Her Absolution

Chapter 11

“By the way you have a beautiful laugh. I want to hear more of it.”

    After what Ashton told me, I try to keep my distance from him, but it hasn’t work before so I don’t think it will now. I like that he said my laugh was beautiful. Nope, I need to concentrate on myself and not on anything or anyone else.

    The rest of the week went by, with a few weird exceptions. For instance, every time Kenneth saw me he would head in the other direction. Maybe Ashton freak him out more than I thought. The other moments were when Ashton pick up the triplets. It’s the only time that he tries to talk to me since he got the hint that at school not going to happen and he takes advantage of the kids. So, I can’t ignore him like I do at school.

    I’ve been picking Ruby from school since mom has to substitute for a co-worker of hers that’s on maternity leave. And dad is busy this days in the office. I don’t mind picking her up, it gives us time to spend together.

    Ashton every chance he gets asks me about the game on Friday or if I at least want to go to the party after the game. And I tell him a million times that I have plans, he still thinks I’m making it up. Ruby and the triplets have gotten along they seem like they are going to be good friends. Mason has also come with Ashton to pick the triplets and sometimes he plays with them or just looks at them, mostly Ruby.

    Yesterday he came with drinks for everyone, and he gave Ruby her favorite one, ice passion lemonade tea. She was so excited and happy. I can totally tell that he only wanted to by her a drink. But I guess he would look bad in front of all of us if he only brought Ruby a juice.

    You can tell that Mason likes Ruby a lot. He has not try anything just be there as a friend. I’m just worried that with time he is going to stay in the friend zone. The good thing is that Ruby told me that she thinks he is cute and that’s a big one on her list. So, I may be hoping that he will not stay at the friend zone.

    So, mom has been busy with work, as in dad too, and he is still gloomy, but he is saying a bit more. Parker and Jen already left back to their lives. Marcus has been giving Sarah rides in the afternoon, even though he has football practice. Marcus on the first day of school try out for the team. Overall, this week has been nice and refreshing. Initially I thought senior year would be boring and nothing out of the ordinary and I wanted it that way. But it has been the opposite and I think this year is going to be a rollercoaster ride with me being in Ashton radar.

    It’s Friday afternoon and I just finish my classes. I’m so relieved that I have little homework for this weekend so I can have Saturday with Ruby. I asked mom and she told me that I can take her since Ruby didn’t have a play date. I was so happy when I heard that and Ruby too, she wants to have a sister-sister day. We are going to have the best sister day ever.

    Sarah is staying for the game to see Marcus. Anyway, he is her ride. I have plans that involve a women. I texted Sarah and Marcus in our group chat that I left for my appointment and for the team to win the game. They responded with I loves you and to drive carefully.

    I enter my car and take out my phone, going for the call icon and calling dr. Cambridge office. The line rings until the voice mail came indicating to leave a message, but I can’t. I call again and this time the other end answers.

Autumn: Hey Josh. It’s me Autumn. The office must be busy. Anyway, I call to let you know I am going to be a few minutes late. Please inform dr. Cambridge when she is available. You guys know I’m in the other town.

Josh: Don’t worry Autumn I’ll tell her. How many minutes? Just to let her know it’s not going to be like half an hour.

Autumn: Maybe 5 to 8 minutes.

Josh: Ok. She is still with another patient. See you in a while, drive safe.

Autumn: Thanks, Josh, I appreciate it. I will. Bye.

We ended the call, and I was relieved to get in touch with Josh. I can now drive to the appointment. Since it’s a drive of 30 minutes to my town and 10 later to get to her office, I have to either leave early from here or change the time of the next appointments.

    Talking to dr. Cambridge has been a good for me. I also know that it has help with the death of Asher and trying to stop blaming myself for what happen that day. To also start living again and not stay in my room shutting out the world.

    I enter my beautiful town intended for the plaza where her office is. Since it’s Friday afternoon not a lot of parking spot has been taken in front of her office, so I know that I’ll find a parking spot easily. Also, she has as neighbors, a place that takes different kinds of x-ray’s and a dentist. The dentist office is where my family goes, that’s how we knew of dr. Cambridge.

