*67 → [Irwin]

august 22nd

T E N

~*~

[ incoming call: unknown number ]

   "so everything's okay, i presume?" ashton asks, interrupting the silence. "did you ever find out what it was?"

   "nope," i say, closing the front door.  i walk down the stairs and onto the main floor, out the door, listening as ashton tells me the events that occurred after i hung up on him. apparently, michael knocked on his door, drunk, and confessed his love for calum.

   i let out a string of giggles. "i always knew there was something going on between those two," i joke, slamming my car door shut. 

   ashton's giggles cease after a couple of seconds. "are you in the car?" 

   i laugh. "i am."

   "where are you going?" 

   "the, um, store ," i say slowly. 

   ashton's slow to respond. "cool," he finally says. 

   i turn down my radio as the car roars to life, quick to change the subject. "what about you, any plans for the day?"

   he sighs. "uh, not really. i'll probably hit up the studio with mike or something. assuming he's sober," he mutters.

   "that's exciting, right?" i pull up to a red light, easing down on the gas pedal and pushing on the breaks. i take in the green around me as i wait for his response. 

   "it's kinda the same thing all the time, y'know?" he says.

   the light changes into green after a few more seconds of sitting, and i'm almost to the theater. "i'm really sorry, but i'm almost to the, um, the store. we'll talk later?" the line is quiet. "ash?"

   "why are you always mad at me? what did i do wrong?" his tone is impatient.

   the engine quiets down as i twist the keys and pull them out of the slot, and i just sit there, not knowing what to say.

   "see, this is why i don't have relationships with fans. all of you are the same."

   i clench my jaw. "it's not just the fans, ashton. don't take it out on them."

   "god, i'm so sick of this; whatever's going on here, it isn't working. i really thought that this would work, but i'm so sick of this tug-of-war game. i'm not in high school anymore, i don't want to constantly be worrying if what i say will offend you, or having to block my number every time i call you."

   "then just stop, ashton! do you think i like this? i can't even call you myself, i just wait around for you to do it," i retort.

   "well, that's not my fault," he spits. 

   "yeah," i say. "you're right."

   for a few seconds, there's only silence. then, perhaps at the same time, we hang up.

~*~

i sincerely apologize for not updating often enough, i've had school to worry about. hopefully, i'll get around to updating more often, but i can never be sure. 

anyhow, i hope you're all having a good day & i love you ((-:

xx kylie