Love is what destroyed Ashton Irwin, a 26 year old man trying to adjust to his new found freedom.
Love is what built Sage Evans , a 10 year old girl living on her own after some unfortunate circumstances cause her to lose her father.
Love is blind...
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My first year with Ashton flew by faster than I could have ever thought. After our first couple of months of living together we really fell in sync with each other. My childhood had never been secure, but now it was stable and allowed growth that I hadn't had the opportunity to achieve.
That's not to say that there wasn't change, there was and it was bountiful. Ashtons band took off, allowing him creative and financial freedom that was unheard of. Five Seconds of Summer was becoming an international sensation.
Recording, promotion, and rehearsals filled the boys schedules making them busier than they had ever been before. I didn't mind though, a silent house was something that I was used to.
The boys moved out after a bit, leaving the house to me and Ashton. I missed the chaos sometimes, the late night practices and the laughter that would flow through the house. Some nights I could still hear them, their whispers and melodies floating to me in my sleep.
Ashton did his best to make the house home. Family dinners and movies nights were common occurrences, bonding was important to him. He was my world and I his. There were still things that I was wary about telling him, pieces of me that I was not ready to shine a light on. However, there was the beginnings of a river of trust flowing through us. The foundation was deeply set this first year, and I hoped that the future would be as fruitful.
The first year was definitely the hardest, the adjustment period tedious and stressful. There were times when I thought it would all end in flames, the bloom of friendship dying in the pandemonium that was fame. But he always made it work, always drifted back to me.
The first year was not only big for him, but for me as well. Against all odds I finished fifth grade, my first year back to school was a success. My graduation was something I would never forget, a snapshot moment that I would carry with me.
All of us crowded onto the risers, the cafetorium filled with parents. I had Katie on my right and Connor on my left, the two friends that I had made in the beginning suck to me like glue for the whole year. They were my best friends, and it meant the world to me that we got to be together. Ashton sat front row, his suit pressed and shoes shined. He looked so proud, his smile glowed in admiration.
The speeches drowned on forever and ever but I didn't care, happiness was the only thing on my mind. Katie gripped my hand tightly in her own, squeezing it every time she got more excited. Connor had his leg lightly pressed against mine, the nerves making it jump up and down. I tried to take everything in, allowing myself to be overwhelmed by it all.
Finally they started calling names, students walked across the stage to receive their certificates. I was shaking by the time I walked, my hand trembled as the principal shook it before handing me the rolled up paper. The rest of the ceremony went by in a daze, the closing remarks going in one ear and out the other.
The hug I received from Ashton after stepping off the stage was warm. His arms wrapped tight around me, pulling me into a paternal embrace. We both knew that he couldn't replace my dad, but his presence was slowly filling in the gaps.
The second year wasn't as fun. Middle school felt like it zapped all the life out of me. No more recess, no more fun. It was all work work work. I did get to go to school with Katie and Connor though, their presence making it much more bearable.
I turned the big one two as well this year, I was finally a lady. We went all out for my birthday, no expense was spared. We had a cake, bounce house, and even a snow cone machine. It was just my friends and I (and Ashton and Katie's mom) but that was how I preferred it. I wish that the boys could have come but like always they were busy with their tour that was quickly approaching.
Ashton got me a present as well, it was something that I didn't expect but was extremely thankful for. It was a small locket, the gold oval held a picture of the two of us from our first beach trip. It was one of the most sentimental gifts I had ever been given, I've worn it every day since. The boys got me a gift as well. A small bouncy ball from Micheal, some assorted nail polish from Luke, and a target gift card from Calum.
Ashton left for tour a few days after my birthday. It was a hard goodbye, tear-filled and fearful. A part of me was scared he wouldn't come back, that the plane would lift off and never return. He reassured me that he would but I couldn't shake the feeling. He promised to call me every night, pinky swore and everything. Separation anxiety was something that I had never experienced before but now it was hitting me full force.
I stayed with Katie and her mom while he toured. It was fun, but I missed Ashton and the little home we had built. He kept his promise though, every night my little flip phone would light up with a call. It didn't matter the time, I would always pick up. Sometimes our conversations would only last five minutes while others would last hours. Every call and text eased my fears slightly. He would come back soon.
This year held a lot of firsts for me as well. First sleepover, first period, first pimple, and even first kiss. Connor and I kept growing our relationship throughout these two years, allowing ourselves to become best friends before anything else. However, this year we finally sealed the deal and became boyfriend girlfriend.
Our kiss wasn't really that romantic, a slight peck one day at lunch. But that was all it took for me to know that he was the one. My knight in shining amour. He asked me to be his girlfriend a few days later, roses and chocolates were definitely used.
Growing up sucks. However, the bad is what makes the good so amazing. Even though it was hard I couldn't have asked for anything better. The only thing truly missing was Ashton.
He came back to visit every once in a while but it wasn't the same. Our small semblance of routine had been shattered, and I was desperate to get it back. No amount of phone calls or texts would fix the longing.
He was coming back though, in 3 days 5 hours and 43 minutes to be exact. Katie's mom had helped me set up a timer, I kept it right beside my bed. Some nights I wished it would go faster, tried to will it with my mind. It never did though, the slow ticking seemed to go on for millennia.
This chapter is dedicated @cal_pals_curls because they really gave us the kick in the ass that we needed to get this chapter done. Again thanks again for the all the support that you guys have been giving us and were going to TRY (Keyword is try here) to update on a more frequent/scheduled basis. Thanks <3
