My birthday is in one month.

I repeat those words as I get ready for school, triple checking my phone to make sure I have the date right. One month till adulthood.

What does that mean for me? What does that mean for us? I still haven't told the kids about getting custody. I'm terrified something will happen to ruin this one little seed of goodness sprouting in our lives.

Last night I spent hours making a list of things we need to do to ensure the house is up to code. It's a long one and even then it won't be the prettiest house in the world. My stress scared away what little sleep I got, waking me up at 4:30 this morning. So to distract myself from impending adulthood I spent two hours getting ready.

Naturally.

Sage can tell I'm stressed as he drives to school but he doesn't say anything besides asking how much I slept. My lack of a response is answer enough.

I'm walking through the hallway to my locker alone, Sage leaving me to go print an essay out for class. Ashton bombards me as I'm closing my locker door.

"Good morning!" He says, spinning me around in a circle with one arm, a huge smile on his face as he hands me an iced coffee. I haven't seen him this excited in a long time.

"What has you in such a good mood?" I question, taking a sip. I'm going to need coffee to survive today.

He shrugs, "What's there not to be happy about. I'm alive. I'm with you. I brought doughnuts." He shakes a bag in his hand for emphasis. I raise an eyebrow at him, ignoring the fluttering of my stomach. "Alright." He admits, looking around the hallway before continuing. "How do you feel about driving three hours?"

I sip on my drink, "It depends on what for."

If it were for something important the drive would be nothing.

"What if it was to see me?" He asks sheepishly.

I choke on my drink. Does that mean he accepted the offer? He shakes his head, a few strands of hair falling in his face.

"Oh my god!" I cry, giving him a hug.

He wraps his arms around me, lifting me off the ground. "That's amazing."

A daunting thought appears in my mind as I remember Courtney's words. Would I be holding him back? Keeping him chained to me for weekend visits when ever I could break away while a whole new life slips away from him.

Someone clears their throat behind us. Ashton sets me down, keeping an arm around my waist. His hand resting on a small patch of skin I have exposed.

Gabe, Zev, James, and Stella smirk at us. "We can come back if you two need a moment, although I don't recommend the hallway as the best place for-" Ashton chucks the bag of doughnuts at Gabe to shut him up.

"I was telling Scarlett-" Ashton starts, glaring at them.

Sage and Ella walk up, "What were you telling Scarlett?" My brother cuts him off.

Ashton takes a deep breath, clearly annoyed. "I accepted the offer to play at Alabama."

"Holy shit!" The four guys say together, looks of shock on all their faces.

Sage engulfs Ashton in a hug, pushing me off to the side. Oh the bromance. "Congratulations Brother!"

"Dude, I'm honored to even know you." Zev says, shaking his hand.

"That's wild, I'm an Auburn fan but I think I could stomach Alabama if it means watching you." Gabe teases, slapping him on the back.

"We could be roommates!" James yells, pushing everyone out of the way, even Stella, to hug him. I forgot James was committed to their baseball team. The look of pure joy on Ashton's face makes me feel better.

We end up making to class just as the warning bell rings, Ms. Miller doesn't lecture us. Instead she stands in front of the room with a smile on her face, "Good morning class."

She started doing this after Valentine's Day and slowly we've been warming up the idea. Maybe not fearing for my sanity every day is a good thing.

"Before we get started I would like to inform you of a project that will be due in a little over a month."

We all groan, preparing for the worst.

"You must do a report on a college of your choosing. You can either present it in any way or if you choose not to, I ask for extra research to be turned in."

The class perks up at this, no mandatory speech. The days of panicking and making myself look like an idiot to the public are over. The rest of class goes by in a blur, my mind wandering to the thought of college, which then makes me think about turning 18, which makes me think of getting custody.

Now I'm panicking all over again. It's fine. Everything is completely fine.

*****

"Hey, are you ok?" Ashton checks on me before lunch, messing with my hair as I change books out at my locker.

Nope, I'm a total wreck of anxiety. I close my locker, leaning against it for support. "I'm fine, just tired that's all."

He places hands above my head, pressing his forehead on mine. Mint fills my nose, calming me as his grey eyes stare into mine and I feel something tingly inside me. If only I could bottle his smell up. Just when I think he's gonna call my bluff he kisses the tip of my nose, "You can nap at my house before we do our history homework."

I smile, remembering that I'm going to his house makes me feel better already.

Ashton moves a hand to resume playing with a curl, "Why did you use a curling iron today?"

Out of habit I grab my hair. "I woke up early and couldn't go back to sleep, why? Do you hate it?" It's the first time I've used my wand in a while, maybe I didn't do a good job.

"Of course I like it, it's your hair." He assures me, "It's just different."

We stay there, the thought of lunch long forgotten. I close my eyes, between the mint, the cold lockers and Ashton playing with my hair I could sleep right here. Standing up and all. His other hand moves to my waist, finding that one little patch of skin. Goosebumps rise on my skin.

I feel something soft press against my collarbone causing me to giggle. It happens again, this time for a little longer creating another fit of giggling. I love that spot, that's exactly where my-

Wait a minute.

I open my eyes to find Ashton focused in my lips, his body much closer than before.

"No sir, not today." I say, pushing him back. I glance around the hallway to make sure no ones around us.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done anything." He instantly apologizes looking away, rubbing the back of his neck.

I'm touched that's his first reaction for something like this. I know from experience that's not how everyone handles it.

"It's perfectly fine Ash." I say but I know it falls on deaf ears. I cup his chin, forcing him to look down at me, "It's okay to kiss me." You just started for the love of god don't stop.

"No it's not, I should've stopped." He protests, trying to twist his face away.

