headline ; l.h

chapter 9 - no easy way out

kid astray - no easy way out

As I open my eyes, I see Ashton in front of me, passionately kissing me back. It was a different feeling unlike what I felt when I kissed Luke. Ashton's lips are softer, unlike Luke's. Luke's lips are soft, yes but it had a different taste. It was like I was indirectly kissing Olivia. Ashton's lips were savory. No matter how long we'd kiss, I won't mind.

We received a lot of "ooh"s from the crowd. I don't know if I should feel accomplished with what I've done. I don't even know why I did it in the first place. I don't know if I did it on purpose to make Luke jealous (who am I to make him jealous, though? It's not like he likes me or anything. Here I am making myself expect the worst again. It was a kiss. A stupid one-time kiss. Who am I to feel this way? Who am I to make him jealous?) or if I just want to kiss Ashton.

I pull from the 30- second kiss. It was like a confluence of bliss and pleasure. It didn't make butterflies flutter in my stomach but it brought heat to my system. It brought adrenaline in my blood. I know it's cliché for me to say that the world around us faded and disappeared when we kissed - but it hell did. It was like we were all alone in an empty space. I wish I hadn't pull away from his kiss.

Ashton mouths a "wow" to me and it feels deviating. I give him a big accomplished smile and hug him. "Thanks for that." I whisper in his ear as I nuzzle my face in his neck. He replies with a hum, a nod, and a giggly smile. How could he be so adorable and so hot at the same time?

When I look to my right, Luke and Olivia were gone. They are nowhere to be found. I ripped my heart out of my chest and temporarily threw it out of sight. I'm giving myself time to actually think about myself - and not Luke.

It was now my turn to spin the bottle so I spin it with all my might and hope it lands on someone who's willing to tell the truth because I am not creative (and perverted) enough to think of a dare. I close my eyes shut for more suspense and when I open, the neck faces Ashton. Fate knows how to fuck shit up.

"Truth or dare?" I lock my blue eyes with his green ones and it sends chill down my spine.

A playful smirk tugs at the corners of his lips. "Truth."

I think of the most controversial question I could ask. What do I want to ask Ashton Irwin? I ask. He's chirpy and giggly most of the time, there must be something he's hiding. Probably a deep dark secret that nobody knows? We spent two consecutive days talking next to each other at lunch time whenever Olivia steals Luke away from me to talk about how much she wants to come to the upcoming New York Fashion Week and some other bs like that. I have spent two days talking to Ashton and he seems to be an open book whenever I ask something about his personal life. There must be something he hasn't told me yet.

"Who do you want to date in this circle?" were the words that slipped out of my mouth. That's the most controversial that I can get? I'm a pathetic privacy intruder.

I hear Michael mumble "You're not an 8th grader." under his breath and I give him the middle finger. Besides, that's what friends do right? Michael won't let himself lose this bickering without something to give back so he mouths a "fuck you" and gives me a giggly smile. Oh Michael.

Most of the girls in the circle are already in a relationship like Serena and Belle and the other three girls with their boyfriends beside them. It will be really hard for Ashton to lie.

In a brief second, he puffs his cheeks curtly and looks up to me with his glistening-like green eyes. "You."

With his one-word answer, I can feel my pulse beat faster and harder than it usually does. My chest tightens as I hear the word escape his plump lips. I don't know to react to this. The crowd went wild, first a kiss, then he admits he wants to date me. I wouldn't blame them, I feel the exact same way.