The Space Between a Rock and a Hard Place- 5SOS

Chapter Twenty-Three

Crash My Car- COIN

Ashton Irwin-

"I'm sorry Av, I can't hang today, we're having our first rehearsal after tour and I gotta go pick up Cal. I promise you I'm free tomorrow, though. Is that okay?"

"Yeah, have fun with the guys," she responds with an unusual tone in her voice.

"Sure thing, bye Av,"

"See you soon, Ash,"

I end the call and drop my phone into the cupholder of my car. Today we were getting right to work on ideas for our second album. It all still felt too crazy to be real as I pulled out of the driveway on my way to Calum's. Yeah, it's been a few years, but yet it feels like it happened so fast. We just played a tour? To a whole audience of fans? It's absolutely surreal.

I sing quietly to the classic rock on the radio as I drive, and my mind drifts over to Aviana. I really haven't seen her in a few days, no wonder she called. I'd been preparing some melodies and lyrics for the workshop session today, and got a bit caught up in it. It'll be nice to get a break tomorrow with her.

Arriving at Calum's place, I turn the radio down as he walks out, clearly watching for my arrival, I guess.

"Hey, Ash! You ready for today?" Calum exclaims, after opening the passenger door and hopping into my vehicle.

"Sure am! You're in a good mood today, bud," I respond with an excited smile.

"Yeah, today's pretty big, even if we don't get too far figuring stuff out,"

"You're right, I was just thinking about tour and everything, it's really crazy how far we've come,"

"No kidding," Calum says with a laugh.

My stomach growls. "Hey, do you mind if we stop for a snack real quick?"

"Sure, I'm always down to eat, we might be late though, do you think?"

"Eh, we'll make it," I shrug it off, and whip into the first drive-thru I pass.

As we near the order window, I ask Calum what he wants.

"Do they have milkshakes?" he asks.

"Yeah, actually I think I'll get one too," I agree with the suggestion.

We order and pay for the two milkshakes, then get back on the road towards the studio. With our quick stop, we were now running a little bit late.

My phone pings. "Hey, can you check that and make sure it's not the guys?" I ask Calum, and then panic, snatching the phone away from him. I didn't want him to see any texts from Av, but now with one hand around the milkshake, and the other holding my phone, I was out of hands to keep the car on the road.

"Oh shit," I exclaim, throwing the phone down as soon as I realize we were being pulled into the ditch. I try to steady us back out, but we were already too far gone, so all it did was avoid any severe injuries as we come to a stop off the highway headfirst into the upwards sloped side of the ground.

"Fuck," Calum mutters under his breath as he adjusts in his seat, and pushes the airbag down away from his face.

I can't help but laugh a little, as I do the same, and notice the milkshakes all over ourselves and the seats.

"Sorry about that Cal,"

"Don't worry, I think I'm fine,"

I felt around for my phone on the floor, and we stumbled out of the car, still a bit in shock and collapsed on the hillside.

"So, you wanna check that text now?"

"Probably not important, but I let the boys know we're gonna be late," I say, a chuckle as I open the messages app, and quickly explain the predicament to Luke and Mike.

Calum sits there nodding, the straw of the milkshake in his mouth, sucking up the remaining mixture. I look in my equally sticky cup, at half of the chocolate shake that didn't escape. "Well I guess not all of it ended up in my car,"

I continue, "I'll text Av and get her to come pick us up,"

"Good idea,"

-   -   -

After being at the studio for a few hours, Av returns to pick us up. We drop Cal off, and head back to where my car ended up in a ditch. I honestly don't know what I'm gonna do, but the damage doesn't seem to be too bad.

"You'll probably have to get it towed out of the ditch, and then deal with the front damage. But at least it'll probably still drive once the airbags get fixed," Av suggests, as we stand there in the disappearing daylight looking at the vehicle.

I call the tow truck, but we were still stuck here until they arrive. "It's gonna be about an hour until they get here Av, you can go home, I'll be fine here,"

"I really don't mind, and I don't want you to be alone. Besides, I haven't seen you lately," she adds, closing in on me.

"Oh hi," I breathe out in response to her advance. She's now got one hand on my neck, and another pushing me back against the side of her car.

"I missed you," she says quietly now, and gives me a quick kiss, edging me.

"Av, what's going on," I blurt out, she's more forward than usual.

"I'm not allowed to want to see you?" she responds, instantly pulling back.

"You're usually just not- I don't know..." I'm at a loss for words, and a bit embarrassed that I had stopped her.

"I'm sorry, I guess it's just been a long day," leaning towards her to give her a sympathetic kiss back, "I missed you too, I promise,"

She smiles, finally.

"Thanks for not leaving me lonely," I say.

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A fun lil chapter... and ash is still a bad driver haha