Rose | Ashton Irwin

chapter fifteen

Rose's POV

Still warm outside, I slip on dark blue jean shorts and a flowy white tank top with vertical navy lines. I shamefully don't want to admit that I checked me phone over and over in hopes to find another message from Ashton, but there were no more after the night before. I pull a white sweater off of my dresser as I step into sandals and jog down the stairs. Surprisingly, Russell is sitting in one of the barstools leaning over a bowl of cereal.

"You're up early." I comment, pouring a bowl of cinnamon toast crunch per my usual routine. He shoves a bite of the same sugary cereal into his mouth and shrugs. Not much of a morning person, he doesn't say a word. I offer up conversation multiple times but he just hums and grunts in response.

"Good morning." My mother enters with a bright, morning smile. I never could understand where she got her energy from so early. Her hair is already perfectly curled, makeup neatly applied, but her blue robe is still wrapped tightly around her.

"Morning." Russell finally mumbles, but doesn't elaborate further.

Our father walks in, briefcase in one hand, placing a kiss on mom's forehead. She gives a small smile before retreating into the pantry. "I'm going to be back late tonight, lot of work to do today." He announces, picking up an apple from the basket on the counter. Mom pokes her head around the door and gives a short nod.

"See you later pumpkin." Dad says in farewell, placing a swift kiss on my head just like he gave mom. He hesitates when he passes Russell, giving him a pat on the shoulder which my brother pulls away from. Dad tries to hide the frown but I see it before he makes his way towards the front door.

Shortly after Russell slinks upstairs slowly, and I go ahead and make my way to school, not wanting to be late. Only a couple lockers down from mine, Penny digs through her locker, Calum peering over her shoulder.

"What are you looking at?" I ask on my tip toes, trying to see in as well. Penny snaps up, hitting her head against Calum's with a thud.

"Shit Rose, no need to scare me like that." She wines, one hand on her head and the other covering her heart.

"No kidding." He groans, rubbing his temple, but I see them both starting to smile.

"Sorry. I'll warn you next time." I giggle.

"I can't find my textbook anywhere and I'm suppose to be studying. I have a test second period and haven't studied at all." She throws her head back dramatically, letting out a sigh that draws attention from the students around the hall.

"You looked in your car?" I ask, knowing that it's most likely fallen under her seat. Penny is a pro at losing anything and everything. She can have something in her hand and somehow misplace it. It always ends up being in the most obvious places.

She perks up immediately, making Calum roll his eyes, "Seriously? You didn't look in your car first?"

"Well I looked in my room." She defends, immediately shutting her locker and making her way down the hall. She turns back to us, "Aren't you coming? I need help." Calum follows behind, mumbling sarcastic comments around 'help' and 'being blonde' which cause her to smack his arm.

"I'll meet you later, I still gotta grab some stuff." I nod toward my respective locker. She tugs Calum along as I dial my combination, hearing it open with a click. I scan through before pulling out a binder and textbook.

"You won't be needing those." I look up to see Ashton leaning against the locker, arms across his chest.

"What?"