Sex & Sentiments Part Two// Ashton Irwin

Debates & Detention

I spent the weekend with Luke, avoiding Lana and Paige at all costs, and trying desperately to keep my mind off Ashton. So far my year without Ashton wasn't going according to plan.

I had been dreading my upcoming English lesson with him all weekend. There was nowhere to hide, now that we were partners, but I'd have to see him sooner or later.. I was just hoping on later..

"Okay, take your seats.. quicker.." Witty says as we file into class, "We're doing something a little different today, so don't bother starting work on your assignments. Today I wanted to test your ability for Debate... any volunteers?"

No one raises their hand.

"Figured as much." Witty says, "Okay then, seeing as you two caused me so much grief last year, Archer, Irwin, you two can start. Up."

Great. Another chance for a bunch of people to stare at me-- at least cheer-leading was all pre-determined, there were routines, there was time for preparation, and there were more people to look at, and I still stuffed that up... But now it's just me and Ashton. And I suck at debate.

Ashton and I take our places at the front of the classroom, behind podium stands, I'm pretty sure I hear Witty say something along the lines of "I'm going to regret this.."

"Your topic is," Witty says, before reaching into a bowl of scrunched up paper, and then retrieving one, "Should uniforms be made mandatory? Archer, you argue the for, Irwin, against."

"Okay," I begin, "Personally, I think uniforms are good idea. They're dependable, you don't have to spend hours making decisions about what to wear, they also give us a sense of identity and school pride--"

"Sense of identity?" Ashton scoffs, "Uniforms strip away our identities, they would turn us into mindless clones, all looking the same never getting any sense of originality... We'd all be carbon copies of each other.. Just because you don't mind being a copy, doesn't mean the rest of us feel that way.."

"Uniforms are the sensible choice—they're dependable, secure, clean cut and wholesome, it would give the school a better image, it's easier.."

"Oh, so you're all about the sensible, dependable, easy option.. makes sense" He says, and I know he's referring to Luke..

"At least the uniform loves me!" I yell stupidly before I can stop myself.

There are several snickers from around the classroom.. And I can feel my cheeks heating up slightly.

"Every time--" Witty says, "See me after class, both of you-- back to your seats. Okay, who's next?

Ashton and I go back to our seats and slump into our chairs without another word.

After class, Ashton and I wait for everyone else to leave, and Witty comes over to us.

"When are you two going to learn?" He says, Ashton and I keep quiet, "Well thank-fully I have a job for you both, that will hopefully knock the nuisance out of you both. Tomorrow morning, I want you at school an hour earlier. The music room needs a serious clean, and the cleaning lady is off tomorrow. Be at my office at 7, sharp.

"But sir," Ashton begins, and this time I do nudge him with my elbow to shut him up.

"Yes Irwin?" Witty says with a casual sternness

"Nothing."

When Witty leaves the room, Ashton and I start gathering our things.

"It's ironic.." Ashton says

"What is?"

"That even after everything we went through, we are almost exactly where we started..." He smirks a little.

"How so?" I play along.

"You and Luke having some weird thing going on, you and I are fighting in the middle of Witty's class and getting detention together.. So much is the same, and yet everything's different." He slings his backpack over his shoulder, and starts to leave the room.

"Wait," I call to him, and he spins as he makes it to the doorway, "Do you hate me?" It comes out so naturally like I've been waiting all my life to say it.. But I'm scared to hear the answer..

"Why?" he says, "Do you hate me?"

"Of course not." I say automatically.. and I mean it. I don't hate him.

"I don't hate you Indie.." A weird relief rushes over me as he says it, "But I do hate Lucy.." He says calmly, before walking off.

Any sense of relief I had, had been washed away. I felt as though something had pierced my chest. Technically he only hates a part of me.. but that part of me, is who I am now.. Ashton Irwin hates me.