More Than a Teacher - Ashton Irwin

54

One week turned into two, turned into three.
I spent most of my days in the apartment alone.
Calum had work and I was too tired to go anywhere. Instead of going to school I had my work emailed to me by my teachers and continued on doing it at home. Except for Mr Parker. He didn't send me anything. I'm not complaining though, I'm glad I'm not at school to act like his personal punching bag.

I also didn't want to deal with Chantelle. Not that she's spoken to me anyway and I certainly didn't want to sit on my own like a loser. Luke and Michael eventually messaged me the week after the ordeal with Elle went down. In those seven days I thought I'd lost them too but it turns out they didn't want to overwhelm me with questions, they said they thought I would want space. I appreciate that they wanted to be considerate, even though I was convinced they hated me.

I was concerned that the boys had told every private thing I'd told them to Elle, filling her in on everything she wasn't aware of. I expected them to tell every detail about what Ashton and I have done, that I'm living with him and Calum and that this has all been happening for over three months. It was quite the opposite however. When I asked if they had said anything, they swore to me no matter how many questions Elle asked, they insisted they didn't know anything other than that Ashton and I were 'talking'.

From there I briefly explained what had happened with Ashton and I to which both Luke and Michael turned into protective freaks, mentioning something about it being over for Ashton. They have texted me each day to make sure I'm alright and Cal even let them come over a few times which the first time was interesting to say the least.

They wanted to touch everything, look at all of the photos in frames around the apartment. I made sure they didn't touch the one sitting next to the tv. It was Ashton's only photo of him and Skye when they were younger.

Elle didn't know about any of this though. I don't think we're really friends anymore so it doesn't make sense for me to tell her anything. Harry spoke to me over text occasionally, just checking to see if I was ok. He has completed all his exams now which means he has fully completed his high school career. He's just awaiting his results.

The grade twelves still have their graduation ceremony approaching and as school captain, Harry has to 'hand over' his leadership to the next male captain so he's still going to be around school the next couple of days. How unfortunate for him. He wouldn't shut up about it and how unfair it was for him to still be at school while the rest of the cohort celebrated.

You signed up to be school captain Harry and you have to do every job that comes with it.

The sickness swirling in my stomach the first week Ash was missing had died down slightly after some relieving news that he'd been in touch with Skye. I nearly collapsed hearing that information. He's alive and I no longer have to worry about the possibility of him being just a lifeless body. She said it was only a single text letting her know he was 'fine' but it didn't sound too convincing to any of us. I'm just so glad and relieved to know that he's ok.

Well kind of.

He hasn't said any more even after Skye texted back the number it came from. Apparently the number wasn't his which was really odd. We still don't know what he's up to or where he is but we can only assume what he's doing. It's not too hard to figure out now.

It is disappointing to think he has probably relapsed. I've heard all about his struggles with alcohol and weed, even party pills but I'd never witnessed it first hand myself. I don't think I'd ever want to.

My question now is, how long is this going to last?

If he is out there using then what if he isn't strong enough to break out of it and come back?