Rose | Ashton Irwin

chapter three

Rose POV

I looked in the mirror, tucking a piece of red hair behind my ear before pulling it back out, unsure of what to do.

Penny groaned from where she was on my bed, laying on her stomach, "You look fine." She sat up to turn to me, aware of how nervous I was.

I had been dreading this night for the past week. All I could think of was how it could go terribly wrong. Why did I agree to going to this party in the first place? I guess I wanted to prove Ashton wrong, I could go to a party if I wanted to. I realized now that I didn't have to prove anything to him. The closer it got to Ashton picking us up the more anxious I got.

I sat on the bed next to Penny, letting out a long, held out sigh. "I'm an idiot you know? I shouldn't have agreed to go. I could still cancel." I started to reach for my phone but Penny's laugh stopped me.

"You need to stop worrying so much. It's good that you're going to a party. They can actually be kind fun you know." She playfully nudged me, giving me a small smile. Though Penny is my best friend, we could not be more different sometimes. She wasn't what you would call a 'party animal' but she's incredibly social and friendly. She seemed to know someone from every kind of friend group around the school, and had been trying to convince me to join her at a party for quite some time. Knowing that I would have her with me made me feel a bit better.

Ever since the fight at the dinner table between Ashton and my dad last Sunday Penny and I had tried our best to avoid the conversation. I still hadn't told Calum, and she respected that I didn't want to yet if ever. There were moments when it would come up but I wasn't ready to talk about it. Honestly, I wanted to avoid the fact that it happened at all. I still couldn't get the image of my dad out of my head, with a bright red face and hands balled up into tight fists before slamming on the table. I shook the thought away, turning towards my friend.

"You're right. Who knows? Maybe I'll have a good time and discover my inner party animal." I nervously joked. Just as I started to calm down Russell opened the door without knocking.

"Ash is here." He huffed, turning and walking down the hall, not waiting for us. I could tell that he still didn't want me to go; he always acts like a child when he doesn't get what he wants. We followed a couple of feet behind him down the stairs and out to Ashton's truck waiting in the middle of the street that was blaring music. Luckily our dad was at the office working on his case and our mom was down the road spending time with a couple of other women in our church choir. If they knew Ashton drove us home Monday, let alone that we were going to a party with him, we would be dead. Another reason to not go.

But I still walked towards the car. Penny climbed in confidently and I followed suit. I expected Russell to already be in the front seat talking with Ashton but instead he was leaning in through the open car window as Ashton turned down the volume on the radio.

"What do you mean you're not going? You were when we talked an hour ago?" Ashton asked confused, leaning across the console.

Russell shrugged, eyes flickering down the road, "I guess I just changed my mind. It's probably gonna be lame anyways right? He always throws shittie parties." Russell leaned back from the car, crossing his arms over his chest defensively. "Besides, Luke and I are gonna go across town for a bit."

Ashton looked at Russell for a second, concern on his features as he spoke, "Are you sure? Do you need a ride?"

Russell laughed and waved his hand as if what Ashton asked was ridiculous, "Nah man Luke is gonna pick me up. Don't look at me like that."

Ashton frowned and leaned back in his seat, putting his hands lazily on the wheel, "You sure?"

Russell rolled his eyes, "Come on man you're not my mom." Before Ashton could respond he started walking back inside, I assume to wait for Luke. "Tell me what I miss later!" He waved before stepping inside.