Be Careful What You Wish For || Irwin

168 hours

One week.

Seven days.

168 hours.

I've been siting here dialing and redialing her number. Sending text after text, leaving a voicemail every chance I got. But there was no answer until today.

"Ash?" She answers.

"Cleo! Oh god, baby, I'm so sorry I-"

"We need to talk." She cuts me off.

"Yeah, yeah okay. When? Where?" I rush, anticipating seeing her again.

"Right now, meet me at the coffee shop." I smile at the meeting place before nodding even though she can't see me.

"Okay, I'll see you soon."

"Okay." She agrees.

"Cleo?"

"Yeah?"

"I-I love you.." I trail off. She's quiet for a moment, I hear her sigh and I can practically see her running a hand through her beautiful long blonde hair.

"I love you too, Ashton." With that she hangs up. I rush to get ready and take off to meet her.

I get there quicker than expected and wait for her to arrive. I order a coffee while I wait anxiously, my knee bouncing up and down I begin planning what I'm going to say to her. I'm going to tell her how sorry I am, that I'm willing to defend her against the fans and protect her. I'm going to tell her how much I love her and how this last week has been absolute hell without her.

Finally her small body appears in the doorway of the little café. Her eyes find me, like always and she walks over to me. I stand there and hug her tightly missing the warmth of her body and her familiar perfume invading my senses.

"I missed you." I smile.

"Ash.." She trails off not meeting my eyes.

"Uh, do you want a coffee?" I ask then open my mouth to call for a waiter, but she stops me.

"Ashton.. I have to tell you something." I feel the seriousness of the situation finally take place.

"Oh.. Do you want to sit or?"

"I can't see you anymore." She says quickly. So quickly I'm not sure I heard we correctly.

"W-what?" My voice breaks.

"I- I can't do this Ashton. I really love you, I do-" she stops to take in a shaky breath wiping away the tears that fell down her cheeks. "Fuck I told myself I wouldn't cry." She sighs.

"Cleo, please."

"No, Ashton I'm sorry but this isn't me. The pictures, the lack of privacy, people following me constantly, that's you. Not me. I tried, I did. This past week I tried so hard to be okay with it, but I hated it. I'm so sorry." At this point her mascara has began rubbing down her face with her tears.

Tears were running down my cheeks and as the words set in my heart began to ache.

"Cleo." I breathe in the most desperate way. I was begging, pleading that she'd reconsider. "You can't just leave."

"I'm so sorry.." She wipes away all of her tears taking a deep breath to keep her composure. "I have to go or I'll miss my flight."

"Your what?" My heart feels like it's slowly ripping in two.

"My flight, I'm um going back to Colorado with my family. I'm sorry Ashton." She leans in slowly and leaves a warm kiss to my cheek only finishing the deed and tearing my heart in two taking half with her as she turned and began walking away.

She turns back giving me a sad look before mouthing out, 'I love you.'

~*~*~*~*~*~*

THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING ITLL GET BETTER I SWEAR