When we finally arrived in Sydney, we all went to collect our bags together, and Ashton continued to talk to me. I felt like I’d known the boy years, not a matter of hours. I felt as though id been accepted, which was a weird concept, considering I was with a bunch of almost strangers. We decided on getting Starbucks after we reclaimed our bags, and on heading over to the little café in the corner of the airport, Erin began to come out of her shell. She pulled me to the back of the group, whilst the boys walked ahead.
“I just wanted to say thanks,” She smiled at me. Confused, I replied, “Thank me for what?”
“Just for, well, for being nice. I’m not very good at making friends, I mean; those boys are all I’ve got. You’re just really easy to get along with, and I really appreciate that. So thankyou,”
I smiled to myself. I was also shit at making friends; back at home I had two people I stuck with, and I’d known them for years. It made me feel better that I wasn’t alone.
“I know this may be really forward,” Erin began, “But do you have anyone to board with?”
I fumbled around in my purse for the papers my father had given me; nothing about a room to board in.
“No, I don’t think so,” I smiled, “How come?”
“Well, I just thought maybe you could room with me, I understand if you don’t want to because we just met, but you seem really sweet and I need a roommate before Tuesday or I’ll get assigned one and…”
I started to giggle at her rambling, and she broke out in a cheeky grin.
“Sure,” I agreed, “Why not?”
As we entered Starbucks and the boys got in like for drinks, Erin pulled me into a hug.
“Thankyou,” she whispered.
The school was very grand looking, what with its stone buildings and lush gardens. Calum, Luke and Michael had all gone to their dorms to “Chill out,” and Ashton and Erin were coming with me to the front office to sort out all of my papers.
As we walked through the giant glass doors, me dragging my suitcases behind me, I came face to face with an older woman with a threatening pout. She pursed her lips as though her life depended on it, and looked me up and down with a disapproving glare.
“And you are?” she barked from behind the desk.
“Uhhm, Meg- Megan Whiteburg?” I almost questioned, terrified of this nasty lady.
She scowled even more, something I didn’t think was possible. Shuffling through the endless notes on her desk, she finally came across the one she was looking for. She read the note, before returning her scowl to me.
“Do you have a roommate?” She snapped. I pointed to Erin, who giggled. The receptionist rolled her eyes, and cocked her head.
“I trust you have a key for this girl, Miss Phillips?”
“Uhm, yes miss, I do,” Erin stuttered.
“Good,” she snapped, “Help her with her things.”
Ashton fumbled for one of my suitcases, his hand briefly touching mine as he did so. I jerked my hand away awkwardly; gosh, his skin was soft. I almost said something, although I don’t know what, but instead i swallowed the words along with the butterflies rising in my throat.
We wandered across the courtyard to a building with the words “Blue House,” painted onto the blue double doors. Ashton proceeded to hold open the door for us, and as I stepped through the threshold, I felt almost relieved. The bottom floor had 6 rooms on each side, and the second floor, as Erin informed me, had the same. I liked the fact there weren’t to many people here.
“The boys and I are in the next building along, the Green House” smiled Ashton. “Not many people actually board here, only about 250 of us.”
He grabbed my other suitcase from my hand and began to lift them up the stairs with ease. His biceps flexed as he moved, and by god was it hot. Breaking me from my stare was Erin, who grabbed my arm and dragged me up the stairs.
Our room was considerably bigger than I had expected it to be. On each side of the room was a single bed, with a walk in wardrobe and small bathroom to match. My parents would’ve had to take out a small loan to send me here until I graduate. Two years of tuition in this place must have cost a fortune.
Ashton hauled my bags over to my side, which looked very stark compared to Erin’s half. We both thanked him for his help, to which he responded with a hearty chuckle, before hugging us both. Erin was completely used to this gesture, but this was the first physical contact I’d had with Ashton, and as he pulled me into a warm embrace, I was worried my knees were going to buckle. I could feel his muscles flex around me as he whispered in my ear, “I’ll see you later, okay?” I nodded in agreement, and he left the room, sauntering down the stairs and out the door.
“He so likes you,” Erin stated as she flopped down onto her bed. I scoffed as I sat gingerly on the edge of mine, smoothing out the plain white covers.
“No he doesn’t; he doesn’t even know me.”
“But he does,” She remarked, getting up and grabbing a towel from her closet. “I’ve only ever seen him like this, all awkward and shy, with one other girl, and that went down about as well as a shit sandwich. You know, considering she had a boyfriend and was going to college. Anyways, I’m going to take a shower before it gets late.”
She walked into her little bathroom, only housing a small shower cubicle, toilet and sink, and shut the door behind her, leaving me alone in the room.
I hauled my suitcase onto the bed and started to unpack my things, attempting to digest the information Erin had just dropped on me. Did he really like me? I kind of already liked him, and id only known him an afternoon. He was just so charming, and his smile, the way his eyes crinkled at the sides when he was laughing, it all just made my heart flutter. I knew he was out of my league, I mean I almost cried when I saw him on the other side of the plane for God’s sakes. But what was I going to do if I fell for him? I didn’t want to fall for him. I knew it was a bad idea, but for some reason, from that night all I could think about was Ashton Irwin.
