Chapter 108: Chapter 108

Ethan's POV

My phone rings lying beside me as I sit on the side bench, sipping on my water bottle after practice. I pick the phone thinking it's Michael but it's actually my Mom calling.

" Hello Mom.", I say answering the call.

" Hello Ethan. Your practice is over ?", she asks.

" Yeah..I was about to go have breakfast. Why did you call now ?", I ask.

" Okay, I know you weren't planning to come home this weekend but sadly you have to come home today. ", She says.

" Oh....okay..something came up ?", I ask, feeling sad. Now what will I tell Michael ?

" Yeah..I need to go to Tennessee for a case. I'll be heading today afternoon. I'll return only tomorrow evening.", she says.

" Okay, I'll be there by 6 : 30. When are you leaving ?", I ask.

" I'll be heading by 3. Mrs Berth will pick Eve from school. And she will be there with her until you come. ", she replies.

" Okay Mom. ", I hum.

" I'm sorry Eddy. Have you planned anything for the weekend ?", She asks.

" No Mom. It's okay. I haven't planned anything.", I reply. I had actually planned something.

" Okay, I'll call you later. Go have breakfast now.", She says. I hum an 'okay' and end the call.

When I reach the canteen, Michael, Gavin and Grace are there at our table. Gavin didn't have practice today. Grace had woke up with me early morning and went to our dorm. Thankfully Mr Garvey didn't come for checking yesterday night.

I take my seat beside Michael and realize they are planning something for tomorrow. " Guys, I'm sorry. I need to go home. My Mom just called. She is going to Tennessee today afternoon and my sister is alone at home.", I immediately say.

" Oh..shit ! ", Gavin responds. I look at Michael, expecting a disappointed look. But strangely, he doesn't have any particular emotion on his face.

" When will your Mom c..come back ?", he asks.

" Tomorrow evening. So, maybe I can join you guys on Sunday.", I reply.

" Oh..okay.", Grace nods after a moment. Gavin too nods in understanding. They know about my family situation. I had told them my Dad is not with us.

" I'm sorry baby.", I tell Michael as we walk towards the wash after breakfast.

" It's okay Ethan. I- I can understand.", he says. I give him a smile in reply.

Once he finish washing his hands, I pull him inside our usual bathroom like usual, for our routine morning kiss. I crash my lips on his and he kisses me back, snaking his hands around my neck and pulling me forward, deepening the kiss.

After sometime, we pull away panting, foreheads still touching.

" Ethan..can I also...", he says once he catches his breathe.

" Uhm..??", I ask.

" Uhm...can I also......ahm..can I g..get a kiss on forehead?", he asks. I smile and instantly kiss his forehead. Then I cup his face and kiss his baby blue eyes. Then I peck his nose and then his both cheeks. He blushes into a crimson red and I smile looking at him.

We soon step out of the bathroom and the next moment the door beside us opens and Grace steps out of it, followed by Gavin.

" Woah ! What were you guys doing inside there ?", I ask.

" What were 'YOU' guys doing inside there ?", Gavin asks pointing at the doors of the toilet we just stepped out from.

" Ahm..we were just..uhm..kissing.", I reply, my ears turning red.

" We were also doing that.", Gavin smirks and walks out behind a blushing Grace.

I look at Michael and he is fiddling with his fingers whilst looking down at the floor. " Hey..! What's wrong ? "

" Nothing.", he shakes his head, looking up and smiling at me.

" It's okay..", I smile and grab his hands, walking out of the wash.

--

My phone vibrates in my pocket as I walk towards my last hour. I fish it out and it's a message from Michael.

' I think I'll miss you so much tomorrow.'

I feel upset reading it. Just then another message pops up.

' And I don't want to third wheel with Gavin and Grace. '

I don't know what to reply. I start texting something but feels it is a stupid reply and erases it. Then another message pops up.

'So can you also take me with you ?'

Woah !! Really ?

Oh C'mon he is just kidding.

