Rose | Ashton Irwin

chapter ten

Rose's POV

I woke up the next morning unable to remember even falling asleep. I'm still in my clothes from the night before, all of my unfinished homework scattered on the bed and floor around me. My eyes slowly move to my now dented wall as I remember the events from yesterday. I try to push them away, but I can't bring my eyes away from the crater in the blush pink paint.

A long sigh escapes as I push myself to my feet, trying to think of a solution. I settle on coming back to it later, hoping I can find a poster to hang over it until I can come up with an excuse my parents will believe.

The morning moves slow as I get ready, taking a shower since I didn't before falling asleep, and not bothering to dry my hair. I pull it up into a sloppy ponytail and throw on jeans paired with a sweatshirt and converse, hearing the light patter of rain, hoping it will be cooler than usual.

When I head out I realize that it's not only raining outside but pouring. "What luck." I huff after rushing through the downpour, my small umbrella barely doing anything at all. A puddle ends up soaking one of my shoes and the bottom of my jeans, and by the time I get to school I'm thankful I didn't dry my now frizzy hair.

The luck of my morning continues as I realize that it's already halfway through first period. Knowing I'm already late, I go ahead and stop by my locker, a frown etched onto my face that hasn't seemed to leave since I've woken up.

"A pretty girl like you should be smiling." I hear a voice from beside me, looking up to meet familiar shining blue eyes. I quickly realized that it's Alec, Russell's friend from the bonfire.

"Oh-" I squeak, swifting tucking fallen pieces of wet hair behind my ear despite being unable to salvage how I look, "I was just...I just got here late is all."

I think this is the first time I've seen him at school and honestly I had almost forgotten about the kiss we shared as bad as it sounds. It already feels like ages ago. By the wide, bright grin on his face I can tell he hasn't forgotten.

"It looks like you got caught in the rain." He teases, picking up a strand from my ponytail and swirling it around his finger.

A blush creeps onto my cheeks as I imagine how awful I look. My outfit is covered in spots and patches of water from the rain, I have on no makeup and know I have prominent bags under my eyes from how I slept the night before, and my hair could be mistaken for a ginger poodle.

"Maybe a little." I admit, unsure of how to respond to him. He's trying to flirt, I know it, and I'm one of the most unfortunate flirters on the planet.

"I haven't seen you since the bonfire, I've actually been wanting to ask you something."

"You have?"
He chuckles and nods his head, "Yeah. I asked Russ how I could find you but you know how he is, I should have known better."

"Oh, yeah he's a little..." I trail off, unable to finish my sentence. "What did you want to ask me?"

"I was gonna see if you're going to the party tomorrow?" My chest tightens at his words, thinking of the possible outcomes. Of course I wasn't planning on going, bad things only follow their friends.

"Of course she isn't. Don't you know who you're talking to?" Someone scoffs from behind me, startling me. Ashton leans on the locker behind me, his hand pressed against the cool metal by my head.

My eyes flicker to his lips at the same time that his settle on mine, before moving to observe my hair still twirled around Alec's finger. I instantly pull my hair over my shoulder, away from the darker haired boy without thinking. Why does it matter if Ashton sees?