Bring It // EDITING

Twenty One

A loud smack echoed in the hallway as Niall stumbled to the side, setting his hand on the wall for support. He shook his head lightly, his cheek already starting to bruise.

"Ashton what the fuck!" I shouted, shoving his arm as hard as I could. He glared at me, throwing his arms out.

"What? I can't tell a fucking pervert to stay the fuck away from my sister?" He shouted back. His voice made my ears ring, but I was too angry to care.

"I'm not gonna sit here and let these guys talk about boning my sister, and then let this fucking psycho touch you!"

"Ashton, he didn't-"

"He put his hands on you!"

"I'm not a child-"

"I don't care!"

I shook my head, looking away from him, "You need to leave."

He scoffed, "If you think I'm leaving you with that fucking creep, you're out of your mind."

"Go away, Ashton." I spat. His jaw was clenched as he stared back at me in fury.

"No."

I yelled in frustration, throwing my hands up, "Jesus Christ- Ashton, you're not above me. Stop trying to force me into doing what you want, I'm nineteen, I'm my own boss, not you!"

He stood in shock, slightly shaking his head, "I wasn't trying to-"

"Bullshit," I spat, "I want you gone. Get away from me. At least until I can calm down enough to stand being around you."

With that, I turned my back to him and slammed the door closed. I leaned my back against it, sighing.

"I guess I caught you at a bad time." Niall spoke up. I sighed, looking over to him. "Is your cheek okay?

He waved me off, "I can take a punch."

I saw the skin under his eye slowly growing into a dark purple, making me sigh again. "Follow me."

He stood up, following me to the kitchen. I put some ice in a towel and tied it, turning to him. "Come here." I said. He walked closer to me, less than half a foot away. I lightly set the ice on his cheek, he hissed in pain a bit. "I'm sorry he punched you." I said. He smiled. "No, I get it. He was only trying to protect his sister. I would've done the same for mine."

"You have a sister?" I asked.

"No."

I laughed. "It's the thought that counts." I said. He chuckled.

We sat in silence for a bit, I still held the ice to his cheek. I looked up at his face, studying it, as creepy as it sounds. I looked at his half up, messy hair, how the brown almost overtook the blonde, giving it the perfect mixture of both. I looked at his eyes, seeing the dark blue on the outer side, then fading into a lighter blue and green colour. His dark eyelashes framing them, almost making them sparkle every time he blinked. I trailed my eyes down to his chin and cheeks, the slight scruff shining in the light from outside. Lastly, I looked at his lips. They were a light pink, looking smooth and soft. I wondered if they were as soft as they looked, then he leaned down by my ear. "You're staring."

I snapped out of my trance, looking down. "I'm sorry." I mumbled. He lifted my head up. "But I'm not finished, stand still."

I stood a still as a statue, watching nervously as he looked at me. I felt my hands slightly shake, making the ice clank together. "You're really beautiful." He said. My eyes widened. "What?"