Baby On Board (A 5SOS Fanfic)

Chapter 12 -FLASHBACK

*Year 2008*

"Goddamnit Fletcher. Stop throwing rocks at my window!" I whisper-shouted to Ashton, making sure it was loud enough for him to hear but quiet enough to not be heard downstairs—as if the collision of a stone and my bedroom's window wasn't enough noise to put me in trouble.

Ashton's signature grin was evident under the night sky illuminated by the half-moon. He's always like this; he's the only person that smiles like that at the bitter me. "Come on, Reev! You know it's my first gig!"

"Don't be too loud!" I shushed him, glancing quickly at my door, too afraid to see it open. "I got into a fight with my aunt."

"Yeah, I know. You texted me!" he was half-grinning and was checking around. That made us two. "That's why I've come to rescue you, dear River."

I rolled my eyes and crossed my hands over my chest. I'm the last person who will ask for help. "I am in no need of rescuing, peasant."

"Of course you don't need me to rescue you, you're bad arse." I could see him imitating my stance except that he was beaming like a crazy llama. God, this guy. It's been more than a month since we've met and he understands me inside-out already. "But I need you to come anyway because it's my first gig and I need the advice of the expert."

I couldn't help but chuckle. He's humoring me. He always does that. "Christ, you're hopeless."

"Come on and jump, Reev. I'll catch you!" Is he seriously asking me to jump out of my window? I'm not Jacob Black.

"Are you shitting on me, Fletcher? Are you seriously making me jump?"

"Of course."

I watched him in disbelief. "Go find a ladder and stop being an annoying arse."

Ashton barked out a laugh so loud I was certain they could hear him downstairs. But before I could remind him to shut up, he was already running back to the fence. He returned with a makeshift ladder made of bedsheets. I couldn't help but smile to myself. He never fails to surprise me.

Ashton was trying to be really quiet as he tried to throw the makeshift ladder at me. I kept on looking back at the door while I tried to catch it. I was scared that they might catch him. I'm used to all the shit in the house but I don't want Ashton to be caught up in that. He was the only person who keeps trying to reach out; he might get scared and leave. That would hurt and as much as I hate to say it, I've seen comfort in him. In my world full of bitterness and pain, he's the only one who tries to chase it away.

"Tie it up somewhere." He instructed me. I nodded when I saw determination in his eyes; he wouldn't let the night end without me coming with him. I knew it.

I looked around my bedroom to see where I could affix the cloth. My room was small and I only got a few things. A bed, a nightstand, a cabinet and a small bookshelf just above my bed's headboard. I decided to tie it around the foot of my bed. As I fastened the other end around my waist, I prayed hard that it'd be enough to support my weight or all the gates of hell will go loose.

I was positioning myself to climb down my window when I felt my bed moving ever so slightly. I was so scared the little screeching would make my Aunt run for my room in a jiffy. "This is a bad plan, Ash."

"It's ok, I got you." It has so much conviction. By the sound of it, he was standing right under me. I couldn't help but laugh and shake my head. He was seriously going to catch me despite of his skinny frame, my God.