gay || afi (side lashton)

Chapter 5

I heard a loud beeping noise beside me, waking me up from my deep slumber. I groaned at reached for whatever the fuck was making that noise and found a rectangular object vibrating under the covers. I opened one of my eyes to peek at it and I dived my hand under the duvet, looking around for my phone. The noise was burning my ears and once my hand felt the object, I fished it out and turned it on. My eyes fixated at the white blinding light from my phone and once my eyes adjusted enough, I turned off the alarm and stared at the time. It was only five a.m. 

I set up the alarm early so I could take a walk without getting myself stabbed repeatedly. It wasn't late enough for someone to just jump at me and it wasn't early enough for the sun to rise. It was the perfect time to collect my thoughts. I opened the door as quietly as I could, tip-toeing past my parents' room and climbing down the stairs with my toes only touching the wooden steps. I took my jacket from the coat rack before going out into the cold chilly morning dressed unsuitably for the weather. I walked along the sidewalk, a million thoughts running through my head. I didn't know why or how I even fell in love with Ashton Irwin. It had been five days since the carnival and somehow, the memories of Luke and Ashton that I wanted to forget didn't seem to leave my mind.  It started out as what was once an innocent friendship to something that always kept me up late at night. Honestly, I didn't know where this was going. All I know was that I was desperately in love with him. I sighed and looked back at Ashton's house. I noticed that his lights were on and there was a moving figure inside. 

He could be awake.

I found myself walking towards it before I could even stop myself. I hoisted myself up the tree beside it, sitting on a branch as I looked in to his room. I know I probably sound like a creep but I couldn't help myself. It was all I could think of of doing at a time like this. I saw Ashton's figure pacing back and forth in his room and I felt the urge to go inside. Of course, I didn't let myself fall into temptation and decided I should just get back to my room. I sighed, about to climb down the tree when I saw Ashton staring at me with wide eyes. I looked back at him equally surprised and before I knew it, he was already opening up the window. 

"Carrie?" he asked, slightly bewildered, "What the hell are you doing here?"

"I-I," I looked around, trying to come up with an excuse as to why I'm here on a tree that's probably filled with bird crap and large insects, watching over a grown man pacing around his room through his window. Ashton looked at me quizzically before he put his hand up, interrupting me.

"Never mind that," he sighed, "Would you like to go inside?" he offered. Of course, I did. I was starting to get itchy from all these leaves around me. Ashton extended his arm to assist me and I tried my best to crawl towards the window without injuring myself. Once I was close enough, Ashton poke out his whole torso out the window and putting his hands around my waist. He pulled me inside with all his strength before settling me on the ground. 

"Hi," I smiled crookedly at him, slightly embarrassed that he has to see me going all James Bond on him. Ashton looked at me for a moment, as if to contemplate about my intentions before a small smile itched its way onto his lips. "Hi," he smiled at me. He was wearing an overly-tight grey shirt that hugged his body in all the right places and a pair of sweatpants to cover his legs from the chilly air. I couldn't help but gape at him with my mouth slightly open at how much has changed with him. I wasn't used to his appearance. I've never known that my best friend could literally turn into this amazing human being right in front of me and I--

"Carrie," Ashton's voice immediately snapped me out of my thoughts, "What are you staring at?" I looked at him, slightly confused before a small blush crept its way into my cheeks. "I-I, um, wasn't, uh, yeah," I sighed, clamping my mouth shut. I couldn't even form coherent words in front of him. I am such a loser. Ashton sat beside me with his legs tucked beneath him, his eyes searching my face for a bit. "I can't sleep," he whispered, his eyes burning my skin. I kept my eyes trailed on the floor, purposely avoiding his gaze in hopes that he'll look away just in time before I melt.