Distance // Ashton Irwin

6. The Walk

As Ashton and I headed outside of the small beach house I could feel the cold breezy air blow through my light brown hair.

I had no idea where Ashton was taking me or why, but I didn't bother to question him as he continued to lead us into the dark with nothing more than a torchlight to guide us.

"This way" he would say to me as we kept walking further away from the beach house.

I knew that it would be cold outside but I wasn't expecting the wind to have such a bite to it, I shivered. Luckily enough I was wearing a jacket which was helping me to keep warm.

"Where exactly are we going?" I asked Ashton through chattering teeth. "A friend of mine and some girl wondered off before, and it's my job to make sure nothing bad has happened to them" he said giggling.

I paused. "Make sure nothing bad has happened to them?" I asked. "Yeah. This friend of mine is the guy who owns the beach house, and I think he's had a bit too much to drink" we both laughed and exchanged glances.

"Plus we haven't talked much, like at all since we met last. So I decided it'd be a good idea if we started talking since I did invite you here" he added with a smile.

I felt at ease when he smiled, and I couldn't work out why. He just seemed like the type of guy who could only cheer people up with his bright hazel eyes and wide grin. He didn't seem like the type of guy to ever bring someone down, he was always happy.

The moon was out tonight and as we walked closer towards the rumbling ocean, I could feel it's dull white light shine upon us. From a distant I could hear the waves crashing onto the rocks.

"Do you have any idea where they are?" I asked. He nodded. "Yeah iv got a rough idea" he said with a smirk on his face as we continued walking.

"You don't trust him to walk up to the beach house on his own?" I asked. Ashton shrugged. "Nah it's not that I just want to make sure he doesn't drown himself" we both laughed.

It went silent again and I felt awkward that I couldn't keep a conversation going with Ashton for more than 5 minutes.

As awkward as the silence felt between us, I felt comfortable with his presence.

"I was talking to the boys before and they said something about the coffee shop incident" I blurted out to break the silence and desperatly trying to make conversation.

Ashton smiled. "Yeah I remember saying a thing or two to them, it was nice for a change to not have a fan scream their lungs out when they see you" he said with a playful tone in his voice.

I laughed. "In all honesty I was nervous and running late for work" I replied as we continued to walk closer towards the sound of crashing waves.

Ashton smiled. "nervous? I'm just a drummer. It's not really that big of a deal" he said sarcastically. "Not a big deal? Tell that to every teenage girl" I said laughing.

He nodded, and as I turned my head around to see his face I could see a smirk forming at the corner of his lips.

So you and the boys invited some fans?" I asked out of curiousity. "Yeah, it's like a daily thing to see at least a couple of fans and you just happened to be the fan that caught my attention, so when the boys mentioned a party with a few fans you were the first person that popped into my head." Said Ashton, I smiled.

'Caught his attention?' I said to myself. I was convinced that everything that had happened in the last week was by chance and I was probably the most luckiest fan in the world.

As we kept walking, we could hear laughter in the distance. Ashton shone his torch to see if he could see anything. In the distance we could two wobbling figures heading towards us.

"Oi Cory!?" Yelled Ashton. "Yeah!?" Yelled back one of the figures. Ashton looked at me and laughed before running up to Cory and placing one of Cory's arms around his neck. I walked up to the girl beside Cory and did the same thing. Clearly they were both drunk and probably wouldn't remember this in the morning.

It took us no more than 15 minutes to walk back to the beach house with Cory and the girl. As soon as we got inside we placed them both on the couch and Ashton placed a bucket beside them. "See this?" Ashton said to Cory, pointing at the bucket "use this." Cory laughed. "Got it" he said.

Ashton and I walked up to the group of people standing in the middle of the room and I spotted Cleo. She pointed at me and then walked over to me, grabbing my arm and pulling me away from the group. "You okay?" I asked. She nodded. "Yeah I'm fine, but just really cold, I think I left my jumper at home" I laughed and she just glared at me. "Holly I'm serious." I sighed and slid off my jacket before handing it to her. "You owe me" I said as she wrapped my jacket around her arms.

As Cleo walked away, Ashton and Luke walked over to me. "What was that about?" Asked Luke. "Cleo forgot her jacket, and she was really cold" I replied. "so you gave her yours?" I nodded. "And what if you get cold?" Asked Ashton. I shrugged my shoulders. "I don't really mind, id rather her be warm. I can handle the cold weather." Ashton and Luke laughed. "Seriously Holl?" Said Luke still laughing.

"Hold on" said Ashton as he walked away.

"How was your walk with Ash?" Asked Luke. "Yeah good, we didn't talk about much but it was better than not talking at all" Luke giggled. "Yeah true."

"Here put this on" said Ashton handing me a tartin shirt. "Where did you get this?" I asked. "It's mine, I took it off earlier. I don't need it so put it on" said Ashton, Luke laughed. "Alright then" I sighed.

Ashton's shirt was warm, but I was more focused on the smell. It smelt of aftershave and a few other unfamiliar scents but I liked it. 'Mmm he smells good' I said to myself.

The rest of the night went by fairly quick and before I knew it, the sun was blinding me as I tried to open my eyes.

I still had Ashton's shirt on and by the looks of my surroundings, I had fallen asleep on the couch. Cleo was lying at the other end of the couch and I as sat up, her eyes opened and she smiled. "Morning."

Cleo and I stayed for another two hour as we waited for everyone to wake up.

By 10am everyone was awake and Michael and two other boys were attempting to make pancakes, but were failing miserably.

"You guys off?" Asked Calum as we waved to everyone as we walked over to the door. We nodded. "Thanks for a great night" Cleo yelled as she walked out of the front door. "It was nice meeting you" I said to Calum as I wrapped my arms around him. "Yeah you too" he said with a smile.

Just before I walked out of the door that's when I remembered that I was still wearing Ashton's shirt. "Hey Ash!" I said starting to take off his shirt. "Want your shirt back?" He walked over to me before shaking his head. "No, it's fine you can keep it, I have plenty more where that came from" He said. "aww thanks" I said giving him hug. "Anytime."

"It was nice seeing you again" I said as I let go of him. He smiled.

"Till next time" he said waving as I walked outside. 'There will never be a next time' said the little voice in my head. But as much as I was convinced this was it, I so badly hoped that it wasn't.