Holiday (Ashton Irwin)

Chapter Five

Finally, I'm back at NYU. Safe and sound. I am never going to another Frat party again. That's for sure. 

"CLARITY!!" Joy jumps out of her bed and runs over to me pulling me into a strong hug. "Where the hell have you been!? I almost called your parents!" 

I push back quickly, "Please tell me you didn't?" If my parents found out anything between going to a Frat house party, drinking and smoking, getting a ride from a stranger, and sleeping in the same hotel room as a boy, I'd be dead. I'm surprise they are not here already as they did text and call me multiple times. 

I scroll through all my missed calls and text messages. A few from my parents, a million from Joy, and one from an unknown number. 

"No, I didn't reach out to them. But where were you? I thought someone kidnapped you or even worse yet, killed you." She's pacing back and forth at this point. 

"I went to a party and ended up getting stuck there because of the snowstorm." I didn't exactly lie to her; I just didn't tell her the whole truth. It's already risky enough with her knowing that I went to a party; there's a chance she will tell my parents. 

"Oh." Is all she can say. It looks as if a huge weight has been lifted off of her shoulder. 

"Please don't tell my parents Joy. They will literally pull me out of here for good and into a community college close to them." I beg. 

She doesn't say anything. She stares at me for a couple seconds before grabbing her bookbag and heading out of the dorm. 

I take a seat on my bed as I open the text message from an unknown number. 

'Thanks for a goodnight, Clarity xx '  

Oh, you have got to be kidding me right now. How the hell did he get my number!?

'Shut up. How did you get my number?'

I abruptly stand back up and start pacing back and forth waiting for Ashton to respond. But nothing. It's been minutes since I responded. Do I call him, or do I just wait? Would it be weird if I did call him? Why is he even texting me? 

All of these questions repeat in my head. Eventually, I try to find something to distract myself, so I take a seat at my desk and log onto my laptop. I need to check my grades before my parents do.  

"Oh, no, no, no." I whisper harshly at myself. "How!?" I slam my laptop shut. 

English:  D+ 

Biology: F 

Business Management: C- 

Economics: D

My parents are literally going to murder me soon. They had me promise them I would get at least B's or A's or else I would be going home for good so they can really keep an eye on me and my schoolwork. I cannot go home. It's like a prison there. 

*Ding* My phone buzzes. It's a text message. 

'I got your # out of ur phone when it was charging while u were in the shower. xx'

How did he even get into my phone? It has a passcode on it!

Before I can even type another response, another message from him comes through. 

'I have a feeling ur stressed. R u? xx'

'Go away Ashton.' I respond.

'Wanna go get food? xx'

'NO!!!!' I send the message and quickly shut my phone off. If I don't shut it off, then I am going to be tempted to keep texting Ashton back and I don't want to do that.

I gather my things up, dorm keys, wallet, phone, and a charger and throw them into my mini backpack that I use as a purse. I'm going to find my professors and talk about my grade. They are either going to change my grade or I'm going to break into the school then break into the professor's computer and change the grade myself.

I stop dead in my tracks once I get out to the parking lot when I realize it's only Saturday. They are off, I won't be able to find them anywhere here on campus.

"Clarity! There's another party tonight at Michael's! See you there!" Two guys yell at me as they are passing me slowly in their beat up maroon chevy malibu. 

Oh, no. I do not need another night of drinking. Yesterday was enough for a while... at least, I hope.

I take a seat on the cold black bench and wrap my arms around myself. What am I going to do? The semester is going to be over in two weeks before holiday break. I'm never going to be able to make it up. Why did I have to enjoy going to parties? Why couldn't I just be that person that likes to study all the time like Joy? Why couldn't I be the person that my parents think I am?

The cold wind and little snowflakes hit my face while I sit here thinking of everything, I have done wrong instead of ideas on how to make things better before my parents find out.

A familiar car pulls into a parking spot near me. There's only one car I know that looks like that and I had just seen it a little while ago.

Ashton.

He gets out of his car without turning it off and rushes over to me, he stands there towering over me with his hands in his leather jacket, just staring at me. 

"What!?" I snap. 

"I knew there was something wrong, come on." He heads for his car and waves me over. "Let's go for a ride." He yells as he gets in. 

I debate in my head for a couple seconds. I've already made plenty of bad decisions what's one more going to hurt?

"Fine." I mumble. 

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