Deep Down Under (Ashton Irwin)

Chapter 10- Ashton

Chapter 10

Ashton

'Hey, Nikki, you spoken to Dave yet?' I asked. The dark haired girl turned to me and shook her head sadly.

'No, I'm still giving him time to come crawling back,' she said. I just rolled my eyes knowingly. My friend from back home Nikki and her boyfriend were always on and off again, had been ever since I had known them. She had flown out to see me after another of their huge rows. Don't get me wrong, I was glad to see her, but her timing really couldn't have been worse. Hearing about her problems, as much as I wanted to help, only reminded me how bad my own love life was.

'You guys just need to talk it out,' I said, and she just rolled her eyes.

'Yeah, like that would ever work.'

'It might have,' I said, more to myself than to her. She heard though, and sat down next to me, taking my hand.

'That didn't sound like it was aimed for my relationship disaster,' she said, and I shook my head.

'I don't think it was,' I confessed.

'What's going on? I've spent the first few days moaning about my love life, and I haven't asked you once about yours. Ash, what's happened?' her blue eyes searched mine, and I sighed deeply.

'I guess you could say I got dumped.'

'By who?'

'Some girl,' I said offhandedly. Nikki raised her eyebrow. She clearly didn't believe me.

'Ash...'

'Fine. Her name was Megan-'

'The Ashes of Angels girl? That rumour was true?' Nikki said loudly. I nodded. 'Wasn't she at the concert last night? When I finally found you?' she asked, 'you had a thing with her?' 

'I guess so, I don't- I don't really know.' All I could think about was seeing Megan last night, how intense all the feelings had been. I had wanted to say something, anything to her, to give her some inkling of the million things I had been feeling, but all I could do was stare.

She had taken one step towards me, that was it. Nothing had been said, nothing had been done. Instead, it was my turn to walk away from her. Yet I hadn't felt any satisfaction, only more pain. There were so many things left unsaid.

'Ash, I'm sorry.'

'So am I.'

Neither of us said anything, and Nikki eventually got up, promising to be back soon with the necessary supplies to cheer me up. I knew her well enough to know that meant alcohol and pizza. That's why we were friends after all.

She was gone about ten minutes before there was a knock at the door. Luke, Calum and Michael had all gone out for the day, and I had a sneaking suspicion that I was the reason they had left. I got up and opened the door, surprised to find Niall standing on the other side, alone.

'Hey mate. What are you doing here?' I asked.

'Just wanted to talk to you. You got a minute?' he said, and I nodded. I stepped past to let him in, past the living room and out onto the balcony. We had a day off today, and I had spent it with Nikki doing nothing. The sun was setting in the distance but it was still warm enough to sit outside.

'Everything OK?' I asked Niall once I had handed him a beer from the mini fridge. He accepted it with thanks and turned to look out at the distance. I could tell something was bothering him because he had a serious look to his face that I hadn't seen often.

'Yeah. Actually, no. Not really,' he said, setting his beer down on the table. 'It's about Megan.'

I immediately tensed.