lifeguard//ashton irwin

chapter 8: running

A/N: HEYYYYYYYY hope you enjoy! x

Ashton's POV

It's been three weeks, and May's been avoiding me like her life depends on it. It's the last week of June and school's out, so both of my jobs at the beach and at the shop are busy 24/7. I've barely had any free time.

I've seen May around in the shop, or on the beach, but she never talks to me and I'm usually up to my ears in work anyway. Today is my first free day in the past week, and I'm just sitting here in bed, trying to build up the courage to go and talk to her.

What would I say? I have no idea how I feel. When she kissed me, my heart stopped. Now I can't stop thinking about it. I don't understand. How can she make me feel this way when I hate her? Do I even hate her?

I need to get my mind off things. I walked down to the basement to distract myself the only way I know how: by playing drums. Blasting Green Day on shuffle, I lost myself in the music.

Blistered hands, sore arms, and a pair of broken drum sticks later, I heard the music cut off but I just kept playing.

"Hey! STOP!... ASHTON!!!"

"ASHTON FLETCHER IRWIN STOP DRUMMING!!!"

I stopped and looked up to see three absurdly tall boys loomed over me with crossed arms.

"What's up?" I stood up and walked over to the mini-fridge and grabbed a water bottle.

Michael laughed and rolled his eyes. "Is he for real?" He asked Luke.

I sat down on the couch and drank the whole water bottle. They were still just standing and staring at me.

I raised my eyebrows and shrugged my shoulders, staring back at them.

More staring.

"OH MY GOD" Michael walked over and grabbed my shoulders, shaking them rather violently. "WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?!"

"Watch it." I glared at him and he backed off, pouting.

Calum sat across from me and spoke up. "You've been down here for hours, man. We could hear your banging so loud upstairs that we had to close the shop."

"Yeah, I'm losing customers because of you." Michael glared at me bitterly.

"Sorry." I mumbled.

"What's going on with you?" Luke sat down next to Calum and looked at me.

"You think I know? I don't know what's happening and I don't know what to say because I've never felt like this-"

"Hold on." Michael held up his hand and a smirk returned to his face. "I think I know what's going on here. This is about May."

I groaned and dropped my face into my hands, rubbing my face.

"I KNEW IT!" Michael jumped up, pumping his hand in the air. "I knew it as soon as she told me about-"

"Wait, what? You've talked to her? What did she tell you?"

"She told me enough. You're an idiot."

I groaned and stood up, beginning to pace the room. "You don't think I know that?"

Michael's POV

Ashton has been pacing the room and mumbling for the past half hour. I don't know if I should interrupt him, or?? I mean what if he full-on attacks me like some crazy person?! You never know with that boy.

Calum and Luke left awhile ago. Now I'm just sitting and watching him, hoping that he doesn't start throwing things.

From what I've experienced with Ashton, I should just let him be. But I know that if I just ignore things, nothing will ever happen.