CHAPTER ONE:
first taste of a new beginning.

Not many things are constant in life but Aster's unsurety definitely seems to be. That was on the red-heads mind as she grabbed another box from the moving truck and brought it in the elevator. It's been three months since her best friends dropped the move out bomb on her and she was currently moving in with her Aunt Abby to help take care of her grandma. She was nervous, how could she not be? Aster has always been calculating when it comes to her life. Every decision she's made has benefited her and she wants to keep things that way.

Aster's dad follows closely behind the young adult with two boxes stacked ontop each other in his hands. They both settle into the elevator, Aster's younger brother, Pete, taking a place in between the two his eyes glued to the gaming device in his hand. The tension is palpable, Aster's foot anxiously tapping is the only sound that fills the elevator as she watches the numbers slowly change.

"I don't know why you're doing this," Aster's father speaks up breaking the silence.

Aster sighs in exhaustion, choosing not to respond. She couldn't handle another argument.

"Abby is already burdened with Patricia, you don't need to add on more stress for her."

Aster snaps her head towards her dad, glaring at him fiercly. "Grandma is not a burden.. and I'm not going to add more stress. I'm going to help her, unlike you who just wants to ship grandma off to a facility."

"She would be better taken care of at a home," Aster's dad, Matthew, says firmly making eye contact with his daughter.

"She would be better taken care of by her family!" Aster shouts. "Which is why I'm doing this because you don't abandon family. You don't give up on them because you think they're too much to handle."

Matthew sighs. "You're 21 years old Aster, you should be in a college dorm. You sh-"

"You're right about one thing dad," Aster firmly cuts him off, making sure her glare meets his eyes.

The two Clark's share a lot of similar physical features, Aster remembers when she was younger people would always tell her she takes after her daddy. But as Aster glares into eyes so similar than hers, she realizes how wrong they were. She might look a lot like him but for as long as she can remember they've always been on opposite sides.

"I am 21 years old, which means you don't get to have a say in what I do anymore," Aster retorts before the elevators dings letting them know they are at their floor. Aster grips the box in her hands tighter and storms out the elevator, leaving her dad and brother behind.

The red head storms into the apartment and drops the box carelessly on the table. Abby, who's going through other boxes and setting them up in Aster's room for her, looks at her neice with her eyebrow raised.

"Your brother's a dick," Aster says blunty.

Abby laughs and smiles, "Well he's your father," she says while putting a a framed photo on a bedside table.

Aster groans. "Ugh, don't remind me," she complains before making eye contact with her aunt and chuckling.

The aunt and niece both turn their heads to see the topic of their discussion walk through the door. Matthew places the boxes on the ground.

"Well, that's the last of it," he says putting his hands on his hip.

Aster purses her lips and nods. "Thanks.. dad."

Matthew makes eye contact with his daughter, his eyes softening a bit. He nods before clapping his oblivious son on the back. "Well.. I think its time we ought to go. Talk to you soon," Matthew says.

Aster nods. "Talk to you soon," she agrees before watching him walk out the door, guiding Pete with him.

"Hey," Abby says gently pulling Aster's attention away. "Thank you, for coming and helping me out. You're young, you shouldn't have to, but I apprecite it none the less."

Aster turns her attention towards her aunt. "You don't have to thank me, it doesn't matter how old I am, we're family. It's what you're supposed to do."

Abby rolls her eyes at her righteous neice. "Just accept the thanks."

Aster ignores her. "Well since we're giving out thanks, thank you for letting me move in. There's no way I would have been able to go back to living with him."

"We're family, it's what you're supposed to do," Abby retorts Aster's words back to her.

Aster rolls her eyes. "Just accept the thanks," she mocks back. The two laughing before settling into a comfortable silence.

Aster sits at the island in the kitchen munching on a bowl of cereal. She flips through her newsfeed on instagram occasionally liking or leaving a comment on a photo. The young red-head looks up from her phone to see her aunt completely entranced by the tv. She narrows her eyes and smirks. Putting her phone down and grabbing her bowl of cereal she walks towards her aunts room. She leans against the doorway, "What's got you so hypnotized?"

Abby's cheeks slightly flush, which Aster takes note of. "Just this firefighter on the news," she confesses, pointing towards the tv.

"Oh," Aster says walking towards her aunt to view the tv but before she can look a helpless cry calls out.

"Mom?" Abby calls out, her voice slightly panicked.

"Abby, help me!" Patricia calls out in distress as she continues to wiggle the locked doorknob.

Abby and Aster both share a wide eye look before running over to where Patricia is.

