Bullied By Ashton Irwin

Chapter 1

The bell rang and I got up from my seat at the back of my classroom of Maths. I waited for everyone to get out of the classroom before I walked out so that no one would make fun of me.

"Thank you Ms. Greene," I told my teacher before walking out of the door from Maths.

Walking from the room to my locker, I looked at the ground. I don't like attracting attention to myself. I arrived to my locker, with a few people looking at me but I just shook it off. Putting in my locker combination, 13-15-8, I opened my locker. I looked in the mirror on the door. My eyes have dark circles underneath them due to a lack of sleep. My hair had strayed from my sleek morning ponytail and instead was frizzy at the top of my head. I am so glad that the school day is over. Today was a terrible day. I could barely listen in English which is one of my favorite classes. I grabbed my backpack and put all of my binders inside. By the time I finished, the halls were pretty much empty. Just as I turned around, I heard a voice that I could never forget...

"Hey Carls. How's it going?" Ashton walked up to me with a smirk on his face. I chose not to answer. My heart started speeding up and my palms became sweaty. From behind Ashton, I saw his 2 best friends coming. Luke and Michael.

"I asked you a question, bitch! Answer me!" Like everyday, Ashton grabbed the top of my head and slammed it against my locker. I flinched at the pain shooting through my head.

"Ow..." I whispered. I didn't think he heard me. But clearly he did because he said next...

"That hurt?! Well you should watch what I am about to do to you now," he motioned for Luke and Michael to come over and they did. Michael pinned my left arm on the locker and Luke my right. Ashton backed up, his fist clenched, and ran his knuckle into my stomach. I winced. It hurt so much but I was used to it by now. The 3 boys just laughed like there was nothing wrong with hurting an innocent girl in school.

"Awww look Ash, she's crying, " Luke fake pouted. I hadn't even realized that there were tears streaming down my face. I tried to wipe them from my cheeks, but my arms were being pinned down.

Suddenly, the arms holding me released and Ashton stepped back.

"See you later, dork. " Ashton smirked at me and he turned around and left followed by Luke and Michael.

I pulled myself off the lockers. The punch Ashton just threw at me would definitely leave a bruise. At least I wouldn't have to see him for another 2 weeks. Today was the last day before Winter Break. I can't wait for Christmas! It is my favorite holiday of the year. My grandma and grandpop are coming to our house to celebrate with us. Whenever they are here everyone is so calm and nice to one another. Otherwise, my parents are always screaming at each other.

I was outside by now walking home when I heard someone call my name from behind me. A smile immediately popped onto my face when I realized it was one of my only friends ever.

"Carls, wait up!" Calum was running behind me. He was wearing a gray sweatshirt with the hoodie pulled on top of his dark brown hair. He was also wearing black skinny jeans and his usual worn out Converse.

"Hey Cal, whats up?" I turned around, walking backwards now.

"Well I'm kinda tired from chasing you around." I could see small fast puffs of breath coming from his mouth because of the cold.

"Sorry, I was thinking about Christmas. My grandparents are coming over this year!" I turned back around, walking normally now. I looked up at Calum and saw that he was staring at me. I stared back into his dark brown eyes.

"That sounds fun Carls! My family and I are going to my Aunt and Uncle's house in Melbourne."

"Aww, I wanted your family to join mine this fine Christmas," I pouted up at Calum. He let out a short laugh.

"I really wish I could. But my cousin says that if we don't go there, then she'll come here and you know how that turned out last time..." Calum and I were neighbors. So I clearly remembered what had happened the last time his cousin came over. Her name is Darcy and she was 9. She saw Calum and I hanging out one time. The next day, she was at my door singing the 'sitting in a tree K-I-S-S-I-N-G' song with me and Calum as the two people. The next thing I know, she was being picked up by Calum, his cheeks red, as he mumbled a sorry and then left with Darcy.

"Well I hope you have fun..." We had arrived at our houses now and were going our different directions.

"You too Carls! Tell your grandparents I said 'hi'! Merry Christmas!" We were on our own porches now and yelling to each other.

I waved a good bye and turned to go into my house.

***
As soon as I walked into my home, I smelled something delicious coming from the kitchen. I automatically knew what it was. Chicken dumpling soup. My grandma's specialty. But my mom never attempted making it herself, which meant...

"GRANDMA!" I dropped all of my things and made my way into her arms. She wrapped her arms around me tightly making me wince due to the bruise that had occurred from the punch I had taken. But I didn't let Ashton get in the way of spending time with my grandma.

"My darling, look at you. You grow more beautiful every year!" She pulled away from our hug and observed me from top to bottom as I did the same to her. She was wearing a pink sweater and khaki pants. She had become skinnier since last year and her face had become tighter due to some kind of stress.

"You weren't supposed to be here for another week! What happened?!"

"Well darling, something came up." The emotion in her eyes turned into something distant and somber.

"What happened? What's wrong?" I questioned worriedly.

"Carly, your grandpa is sick," her voice cracked slightly. But my eyes were already in tears and my legs gave away as I collapsed to the floor.