Manual of The Forbidden ➡ Irwin

Chapter 23.

[A/N]

There will be a lot of translation on this chapter so read what's in parenthesis

Enjoy!

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"Mm... A... Friend back in Sydney." I lied.

"What kind of friend?, anybody can fall in love with a friend," Michael inquired.

"Falling in love no Michael!" I specified, Ashton kept quiet, paying attention to us. "well... He was ... A close friend," I was digging deeper into my brain looking for more words to add to this stupid lie, "and I got this friend... And she liked him too.. So.."

"You didn't want to ruin your relationship with her just for a guy," Michael finished for me.

"Exactly!" I exclaimed.

"Well and, who liked him first?"

"She did," I muttered with a sharpening feeling on my heart.

"But you left Sydney, it doesn't matter now, does it?" asked Ashton who until now was just standing there like a statue.

"Mmm..mmm." I murmured.

"Well, I think you should've talked to her, because that way you wouldn't feel guilty," Michael interrupted "I mean he wasn't her boyfriend, and she's not your best friend, so I don't see the problem." he shrugged.

I laughed and they looked at me, if only Michael would've known who I was referring to, he wouldn't have said that last part.

"What is so funny?" asked Ashton.

"Nothing, it's just... Nothing." I said trying to make him forget this matter.

"Hey Dawnie!, isn't that a great place to take a picture?!" Michael said pointing at a Baroque building next to the canal and it was wonderful.

"I won't lie Michael, you have a great eye for these things," I complemented him.

I took the camera with my free hand and then I stayed silent and doing nothing, suddenly feeling really shy because I was still holding Michael's hand.

"Emm, Michael I think Dawn needs both hands." muttered Ashton.

"Oh sorry," said Michael blushing, he let go of my hand and I felt the cold breeze ran through it.

I pointed at the medieval building and took a picture of it.

"Una fiore per bella ragazza?" asked a voice behind me. ("a flower for the beautiful lady?)

I turned to see an old lady with a basket full of red roses who was talking to Ashton while Michael distracted himself with the doves.

Ashton looked at me and smiled and then returned his gaze to the old lady.

"Cuanto costa una?" he asked her politely ("How much is it?").

"Un euro," she replied ("One euro").

Then he looked inside the basked picking one of the roses handing a little coin to the lady.

"Grazie bel giovane." she told him with a beautiful smile, and she walked away from us to keep selling the roses ("Thanks young man").

I haven't learned Italian yet, but I am familiarised with some words and what I could understand was that she offered him a rose and he bought him one, it must be fir Shar.

"Here," he stretched the Rose out for me.

"What?".

"It's for you," he said kindly.

"Thanks." I muttered, I felt the blush creeping on my cheeks.

I looked back at Michael who was still looking at doves, I raised the camera and took a picture of his profile just when the doves started to fly away, it was an awesome picture.

He turned to look at me.

"Hey!, you could've told me!" he complained but he wasn't mad at all.

"It wouldn't be the same!" I said laughing, "besides you looked really handsome in it!"

He blushed again, but them he focused on the Rose in my hand.

"And that flower?" he asked pointing at it.

"I gave it to her," said Ashton prouder than he should have been.

"Damn!, then I'll have to buy you a complete bouquet."

"You make it look like a competition Michael," I tried to keep up with his joke, but the truth was that two perfect angels were fighting for me and the casual tone in my voice wasn't good at all.

"It is not a competition Dawnie," he shrugged. "I'm not competing with anybody; Ashton isn't even a player, he already has an owner," he said putting his hand on Ashton's shoulder.

Ashton smiled but his smile was empty.

"You're making me feel like a trophy."

"Non un trofeo. Tu sei a bella principessa e mi piace essere il vostro principe,"

Ashton's facial expression changed when Michael finished talking, but I didn't understand what he said.

"Parla in inglese," muttered Ashton. ("Tell her in english").

"No, mi vergono!" Michael replied ("No, it's embarrassing").

"Qual è il tempo al flirtare con lei?, non capisco!" said Ashton and his tone wasn't friendly anymore ("Then what is the point of flirting with her?, I don't understand!").

"Perché il piace l'accento italiano!" Michael said lifting his hands in surrender ("Because she likes the Italian accent").

"No vedo il punto!" Ashton snorted and then looked at me ("I don't see the point!").

I didn't know which was my expression at the moment but I felt like an anime with a huge question-mark drawn on my face.

"He said 'you're not a trophy, you're a beautiful princess and he'd like to be your prince'," Ashton said but his tone was still bitter.

"Stai zitto!!!" Michael reprehended him, with his cheeks redder than ever. ("Be quiet!!")

"Oh Mikey thanks!" he blushed even more.

I was starting to think he had blood pressure issues.

Ashton was still with his arms crossed and with an angry expression in his face.

The Shrew appeared dancing happily, she thought that Ashton was jealous, and even though I didn't want to accept it, I liked it too.

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[A/N]

Did you guys like it??

Give me stars and comments please!

And I dedicate this chapter to Lizzie (@smokinluke) because she's such a bae and writes so many funny things about this fandom and it's amazing.

Ellie xx.