Rescue // Ashton Irwin

twenty four.

Adley.

To say I was a mess was an understatement.

I couldn't eat.

I couldn't sleep.

I couldn't breathe without Ashton.

Every waking moment was spent wishing that I could take back everything that happened. I'd have given anything to be back in Ashton's arms.

Luke and Michael were kind enough to let me stay with them for a while.

They were there when Ashton brought me a box of the things I'd left at his house. I'd never cried harder in my life and I doubt I ever will.

Seeing all of the best memories of my life shoved into a cardboard box as if they meant nothing to him hurt more than I'd ever imagined it would.

Calum was convinced that we were going to get back together in a matter of days, but he was proven wrong when a month rolled around and I was still sleeping alone.

"He's a mess. He didn't even cry this much when Olivia and him broke up," Calum said in an attempt to stop my seemingly endless flow of tears.

"You're clearly not helping," Michael chided, giving him a smack on the back of his head.

That was only a fraction of their attempts to cheer me up, but nothing was working.

I didn't know if there was any hope for me.

"Why don't you try talking to him again?" Luke suggested one afternoon.

I'd just gotten through another crying fit, something I seemingly couldn't go a single day without.

"He won't answer the door."

"You don't know that."

"Luke, I've been trying to talk to him since the night we broke up. The only thing he's said to me is 'sorry' when he gave me the box. He didn't even look me in the eye!"

He sighed.

"I don't know what to tell you, Ads. You can't sit here and be sad all of the time though. It isn't healthy..." he trailed off.

I knew he was right. I needed to get out and start putting myself back together, but I didn't know how.

"I don't know how to be anything but sad," I admitted, feeling another lump grow in my throat.

"No, don't cry," Luke panicked, rushing over to gather me in his arms.

"It's okay, it's gonna be okay," he tried, but it was too late- I was already uncontrollably sobbing.

Michael appeared in the doorway, a sympathetic look on his face.

He'd been just as understanding as Luke in the whole thing, but I could tell that it hurt him every time I broke down like this.

We'd gotten rather close in the last month and I was beyond thankful to have two amazing people in my life.

"Lukey, can I borrow you for a second?" he asked quietly.

"Uh," he replied, his voice laced with uncertainty.

"You can go," I managed, pulling back from his embrace.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, now go," I urged, practically pushing him over to Michael.

I watched as he followed him into their bedroom, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

I tried my best to fill my mind with things other than Ashton, but it was seemingly impossible.

Every train of thought lead to the same destination, Ashton.

I constantly wondered if he missed me or still loved me. It was hard for me to think that all of the 'I love you's we shared meant nothing to him anymore.

I'd been calling and texting him every day, but I got no response.

Maybe Luke was right, maybe I should just show up at our, I mean his, house.

That was the only thing I hadn't tried yet.

I couldn't imagine the sweet boy who I'd fallen in love with so many months ago slamming the door in my face, but I also never imagined him breaking my heart like this, so I didn't know what to believe.

But I had to know if there was any chance of a relationship for us ever again.

I had to know if I still meant something to him.

By the time Luke had returned, I'd talked myself into making an unannounced appearance at his doorstep.

"Are you sure that's a good idea? You just said it wasn't when I suggested it..."

"If I don't go now I'm gonna change my mind," I said, already feeling a slight sense of doubt growing in the pit of my stomach.

"Well, you better get going then," he laughed, practically shoving me out the door and into my car.

I almost turned around a total of ten times but managed to get myself to the front porch.

My heart felt like it was going to beat out of my chest as I knocked on the door.

The seconds that lead up to the door opening felt like hours, but the feeling I got when I saw Ashton was like nothing else.

"Ash!" I exclaimed, feeling a rush of emotions all at once.

I wanted to cry and kiss him and yell at him all at once.

"Uh, what are you doing here?" he asked, causing my mood to instantly deflate.

"I just, um, you weren't responding to my calls or texts or anything and I just thought this might be the only way we could talk..."

I knew I was talking too fast and making a fool of myself but I couldn't help it.

He didn't speak, making me feel even more self conscious.

"I'm sorr-" I began again, but was cut off by the voice of someone I couldn't see.

But I didn't have to see them to know that it was none other than Olivia.