I pull him closer, "I trust you." His eyes go soft, finally listening to me. "I'll let you know when it's not." I press a kiss to his lips, reaching up on my tiptoes to do so. "Okay?"

He nods his head silently before reaching down to pick up my bag. I throw his free arm over my shoulders, needing him to act normal. "Besides" I add, bumping his hip. "I was more worried about getting another hickey."

It takes a moment but my favorite smirk begins to appear in his face. "I'm my defense, no one got to see that last one." He protests.

I chuckle, no they did not. Although, I kinda miss it. Not the fear of everyone seeing it but the knowledge Ashton put it there. It was his.

"Maybe later." I tease, opening the cafe door.

"Is that a promise?" He whispers, his lips brushing against my ear.

I don't choose to reply, sitting down at our table.

"Where were you?" Ella asks, "Lunch is almost over."

I pull out my food, "We went to our lockers."

"Bullshit." Sage coughs, I jab him in the side, trying not to move too much so I don't shake Ashton's hand from my leg. The entire right side of my body was humming from the touch.

It wasn't a lie, we just got distracted that's all. Gabe has smug smile on his face, something tells me we weren't alone in the hallway. Great.

"What're we talking about?" I prompt, trying to take the attention off of me.

"We're trying to figure out who John's dating." Sage says, stealing a fry from Ella's tray.

At least the conversation isn't about Ms. Miller.

"Anyone have any ideas?" I scan the table.

"I do." Gabe leans back in his chair. "And before anyone says anything, this theory is Stella approved."

Oh God.

"We think it's Ms. Miller." Stella says.

I spoke to soon.

Sage spits his soda out. "Crazy girl say what now?"

"Think about it. From what I remember about John, granted I haven't really seen him in two years, he has a very nice style. Enjoys nice things that typically cost a lot of money."

Begrudgingly I nod my head, handing my brother a napkin.

"Well Ms. Miller's shirt the first day back from break was the exact same brand John wears. If Stella's research is correct it."

John is very picky about his shirts but anyone could buy them.

"Also someone spent fifty dollars on her Valentine's Day bouquet. No normal man would spend that much on flowers. And from the fake Facebook profile we made to justify this theory, she was in New York this weekend for a trip."

"John went out of town this weekend." Stella reminds me.

"You made a fake Facebook account?" James asks, the pair nod their heads. "Dude, when did you spend so much time with my girlfriend?" He demands, pulling Stella closer to him.

"That's considered stalking guys." Zev tells them.

"And besides, John left Friday afternoon for California. He had a meeting with developers." I inform them, "That's on the opposite side of the country."

She shrugs her shoulders, "He could've lied."

Uncle John doesn't lie to us, not after everything we've been through.

*****

After school I'm walking through the front door of Ashton's house while Saffron and Ronnie play out front.

"Mom, we're home!" He hollers through the house, seconds later the sounds of heels clicking fill my ears.

"Hello Scarlett!" She gives me a big hug.

"Hi Liz." I hug her back. So much has changed since the last time I was in this house.

"Are the girls outside?" She asks, turning to Ashton.

He nods his head, giving her a quick hug before heading up the stairs.

I follow him as Liz calls up a question, "Scarlett, are you girls staying for dinner?"

I turn to Ashton, not knowing what to say. I don't want to impose. "Yes!" He replies, opening the door to his room.

I sigh immediately after I enter. The entire place smells like him. It's heaven.

I slip my shoes off before sprawling out on his bed. I could stay here forever. Ashton joins me a second later, wrapping an arm around me. "Do you want to sleep first?"

Yes is my immediate response but a glance at my backpack stops it. "Later. We need to study first."

He tries to give me his puppy dog eyes but I push him off the bed. Homework is more important right now. We spend almost two hours reviewing the Great Depression and Roosevelt's presidency, a knock pulling us from our focus.

Liz enters with a tray carrying two plates on it. Ashton hops up to help her and I clear the papers off the bed.

"You kids seemed busy so I thought I would bring you dinner." She says, scanning around the room.

That's code for I was making sure you were actually doing work. Which we were.

"Thank you, I hope Saffron's behaving."

Liz smiles, "Oh she is. Right now she's trying to teach Ronnie how to play piano."

I chuckle, now that the doors open I can hear Saffron insisting Ronnie listen to her. The same two keys being played on repeat. "Something tells me Ronnie isn't loving the piano."

"Not at all," Liz agrees, "but at least she's willing to try."

I nod, to Saffron that's all that matters. The fact she even has a friend to even attempt to teach means the world to me.

"Well, I'll leave you two to it." And with that she leaves the room, actually shutting the door all the way.

By the time I'm done eating I'm yawning non stop. "Let's go over vocab again."

Ashton pulls my notebook from me, "How about you get some rest. You know the entire lesson inside and out."

"But-" I try to argue but he holds a hand up. If I stay up I can go home and maybe get a full night's rest.

He goes to his dresser and throws a pair of boxers and a shirt on the bed. "Go change."

Knowing that protesting is useless I go to his bathroom. I can sleep for a hour before Sage comes to get us. I throw my contacts out not wanting to sleep in them. It's time for a new pair anyways.

When I go back out the lights are almost all off and Ashton's changed for bed. Much to my disappointment wearing a shirt, not that you can really call it that when the sides are cut open almost all the way down his torso.

"Your shirt swallows me whole." I say to fill the silence, fiddling with the hemline just above my knees.

He coughs, scratching the back of his head. "That's fine."

I crawl into bed as he turns the last light off. I'm beginning to fade when a weight shifts the other side of the bed.

"Sweet dreams, Sweetheart." Ashton whispers, pulling the blankets over me.

Just a quick nap.

**********

Updating Early as promised
Thank you all
Xo-Mo