Fifty-Two Weeks

fourteen

"Our hearts beat so loud the neighbours think we're fucking, when I'm just trying to find the nerve to touch your face." - A. G.

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"Hi" Ashton spoke, or at least he hoped he had. He couldn't tell, the sound of his nervously beating heart blared within his ear.

"Hey." Scarlett breathed feeling anxious near Ashton. Who would've thought her childhood best friend would make her this nervous?

Ashton had an elaborate speech made up, one he had practiced many times. He was going to declare his love for her, beg her to take him back, and hopefully she'd accept. Unfortunately for Ashton, every single line in his speech fell from his memory the moment he laid eyes on Scarlett. In the simplest terms and most convenient definitions; Ashton had choked.

"Well, are you coming in?" Scarlett forced a tiny laugh to hopefully ease the tension (it didn't), and stepped aside to let Ashton in. He didn't make a sound as he entered her home.

Ashton removed his shoes and carefully placed them beside an old pair of boots he assumed were Scarlett's. Then he shoved his hands in his pockets and took small strides into the kitchen, still refusing to make a sound.

This wasn't like Ashton, he never froze or choked up. He was 'the man with a plan', the one people turned to when they had trouble finding the right things to say. Never once had he needed advice or guidance on speaking, especially when he was talking his way out of detention.

Fond memories of school waved over him and he wished to go back in time to relive it all over again. He would do it right this time; studying hard, joining sports, and most importantly, he would've told Scarlett how he felt. Maybe then they'd be the high school sweethearts everyone reads about, not the barely twenty year olds who conceived an accidental child. The same child that was growing rapidly inside Scarlett, the same child who needed to know who it's father was.

"I'm ready." Was the first thing Ashton croaked, his voice came out scratchy from not being used recently. Scarlett, who was leaning against the kitchen counter cutting up strawberries, stared at Ashton blankly. Had she misheard? Did he really say he was ready? He wasn't ready, he was on tour! How could he be ready? He was lucky enough to get the past couple weeks off, she highly doubted he would get months off for this baby. A baby that could ruin his career if not kept secret.

"No, you're not." Scarlett sighed and returned to cutting the stems off her freshly washed strawberries. She felt her face heat up and salty tears pricked her eyes. She didn't mean to be rude to Ashton, but it was the truth. Scarlett wouldn't tolerate lies and false hope.

As she focused on the tedious task and worried for her future, she failed to hear Ashton's light footsteps behind her. So naturally she yelped when he wrapped his arms around her and hugged her from behind.

"Shh, only me." He soothed, loving how close he was to her. It felt amazing to have her here with him, not just a picture on a computer screen.

"I could've killed you, I have a knife you know." Scarlett pointed out and the two giggled softly.

"I meant what I said; I'm ready." Ashton whispered in her ear and left a soft kiss on her cheek. Scarlett's eyes, which already had tears brimming in them, allowed a few wet droplets fall.

"You can't say that, Ashton. I know you want to be a good friend but it's no use trying to kid ourselves." She cried, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Look at me," Ashton demanded and turned her body around to face his, "We'll make it work, I promise. One way or another we'll be together and this baby will have the family it deserves." He comforted, never once breaking eye contact with Scar.

"We can't be together." She spoke while rubbing the scarce tears away.

"Give me one good reason why." Ashton commanded and stood with his arms crossed, not pleased with the way things were going.

"I'll give you two. One; a baby needs a stable home, I can't raise it on a tour bus now can I? Two; I'm not sure if I trust you anymore." She admitted and stared at the ground around her feet.

"I'll get time off and then we can buy an apartment, just the two, well three, of us." Ashton exclaimed, "I'll do whatever I can to make it up to you."

"How can you get time off when you're on a scheduled tour? And I like this place, I don't want to move again." Scarlett argued, it was her turn to cross her arms over her chest and she did just that.

"Well I might've lied about the year long tour thing." Ashton admitted, rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment.

"You what?" Scarlett screamed furiously. How could he stand there, promising to make it up to her, then break what little trust she had by lying again.

"For good reason! Technically I was supposed to have a two month gap after the Australian dates, hence why I'm here now, and a six week break at the end for writing and recording. I wanted to make it a surprise for you!" He spoke hurriedly, trying to get everything out before she really flew off the handle.

"That doesn't help me out!" She yelled. Scarlett understood his reasons and maybe if the timing was different, she would've enjoyed the idea of him surprising her.

"What do you mean?" He questioned, unsure how his seemingly flawless plan failed.

"Two months off right? You've wasted two weeks ignoring me, only one of which had shows so that leaves seven weeks. I'm four and a half months pregnant, when you leave I'll be around six months along. Then I'll have eighteen weeks until you come home and by then the baby will be born. You'll miss the first several weeks of it's life, not to mention it's birth." She explained, now very agitated that he thought he could solve everything.

"Okay so I'll convince the boys to fly out tomorrow and continue the tour, that way I can come back an additional seven weeks earlier!" He argued and Scarlett groaned in frustration.

"That's not how it works! Life isn't a game you can pause and start whenever you please!" Scarlett didn't see a point in screaming anymore, he clearly wasn't getting the message.

"Then how about I stay here for the next seven weeks, as planned, and ask for a two week gap surrounding your due date. I'll be here for the birth, hopefully, and the first few days." He tried to use a calming voice and hesitantly stepped towards her.

"Whatever." She groaned watching Ashton intently as he moved towards her.

"It's not whatever, this is important to me!" Ashton stated, his eyes wild with a range of emotions. Excitement and fear battled for first place as love and compassion sat in the back.

"Whatever." Scarlett teases and Ashton enveloped her in his strong arms.

They stayed like that, swaying gently and whispering loving threats to one another, for several minutes. Ashton broke them apart slightly and rest his forehead against hers.

"This is important to me. You are important to me. Baby Irwin is important to me."

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OKAY FIRST THINGS FIRST I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS TO ALLISON WHO ALWAYS PUSHES ME TO UPDATE AND BE A BETTER WRITER

SECOND, YOU GUYS ARE MY WORLD

THIRD, DO YOU LIKE THIS CHAPTER? I'M SORRY ITS SHORT

Also sorry if you don't like profanity bc the quote swore but it FIT SO WELL

-Maddy