Rose | Ashton Irwin

chapter five

Rose's POV

Joseph and I pulled into the school parking lot just on time. He once again opened my door for me, which I gave a small thank you and awkward smile in return, as I texted Penny to let her know that we arrived.

"Are you ready to help set up? Since we're so late I'm sure everyone is almost done." Joseph asked, placing his hand on my back to guide me towards the school. I internally rolled my eyes and laughed at the fact that on time was late to him.

As we walked toward the gym I glanced around our school. Lucky for us students, it was just on the beach overlooking the water. Unluckily for the school, it made it much easier for students to easily leave, which was one reason they had to move the offices to the side of the school closest to the water. Most students still managed to learn how to sneak off out of sight down to the pier only a couple of blocks away.

We walked past the front offices to the gym, where we found Mary pinning up what looked like final decorations, only a couple of other students rummaging around.

"Hey Mary! Sorry we're late, need us to do anything?" Joseph leaned around her, easily placing a tack into a banner that she had been on her toes and reaching for.

Mary turned toward us both with a wide smile, clasping her hands together, "Thanks!" She glanced around the gym, tapping her chin before retiring her attention back to us, "You guys can finish putting out drinks if you want. I asked someone to do it but it looks like no one did. Just go ahead and fill up some cups with ice or something- you guys can figure it out."

"Of course." I smiled in return and Joseph and I found our way to a table off to the side, littered with cups, large liters of soda, and water bottles. Under the table was a cooler filled with ice.

"I wonder where everyone is? It's seven already." Joseph wondered, looking around the almost empty gym with a small frown.

I giggled at my friend, pulled some cups off of the stack before pushing the rest neatly to the side. "Exactly- do you really expect anyone to be here yet. Not everyone is as meticulous as you about being on time."

He smiled at me, opening the cooler and shoveling ice into a couple of the cups I had pulled out. "I think people should be, I mean think about how much easier everything would be."

Before I could answer Mary called out to the other students in the gym, "Hey! Can I get some people to help me carry in the gasoline for the fire? The trucks just arrived." A majority of the students followed her outside, and eventually the rest followed suit, leaving only Joseph and I in the gym, shoveling ice into cups.

"So- continuing what I was saying earlier," Joseph paused before setting the cup in his hand back on the table, "I know we probably won't get a lot of alone time tonight after the others get here but," he hesitated, scratching the back of his neck.

My heart started to pound, worried for what he may say. After everything he couldn't get a single hint. I tried to keep myself busy, avoiding eye contact by organizing the scattered soda bottles.

Joseph grabbed both of my hands, forcing me to set down a bottle, he pulled me to face him, holding our hands between us. I shifted uncomfortably, eyes flickering around the room, but he just looked down at me with a soft smile, "I guess what I'm trying to say it that I've been meaning to tell you that I-"

The sound of the gym doors screeched in the air around us, causing me to jump away from Joseph, snatching my hand out of his. My head snapped to the side to see Ashton walking through the doors, causing my jaw to drop slightly. He was the last person I expected to see at this bonfire, especially this early.