Together | A.F.I

⁂ 2 :: what friends are for ⁂

"Ashton?" She asked down the phone, glad he'd picked up after making her wait for so long. The two had become close friends within the passing weeks, revision taking up two nights every week. Joelle was sitting at her kitchen table, her dad now on a business trip to Sweden - something about IKEA - which meant she was utterly alone. If she even thought for a second that her Mum was worth talking to, if she even had her number in the first place, she might phone her.

"Yeah? You alright, Jo?" Ashton asked, slightly worried - Joelle never called. She texted, or she said nothing at all. What's worse was that he was working his arse off at the coffee shop, and wouldn't be home until late. Which meant time on the phone would have to be extremely limited, but surely he'd think of something.

"Ana's just been really off, and I need to be around someone. My house is really lonely at the minute. Oh, fuck, you at work? I can hear Taylor Swift" Joelle told him honestly, her breaths audible and somewhat strained, as if she had been crying - or at least trying her hardest not to. "Sorry man, don't get yourself in trouble at work"

"Yeah, I am. My first break this shift though, and the shop's practically dead. Don't worry. Want me to get someone to pick you up? I know you've never met them but I adore them, and I'll meet you as soon as my shift's over, promise" He told her, gripping his apron subconsciously, trying to figure out how to sort his friend out.

"Sure, if they don't mind? What time's your shift finish?" She asked, ignoring the fact that Anabelle was probably on her way.

"Six. I'll see what I can do, yeah? One of them will come pick you up, I'll text you. I'll see you later, Joey, I've gotta get back to work" He told her gently, worried about his newfound friend whom he had become attached to.

"Alright. You're the best, Ashton Irwin. Thank you so much, good luck with the shift" Joelle told him honestly, feeling so much for the boy on the other side of the phone, deflating slightly when the buzz reverberated to tell her that she was alone once again.

She made her way into her bedroom, changing into something more presentable, more her. Leggings were swapped for skinny jeans and the Led Zep tee changed for a more presentable Queen one - something about Freddie Mercury really made her happy.

Her phone buzzed from her sideboard and Joelle was nearly tempted to ignore it, but it soon became the repeated buzz of a phone call and she almost scrambled to answer. Unknown number. Hopefully it would be one of Ashton's friends and not someone enquiring if she had been in a car crash recently.

"Hello?" Joelle called down the phone, running her brush through her hair to make herself look presentable.

"Hi! I'm Calum, uh, Ashton gave us your address, and we'll be over really soon. Michael's head is wrapped in clingfilm but he's fine and we're just dying his hair. You're on loudspeaker because I'm responsible"

"Hello, I'm Joelle, but call me whatever really. Just blare your horn when you're outside my house... Are you sure it's alright for me to hang out with you for a bit? Ashton should be done in an hour or two"

"No, dude, it's totally fine, you're cool. Ash has told us a lot about you" Calum told her, more focused on the road than anything.

"He has? Do I get to know what he's said? Nice things or I'm suing" Jo joked, putting on her foundation to cover the blotches of her post-cry face.

"Dude! He thinks you're cooler than us!" Michael told her though the phone, massaging his cling-filmed head as he did so.

"That may be true" She chuckled, pulling on her jumper and walking down the stairs, hooking her bag over her shoulder - it had sanitary stuff, 40 dollars just in case, her wallet, a spare change of underwear, and a phone charger in it. Miss Joelle Webb did not go unprepared.