Rose | Ashton Irwin

chapter fourteen

Rose's POV

The week had been painfully awkward, my parents their usual fake smiling selves. I heard whispers behind doors about Sunday dinner, but there wasn't another confrontation. Since Sunday Russell had been skipping most of his classes and dragging his friends with him so I was shocked to see Ashton in class Wednesday, let alone in the seat next to mine. I glanced around the room before slipping into my chair, avoiding eye contact with him to the best of my ability. I can't help but steal a glance at him though, attracted like a magnet. He wore his usual black attire from head to toe, something that I was use to seeing him in.

"Miss me?" He grins, catching m gaze. I quickly look away, but it's too late and my cheeks turn a light shade of pink.

"You wish." I mumble as I pull out my english notebook, opening to a fresh sheet of paper.

He chuckled, pulling out a tattered red notebook of his own, "You can't lie to me Rosalie, you should know that by now."

I roll my eyes and ignored his comment. "I'm surprised you haven't gotten kicked out of school yet."

"Why do you say that?"

"Because you've already missed more days of school this year than I have since freshman year." I tilt my head sideways at him, "And the year basically just started."

"What are you worried about me?" He teases, raising his eyebrows.

"Pft!" I snap my head to the side to hide my darkening blush, "I'm just saying that if you want to graduate I would watch your attendance."

"Yes ma'am." He huffs sarcastically as Mrs. Simonson enters the classroom, pushing her glasses up on the bridge of her nose.

"Hello class, today we will be..." her voice trails off as I draw small circles on the bottom on the notebook paper. I don't even realize that I've zoned out until I hear the class shuffle in unison, all pulling out a thick book that we've been reading. I glance around desperately before looking over at Ashton who shrugs his shoulders.

"I forgot my book. Want to share?" He asks with a smirk, moving his chair closer to my desk before I can answer.

"Wait what are we supposed to be doing?" I panic, pulling out my own book and placing it between us.

"I thought I was suppose to be the one asking you that?" Ashton tugs his bottom lip between his teeth to stifle a laugh, opening the book up at a certain page, "You're lucky I was listening for once."

As we silently read the passage, he continues the bounce his knee, often nudging mine. "Can you stop?" I whisper, furrowing my brows and narrowing my eyes at him.

"Stop what?" He quizzes with fake ignorance, nudging my leg again.

"That!" I nod to his knee which he pushes toward me. I place my small hands on his leg in attempt to shove him away, but he just continues to bounce and chuckle at my struggle.

"What? Stop what?" He teases further, now nudging me with his shoulder. I can't hold him my laughter as he slowly pushes me toward the edge of my chair, bumping into me repeatedly. Eyes are drawn to us, including Mrs. Simonson's who gives us a warning look over the brim of her glasses.

I stop my giggles, but gently elbow him, "Stop it Ash."

He grins down at me, and until now I hadn't realized how close we had gotten. "Yes ma'am." He repeated from earlier, using a fake and mocking tone.

We return back to our work and the time flies. I'm taking notes on the last page we're supposed to be reading when Ashton places his hand on my thigh, grabbing my attention.