More Than a Teacher - Ashton Irwin

16

I was in a much more peaceful state from 4am onwards, soaking up the desperately needed slumber. That's until the sun rose of course. The sharp rays of warm light, beaming in and straight across my face. It's enough to awaken me, slowly peeling my groggy eyes open to see the palm of Ashton's large hand hovering over my face.

"Mmm, what are you doing?" I mumble softly.

It's far too early to be talking. Mornings are truly awful.

"Sorry, did I wake you? I tried to stop the sun from hitting your face." He gently says, letting his hand rest.

Those words nearly make me want to explode.
Such a tiny action is so genuine and sweet. I don't deserve this, he's too kind.

A lazy smile tugs up on my lips just imagining him sitting beside me with his hand blocking the sun from my face for the last hour. It stopped working eventually but the fact he even thought of doing it made me feel so, I don't know, cared for. He cared that I would wake up so he shaded my face.

What an angel.

"Did you stay here the whole time?" I yawn and rub my eyes, curious if he left when I fell asleep and came back before I woke up. However, the close proximity of both of us when I drifted asleep is still the same if not closer, suggesting that he has sat here from 4am.

"You didn't stay up for me did you?" My brows raise and eyes widen slightly.

"It's really not a big deal. I actually slept from nine till three." He shrugs nonchalantly as if he hadn't been awake for the last four hours.

"Ashton you really didn't h—"

"Shhh," He cuts me off, laying a long finger over my lips, silencing me. "I'm not going to go over it with you, we have school to get ready for."

I stretch out and sit up, throwing my hair up into a knot-like bun as Ashton rakes his hand through his curls . He must be tried, he's been awake since 3am this morning.

I follow behind him into the open living and kitchen area, pulling out one of two bar stools from the bench.

"Now, I can make eggs and bacon, toast, cereal or pancakes. Whatever you feel like or I'll decide for you myself." He smiles on the opposite side of the bench in the little 'U' shaped kitchen.

"I'm not to hungry in the mor—"

"I guess I'll be deciding for you," He cuts me off and begins taking things out of the fridge as I pray it's something small. "Go get dressed and make sure you wear tights under your skirt, it's cold today."

I simply comply, taking my freshly washed button up and pleated skirt from the dryer as Ashton kindly washed them last night. I change in his room quickly, pulling on my disheveled bra and clean underwear along with my sheer black tights beneath my uniform. Looking out the large glass windows, it doesn't even look cold outside. I guess it's very deceiving with the heater being on inside.

I tug the sheets and duvet up the bed, tucking in the sides and neatly placing the pillows on top.
Believe it or not, making a bed is actually a work out and leaves my unfit self breathless.

I decide to do my hair and teeth before we leave and go to rejoin Ashton in the kitchen.

"Here you go, it's a breakfast smoothie." He pops a straw into the glass, pushing it across the bench as I sit.

"Thank you." I hook a strand of hair behind my ear. Having someone make me breakfast is something I haven't had for a long time.

"What's in it?" I eye the pale purple mixture with tiny specks of whatever else has been blended.