The final few weeks of the summer holidays were gone in the blink of an eye. We all hung out together, and Ashton and I had become quite close. We would text each other when we weren’t with each other, and I was starting to hope Erin’s theory was right. Maybe he did like me? As I lay on my bed on Friday morning, thoughts of that nature were rushing through my mind. That is until I received a text from Ashton.
“You got plans for the day? X”
I smiled at the screen of my cracked iPhone; he was always first to come up with group outings.
“Nope, just hanging out with you losers ;)” I swiftly replied. I grabbed my notebook of my bedside table and began to sketch as I awaited his reply. The flowers I drew came naturally; it was if the pencil was directly connected to my mind, and as I thought, it was printed onto paper.
My phone began to ring and as I checked the caller ID, a grin spread across my face.
“Hey ash,” I chirped down the line.
“Hey, so, um you’re not doing anything today?” he questioned.
“Uhh no,” I replied, “Why? Do you have something in mind for us?”
“I umm, well not for everyone, just for you and I, if that’s okay with you. I mean, I wanna show you this really cool place, everyone else has already been there, and…” ashton babbled.
“ Ash,” I giggled, “Stop talking for a sec”
Ashton drew in a large breath, awaiting my reply.
“Pick me up in 10,” I told him, and hung up the phone.
A cherry red, old school, Volkswagen Beetle convertible was not exactly the car I expected Ashton Irwin to drive. I informed him of this as he unlocked the passenger door for me and gestured for me to sit inside.
“I always wanted a car like this; ever since I was a kid. I know it’s kind of girly and silly but I love it. It’s my prized possession,” Ashton beamed, sliding into the driver’s seat and starting the car with a sputter. He’d had the radio changed for a stereo that could take CD’s instead of tapes, but other than that, this car was almost original. Ashton pushed his sunglasses onto the bridge of his nose as he revved the car up and sped down the street.
“So where are we going?” I questioned, digging my sunglasses out of my straw purse.
“My favourite place. It’s about 40 minutes from here, I hope that’s alright,” He smiled as he dug out a handful of CD’s from the centre console.
“You pick,” he cheekily told me as the disks were placed into my lap. I began to flick through the surprising array of music until I found an album I loved. All Time Low began to blare through the speakers, and Ashton grinned wider than I thought possible.
“This is my favourite album ever,” He half shouted over the music, reaching for the volume to turn it down, but only enough so we were audible to each other.
“Seriously?” I laughed, “Mine too!”
He cranked the volume back up as we continued to speed down the outstretched roads, past pedestrians, weaving in and out of suit clad drivers in their BMW’s; attempting to escape the city. Soon, the buildings began to diminish and were replaced with forests and country cottages that appeared every few miles. The sun cascaded down through the canopy of trees, a kaleidoscope of light and shadow across the leather interior of the car.
We drove almost an hour like this; in comfortable silence, just enjoying each other’s company and the good music we shared a mutual taste for. Every now and again, Ashton would look over at me for a split second and smile, before turning back to the road. It felt like every second I was with him, I liked him a little more. His charming attitude caught me off guard each time he spoke, and his laughter gave me butterflies in my stomach. He sang along to each song that played through the speakers with a passion I’d never heard before in my life. It was enchanting.
We pulled up to a large field with an oak tree at the bottom of the hill, and as Ashton jogged around the car to open my door for me, he announced that we had arrived at his “Favourite place.” He grabbed my hand in his own as he led us down the large grassy hill, swinging our arms, giggling all the way to the tall oak tree that looked as if it touched the clouds.
“This is, uh, a nice tree Ash,” I giggled, lying down on the grass under the leaves that were turning brown as autumn crept in.
“It’s my favourite place, ok, don’t judge me. My aunty got married in this field when I was 7 and ever since I’ve come down here. I used to ride my bike 9 miles from my house every weekend, just to come down here. I don’t really know why I like it, I just do,” Ashton smiled, lying on the grass next to me. We both sighed at the same time, causing an outburst of giggles.
“20 Questions?” Ash asked.
“Yeah, why not,” I replied, closing my eyes.
“Ok, who was your first crush?”
Thinking back, I answered “A kid called Jack. I think I was like 8 or 9, and I’m not really sure why I liked him. He was a snotty little brat, and his mom was really mean. Anyway, what’s your favourite memory of your family?” I asked
Ashton sat up and stared off into the distance, thinking about his answer. I sat up too, watching as he furrowed his brows in concentration.
“I was 9. It was just after Harry, my younger brother, was born, so Lauren was about 4. We went on holiday to Queensland, and we all went to the theme parks. That was the last family holiday we went on before my parents split up. It was probably the happiest time for me as a kid.”
There was a few seconds of silence before ash spoke again.
“Do you like me?” Ashton asked. “As in, more than a friend, like me? Because, um, I think I like you,”
Shit. Now I had to tell him. I felt a lump rise in my throat, but something in my gut just told me to grow a pair and say it. So I did.
“Um, Yeah.” Ashton’s eyes pierced my own, but softened as the words awkwardly tumbled from my lips. “I think so,” I mumbled, tucking my hair behind my ear.
“Can I kiss you?” he shyly asked, slowly but surely leaning closer and closer to me, glancing at my lips.
“Please do,” I whispered, and that’s all it took.
