The Mute || m.c. au ON HOLD

9.

//unedited//

   "Ashton!" Lola called after him, picking up her pace so they were shoulder to shoulder.

He smiled down at her "Hey Lola".

"Guess what" she bit her lip as she slowly began to loosen her grip on the rolled up piece of paper she had hidden behind her back.

"What?".

In one swift motion she revealed the Spanish test, shoving it in front of his face. Lola had been waiting to show him, he offered to give her the answers during the test but she wanted to prove that she wasn't a lost case. So she studied and went over the notes Ashton gave her, which only granted her a C grade- but passing is passing right?

"That's awesome!" He smiled widely looking at Lola in admiration.

He could see the sense of accomplishment in her eyes, it made him happy that she was happy for passing a test. He found it absolutely adorable, then again... he finds everything she does adorable.

He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, bringing her closer to his body. "I'm so proud of you" he gave her shoulder a squeeze.

Lola smiled brightly up at him, mentally dying at the wonderful scent of his cologne.

"Thanks" she mumbled and looked down at her feet, for some reason her cheeks began to burn. She had no idea of why she would be blushing, but she was.

"So what are you doing for the summer?" Ashton questioned removing his arm from around her body. Which Lola was grateful for.

She shrugged whilst biting the inside of her cheek "dunno, probably nothing".

"Why don't you come with me and the boys to Florida with Calums family?" He furrowed your eyebrows, expecting her to have some fun expensive summer planned out.

She chuckled "Yeah like my mom would let me go on a trip with four guys from school".

"Besides I don't have the money for it" she added feeling worse about her living situation.

It's always been like this. She always loses the opportunity of doing something fun because of money. When she was five a group of kids from the boys and girls club where going ice skating, but because of money she couldn't go. Lola cried that night, to which her dad took her to the local run down roller skating rink. It wasn't anything compared to the high priced ice skating field trip but it meant the world to her.

If only my dad was still here Lola thought to herself.

"I could pay your way and Calum has a sister around our age, you won't be the only girl there" he suggested, hoping she wouldn't decline.

She shrugged "I have to watch my little brother".

"He can come along, my little sister is going".

Lola sighed, she really did want to go but it was impossible so she just decided to move on from the topic that was going nowhere. "I'll think about it" she finally responded.

"Okay".
***
Finally lunch had came around, Lola wanted nothing more to see Michael.

He wasn't in calculus today but she saw him walk into the guidance counselors office during third period. She wondered why he had skipped, but maybe he just got to school late. Lola just wanted to make sure he was okay.

After their date it grew a bit awkward and Michael continued to apologize for how it went. Lola kept telling him it was alright, but Michael being Michael- he felt bad for making their first date horrible. Besides the whole Michael drowning part, Lola actually enjoyed the date. Holding him in her arms was her favorite part, it showed a sensitive and vulnerable side to Michael that she didn't know he had.

She frowned once seeing only three heads at the table instead of four. Michael wasn't there, unfortunately.

"Hey guys" she sighed, basically slamming her tray onto the table.

They greeted her before quickly returning back to their conversation on music. Lola listened to their debate on Fall Out Boy being better than Panic! At The Disco before tuning them out and letting her thoughts run wild.

What if Michael was purposely ignoring her, or he realized he didn't like her after all.

The thoughts made Lola even sadder so she pushed her tray away and rested her cheeks in the palm of her hands.

"You okay Lola?" Calum questioned noticing the sad expression on her face.

She nodded.

"Are you sure?" He asked, genuinely worried about her.

"I'm fine Calum" she sighed.

"She misses Michael" Luke casually said biting into the crust of his pizza.

Ashton furrowed his eyebrows at the statement, Lola took notice in his expression and quickly defended herself.

"Why would I miss Michael, we barely talk to each other" she lied, terribly. It shown through her voice and Lola knew that Luke knew she was lying.

He chuckled "that's not what he told me". Luke looked humorously at the wide eyed girl knowing that he was right.

"Since when did Michael talk?" Lola questioned acting as if she had no clue what he was talking about.

"Since he asked you out on a date" he smirked at the expression now written on Lolas face.

"Michael talked to you?" Calum looked wildly at the girl now with red cheeks.

"Who cares about that" Ashton hissed before turning his attention back on Lola "He asked you out?".

Lola grew quiet, should she tell them? Maybe if she told them then she could find out more about Michael, like why he was even mute in the first place. Ever since the date Lola thought about all the possibilities. She just couldn't come a conclusion.

"I'll answer your questions if you answer one of mine" she finally replied looking in each of their eyes, flicking her own back and forth between them.

"What question?" Luke raised an eyebrow.

"Did someone Michael dated drown?"

Cliffhanger oops.

Sorry it's shorter than usual babes.