Never Let Go

Chapter One

--LOU'S POV--

"Nothing bad is going to happen Lou" Ashton smiled reassuringly at me, while he intertwined his large fingers with my rather small ones.

I looked away, staring at the huge cliff in front of us, trying not to throw up. If there was one thing I was scared of, it was heights. Despite this, I ignored my fear because I knew how much Ashton had wanted to do this all his life and I wanted to be there with him. We had gone on holiday together for his eighteenth birthday, despite my parents complaints and I wanted to make it as special as I could for him. He lightly touched my chin, interrupting me from my thoughts, his green eyes looking deep into mine.

"Lou, I know you like to pretend you're a tough cookie all the time, but it's okay to be scared. If you don't want to do it, we don't have to."

I took his hand in mine."No I want to do it for you. School starts again in two days, when else are we going to get the chance to do this?"

Ashton pulled me into his chest, wrapping his arms around me. "I love you so much." He whispered into my hair.

I smiled and looked up at him. "I love you too."

He rested his chin on the top of my head and we stood there silently, until I was rudely tapped on the shoulder.

"Are you here for the five-thirty appointment?" A gruff voice said from behind me.

I pulled away from Ashton to look at the person the voice belonged to. A short, rather fat man with thinning grey hair stood in front of me, looking very pissed off.
"Yeah, we're here for that." Ashton answered him.

"Okay, come with me then." He said sharply, before spinning around on his heels and heading in the opposite direction.

Ashton looked at me and raised an eyebrow. I shrugged and took his hand, walking over to where the man now stood.

"I need to know your names." He said as we approached, not even looking up from his clipboard.

"Ashton Irwin and Louise Smith." Ashton replied.

He nodded. "Okay then. Let's get you guys geared up."

I followed his glance to a large pile of mangled ropes and harnesses.

"Is that what we are supposed to climb with?" I asked, wrinkling my nose.

"Indeed." He said rather coolly. "Now please put them on as soon as possible."

"Hold on a second." Ashton stepped in. "Stop rushing us. My girlfriend is scared of heights so please just lay off her a bit."

The man stared at me. "Why the fuck are you going to climb one of the highest rock faces in Australia, if you are afraid of bloody heights?"

"I'm not afraid of heights, I don't know what you're talking about." I snapped, refusing to let this man get to me.

He glared at me and handed us both a harness belt. "Put these on."

I stared at it, wondering how the fuck I was going to put it on. I looked over at Ashton, who had practically finished already and let out a little sigh before randomly placing my feet where I thought they were supposed to go.

After finally managing to put on the damn harness I looked over at Ashton. "Did I put this on right?"

He looked at me up and down. "I think so. Just double check with the man to make sure."

I walked over to him. "I'm not sure if I put the harness on right. Do you think you could check it for me?"

He glanced briefly at my harness and said dismissively, "Yeah it's all good."