I'm Sorry • Lashton

Chapter 5

Dedicated to @fvcktrdcalum for being a cool friend and a cool person in general

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends,
Mmm, I get high with a little help from my friends,
Oh, I'm gonna try with a little help from my friends

-With a little help from my friends // The Beatles

It was a pleasant feeling for Ashton, knowing that Luke's own brother was on his side. It relieved him to know that he had not really done anything wrong, and Luke was being unreasonable. Either way, it was a relief to wake up the next day, without the fear of being mocked and called a 'creep.'

Ashton showered silently, his thoughts making enough noise for him internally- even whilst he had breakfast, he couldn't help but drum his fingers on the counter as he crunched on his coco pops.

"Ashton!" His mother scolded, annoyed of his tapping fingers. Ashton looked at his mum innocently, and she sighed "Please stop using the worktops as a Cajón" She said, frowning when he just nodded and went back to his fingers, rather than correcting his mother on her limited knowledge of Cajóns, and how a counter top could not possibly be used as one, because that was like using a lettuce as a guitar. But instead, Ashton just chewed on his cereal, taking his time, looking lost in thought,

"Um, Ash?" His mum cleared her throat, and he looked up expectantly, "Are you okay?" She asked.

"Fine." He smiled.

"Is something going on? Something on your mind?" She then cheekily added "Or someone?"

Her son blushed and shook his head, laughing nervously,

"I don't know. This..." His arms gestured out, motioning towards their house "Everything's so... new. So big. It's going to take some getting used to" He paused to see his mother's reaction, before quickly rushing out "It's not that I don't like it here. " He reassured her "It's just... different. You know, now that dad's not here..." He trailed off when he saw his mum visibly stiffen at the mention of the divorce. It was something they had only spoke about once, and was never really discussed again. It was especially avoided around Lauren and Harry, seeing as they had really looked up to their father, and were gutted when their parents split. Unlike his younger siblings, Ashton understood it was for the better, and would rather have his parents divorced but happy, instead of constantly at each other's necks. And there was no excuse for what his father did-

"I'm trying" Mrs Irwin whispered softly "I'm trying to be a good single mother"

"And you're doing great" Ashton assured her, beginning to feel guilty for ever bringing it up "With or without dad, you'll always be the greatest mama ever"

Ann smiled at her son, and hugged him close

"Love you, Ash"
"Love you too, mum"

***

"Hey Ash!" A semi-familiar voice called his name, as Ashton closed his locker, then spun around.

"Oh, hi Calum" His eyes trailing over the tanned boy's shoulder, shifting nervously

"Luke's not here yet" Calum said when he saw him searching, and Ashton nodded, trying to conceal his relief. Luke never really gave him any trouble, so that it hurt him, but Ashton could never miss the narrowed eyes and cold stares. He wasn't sure if he was being paranoid, but he did know that he was not on Luke Hemmings' favourite people list.

"So..." Calum cleared his throat, alerting Ashton who had spaced out "How have you been? I'm sorry I haven't actually spoken to you much since Sunday, I just barely see you around. We're in the same class for nothing" It was true, which made Ashton realise why he had hardly seen Michael, Luke and Calum in school before. Aside from the fact that he was oblivious and dopey, Ashton noticed he only had like two classes with Michael, and one with Luke. He practically never saw Calum.

"I've been good" Ashton shrugged before continuing "We should hang out more outside of school. You know where I live- uh... next to Luke. So if you're around at his then I know my mum wouldn't mind-"

Calum's eyes lit up as he nodded

"Yeah that sounds cool. I'm almost always at Luke's, so I'll definitely drop in at yours some time"

Ashton grinned and agreed,

"Cool, sounds great" He said, and then the bell for the first lesson rang, cutting off their conversation, and causing them to split into their separate ways.

***

It was around 5 pm that same evening, when Ashton got a call from Rio. After speaking to Calum that morning, he hadn't really been able to catch up with his best friend, and at lunch time, Ashton had been in the library- studying for an upcoming Biology test. He was happy when he saw Rio's name flash up on his phone- but also confused, because Rio never called anyone. If he wanted to communicate it was via text- and he barely replied to those anyway. Nevertheless, Ashton stopped scrambling through the cardboard box that sat in front of him on the floor, and answered Rio's call.

"Hey Ri, what's up?"

"Nothing. I'm bored. What are you doing?"

"Unpacking" Ashton admitted "I still have quite a bit left"

"Oh, do you need any help? I'm bored out of my mind..." He trailed off and Ashton chuckled,

"Yeah sure, come over, stay for Tea, whatever. Help sounds great"

"Cool, see you in fifteen" And he hung up.

Ashton furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, dropping the phone into his lap. Fifteen? Why was it going to take him so long to get to his house? Rio always said 'see you in five' and was there in less than two. Then something struck Ashton and he nearly slapped himself for being so stupid. 
He was in a new house, which meant a new location aka further away from his best friend. He rolled his eyes at his own stupidity.

True to his word, Rio arrived at the Irwin household in fifteen minutes. Mrs Irwin answered the door, and she was met with a tall, green-haired boy, dressed in all black. He was also wearing a pair of Ray-ban Wayfarers, which was odd since the sun was not so bright today. But Rio himself was pretty odd, and it wasn't actually wise to question most of the things he did.

"Rio?" Ann-Marie smiled, stepping aside to let him in "What a lovely surprise. How are you?"

"I'm fine Mrs Irwin. And yourself?"

"Fine." She smiled "Ashton's in his room" She paused, seeing the confusion etched on the boy's face before breaking out into a smile "Oh yes ah- the door at the end of the hall. Just shout if you get lost" She said then disappeared into the kitchen.

Rio climbed the staircase slowly, looking and observing things as he went. The house was definitely bigger than their last.

He knocked on the door at the end of the hall and sighed in relief when he heard Ashton yell out a 'come in!'

He entered the room, and couldn't help but laugh at the site. Pink faced and tousle haired, Ashton sat in the middle of the room, a cardboard box open and half empty in front of him, with a few boxes behind him and some empty ones next to him. His bed was unmade and his dog stretched lazily on it. There was a chair next to one of the walls, where a pile of posters and some blue-tack lay atop of it, as well as a few posters at the top of the wall, that looked ready to fall any second.

Ashton's school bag was on top of his desk, pens, pencils, text books, folders and half-attempted sheets of homework were spilling out of it.

"Oh, Ash..." Rio chuckled, leaning against the door frame. Ashton's eyes widened, and Rio could see the word in his eyes before it left the lips of his best friend,

"Help?"