    To the plaza is a 10 minutes’ drive. I found easily and fast a parking. I get out knowing that I’m late and entering her office. Josh sees me and waves, I wave back and go to him.

    Josh is a nice guy, he graduated three years ago from college with a degree in psychology and he is currently studying for a master’s degree in criminal psychology in the college mom works at. Josh must be 5’5” or 5’6” with brown eye, blonde hair bleach to light blue, skinny, and has earrings in both his ears.

“Hi Autumn. How are you? You got here just in time, the other client left like 10 minutes ago, so she is just organizing everything.”

“Hi Josh. I’m fine and you? How are your classes, killing you? That’s a relieved then. I’ll just take this time to talk to you a little bit.”

“I’m okay, you are right my classes are killing me. Sometimes I want to pull the hair out of my head. I’m stress out must of the time but I know what to do to calm myself down.”

“Good.”

“How is Crestfall High? I remember I use to hate them.”

“It’s okay. The people there are actually friendly to us. I guess since they know about the fire, they and we don’t really have a choice in the matter of what school we go to. Thank the goddess nobody has recognize me or maybe they are pretending not to know who I am.”

“Hmm. Maybe is the first option. Also, any hot guy? It’s been ages since I know about that high school.”

“Jaja Jaja. Nothing goes by you. They are hot guys, but you know I’m not interested in anyone. There is one guy that I can’t seem to shake off from, his name is Ashton.”

“As in Ashton Mercer aka Mr. Mercy? Girl, you in hot trouble. You do know that guy has like a fan club with millions of girls?”

“You know about him? Oh, goddess. I’m doom.”

“Sweetie even I know who he is. Maybe even dr. Cambridge knows who he is.”

“I do know who he is.”

    We were so involved in the conversation we did not see or realize that dr. Cambridge was standing there, waiting for me. I feel so bad, making her wait more time. I say bye to Josh, letting him continue his work.

    I enter her office, the same as last week, nothing has change. Her office entitles of a black wooden desk with many drawers, a white chair, a white lamp, with some accessories in white to put her utensils like pens, pencils, paper, etc. 

    In front of her desk are two chairs facing the desk, it’s for visitors or clients. And then a black couch in front of it is a white coffee table with some fake plants. On the left side of the couch there is a grey chaise lounge for dr. Cambridge or clients, it’s facing towards the couch. And on the other side, between the coffee table and the chairs of the desk they are two more black chairs. These two chairs are different from the other two this are tub chairs style and the ones on the desk are the wing chair style.

    Behind her desk they are shelves with fake plants, books, notebooks, mini statues, all kinds of stuff. Her office colors consist of black, white, and gray. Behind the couch you can see the paintings they are of different colors, sizes, themes. The paintings and the things on the shelves are the only stuff with different colors. She also has a clock on the right wall, if you are sitting in her desk chair the wall would be on your left, if you are on the couch is on your right side, if you are on the tub chairs either in your left or behind you and if you are on the chaise lounge it’s in front of you.

    I ramble a lot, I should stop rambling my thoughts and when I talk.

    I told dr. Cambridge everything that happen this week, what I felt, what I really wanted to do, my doubts, my guilt, everything. Everything except the biggest issues, not ready yet to let her know everything, specially about Ryan. She asked me questions about what I feel about Ashton, she also asked me about my family and Sarah. She asked me what I thought of things I answer her truthfully.

    We also discussed the situation of me freaking out over the text Jen sent me on Monday, about making a huge deal out of nothing. She let me see and understood that it’s okay for a person like me, that has been through a lot to react that way. But that next time something like that happens and it will, to not freak out or go to those negative thoughts, to breath and ask first.

    She also told me that I should accompany Sarah to the game, that it was time for me to be in a crowded space other than the cafeteria. But to not go to the party, I wasn’t ready for that. And I'm not exactly in the mood to go to one, last time that happenned I got a big surprise. She also told me that if I don’t go to this game, to go to the next one. The session ended with reprograming the other session at later time since I’m coming from Crestfall since for now she can’t move my sessions to the Saturday slot, they are full.