Changed / ashton irwin

6

Ashton's POV

"Are you serious?" Mackenzie scoffed, "You're really asking me that question?" She stood up, clenching her fists.

I stood up also, "Uh, yeah." I took a step towards her, starting to get angry.

"Do you know what it's like, being pushed up against the lockers everyday? people constantly calling you names, being forced to go talk to the school counselor about your problems, having your old bestfriend beat the shit out of you?" She shook her head, biting her lip, i can tell she was about to cry. "Being blamed for your own fathers death by your mom?" she whispered.

My face dropped, a pang of hurt went through my chest, I wasn't there, when she needed me the most.

"Your father died?" I muttered, looking down at my shoes,

"Y-yeah," She sniffled, "He passed away last October."

I pinched the bridge of my nose, That was last year, after I left her, Her father was in the hospital for a few weeks, he got alcohol poisoning, then he was diagnosed with liver cancer, it started when her parents got in a huge fight.

*Flashback*

I feel my phone ringing, I pull it out and see Mack's contact photo.

"Hello?" I say.

"Ashton," She chokes back a sob, "They're doing it again."

My eyes widen, "What's wrong." I stand up from my bed.

"Can you come over?" She whispers.

"Are you okay?" I pace back and forth in my room.

"Come through the window." She sniffles.

"I'm on my way," I hang up, and grab my jacket, heading out the door.

I run all the way to her house, out of breath.

I look in the living room window, and see her mom throwing a bottle of wine at the wall.

I crouch down, and go around the house, to Mack's window.

Her light's are off, I climb the vines on the side of her house, I push open her window, once I'm in, I hear sobbing in the corner of the room.

"Mack?" I slowly walk over towards her.

She looks up, her eyes are puffy.

"Ash.." She runs into my arms, I hug her tightly, her face nuzzled into my neck, I rub her back.

I pull her onto the bed, "Shh, it's okay, I'm here." She cuddles into my chest, I wrap my arms around her petite waist, she sobs. Her parent shouting downstairs, they constantly yell at each other, but I never seen then physically fight.

I pull her closer, and continue to rub her back, her cries become more quieter, I look at her face, and her eyes are closed, still puffy and red around them. I shift, more comfortably, and grab the blanket to cover us, drifting into a deep slumber.

"Ashton?" I shake my head, seeing Mack waving her hand in front of me, with a confused expression on her face,

I stare at Mack, I stare at her in disgust.

"Don't talk to me like that, bitch." I say in anger, I clench my fists, and before I know it, my fist collides with her cheek, leaving her flying into the wall, the rotten old wood breaks, making her fly out of the treehouse. I hear a hard thud, I gasp, realizing what happened, I run towards the hole, poking my head out, I look down, seeing no sign of Mack, "Mack?" I call out, no response.

"Mack?" I call out once more, nothing. what should I do? do I ditch? oh shit, oh shit. is she dead? where is she? I don't see her, or hear her. maybe I can pretend I never saw what happened. Yeah. yeah that's a good plan.

I climb down the ladder, running away from the tree house, pretending that nothing ever happened, I run to Michael's not caring if I didn't call first, I jog up the driveway, walking inside his house, seeing the guys are still sitting inside Michael's living room, I sat down, panting, not saying a single word.

"Something wrong, Ash?" Luke waves his hand in front of my face, reminding me of Mack, I immediately shake my head.

"Nope.. nothing wrong with me." I look around, not wanting to look at the guys,

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