Rescue // Ashton Irwin

twenty three.

Adley.

I rolled the bottle of vodka from palm to palm, watching the clear liquid slosh around.

I never drink.

I'd never touched a drop of alcohol in my life, and I'd never planned on it, but now it seemed like the only option.

I'd made sure that everyone was out at the movies before I cracked open the bottle I'd always kept hidden just in case I ever needed it.

Tears rolled down my cheeks as I pressed the cool glass to my lips, taking a hard swallow of the liquor.

It's burn captivated me, so much so that I didn't notice Luke walk through the door.

"Adley?" he asked.

I could only imagine what I looked like to him.

"Lukey," I slurred, the half bottle I'd downed taking a toll on my petite body.

I attempted to stand up, but didn't get very far before collapsing onto the kitchen tile.

"Woah there, be careful," Luke panicked, rushing over to my spot on the floor.

I managed to push myself off of the floor and into his arms.

"Let's get you over to the couch," he muttered.

"No," I whined.

He gave me no choice though, pulling me along beside him into the living room.

"I thought you were at the movies," I said, confused as to why he had come back.

"Yeah, I forgot my wallet, but obviously you need me more than I need that movie. So tell me what I can do for you."

"There's nothing you can do. There's nothing anyone can do. I killed her," I sobbed.

He looked slightly uncomfortable, but I didn't blame him.

This was usually Ashton's area of expertise, and I knew Luke wasn't used to comforting girls, given that he was dating Michael.

"Do you want me to call Ashton?" he offered.

I shook my head.

"I don't want to make him hate me even more," I croaked, looking down at my lap.

"Hey, hey," Luke said softly, putting a finger under my chin and lifting it up until my eyes were on his. "Ashton doesn't hate you. It wasn't your fault, despite what you might believe, and Ashton knows it."

I couldn't form a response.

The boys told me that it wasn't my fault.

They'd all read me the articles that proved Rachel was drunk and that I hadn't done anything even remotely wrong.

But I couldn't get it through my head.

No matter how many times their words fought for space in my mind, the only words that stuck were Noah's.

"I'm going to call Ash," Luke announced, pulling me out of my thoughts.

I didn't argue, realizing that it wasn't fair to make him suffer along with me.

"Hey, Ash, I think you should come home..." he trailed off, giving me a sympathetic look.

They went back and forth a few times before Luke hung up the phone with a "thanks, see you then."

We sat in silence for what felt like forever, Luke  continuously trying to get my attention while I avoided his attempts.

I wasn't sure why I didn't feel the affects of the alcohol, but nonetheless I wasn't in the mood to listen to one of Luke's pep talks, and Ashton thankfully saved me just as he was starting to get into one.