You're Not My Babysitter

Chapter 29

Andy

"Hey," I called from outside of Ashton's bedroom door, "Jo, your brother wanted to just meet us for breakfast before coming all the way home."

I knocked on her door and waited for an answer. She's been kind of off for the past few days and I didn't know why but, I honestly wanted to give her some space because it seemed like she needed it.

"Jo?" I called after waiting about 30 seconds.

Ashton opened her door to reveal herself in my nirvana tshirt, paired with some grey sweats and black air force 1s. Her hair was in a big messy bun.

"You ready?" I asked.

She nodded her head. As I focused on her face I could see the bags under her eyes. I hadn't really seen much of Ashton since the other day when we were writing together. She said she didn't feel good so she'd been sleeping in her own bed and, even though I didn't know whether she meant physically or mentally, I didn't push because I knew she'd tell me when she was ready.

"Ok, lets go," I gave her a smile as we headed down the stairs and towards the front door, "is Maria's ok?"

She nodded again and sent me a weak smile.

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Ashton

I didn't know what was going on but, it had me in a rut. I hadn't been eating because every time I did it seemed like I was throwing it all back up again within a half an hour. Hell, I'd barely been out of bed. I just felt exhausted and, I could tell Andy was worried but, I couldn't tell him what was wrong because I couldn't even figure it out for myself.

"Look who it is." Andy smiled as we walked into Maria's and towards the table that Adrian had saved for us.

"What's up man?" Adrian got up and gave Andy a bro hug before coming to hug me.

"Hey," I croaked out.

My voice was a little soar and I think he could tell.

"Are you feeling ok Ash?"

"Yeah," I sent my brother a small smile before sitting down, "I think- I think it's just the flu."

"Ok."

Adrian sounded convinced and, if he wasn't he let it slide but, at that point I would've been happy with either one.

"So how was tour?" I asked trying to change the subject.

"It was good! There were so many cool
stories from so many-" Adrian started to tell me before he was cut off by another voice.

"Hello! My names- oh."

I looked up to see the same waitress we had last time and had to use every ounce of energy I had not to roll my eyes. I didn't have a lot of energy so, it was a bit difficult. At the time of her advance on Andy, I thought it was the funniest thing in the world but, now that we've got something going I looked back to the memory with disgust.

"Hi," Mariah spoke again after taking a minute, "how are you?"

I grabbed Andy's hand under the table and spoke up before he could, "We're great!"

I smiled but, it was fake.

"O-oh," Mariah stuttered, "good. What can I get you to drink?"

"I'll take a coffee with Italian cream and sugar." Adrian smiled at the waitress.

Careful Dee, you smile too hard you'll find yourself in her pants.

"Um can I get the same thing but, with french vanilla cream instead of Italian?" Andy said from beside me.

"I'll just have water." I shrugged.

"Absolutely!"

Mariah sent us a smile but, it was obvious that she was uncomfortable.

As she should be uncomfortable.

"So as I was saying," Adrian cleared his throat pulling me out of my thoughts, "there were so many stories from so many cool people! Oh! There was this one couple in Detroit, the guy came to me before the show and told me how he met his girlfriend in line for my merch on the tour I did with Andy like a year ago and, I helped him propose to her that night on stage."

I smiled genuinely at the way Adrian's face lit up as he talked. I loved him more than anything and I was so happy that I could watch him live out his dream.

"That's sick," Andy smiled circling the back of my hand with his thumb, "trust me this job gets hard. I mean I'm sure you've figured that out by now but, the fans- the fans make it all worth it you know?"

Adrian nodded his head as Mariah came back to our table to give us our drinks and take our breakfast orders.

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Andy

"Excuse me." Ashton mumbled as she pushed herself out of her seat and towards the bathroom at the back of the diner.

"What's going on with her?" Adrian asked, concern etched in his forehead.

"She's not feeling well," I sighed earning a questioning glance from him, "I'm sorry, that's all she'll say to me about it."

Adrian paused a minute before running his hand over his face, "You don't think she tried to overdose again do you?"

"No!"

She wouldn't.

She was doing better.

Wasn't she?

"I'm gonna go check on her ok?" I say following the route she took moments ago.

Adrian's concern stuck itself in my head and, now I couldn't stop thinking about it.

I knocked on the door of the women's room, "Jo?"

I heard faint mumbling but, I couldn't quite make out what she was saying. Then I heard a heaving noise and pushed open the door.

"Sorry," I said to a woman giving me a dirty look as I entered the bathroom, "Jo?"

I knocked on the handicap stall given it was the only one that was locked, "Baby can you open the door for me?"

A couple seconds later I heard a click and I opened the stall door to see Ashton curled over the toilet. I instantly crouched behind her and started rubbing her back.

"Oh baby," I said as she continued emptying the contents of her stomach, "let it out. Let it out."

She was done after about 30 seconds. She then sat down and pressed her head back against the wall.

"Jo," I asked causing Ashton to look into my eyes, "I'm gonna ask you a question and I want you to be honest with me."

She nodded her head in response before taking the bottom of her- well my- shirt and wiping the corner of her mouth with it.

"Did you try to overdose again?"