"What is it mom?" Abby asks going to the door, Aster right behind her.

"What is it? Are you okay?" Abby asks her mother through the door, her red hair framing her face leaning against the door.

"Did you lock the door?" Aster asks, only getting a jumbled reply in return.

"Mom, you can't do that!" Abby tells her.

"I'll go check the other door," Aster says before running over to the other door only to find it locked as well. She looks at Abby and shakes her head.

Abby sighs, throwing her head back in frustration. "Mom, you cannot lock these doors," she firmly scolds her. "I'm gonna be late to work," she sighs while jiggling the doorknob more.

Aster cautiously walks over to aunt. "Why don't you just go ahead," she offers. "I can handle this, I mean, the new nurse comes in soon anyways right? I can handle it for now."

Abby looks at her niece, scanning her face for any uncertainties. "Are you sure?" She asks her.

Aster doesn't hesitate to nod even going as far as adding on an assuring smile.

Abby looks at her and nods. "Okay, you call me though! If anything goes wrong, you dial me immediately."

Aster nods. "I know, I got this covered, you just go on and get to work."

Abby gives her a grateful smile and ushers her into a hug. "Thank you," she says letting out a deep breath, a weight lifting off her shoulders.

Aster hugs her tightly back. "Be safe, okay?" She says as her Aunt walks towards the door to leave.

The young red-head quickly turns her attention back towards her grandma. "Grandma?" She calls out softly while knocking on the door. "It's Aster, do you think you can unlock the door?"

"I can't I can't," Patricia says, anguish lacing her voice.

"Okay okay," Aster says calmly. "Do you see the lock on the doorknob?" She asks her grandma, who gives a confirming reply.

"Okay, I'm gonna need you to-" Aster's directions get cut off by the ringing of the doorbell. "Oh thank gosh! I'll be right back grandma!" She whispers before running over to the door and opening it.

"Hi, I'm Carla! I'm from In-Home Services, is this the Clark residence?"

"Yes! I mean hi, yes its the Clark residence. Please, come in!" Aster gestures her in quickly.

"Is everything okay?" Carla asks, noticing the girls distress.

"It's my grandma, she locked herself inside the bathroom, I was trying to get her out," she quickly informs her while rushing back to the door.

"Oh," Carla says in understanding following the girl quickly behind her. "You gotta take all the locks off the doors, except the front one-- you gotta lock that one from the outside," she informs the girl.

"Oh we-we haven't exactly had the time to Alzheimer proof the place just yet," Aster says, insecurely tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

"It's okay," Carla reassures in a calm voice. "My husbands a handy man, we'll handle it! Let's just get her out of here first."

Aster nods and watches as Carla sofly introduces herself. The nurse than slowly coaxes her grandma into unlocking the door and opening it. Aster lets out a sigh of relief, her whole body relaxing as she sees her grandma come out unharmed.

Aster wraps her arm around her grandma's shoulders. "It's okay," she says softly.

"I'm so sorry," Patricia says defeatedly.

"No no, its okay, its okay," Aster comforts her while rubbing her shoulder.

"Hi I'm Carla," the new nurse greets Patricia with a warming smile. "I'll be right in to give you a great foot rub."

"Oh, thank you!" Patricia says, a grateful yet impressed look upon her face.

"You're welcome ma'am."

Aster slowly walks her grandma towards her bed but her grandma brushes her off. "I know exactly where I'm going."

"You sure?" She says still watching her grandma make her way towards her bed.

"I got it," she confirms.

Aster nods and turns back towards Carla. "Thank you!" She says walking up to her and giving her a hug.

"You're welcome!" Carla replies squeezing the girl back. "Are you taking care of her by yourself?"

Aster pulls away and shakes her head. "I- I moved in about a week ago to help my Aunt out."

"That's very commendable."

Aster shakes her head. "I don't really see it like that. I mean it can be very taxing but its family, you know?"

Carla nods a knowing glint in her eye. "Well, I'm here now to help both you and your aunt shoulder the weight. This is what I do."

Aster nods, a huge grin on her face. "Thank you."

"Why don't you go ahead and go out? I got this covered."

"Oh, I don't really have to be anywhere for another three hours. I'll probably just stay in and do some school work until then."

"Well, why don't you bring it out here and hang out with your grandma and I until then?"

Aster smiles. "I'd like that."

NOTES.
i love aster and abby's relationship so much! on another note, i don't know what the hell is going on with ryan guzman but he will be recasted in my fics. i'm thinking maybe danny ramirez or diego boneta? tell me what y'all think!