Teacher | Ashton Irwin

Fourteen

I woke up in bed. I turned to face Jack. To my disappointment, I was faced by an empty half of the bed. I placed my hand to the place where he lay last. It was cold and there was no indent. He must have left in the middle of the night.

I turned over and grabbed my phone off the beside table. I looked at the time to see that it was 3am. I threw my phone down on the bed and sat up. "Jack?" I said softly, hoping he would appear in the doorway to the bathroom. There was no answer.

I turned so my legs were dangling off the end of the bed. I stood up, the cold wooden floor sending chills through my body. I walked up to the door and opened it. I stepped outside. The cold autumn air nipped at my skin. The only clothes on me were my brother's top and my underwear.

I crossed my arms across my chest and walked along the metal floor. I said, "Jack?" I kept walking until I reached the stairs to go the the floor below us. I walked down the steps, careful not to make much noise as they were quite creaky. I walked along the row of bedrooms, "Jack? Are you out here?"

I was passing a room went the door swung open. Calum stood in the door. He wiped his eyes tiredly. He softly spoke in a husky voice, "What are you doing here Rachel?"

I stopped walking and looked at him. I said, "I was looking for Jack. Have you seen him?"

"No," he shook his head. "Do you want to come inside? It's freezing out there and well, you aren't clothed appropriately for cold nights."

"Since when did you have a soft spot?" I winked sarcastically. I began to shiver and whispered, "I need to find Jack. Thanks for the offer Calum."

"Watch out. This place is creepy as hell," he said, "Goodnight." And then he closed the door.

He was right. This place is extremely creepy. The worn out building that looked like it would crumble if you punched it. The dull receptionist. The creaky door and stairs. Even the sign was creepy for it creaked whilst swaying from the breeze.

I continued walking. I walked down the stairs and to the reception. I walked up to the receptionist; a tall, fat woman with frizzy ginger hair and a sour expression. I smiled and said, "Hi. I was wondering if you could help me. Did my friend pass here? He's about 6"3 with black hair and quite pail skin."

She looked at me with a blank expression. She said, "he could've."

"Well did he?" I asked.

"He started smoking against the wall, a few metres away. I told him he couldn't smoke here so he began walking in that direction," she pointed to the right with her fat, stubby fingers, "Does that sound right?"

"Yes. Thank you," I said before scurrying away from her. I walked in the direction she said. I got to the end of the wall and looked down the side of the building. There he was; facing away from me. I could faintly see the smoke.

I was about to walk up to him when I heard Ashton. He said, "Rachel, what are you doing out here? And dressed like that, you'll get the cold."

I turned to face him. He was stood outside reception. I walked up to him and said, "I needed fresh air. What are you doing out here?"

"I heard movement outside my door so I went to check to see what it was," he said.

I smirked, "you followed me?"

"No," he blurted, "I just wanted to see where you were going? I can't let my class wonder off, you could get lost."

"I'm okay," I smiled, "Go back to your room. I just want fresh air."

He leaned down and planted a sweet kiss on my lips, letting his mouth linger before smiling and walking away.

I walked around the side of the building and approached Jack. I whispered, "Jack?"

He didn't answer. He just dropped the cigarette and stamped it out with his boot. He turned to face me. I walked up to him to see his face clearly. I saw his red, puffy eyes and his tear-stained cheeks. "What's wrong?" I whispered.

"Bad night," he mumbled. He didn't show any expression. His expression was blank and cold.

"Do you want to talk about it?" I asked,

He shook his head. I saw a tear escape his eye as he began to silently cry again. He whispered, "Just hug me." He held his arms out. I walked into his warm embrace. His arms wrapped around my back as mine went around his neck.

He buried his face into the crook of my neck. I whispered, "It's okay. Shall we go back up to the room?"

He nodded slightly and pulled back. I took his hand in mine and lead him up the stairs. We reached our room. I opened the door and led him in. He let go of my hand as he walked over and sat on the bed. I closed the door and turned around to see him undressing himself. He was soon in just his boxers, sitting on the edge of the bed, staring at the floor in front of him as he silently cried.

I was sat on my side of the bed. I crawled across to him and wrapped my arms around his shoulders from behind. I whispered, "Go back to bed." He didn't budge. I sighed and crawled around to his front. I swung my leg over him so my knees were on either side of him as I straddled his waist. "Jack, tell me whats wrong?"

His eyes finally met mine. He whispered, "Do you ever get those nights where you think of everything that's ever went wrong in your life? And you always think about what would've happened if you did something differently. If you would've said something different."

"You were right," I whispered. I was going to open up to him. "There are rarely exceptions to the rules. remember in art when you said I could never be as happy as I always look? Well you're right. I'm not a happy person. I never have been and probably never will be."

He stroked a strand of hair behind my ear. He whispered, "Whats your reason."

"That's the worst part," I whispered. I felt a hot tear roll down my cheek as I continued, "My reason is so minor. I've always been living in the shadow. Whether it's the shadow of my brother or my friends or someone. I just feel so invisible and useless."

"You aren't invisible," he sighed, "Barely anyone knows my name. You even had Calum and Michael talking about you before I got asked to leave."

I giggled, "Would it be rude if I asked what they said?"

"Of course not," he smiled, "Michael brought up that Calum kissed you the other day and he said that you were different."

"Different how? What do you mean 'different'?" I panicked.

He chuckled, "He thinks you're really nice. You're different to the others girls because you're not a slut. That's what he meant."

"Ohhhhh," I sighed, "I'm really tired. Can we sleep?"

He nodded and lay his back down. I was in an awkward position as I hovered over him. We both giggled awkwardly before I climbed off him and crawled under the covers. He got in beside me. To my surprise, he pulled my body into his, spooning me. He wrapped his arms around my waist and whispered, "Goodnight Rachel."