Rescue // Ashton Irwin

eighteen.

Ashton.

For this first time in a week, when I awoke, Adley was by my side.

It felt so good to have her back with me, even if I didn't know how long it would last.

I made sure to keep a tight grip on her waist, hoping it would keep her with me for as long as possible.

"Ash, I can't breathe," she laughed, startling me.

I didn't even know that she was awake.

"Oh, sorry," I apologized, loosening my grip as little as possible.

"I'm not going to leave if you loosen your grip, babe. I promise," she spoke, as if she'd read my thoughts.

I reluctantly let go of her, allowing her to move around enough to face me.

"Are you ready to talk?" I asked, with the hope that if she told me what was going on I would be able to fix it and get her back.

She nodded.

"I heard you on the phone with Calum," she admitted.

She heard me on the phone with Calum?  I thought to myself, confused as to when she was talking about.

"The day that Noah called," she added.

"So you know that Noah called and threatened me," I said, starting to put the pieces together.

"Yes, and I couldn't let you take the hit for me. So, I figured it would be better if I was just out of the picture altogether, because that way if he was going to come after anyone, it would be me alone and you wouldn't get hurt."

It made sense, but I wasn't going to let her allow Noah to control her life.

And that was why I had told Calum that I would step in if needed, even if that meant putting myself in danger.

"Adley," I said sternly.

She looked up at me, waiting for me to continue.

"I'm not going to let you break up with me because of Noah. He's an awful person, and I'm sorry that he ever laid a hand on you, but you can't let him continue to have control over your life."

"I know, and I'm sorry, I just didn't want you to get hurt. But that clearly didn't work out," she mumbled, barely loud enough for me to hear.

I could tell that she felt guilty for what had happened the night before, but it wasn't her fault.

It never was.

My sadness was something that I couldn't control, but if anything, Adley made me feel a million times better just by being by my side.

And I love her for that.

"Hey, don't do that. None of this happened because of you, okay? I need you to say that for me."

I sounded like a controlling mother, but I knew she wouldn't believe me unless she said it herself, no mater how many times I tried to tell her.

"But it did. If I wouldn't have been so stupid and left you alone you wouldn't have been so sad and you wouldn't have..." she trailed off.

"Adley, say it for me. It wasn't your fault. None of this was your fault."

She sighed, but complied.

"It wasn't my fault," she repeated quietly, and I could tell that she wasn't convinced, but it was a start.

"There we go," I smiled.

She didn't say anything, but rather cuddled further into my side instead, but I wasn't complaining.

I loved having her around me, not matter the time of the day, and I often wondered if she knew how much I adored her.