lifeguard//ashton irwin

chapter 9: coffee

May's POV

I couldn't sleep. The next morning I sat in my bed thinking about last night's events. I don't even know who to trust anymore.

Regardless, I'm still not ready to talk to Mikey or Ashton. I just wanted to go somewhere I could sit and think without being bothered.

I climbed out of my bed, threw on my favorite hoodie, and tied my hair in a side braid with a bandana. I grabbed my keys and headed for the coffee shop.

When I walked in, almost nobody was there so I sat in the corner booth.

"One caramel frappe with extra caramel," I looked up to see Calum in an apron handing me my favorite drink. "On the house."

"How did you know?" I looked at him suspiciously but grabbed the drink anyway.

Calum smiled and sat down across from me. "I have my sources."

"Are you the only one here?"

"Yeah, I usually open the shop because Ariana is always late."

"Oh yeah, do you know her? I only met her once. Super flirty."

He chuckled. "Yeah, that's Ariana. But she has a good heart."

Right as he finished his sentence, she walked into the shop and he stood up quickly. "Hey, Cal. Thanks for opening the shop. I don't know what I would do without you." She winked at him and his cheeks flushed. He started stuttering.

"Hey, uh, yeah, it's, um... it-it's no problem, uh..."

She flipped her hair and walked into the back.

I started laughing loudly, and he face-palmed. "Awwww, does Cal have a little crush??"

"I don't get crushes. I have a master plan. SHE WILL BE MINE!" He yelled, thrusting his fist into the air.

I sipped my drink and the room fell into silence.

"I can feel you secretly judging me," he pouted.

"ANYWAY," I said overdramatically, smirking at his embarrassment. "Where are all the customers?"

"We usually don't get any until 10am. Why are you up so early?" He gestured to the clock, which read 8:30am.

"I couldn't sleep."

He sat down. "I see. Tell me your troubles." He leaned forward, resting his chin in his hands.

"I don't know..." I wasn't sure if I should talk to him about his friends. Maybe he could help, but then he might also tell them everything I say.

"C'mon, May, you can trust me! Is this about Ashton, because Mikey told me-"

"Mikey told you?! See, this is exactly my problem! You guys have no boundaries for keeping secrets at all. You tell each other everything!" I got up to leave.

"No, please, wait. I promise I won't tell anyone anything. This stays between us. I pinky promise." He held up his finger.

I hesitated but shook pinkies anyway. Sitting back down on the couch, I poured my heart out to him. It was like the floodgates had opened. I told him everything about how I had started to like Ashton. I told him how I was scared that he didn't feel the same way, that this was all a joke to him. I even told him about how Mikey was the first real friend I had felt like I could trust in a long time. And how he broke that trust.

Calum listened to everything I had to say, then took a long pause before speaking.

"Ok, as far as Ashton is concerned, I do think he takes this seriously. Ashton is tricky because he never tells anyone what he's really thinking. If he felt distant to you then that's probably because he's confused. I think he just needs time to get his shit together. Boys are stupid."

I burst out laughing. "Calum, you are a boy!"

"Yes, but I am one of the few on this earth that are in their right minds. Any girl would be lucky to date me!" The last sentence he said in a loud voice, probably hoping Ariana could hear him.

"This is painful to watch." I chuckled.

"Hey, I know what I'm doing. Don't doubt the master." He flipped his hair dramatically.

I rolled my eyes.

A few minutes later, I was in the middle of a sentence when Calum practically jumped on top of me, pulling my hood down to hide my face.

"What the hell, Calum!"

"Shhh stay down!" He whispered harshly, getting up.

"Hey, man, what can I get for you?" I heard Calum walked away.

"Just the usual black coffee."

Ashton's voice. I sank further down in the booth, peeking out from under my hoodie. Ashton was wearing his lifeguard shirt and shorts, he must be going to start his morning shift now. He sat down to wait for Calum to make his coffee (Ariana was sitting in the corner playing something on her phone). He glanced over at me and I pulled my hoodie down, letting out a short squeal. He definitely saw me. A few minutes later Calum walked over and pulled my hoodie up.

"He's gone. Great spy work, Black Widow."

I cringed. "Do you think he saw me?"

"I think every person on the planet saw you."

I smacked his arm. "Stop enjoying this so much."

"Ain't so nice on the receiving end, now is it?"

I think talking with Calum was exactly what I needed to get my mind off things.

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awwww brOTP feels