashley but Ash is also fine."
"Ash... Haha," he laughed shortly, slapping his hands together before lifting her energetically off the floor. They hugged.
"...Of course I knew it. I would be damned if you weren't my cousin after all!"
Tom chuckled away until Ashley felt the urge to push him away. He was being too snugly for someone he had barely just met.
Tom pulled away first, saving her the stress. And Ashley led out a sigh. Her eyes crinkled as she said: "You have pretty bold arms."
"Oh yeah? I hope it doesn't upset you much," Tom said, grinning sheepishly.
'Alright, this is starting to get pretty...awkward!'
"So, you are Tom. Correct?"
"Yeah," Tom bent over to pick up her luggage, "I am a Hatton although not your aunt Meryl's direct son."
"I knew it!"
"Huh? What was that you said?" Tom asked as he flew the baggage into the car's trunk.
"Nothing," Ashley nervously answered and quickly made her way to the front. She opened the door and sat carefully in the empty chair, just beside the driver.
Luckily, Tom did not press much for answers when he got back in his seat. He simply turned on the ignition, setting the vehicle in motion. They drove steadily for a while. In silence.
"So, cuz... How was your trip over here to Bayville town?"
Ashley wasn't looking at him, she kept her eyes on the road. But the picture of him which had planted in her mind painted him smiling from ear to ear. He looked definitely charming though.
"My trip was sorta cool," Ashley stated, omitting how she'd cried for more than half the trip. "Overall, that doesn't matter as much. Pretty glad I am here right now."
"Yeah, me too. Eva is going to be so glad to have you around. Even happier than mom will."
"Now, Eva, I know."
"Of course, you should," Tom chortled again as he let her wonder what was getting him enthusiastic.
The car hurled over a very sharp bend, suddenly and Ashley considered him reckless for it.
"Dude!"
"I know, I know. I'm sorry, okay? I got carried away."
Ashley didn't say anything after that but Tom felt the pull to rekindle their earlier discussion.
"You seem unnecessarily grumpy though," he stated, "but that's a good thing because mom's recipes are just the perfect medicine you would need to be a better person. Haha ."
This time Ashley laughed as well because that used to be her mother's favourite line to make her eat when she was too sad to. Back when she was still a kid.
"Did your mom— stepmom tell you that?" Ashley asked, still smiling.
"Yes, you caught me. The quote is hers." Tom confessed with a slight laugh.
"That's soooo like something my mom would say as well."
"Oh yeah?" Tom was itching to know.
"Yes," Ashley declared. "So at what point did you join the Hattons because I've only ever known about Eva. Though it's been over a decade since we last saw but—"
"Eva's alright. You know she's got high school and is pretty much in a haste to finish. Not many teens fancy a decent education these days. Ech!"
"And how would you know that?"
"It's my neighbourhood, remember? Bayville may look all calm and glory from the surface, but a lot of ill-bred activities take off within its walls."
"How do you mean?"
Ashley got curious. She'd always had a knack for history-related topics or in this case more current affairs. If she was going to be spending the next few months over in Bayville, she might as well gather as much information about the state.
"Ever heard about the mafia?"
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone