My Heavenly Friend

Chapter 22 - I pinky promise

"Sorry for not asking you if you mind. I just didn't want to cause any problems for my mum." Max apologized as we entered into his bedroom. The room itself was fairly simple, navy blue walls, a queen sized bed with black and the same color blue blankets and sheets, a dresser was pressed against one wall and a desk pressed against another. There was a door left open so I could see that it lead to a bathroom. Overall it was fairly bland, only a couple posters on the wall and two photos on a night side table that suggested anyone stayed here. He probably had brought most with him to England but I had a strange assumption that it didn't look all that more... occupied even with the rest of his stuff.
"No it's alright." I told him as I moved towards the bed, sitting on the end before looking back up at him. I didn't want to over step my stay, especially since I felt like I was always walking on eye shells. Sure his mum seemed nice, his dad, step dad I mean, was a little more strict looking so that was what made me really nervous. But I knew I'd be meeting more of his family,maid mother had said the rest of the rooms were full with other family members that would be arriving.
"Okay. Well I'll sleep on the couch downstairs so unless I need something from here, just consider this your room while you're here."
"What no." I instantly said without even thinking. "Max this is your room you should stay in here."
"But you're the guest, really I don't mind." He insisted. Huffing I replied,
"Well if you're so kin on me staying in this room then I will but so are you." I was no going to kick Max out of his room for me. I didn't mean enough for him to have to do that, but if he wasn't going to give in, than I won't either. He rolled his eyes, probably because of my stubbornness but he was being stubborn to so it was only fair.
"Fine, I'll sleep on the floor, you can have the bed." He said, lamely gesturing towards the bed. Now it was my turn to roll my eyes.
"So I'm really that bad to share a bed with huh." It wasn't really a question but I mean why else would he be so persistent. I leaned back on my hands as I watch for his reaction, which I wasn't really expecting.
"What, of course not. Why would you even think that." He sighed before saying, "It's the gentlemanly thing to do, to give the bed to the lady." He almost seemed embarrassed to say that, but I could tell it was something he thought was very true. Even as I couldn't help but think that that was sweet I also couldn't help but tease him,
"What, Max Gilbert a gentlemen? Who knew." I smirked ever so slightly to keep form laughing.
"I'm always a gentleman." He stated before plopping down beside me, mimicking my position, his fingers brushing against mine.
"Always?" I question not expecting the answer I was about to receive.
"Almost always." He wore a devious, suggestive smirk and I knew in seconds what was running through him mind.
"Of my God Max!" I cried as my hands flew up, covering my face. "Why?" I complained as my hands fell back into my lap.
"You did ask." He excised, holding up his hands in defense.
"I did not ask for details." I told him, throwing a stern, irritated glare his way before we went back to what we were really discussing.
"So you really don't mind us being in the same room?" He asked, his voice Reuther g to that one if un sureness.
"Max we were literally sleeping in the same bed two nights ago. You don't have to sleep on the floor." I said kindly. It was true though, we had slept in Max's bed like 48 hours ago, it didn't matter anymore. Not really, and now that I'm thinking about it why are we always sleeping in his bed. Max sighed in manner that told me he was giving in. I nudged him while saying, "See, it doesn't matter. No more of this nonsense. We can make it work just fine."
"Alright whatever you say your majesty." He replied nudging me back.
"Of so if I'm royalty does that mean I get whatever I want." I joked as a smile crossed my face. He scoffed before saying,
"You wish."
"Wow, what I nice host." I said pretending to be incredibly hurt.
"Who said I was nice." He said with his signature smirk before his bedroom door burst open.
"Maxie your back!" A little girl exclaimed upon seeing the boy next to me. She was so adorable and I instantly thought of Noah. She had light brown hair that was attached in a beautiful French braid and wore a lilac colored dress. It was simple with no embellishments and she had the most adorable face. I swear she was pretty than me, which wasn't a shock cause I didn't think I was all that attractive. The little girl ran towards us and raised her arms in the air just as Max reached down to pick her up in a hug.
"Hey Natty." He said with so much love and happiness in his voice I had to look again, making sure that I was in fact sitting next to Max. When they pulled apart she stayed seated and looked at me with her big brown hazel eyes, the color the exact same as Max's.
"Who are you?" She asked in a curious voice. I couldn't keep the smile off my face as I answered her.
"I'm Ashton, I'm friends with your brother." I didn't know Max had any siblings but they had to be, not just because of the eyes but I mean Max wasn't like that with anyone and I could that he cared for her. They seemed to be so close. Her face lit up with excitement.
"You're-!" as is knowing what she was going to say Max reached forward and covered her mouth as she didn't stop talking.
"Natalie remember what I told you." He said in what should have been a stern, parental tone. She nodded before Max let her talk. Instead of staying what she had planned on saying she said,
"I'm Natalie but you can call me Natty. Max and Gabe and mummy are the only ones that will because none of my friends will. But I liked Natty." The little girl explained, becoming slightly sad as she said no one else called her Natty before becoming bright and happy again.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Natty." I said using the requested name. I could feel Max's eyes staring intently at me but I didn't look up to see the expression on his face.
"Maxie can we show Ashton my room. Your's is boring." I raised my hand to cover the giggle that escaped my mouth at her comment. Max rolled his eyes before complying. He stood up with Natalie in his arms and gestured for me to follow. As we walked out of Max's room Natalie squirmed in in arms, signaling that she wanted to be put down. Max set down down slowly and carefully before she began to skip down the hall.
"I didn't know you had a sister." I said as I watched Natalie with an amused smile.
"Well she's my half sister technically. I've got a half brother as well, Gabe. Natty is five and Gabe is sixteen so I'm quite a bit older than them, especially Natty." He told me, swinging his arms behind him and clasping his hands together. I nodded in understanding before we walked in through a door that had Natalia spelled out in sparkly purple letters. She sat in the center of her bed and waved her arms wildly around, Wanting us to come and sit with her. With Max on her left and me on her right she said,
"Isn't it so pretty." I looked around to take in the detail and my first thought was, her favorite color is purple. She had light purple walls and purple sheets and blankets on her bed. She had a desk that was covered in white paper and pencils and crayons. She had some of her drawing pinned to a wall. There were stuff animals everywhere and a small tv that hung in the opposite wall of her bed. What the heck, she's five and has a tv in her room.
"It's so pretty." I agreed. "Is purple your favorite color?" I asked with a curious tone.
"Yas, it's so pretty and pretty in all different shades. I love it the most out of all the colors." She explained excitedly as she bounced slightly. "Oh, oh, oh, Ashy do you want me to introduce you to all my stuff animals?"
"I would love that." I told her smiling brightly at the same moment Max questioned, "Ashy?" We both ignored him as she crawled to the top of the bed and back with a few stuff animals with her.
"These ones are my favorite but don't tell the others. I don't want them to get jealous." She explained in a hush tone before returning to usual loud kid voice after I had promised not to. "This is Teddy, and Mr. Rabbit, and Coco and this one is Andy." She explained pointing first to a bear then a bunny, a dog and then a black cat. Curious to know why the cat was the only one with a human name I asked,
"Why'd you name this one Andy?" My voice was nothing but curious.
"Maxie gave me this one before he went away and Andy is the name of someone that sings in a band that Maxie really likes. But Maxie won't let me listen to any of their music." Her smile turned into a pout and she looked down as Max opened his mouth to explain.
"I've told you this before Natty. It isn't music for a little girl, you can listen to it when you're older. If you still want to then." His tone was soft yet firm, only making Natty's eyes water.
"But-but Maxie-" I couldn't stand to look at the little heart broken girl.
"Natty, please don't cry. I've told you this before." Max said, clearly not helping the situation. I rolled my eyes at him before going to work.
"Hey, shh, calm down Natty. Here I'll let you listen to one song. But if I do you have to promise not to bother Maxie about it any more. Alright?" I looked down at her with a serious look, but a faint smile threatened to break through.
"Alright, alright. I pinky promise." She instantly smiled and held out her tiny baby finger. I locked mine around hers before scrolling through my phone.
"Ashton, I don't want her to listen to it. There are swears and some intense stuff. She's to young and innocent." Max protested.
"It's fine. I'll play one of their chill songs." I tell him before hitting play on Knives and Pens by Black Veil Brides, but the acoustic version. This was like one of my favorite songs by them because it helped me no matter what I was feeling cause there was the original and the acoustic. I turned up the volume and placed it down on the bed as the song started. I kept myself from softly signing along as it began and watched Natalie's reaction. I could feel Max burning a hole in the side of my head but it began to fade away as the song progressed. About a minute or so into the song Natalie said in a soft voice, like she didn't want to talk during the song,
"It's so pretty." Her eyes were wide and she was starring at my phone with amazement. I smiled softly as I continued to mouth the words. A moment later a boy walked in saying,
"What the hell are you listening to?"
"How many times do I have to tell you not to use that langue around Natty." Max scolded at the boy.
"Shh, I wanna listen to the pretty song." Natalie whined to the two boys causing me to giggle quietly. I mean I didn't want her mad at me too (note the slight bit of sarcasm). The boys instantly fell quiet and when the song ended I closed the app and the boy asked,
"So who are you?" I was startled for a moment as I realized he was talking to me before I heard an "ow" coming from him. Max had hit him up the back of the head where the boy was now rubbing.
"Jeez, I leave for four months and you forget your manners." Max said shaking his head from side to side in a disappointed and mad way.
"What manners?" The boy said before throwing himself down beside me, turning his face towards me. "So?"
"Huh, oh. I'm Ashton." I told him composing myself. I was shocked by his presence and couldn't help but wonder who he was.
"Ashton. That's an odd name for a girl." He commented casually as he leaned back on his hands.
"I swear to god Gabe if don't quite the jackass front I'm going to strangle you." Max was suddenly glowing at the boy who I know realize is his half brother, Gabe. It made sense, they didn't look anything alike but Gabe looked similar to Natalie, minus the striking eyes. I was left dumbfounded by how pissed Max got, how...protective he got. I can't say I hate the slight protectiveness I could detect.
"What happen to no swearing around Natty." Gabe shot back before rolling his eyes. "Fine, I'm sorry. I'm having a bad day but that's no excuse. I'm sorry Ashton." He says detracting only the last part solely to me.
"It's fine." I told him meaning it. He was right after all, it was an odd name for a girl. But it was mine and I was learning to not hate it as much.
"Whatever. Let's just go down. Dinner should be ready." Max said standing up. He looked over at Natalie, asking her something with his eyes. She shook her head replying,
"No I wanna go with Ashy. She's prettier than you two." I laughed as she reached up, grabbing my hand and pulling me from the room. I could here grumbling coming from behind us but it only kept the smile on my face. As we began to make out way down the stairs Natalie tripped over her feet, nearly falling when I caught her. I sighed in relief, thinking for a second that I almost wasn't going to catch her, but I've worked a lot with kids now and in the last so I've gotten pretty good and handling them.
"How about I help you out." I tell you as I keep her rested on my hip.
"Yes please." She said adorably before wrapping her tiny hands behind my neck. When I got down the stairs I realized I had no idea where I was going and asked Natalie for directions. With her confusing help with made it to a dinning room where six places where set, one at the head of the table two on one side and three on the other.
"Oh, you guys are just in time." Carly exclaimed upon seeing us. "I see you've met little Natty." She said coming up to us.
"Mummy, mummy. Guess what, Ashy is the best." The little girl exclaimed earning a blush from me.
"That's wonderful news. We only want Max hanging out with only the best people right?" Her mother said reaching forward and taping her nose lightly. Natalie giggled before nodding enthusiastically. After everyone arrived we sat down to eat, Mr Gilbert at the head, Natalie and Carly on one side while I sat between the two boys on the other.
"So Ashton, what do you plan to do. Job wise I mean?" Carly asked part way through.
"Oh, um well I've always liked art and decided that becoming an art therapist seemed like a good idea. I'd get to help people at the same time and that just peaks my interest." I told her after wiping my mouth clean.
"Oh, you must be an excellent artist! What appeals to you about helping people. Do you think you'd be good at that kind of thing?" Her tone was nothing but curiosity.
"I just think it's hard for some people to talk, but once they do it's good for them. I know I lot of people hurt and not everyone that does gets help. I've wanted to be that help in anyway I can. And yes I believe I will be good at it since I should be able to relate to some of these people. Besides its a great way to keep doing what I love." I add trying to brush off what I said before. I didn't want to lie or ignore her question. I had spoken completely honestly.
"Well, I think that's great." After that small conversations continued and when we were all done Carly said to Max and I,
"Why don't you two head to bed, you had a long flight you must be tired." We agreed and headed back to Max's room. After I had used the bathroom to change and do everything I came back into his room in pj pants and a Cami. I kept my arms hidden behind my back when Max said p,
"You don't have to hide. Not in front of me." And with that he entered the bathroom, closing the door behind himself. I sighed before crawling into the bed. It was warm and fluffy and overall the comfiest bed I have been in my entire life. I instantly snuggled into the pillow, falling asleep before Max even came back out.