impacts - Ashton Irwin

f i v e

ASHTON'S POV

The boys hopped in my car after school and we drive down towards my place until Calum bursts into a talking fit.

"Can we go to the diner!? I'm craving a milkshake man!" He says as he begs like a child. I can't help but laugh, and I'm grateful that these guys treat me like normal and not like the new kid.

"You spent all your money in the arcade room yesterday Calum, you can't afford to buy a milkshake." Michael laughs loudly as he remarks on Calum's plead. Calum sighs and folds his arms, packing a tantrum.

"Man I can't wait til we become famous! We're gonna have so much money we can buy an unlimited amount of milkshakes!" His chirpy voice echoes through my car.

"We're not going to be famous man, how can we? We don't even have Finn on drums anymore." Luke sighs. He still is really shaken up.

"You guys are in a band?" I ask, tapping my thumbs on the steering wheel as we past streets.

"Yeah, it's nothing big at the moment though, and it's just three guitarists and singers now." Michael huffs.

"I play drums, it's fucking tiring!" I groan as I rotate my wrists and they ache from drumming constantly.

"Honest?" Luke chirps. I nod my head, "never done it properly though." I say as I chuckle, embarrassed. To ignore the conversation, I put on the radio and 'Can't feel my face by The Weeknd' comes on, was one of my most played songs if I'm being honest. The 3 boys in my car start laughing.

"Remember when we were at that party." Luke laughs.

"Yes holy shit and everyone there was singing it and then... Michael happens!" Calum adds on, clapping furiously as he laughs.

"I completely passed out on Finn, fuck that was screwed man, I was shitfaced!" Michael laughs.

I laugh loudly. When it comes up to one line in the song, Calum goes "And FALL!" As they all laugh hysterically.

We pull up to my house and they boys look around, they suddenly go quiet.

"Oh." Luke says as he clears his throat.

"What?"

"It's j-just, you live right next to, uh, you know." He says as he scratches the back of his neck. I automatically think 'Fuck, he won't want to stay.'

"Oh man I'm sorry if you're uncomfortable." I start apologizing.

"Nah man, it's all good, let's just have a good night!" He says as he claps his hands together and hops out of the car, followed by the other boys.

As they walk along the footpath, I yell out to them to catch the keys.

"Oi! Here's the keys, make yourself at home lads, mum's away for the weekend, I just gotta get this shit out of the car, yeah?" I throw the keys and Luke catches them, shooting a smile before unlocking the door and heading inside.

I open the trunk of my car and start searching around for my drum sticks I left in the car a few days ago. As I do, I hear a soft strumming of the guitar, assuming it's one of the boys after what they told me about being in a band.

But I hear a soft, feminine voice and it sounds like Annabelle. I don't know why, but I started smiling. She sounded so lovely.

"Even though it hurts so much
Every night I'm losing you in a thousand faces
Now it feels we're as close as strangers."

After those lines and the light strumming of the guitar, I hear a sniffle. She's crying.

I decide to sneak up on her. I notice there is a tree that leads up to her balcony, so I will climb up it.