Rose | Ashton Irwin

chapter eight

Rose's POV

I stared out the window of the cafeteria as light rain hits the glass. It feels as if there is almost a daily storm or at least a rain shower in Florida. I hate when it storms, but the rain can be calming, and it's a nice change from our typically hot weather.

"Rose?" Calum asks from in front of me, waving a hand in front of my face.

I jump in surprise, causing both my my friends to laugh, my cheeks turning pink. "What's on your mind?" Penny asks from beside him, shoving a bite of her school lunch into her mouth. I'm happy that she forgave me for ditching her friday, and we were both back to normal.
"Honestly nothing." I say with a small smile. The past weeks have felt hectic, something happening at every turn, and I was honestly happy to be back at school and with my friends. I decided I would stay away from Russell's friends like I should have in the first place. I don't need the added drama in my life.

"Their mashed potatoes always taste like cardboard." Calum groans, scrunching his nose as he pokes the white mush with his fork.

"Everything here is." Penny giggles, covering her hand with her mouth, "Rose is smart by bringing a lunch. You'd think after three years we would learn too."

"I can't help that I'm a fast learner." I smile at them and bite into my red apple.

Calum's story about a boy from his second period is interrupted when Ava scoots in the seat next to me, "Hey guys." She's always been incredibly nice, and we had talked a couple of times out of class, but she had started to talk to me now more than ever. The three of us said hi in unison causing her to giggle. "What are you talking about?" Calum continues his story about second period as we continue with lunch.

"Don't you guys think what happened saturday was a little weird?" Ava asked after a couple of minutes, pushing around the food on her plate as if she was in thought. I could tell she had been thinking of asking it for a while.

"Think what was weird?" Penny tilted her head in confusion.

"Well the whole thing with Ashton and Joseph." She looks up, tilting her head to match Penny, "I mean he got so mad over cornhole." The thought almost makes me laugh, but at the same time I wonder why she's been thinking about it. She barely knows either of them, and didn't think she would have much interest. Maybe she likes Joseph? Or Ashton? For some reason I feel my stomach turn at the thought but I ignore the feeling.

"I guess, but not really." I turn away and look down at my half eaten apple. "He has quite the temper."

I see Penny shift uncomfortably in my peripheral vision and assume she is thinking about the Sunday dinner she attended, him and my father competing in a yelling match.

"Are you two close?" She asks another question, and the more she asks about him the more annoyed I find myself getting. "He's Russell's friend right?"

"We aren't." I realize my response comes off as rude, so I add, "But yeah they're friends."

She starts to ask another question when I feel a hand tap my shoulder. I look up to see AJ, "Hey there."

I give him an awkward smile back. He was really kind to me at the bonfire, but the thought of him knowing what happened between me and Olivia makes me apprehensive. Does he believe her? What did she tell them after? He seems to notice my hesitation, a wide, friendly grin forming on his face. "How are you?"

My three friends watch our encounter closely, obviously confused.

"I'm uh..." I trail off before deciding to return the smile, mine much more forced than his, "I'm good."