' Aren't you kidding me ?', I text back.

He starts typing. I wait for almost a minute for his reply. At last it comes. And it is just a ' No'

Seriously?? And he took a minute to type this ' No' ? Is he being serious? But how can he ask me to take him with me when my Mom is not at home and my six year old sister is alone ?

' Michael, are you being serious?', I text. I wait for his reply. But no reply comes. He just leaves me like that on seen.

I'm totally distracted while sitting in the English class. I check my phone ever so often under the desk. But no reply comes from Michael. I don't know whether he is being serious or he is just playing with me. He has been wanting to ask me something during lunch. But when I asked, he said it's nothing. So I think this is what he wanted to ask me.

I meet him in the corridor at our usual place after class. " Were you being serious ?", I ask him first of all.

" Yeah..but..forget it. I know you can't t..take me with you.", he replies biting down on his lips. And now I know he is being serious.

" If you said this earlier, I could have asked Mom for permission. But now she is in her flight and I can't contact her for at least one more hour. What shall I do now ?", I ask.

" uhm..It's okay. J..just leave it Ethan.", he says and gives me a tight lipped smile.

"Baby, I'll come back tomorrow evening or Sunday morning.", I say. He nods, looking down at the floor, making me feel upset.

" Baby, are you sad ? Look at me."

" No..I- I'm fine.", he says looking up, his face clearly upset. "Okay then you h..head fast. Your sister is alone, right?"

" Heck ! I'll just take you with me. Go pack your stuff.", I say.

His eyes widen and his lips spread into a small smile. " B..but..will your Mom be...alright with that ?", he asks.

"It's okay. I'll tell her something.", I say ruffling my hair. I don't know what I should tell her. Maybe she will get mad at me.

"Uhm..okay, I'll go p..pack my things fast. See you at the....parking.", Michael says and hurriedly sprints away, as if he is afraid I would change my decision if he wait for one more second.

I still remember how he reacted last time when I asked him to come home with me, just as my friend. Now my Mom knows he is my boyfriend and he wants to come ??

He has totally changed after he went home and came out to his parents. Hmm...parents' support itself is the greatest support and what gives us the utmost confidence.

I have nothing to pack. So I just directly walk towards the parking. I hop into the driver's seat and throws my school bag into the back seat.

Not before ten minutes, Michael comes rushing into the lot with a wide smile on his face. I open the passenger seat door for him and he hops in panting, shrugging his back pack off his shoulder and placing it on his lap. It's his school bag itself but he has fully stuffed it with things.

" What's inside this ?", I chuckle taking the bag from his lap and throwing it to the back seat.

" Th..three pair of clothes and some b..books.", he says.

" Why three pair ? I would have given you my clothes. And why books ? Are you planning to study at my home ?", I ask. He just leans back on the seat without replaying anything. I lean forward and buckle him in his seat belt. Then I quickly peck his lips before leaning back and buckling my own seat belt. He is looking out of the window and smiling as I turn the key in the ignition and start the car.

" Ethan, how long will it t..take to reach there ?", he asks as I drive out of the hostel gates.

" Almost two and half hours. I usually reach there by 6:30.", I reply.

" Oh..", he nods looking out of the window.

" You may sleep, baby. I'll call you when we reach there.", I say.

" No, I'm not sleepy.", he shakes his head and smiles. He actually looks very happy and excited.

" Why are you so excited?", I ask him.

" I'm so excited to see.....your house and your s..sister. What shall I give her ? Wh..what does she like ?", he asks.

" She likes chocolates and chocolate ice-cream.", I reply. " If you want to become her friend, just buy her some chocolates."

He smiles. " Do you think sh..she will get along with me ?"

" Yeah..", I nod tilting my head.

" But she was glaring at me at the h..hospital that day. I think she don't like me.", he says, his lips forming a pout.

" She will sure like you, baby.", I say and grab his hands, intertwining our fingers. His lips slowly curl upward again.