guilt - Ashton Irwin

THREE.

♪ I can crave you but you don't need to know ♪

ashton

"You guys did great! It's time to get on the buses now-" I halted as I entered One Direction's dressing room, "Cassie?" "Oh my god is Cass here?" Calum ran past me with the rest of the members of our band. Luke was the first to go up and hug the brunette, closely followed by Michael and Cal. I just stood in shock. Her hair was braided and she looked a bit taller. Yet she was still probably the most beautiful girl I've ever seen. I snapped out of my thoughts and stared at the ground.

Once all of the salutations were over, Cassie approached me, "Hey Ashton." My breath was caught in my throat, what was she playing at here? I saw her interaction with the paparazzi the other day, her saying that 'we're on good terms' which was obviously a lie. We haven't talked since- well, since our breakup. "Hi Cassie." I gave the girl a small smile, "So about what happened, can we like-" "Talk about it?" She cut me off, "I've given you that chance too many times. Work things out? As if I didn't already try." "Look Cass I'm really sorry." "Sorry doesn't cut it." I looked down and saw Cassie's fists clenched, like she was about ready to punch me.

So when she did, I dodged it and Cassie arms grazed past my face. "Woah, WOAH, calm down Cass." Her friend, Kaya I think is her name, grabbed Cassie. I hadn't even noticed the she and Lexi were there until now, I was too distracted in my own thoughts. We all watched them walk out and the room was left with undeniable tension.

cassie

Kaya pulled me outside of the dressing room, "Is that seriously what you fucking came here to do?" "Well, sort of, not exactly." I replied sheepishly. Lexi put her face in her palm, "Cassie, Cassie, you can't go around picking fights on your first day back." "But it's Ashton-" "No buts, you must be civil if you're going to stay with us for a while." She huffed, "That means putting whatever happened between you and Ash to the side, just ignore him for all I care, and just have a nice time with us and the boys." "Fine." I frowned.

"Good now that we're all in agreement." Lexi clapped her hands together, "We should go get a bite to eat, I'll text Gemma to come meet us." "Sounds good with me." I shrugged and Kaya agreed. Lexi was about to lead us out of the venue when screaming fans were heard on the other side of the door. She stopped, "Maybe it's best the public doesn't know you're here yet, I'll order a couple of pizzas to the hotel and pick up Gemma, you two can go ahead. Here's an extra room card to room 312."

I fiddled with the room key as Kaya and I went up the elevator. The hotel wasn't too far from the one we were staying in, so we could easily get back, or just stay the night here. "Did you get to talk to Calum?" I asked and Kaya shook her head, "No, I was just about to introduce myself when someone tried to punch their ex in the face." "Was Liam's ex here?" I joked, "He's always looking to pick a fight with someone." Kaya just chuckled and playfully slapped my arm.

The pizza arrived before the other two girls, and Kaya and I just couldn't help ourselves as we took a couple of slices. "Lexi got the motherload." Kaya chimed, my mouth was too full to reply as I set the many other boxes on the table. "Honey I'm home!" Gemma bellowed from the other side of the door. I jumped up and ran over as fast as I could, and when the door opened, the brunette grinned at me excitedly. I consumed her in a hug, "Gemma Anne Styles! I missed you so much." "I missed you more little Cassie." The older Styles' sibling retorted.

"Well, you're not so little anymore!" Gemma marveled as she took a step back, "Cassandra Tomlinson, since when have you grown up on me!" "Jeez I'm only a little bit taller since you last saw me, I still look the same." I mumbled . Gemma shook her head, "You've always been beautiful, but look at you now, man I bet Ashton is regretting being such a dick." "Gemma!" Lexi hissed, hitting her shoulder. Gemma shrugged, "It's just the fact, besides little Cassie can get any boy she wants. Oh! You have to tell me everything that I've missed out on."

Ever since One Direction got together, Gemma's always been like another sister to my family, and especially to me. I always followed Louis around more than my siblings, and Gemma was there right by my side the whole time. But when my career began to kick off I started to see her less and less, along with the 1D boys. "Starting off." I motioned to Kaya, "This is my best friend, Kaya Park." "Pleasure to meet you!" Kaya beamed up at Gemma while still eating her pizza.

I filled Gemma, and sort of Lexi too, in on every little detail and event from the last year or so. Kaya added in little pieces I forgot here and there because she knows me more than anyone else. After a lot of gossiping and laughing, Lexi brought up, "So the boy's next concert is in Raleigh, are you two coming or not?" I looked to Kaya and she nodded her approval. I decided, "Yeah, we'll stick around for a little while." "Yes!" Gemma cheered and the four of us burst out into laughter.