The Loverboy

Awkward Moments

*Rowan's POV*

All night long all I could think about was how Ashton had been such a jerk to me. I guess when he said he wanted to change for me he didn't really mean it. Oh well. Who cares? He obviously didn't want me and I didn't need him to feel good about myself.

I could barely think strait, so I played the sick card and stayed home. My mom believed me when I said I felt like I was going to throw up so it was a good enough excuse. I never threw up of course, so it was Friday, tutoring day, and my mom insisted that I went to school.

I sat in the car while my mom drove me to school. "You're awful quiet, Ro. Anything you wanna talk about?" My mom asked. "No" I responded quickly, playing with the seam on my shirt. "Well if you ever need to talk, I'm right-" "Mom please just stop." I interrupted. My mom's smile faded and she closed her mouth. The rest of the car ride was silent. We pulled up in front of the school and I quickly grabbed my bags. "I'll see you after school, sweetie!" My mom said in her usual chipper voice. I didn't say a word as I got out and slammed the door shut.

I walked into the school building , not caring what I looked like, or what anybody thought of my appearance. They would understand if they knew, but they didn't. Most of them didn't know what it was like to have your best friend and lover turn his back on them. It was a painful feeling that could only be replaced with more pain.

I looked down at my left arm, tugging my sleeves down so that nobody could see my fresh cuts from last night and the additional one I made this morning. Not only was I upset about Ashton leaving me, but apparently my dad was coming home just as Ashton was leaving and he didn't take it very well.

I trudged over to my locker and ignored everybody's presence, including Brian's. I quickly grabbed my stuff and made my way to my first class, which was English. I sat down in a different seat, because I already had to tutor Ashton, and I didn't want to be near him any longer than I had to. "Hey Rowan, are you feeling better?" Luke asked, sitting down next to me. "Yeah sure" I mumbled, looking over at Ashton. He was surrounded by a crowd of flirtatious girls, all giggling and smiling. 

"Rowan."Luke said, making me look away. "Oh. What?" I asked quietly. "Tell me what is troubling you." He insisted. "Nothing, Luke. I'm just tired." I snapped, resting my head on the table. I noticed Ashton looking at me, so I turned my head to face the wall. Luke looked at me, then at Ashton, then at me again. "Let's go" Luke said, grabbing my head and practically jerking me out of my seat. "Where are we going?" I asked as Luke led me down the hallway and into the parking lot. He unlocked his car and pointed to the back seat where he joined me.

"Spill" He said, looking at me directly in the eyes. "Luke, it's really nothing." I said yet again. He gave me a look at said that he didn't believe me. That's when I broke down. "Whoa Ro. Settle down. What's wrong?" "Ashton broke up with me!" I sobbed, not caring that the makeup was running down my face. "What happened?" Luke asked, concerned. "It doesn't matter! Nothing I do or say will change his mind! He's done with me." I said, crying harder. "Maybe it's for the best Rowan..." Luke said, trying to help. It wasn't helping. "I loved him!" I yelled.

Luke pulled me into a hug and rubbed my back. "I know this probably isn't a good time, but when you're ready to move on, I'm still here, y'know." "I can't think about that right now. I just need to breathe." I said, pulling away. "Okay"

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I sat in the library, waiting impatiently for Ashton to show up. I had forgotten how much I hated it when Ashton was late to tutoring. I sighed and waited five more minuted before Ashton showed up. "Hey" He said timidly, taking a seat across from me. He was wearing the usual black jeans, black boots, and a band tee. He looked disheveled like me.

I cracked a small smile of acknowledgment and got out my textbooks. "So what's your main struggle right now?" I asked him, not looking anywhere but at my pencil which was on the table, about to fall of. "Well I'm having a hard time keeping up with the book we're reading in English." He said flipping through the pages of his copy of 'The Odyssey'. "Okay let's go over the basics" I said, pulling out my book. "The story takes place in ancient Greece, and Odysseus is trying to return home after ten years of being away. Meanwhile back at home, his wife Penelope's home is being swarmed with suitors who want to marry her for her riches, insisting that her husband is dead and-"

I paused and looked up at Ashton, who was looking at me attentively. "Go on" He said. "Right. So the Greek goddess Athena is aiding Odysseus and- she's... I'm sorry." I stuttered. "I can't do this." "Can't do what?" Ashton asked. "This" I returned. "It's too much for me. I'm having trouble focusing and you're throwing me off and I just... I can't." I said, throwing my head back in defeat. "Rowan I-" He was cut off by my phone vibrating.

"Hold on" I said, looking at my phone to see that my mom was calling. "Rowan. You need to come to the hospital. Something's happened."