What Doesn't Break You (Ashton Irwin Fanfic)

Chapter 25

A.J.’s POV:

The rest of the week passed by fairly quickly. Before I knew it, it was the weekend and exactly 7 days away from the writing competition where me and Ashton were going to perform our song together.

Thankfully my Aunt and Uncle allowed Ashton to come over after school this week. Technically I think my Aunt wanted to say no, but she caved in favor of my Uncle insisting that it was for school. He was the softie.

But now it was Saturday, and I was up early due to all my jittery nerves. It was 7:15 but I decided to head to the kitchen for some breakfast instead of lying in bed thinking about the performance.

I know it was too early to be this nervous, but I couldn’t help it. No matter how many times I rehearsed the song with Ashton I still couldn’t feel confident in myself the way he did. I have made it through the song without mistakes a few times, but I still get sweaty hands every time I think about next Saturday.

Walking into the kitchen I was met by my Uncle reading the paper and drinking coffee at the table. He looked up when I entered and smiled.

“You’re up early for a Saturday” he said.

I shrugged my shoulders and opened up the fridge. “Couldn’t sleep” I said getting out the milk and pouring myself a glass.

“You’re not…” He cleared his throat and looked at me over the rim of his glasses and then looked back down at his paper. “You’re not having nightmares again are you?” he said.

My shoulders stiffened, but I tried to act natural. I hated it when he went all psychology on me, but I knew he was just being my Uncle. Sometimes he was too much of a softie. I never stopped having my nightmares. I just stopped telling them about it.

“No I…I’ve just got a lot going on” I said. He looked up and I continued. “With school…school and stuff” I shrugged.

“Okay” he said. He got up then and set his paper down. He looked at me seriously for a moment and then smiled. “Say, why don’t you go into town today and have some fun with your friends. Get your mind off school and stuff” he said.

I gave him a surprised look and nearly choked on my milk. “But I’m grounded” I said.

“Well” he said turning his back to me and walking towards the door. “Punishments can be amended.” He stopped at the doorway and turned around and gave me a wink. I laughed and ran and gave him a hug.

“You’re the best! Thank you!” I squealed.

“Just don’t break curfew again. I won’t be able to post your bail a second time” he smiled and went into the other room.

Yes! I thought, and I grabbed my phone out of my back pocket and ran to my bedroom to call Ashton.

…

“I can’t believe your Uncle sprung you out of jail!!” Ashton was giggling as we drove down the road. As soon as I called him he was on his way to my house to pick me up. I wasn’t sure where we were going, but I didn’t care. I was free!

“Yeah, me neither. Judging by my Aunts attitude I expected to be on lockdown for another week” I said and leaned back in the passenger seat of his car. It was hot out, and we had the windows down to let the air rush in.

“She’s pretty protective isn’t she” he said frowning. “Your Aunt I mean.”

“Yeah…but I know she means well. I just wished she would chill. I was suffocating in that house” I said.

Ashton looked at me then for a second and then back at the road. “So where do you want to go?” he asked.

“I don’t care. As long as it has nothing to do with school. If I think about the writing competition or our song any more I’m going to explode” I laughed trying to sound like it was a joke. I didn’t want him to know how much I was freaking out.