Teacher | Ashton Irwin

Five

I was sat in art at my table of Luke Hemmings, Michael Clifford and some slutty cheerleader, Lola. We got told to draw something that fascinated us again.

I opened my sketch pad and began to think of all the possibilities. I looked straight ahead of me, past Luke. I saw Jack looking at me from his desk. We both blushed and looked down again in unison. That was it. I was drawing Jack.

I decided to draw him standing outside the bus stop with his earphones in. I decided to put every single detail in apart from his face. I didn't want to embarrass both of us. Mr Stephens always walks around and asks a few of us to explain what we have drawn.

It was the last five minutes of class when Mr Stephens announced, "Pencils down." He made his way over to one table and said, "Jay, why don't you start us of by telling us what you have drawn?"

Jay stuttered, "I drew my mom. She's just sitting at the kitchen table, reading."

"Slightly embarrassing," Mr Stephens mumbled. The class began to laugh, causing Jay to go bright red.

Mr Stephens walked over to my table. He looked down at Michael's and said, "What fascinates you Mr Clifford?"

"The Hollywood walk of fame. You know, all the stars and stuff," he said.

Mr Stephens said, "Right." He walked over to the table beside ours and said, "Calum, please don't announce anything that will make us all embarrassed that you said it."

Calum smirked and said, "I drew my bed. It interests me because it's so multi-functional. You can relax, sleep and have sex all in bed."

Luke said, "And girls Calum's with do it all at once." The whole class erupted in laughter, even Calum and Mr Stephens.
Mr Stephens walked over to Jack's table and said, "Well, Jack. What have you drawn?"

"A girl," Jack replied.

Mr Stephens laughed sarcastically then became serious. He sternly said, "unlike my mother, I'm not blind. Tell me what the girl is doing and how she fascinates you."

Jack glanced at me and said, "The girl at my bus stop. She's so happy and cute on the outside. It just fascinates me how someone can be so happy all the time."

I was utterly confused by what Jack said. The bell rang, signalling break. I put all my books in my bag and walked out the door, only to see Jack waiting for me. I said, "That was... Different."

"I'm sorry to embarrass you, you seem a little blunt now," he blushed.
I took his hand, lacing our fingers together. I said, "no, no, it's fine. It's just something that you said."

"What was it?" He asked, a look of panic in his eyes.

"You said I look happy on the outside what did you mean by outside?"I asked.
He shrugged, "I don't know. I just think that you can't be happy all the time."

I gulped. I never thought anyone would ever notice. The truth is, I'm rarely happy. Whenever I smile, it comforts people and sometimes makes them smile too. I said, "Let me tell you something. There's always exceptions to rules."

He looked me dead in the eye and said, "Not this rule Rachel."

"Okay, so say I'm not that happy. Why should I tell you?" I asked.

He squeezed my hand reassuringly and said, "Because you're my only friend. I wouldn't ruin this friendship."

"We've been friends for like an hour an a half," I chuckled.

He smiled, "That's all it takes."

"All it takes for what?"

"For me to begin to trust you," he said.
I looked into his beautiful blue eyes and said, "You really have trust issues don't you?"

"You know the way my sister committed suicide?" He gulped, "My best friend was the one bullying her. They were going out and he made her do things that she didn't want to do. She never told anyone. I just remember one night I came home early. I was walking past her door when I heard her whisper that she wasn't ready for something. All I remember was him saying 'I won't be gentle if you don't shut up.' And she replied 'please, it's my first time.' All I remember was hearing her screaming and crying out in pain. It was all too much and I had to go for a walk to clear my head. I technically heard my sister being raped by my best friend."

"When was this?" I asked, in complete shock.

He said, "She was fifteen and he was sixteen. I can't believe that I have to look at him every single day in school."

"Who was it?" I asked.

His eyes became glossy and he growled, "Luke Hemmings."