Rose | Ashton Irwin

chapter six

Rose POV

I found myself regretting my decision as I got closer, the group sitting under the pier now, only feet away, they sat in a circle, beer bottles littered around them, and in their hands. I suddenly remembered when Ashton had walked in the gym asking for some, and wondered where they had gotten them from, and how they had already drunk so many.

"Rose?" At the sound of my name I jumped, realizing that I had been standing there frozen, contemplating turning back. I saw Ashton and Russell's head snap up at my name, but the voice belonged to the sweet boy I talked to at cornhole named AJ.

"What are you doing here?" Russell frowned, glancing around the circle. Standing around to watch cornhole with my friends was probably enough for him, I know that he finds me embarrassing. With all of their eyes on me, I wished I had listened to my subconscious and turned back when I could. Why was I here again?

"Probably to tell you that it's time to get home Russ." Olivia snickered, "You've got church in the morning remember?" I could see my brothers face turn a deep shade of red, sending me a look that I knew meant he wanted me gone.

"Olivia." Mary scolded her friend from her side, doing her best to ease the tension.

I gulped, doing my best to try to save myself and him, "N-No, I didn't. I came here to-"

"To what?" Olivia stopped me, glancing down at her nails, acting uninterested. "Did you plan to come over here and join us? Just because we sat around with you and your lame friends during the stupid bonfire?"

I tried to say something in return, that would sting as much as what she said felt like, but nothing came out. I guess in a way I did, after the odd encounters I had with Ashton over the past couple of days and speaking to AJ who seemed incredibly nice, I came to join without a thought.

"Olivia, can you ever keep your mouth shut?" I hadn't realized how quiet Ashton had been until he piped up from his spot in the sand, but his eyes were off in the distance, not focused on anyone. He didn't seem to notice the surprise on everyone else's features. I noticed a recurring theme of Ashton having to keep Olivia from running her mouth, not realizing how many times he had said that just this week.

"What? Do you really expect her to come over here and- and what? Hang out? Drink?" Oliva's face had turned pink from embarrassment as well. I felt as if they were having this whole conversation without me, as if I weren't right here.

"She can if she wants to." AJ said, giving me yet another kind smile, patting the empty spot of sand next to him. I hesitated before moving to sit by him, noticing as Ashton's eyes followed as I sat by the boy.

"So now what?" Olivia huffed, crossing her arms over her chest, "She's not going to play."

"Play?" I finally spoke up, curiosity stronger than the anxiety I felt ever since AJ noticed me.

Ashton smirked from his spot across from me, "Yep. A group of high school kids still playing truth or dare." At the party I went to I remembered making fun of the group in the living room playing. From what I saw I could tell it was much different from the truth or dare I played as a kid.

"See. I told you." Olivia smirked, her embarrassment and agitation fading away as her confidence grew back, "You know why?" Her eyes locked with mine and her smirk grew bigger, "You've said it yourself Russ, she's no fun. Because she's a stuck up, prude, bitch and thinks she's too good for us."

I felt like I was slapped in the face by her sudden words, wondering where the anger was coming from but before I could wrap my head around everything going on Russell beat me to it. "Fucking god Olivia, so what? She doesn't want to play a stupid game where we just end up drinking and making out? That's because she's not a whore like you that has to start playing games to get guys interested in her. Ash is right, you need to learn how to shut your goddamn mouth. If she doesn't want to play the game, she doesn't have to play the game. Stop talking shit about my sister every chance you get." Everyone's eyes were wide and glued to my brother, his face red and his hand wrapped tightly around the beer bottle in his hand.