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

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Don't Let it Break Your Heart- Louis Tomlinson

Ashton Irwin:

She hasn't spoken to me in days and I miss her. I've reached out occasionally to make sure she's fine, but clearly, I said something I shouldn't have just yet. I know it was too soon, and I still meant it.

But if she's this unwilling to face me, I guess I'll be the one to do something about it. I just want the best for her.

All these thoughts run through my head as I drive over to her house. I'm not mad, I just needed to fix this now. I can't stand not seeing her any longer.

I pull into the lot out front, and after putting the car into park, I practically jump out of the car and rush to the door.

I knock and wait.

Knock again.

I finally realize she's probably not home after a significant amount of time has passed. Pulling out my phone, I start pacing down the stretch in front of the apartments.

"Aviana Ross... call," I mumble as I quickly find her contact and press her number.

I'm getting anxious as the dial tones drone on and on.

"Uhm, hey?" her voice cuts through, finally.

"Hey, Av, where are you? I really need to talk to you,"

"I'm not home right now-"

"Where are you at? I'll come to you," I negotiate, begging for her time.

"Hold on, Ash,"

I hear her push the phone away, making her voice jumbled and quiet as I can faintly hear her talking to someone. She never told me about having something going on today, but she hasn't told me much lately in general. Maybe she had something for school today, I know it'll be pretty time-consuming once it all starts up.

I can't figure it out as I can't pick up the voice at all.

Well, until she shifts the phone back to her ear, speaking, "Fine, come pick me up at Calum's, and we'll talk,"

"Oh- okay," I confirm, and she hangs up. Shit, I really messed it up, didn't I?

Nothing about this felt good or right anymore, but I got back in my car and made my way over to pick her up. I'm not sure what she was doing with Calum, but I felt bad now, knowing that I interrupted her evening.

Our struggle with communication, along with just being too young and dumb is why things didn't work out the first time. We didn't even try, but just figured we wouldn't do well long-distance with my career taking off.

When we got back together, I knew we would probably reach this point again since it's not like we were just going to stop making music after the tour ended, but I didn't think it would be this soon.

None of us lived too incredibly far from each other, so I send Av a text letting her know I had arrived at Calum's.

She walks out, not a smile or a frown on her face.

And as soon as she gets to the car, I jump to immediately apologize.

She's hardly sat down when I say, "I'm so sorry, Av. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable,"

"You don't need to be sorry, I just need time,"

"I'm not going to take back what I said, but I'm sorry I got mad about it, I guess. I know we haven't been together that long-"

"I know, Ashton. Can you please take me home?"

"I'm sorry for interrupting,"

"Please stop apologizing, I just need time to think. Things aren't the same as before... at least for me," she explains.

"Oh," is all I can mutter in response to her honest, yet harsh truth.

I start driving. It's dead silent. Not even the radio is playing.

"I know I've not been good at communicating recently..."

No comment.

She's facing straight ahead, staring straight into space, and I can't figure out what's going on. I didn't think there was anything else I could have done wrong.

I turn the radio on faintly to subdue the eerie nothingness of sound, and soon we arrive back at her apartment.

She fumbles around with the seatbelt and gets out of the car.

"Bye, Ash," she says, and shuts the car door, leaving me behind.

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What's miss aviana got goin on in her brain... bestie really do be all over the place rn... and poor ash