Mr Irwin | Ashton Irwin

Twenty Eight

"I'm cold," she shivered.

I quickly took off my hoodie and wrapped it around her shoulders. I said, "I don't want you getting sick."

"But Ash, now you're cold," she pouted. Oh god, that pout was something magical.

I looked at her in admiration, "it's worth it."

"Why are we even here?" She asked. "Its just grass, trees and a lake. We're in the middle of no where."

She stopped walking so I walked ahead of her. I stopped walking and opened my arms, looking up to the sky. I breathed, "We're in the middle of my childhood."

"What?" She questioned.

"See that tree over there?" I pointed to the very specific tree. It was the tallest oak tree on the edge of the lake. "I confessed my love to the most popular girl in school over there. For the first time in my life I felt really. . . Proud of myself."

"What was her reaction?" She asked.

"She ripped my heart out and played footy with it. It was embarrassing," I chuckled. "But hey, I felt good about myself."

"Were you not Mr Popular back in the day?" She joked.

"Oh I was," i said vainly, "But only in my last two years of high school. Before then, I was quite the loser."

We both giggled. She asked, "So why did you bring me here?"

"Are you not wondering why I brought the girl to this very particular place?" I asked.

She nodded, "Yes, slightly."

"My dad proposed to my mum under that tree. They were crazy in love. Well, thats before he became such a dick," i chuckled half heartedly. "They used to bring me up here every Tuesday night. We would either just sit in the car and talk or we would walk about and look at the stars."

"Thats adorable," she smiled. "Now, since you brought me to a key place of your childhood, I'll show you somewhere key to me now."

----

Lauren drove us into town, to where this place was. She pulled up outside a row of shops. She got out so I followed. It was now dark and the stars were out. She took my hand in hers and led me down a dodgy alley way.

I began to question where she was going when she lead me through a hole in an abandoned building's wall. She led me up flights and flights of stairs. At the top she let go of my hand, pushed open the double doors to the buildings roof.

She walked to the very edge of the roof. There was only a small wall surrounding the edge, about 3ft tall. She stood at the very edge, closed her eyes and held her arms out wide. "This is where I come when I need to think."

I walked up beside her and looked out over the edge. We must be about six stories high. I turned to Lauren. She looked so perfect with the hood of my hoodie up as she stood. She didn't even open her eyes, she whispered, "Join me."

I opened my arms and closed my eyes. It was windy so I had to keep a sense of awareness about me as we were on the very edge. I felt her hand take mine as we stood. She breathed, "Let the air take your thoughts. Forget about the danger. Empty your mind and just be free."

I did as she said. I emptied my mind as much as I could. Lauren was always on my mind. I felt the cold run through my veins as the wind hit us. Everything became a blur for a few seconds. She said, "Something's on your mind. I can feel the sense of protection around you. Let it go."

Truthfully, she was on my mind. All our memories played over in my head. Her smile, her eyes, her laugh. In that moment, I realised something very important. I opened my eyes, looking at the city lights. I breathed, "I'm in love with you."

I turned to face her to see her eyes wide. She stuttered, "W-What? I'm pretty sure you've told me that you love me before Ashton."

"I don't remember so it obviously wasn't that special. I'm in love with you Lauren. I'm saying it here and now," i smiled. "I'm in love with you."

She wrapped her arms around my neck as I wrapped mine around her waist. Her embrace was warm and homely. She pulled away and smiled sweetly. "We should probably get going." She walked over to the double doors. She turned around and said, "You coming?"

She didn't say it back. I looked her in the eyes and said, "Say it back-"

"Ashton. . ." She whined.

"Say it back," i panicked. "If you don't say it back then you obviously don't love me. Say it back?"

"You know how my love is for you," she said. "You know my feelings for you Ashton. Is that not enough for you?"

"Yes but saying it, it clarifies it so I'm not constantly wondering. Just say it, please?" I begged. I can see where this is going. She will be making up all the crap of the day just to save herself from saying 'i love you'.

She walked up to me and said, "If this doesn't clarify it, then you are blind." Her hands went to the back of my neck as she pressed her lips to mine. Just as my panic began to loosen up, she pulled away. She didn't pull away completely, she rested her forehead against mine.

"Something's on your mind. I can feel the sense of protection around you. Let it go," i copied her choice of wording from minutes ago.

She looked into my eyes and smiled widely. She whispered, "Ashton Fletcher Irwin, I'm am completely, madly, crazy . . . In love with you."

My heart instantly warmed as the words escaped her mouth. I smiled widely and whispered, "I'm madly in love with you."

Her lips pressed against mine. My hands cupped her face as we kissed. What a perfect day. We must look truly insane on top of this building on a windy day, kissing. We aren't insane . . . Only insanely in love with each other.