I'm Sorry • Lashton

Chapter 8

'Cause I'm always where I need to be,
Yeah, and I always thought I would end up,
with you, eventually

-Always where I need to be // The Kooks

By now, Ashton was more than one hundred per cent sure, that he should stop coming home from school entirely. Maybe he could crash at Rio's for a bit? Maybe he could stay in school? Maybe he should stick to just not entering the house? Either way, the time 4:00 pm was definitely cursed, because it was now the third day of which he had to face some kind of traumatising news. And this news was definitely worse than a burst pipe.

"We're moving in next door" Ann smiled brightly, as soon as he stepped in. Ashton dropped his school bag in complete shock, feet glued to ground as his mouth stumbled to speak.

"N-next door?" He finally managed to squeak. "Like, which next door?"

His mind began to chant several different prayers and devotions, in desperate hope that his mother was talking about the grouchy old man who lived next door, and to be completely honest, Ashton had only seen once since they moved in- when he came to complain about Harry throwing his ball over the fence. Ashton would rather live with him than-

"The Hemmings." Ann clarified. Ashton felt like he was going to blow up,

"What- mum we don't even know them"

His mother rolled her eyes, laughing as she brushed past her son and into the kitchen.

"Don't be silly" She said briskly, as he followed after her "Liz and I have been work partners for years. How do you think we managed to land ourselves such a beautiful house in such quick time?"

"But- the first day we came- you- you made me meet her? I've never seen her in my life-"

"Well, that's only because you're the only one. Lauren and Harry have met her a few times. You just never seem to leave you room."

"That's not-" Ashton made a motion to open his mouth in protest, then realised that his mother was pretty much right. But that still didn't justify them living with some strangers.

"They're not strangers, Ashton." Ann tutted, and oh- he hadn't mean to voice his thoughts "They're family friends. They are good people. We actually have somewhere to stay, Liz has sorted out the rooms and everything, and she said it's not even a bother, considering her eldest has moved out. She's happily offered, and it would be so convenient, Ash, we're only going to be next door. And it isn't permanent, of course, just a temporary accommodation." Ashton sighed, realising how happy his mother was that she'd actually figured something out since the minor catastrophe had taken place, and he really didn't want his own problems to deflate his mum's joyous mood.

So he smiled and nodded,

"Okay, can't wait- when do we move out?"

***

"Sunday?" Rio just about screamed. Ashton nodded glumly, throwing a few more things into his suitcase, before sitting next to his friend on the floor,

"How are you going to cope?" Rio placed a comforting arm around his friend's shoulder "I've heard Luke being a dick, and now you have to live with him?"

"I don't know" The shorter boy shrugged, fiddling with his fingers "But I have one day. And it's only temporary. Maybe it won't be so bad?"

Rio nodded in understanding. He had previously attempted to persuade Mrs Irwin to allow Ashton to stay with him for a few weeks, but she refused to let the family split, and Ashton understood why. She didn't want to lose her husband, and her son. Albeit it be for a few days, Ann Marie Irwin worried for the world, and even though he was seventeen now, she always had to know if Ashton was safe.