terrible things - ashton irwin

eighteen

Sorry guys that I've stopped doing songs for each chapter.. I find that it kinda pointless lol and I just wanna get in to writing :)

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Dizzy and overwhelmed, I stared out the window with a t-shirt held to my face as Ashton hurried us into the 10. He handed me the shirt as he slid into the driver's seat. We had to leave the scene quickly- there were witnesses.

"You're okay, right?" He asked.

"I think so." My voice came out very small. I wasn't worried about my nose- I was worried about having a smashed up a stolen car.

"Don't worry,"Ashton assured me. "The LAPD's got bigger fish to fry."

But his voice sounded sort of shaky. As if maybe he didn't have any idea what he was talking about. And he kept glancing in the rear view mirror, like he was watching for flashing lights.

"I'm sorry," I whispered. But I don't think he heard me.

His eyes darted from road to mirror and back again. "Well Lav, you win some, you lose some, you wreck some," he said. "Every path has its puddle, you know? Nothing ventured, nothing gained? You can't make an omelet without breaking some eggs. And who wants to live in a world without omelets? Besides chickens, or course, I mean. I'm sure they'd be totally fine with ecstatic, really"

"Ashton, you're babbling," I said.

"What?" He turned to me, his eyes flashing.

I took the shirt away from my face and felt a trickle of blood make it's was down my lip. It tasted like salt. "You're babbling," I said. "Are you freaking out?"

His eyes widened. "Who, me? No! I'm not freaking out. Nope, no way! Not me."

"The fellow doth protest too much, methinks," I said, feeling suddenly woozier. Ashton was usually so calm; seeing his flustered definitely didn't make the situation better. 

Ashton said, "huh?"

"A slight modification of a hamlet quote," I said weakly. I realised I was tapping my feet really quickly on the floor, almost like I was trying to run away inside the car.

"Are you speaking English?" He demanded. "Like, even now?"

I clenched my hands. It was my first real moment of doubt. Deep, profound doubt. As in, what are we doing? Was this whole trip the worst idea I'd ever had in my life? I guess I must have said that out loud, too, because Ashton almost instantly calmed down. He took a long, deep breath, then leaned over and squeezed my knee.

"We had a little adventure, and now it's time to be moving on," he said gently. "This trip was a brilliant idea, Lav. The best."

"Are you sure?" I asked. "Are we about to get caught?"

"No," Ashton said, this time sounding certain. "We're fine. Although we're missing a headlight and you have blood on your chin, which looks weird. Like maybe you're a vampire or something. But seriously. We're fine. We're better an fine. We're invincible. What's next on our itinerary?"

I couldn't believe how fast his mood had changed. But if Ashton felt confident again, I wouldn't try to, too. Because if I didn't trust him, what was I doing driving across the country with him?
"Well...Vegas, actually," I said. Yes, we were in our heads, I understood that. But maybe thing would still work out for us.

Ashton pounded the steering wheel. "Vegas, baby, here we come!"

I could hear the happiness in his voice. Part of me wanted to skate him, and the other part adored him for his unfailing optimism.

How many times had I been in the pits of despair, only to have Ashton reach down and haul me up into the sunlight? More the I cared to remember.

"It's all your fault, you know," I said, dabbing at my nose and chin.

He snorted "I'm not the one who crashed."

"But you're the one who tried to teach me to drive."

"It's a life skill, Lav. I'm not going to be able to chauffeur you around forever." He turned to smile at me then. Maybe it was a truck of the light. But it seemed like there was a new glimmer of melancholy behind his smile. 

"Yes, you are," I said softly. But Ashton didn't reply.

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word count - 736

Gotta love a cheeky cliff hanger, imma be updating hopefully once a week when ever I have time,

Charlotte xxx