Teacher | Ashton Irwin

Twenty Four

Jack's mom was now home. I was sat in a chair from the kitchen table. I felt like screaming out but who am I to be sad? I knew him for just over a week. His mom and two of the three paramedics were in the living room whilst Danny, the paramedic, stayed with me.

He put his hand on my shoulder and said, "I'm just going to talk to John. I'll be right back." He walked out the room.

I arose from my seat. I quietly made my way out of the already open, front door. I picked up my pace, stumbling often as the crying had made me weak. I let the silent tears roll down my cheeks. A few sobs escaped my mouth as I neared school. I was now trying my hardest to run but my legs were shaky.

I was wobbly as I walked up the pitch. I stood still for a moment. I turned in a circle, taking in the atmosphere around me. The world spun more as I stood still. I felt as though my body was as light as a feather. I heard Ryan's voice call, "Rachel?"

I couldn't see faces or name names. All I knew was that all faces turned to me as I stood on the other end of the pitch. They had just finished and they were in an after-match huddle.

My knees gave in. My body crashed to the muddy ground beneath me. For the remaining five seconds that I was conscious, I heard Ashton yell,"Rachel." The whole team charged towards me, Ashton sprinting, leading the way. My eyes rolled back and my body fell limp as I was unconscious.

15 minutes later I woke up. My eyes fluttered open. I wasn't in the football field anymore. Above me, there was a small crowd of guys, Calum's crowd. Calum, Michael, Luke and Ryan crowded round me. I was about to sit up when a hand was placed on my shoulder, keeping me down. Ashton appeared, "Wow, wow, wow. Take it easy. You blacked out for fifteen minutes."

I groggily moaned, "Where am I?"

Ashton sat down beside my head. He said, "You're in the boys changing rooms. Sorry for the smell. What happened? Why did you black out?"

"I found Jack," a tear rolled down my cheek as I gulped, "He killed himself."

The room fell silent. The boys started mumbling things i couldn't hear. Ashton looked up to the guys and said, "I'll take her from here. You guys go home."

It took a few minutes but the boys hesitantly left. Once the door closed, Ashton went down on his knees on the floor beside me. He turned towards me and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me close into his chest. He kissed my forehead. He muttered, "You frightened me baby. Oh my word. You almost gave me a heart attack."

A quiet sob escaped my mouth as I tried to muffle my cries by burying my head in the crook of his neck. He stroked my hair and whispered, "Shhh. Everything will be alright. You're safe with me baby."

"One of my best friends died," I whispered as I pulled away from his warm embrace, "He's dead. I should've just ran into his house instead of calling him first. Maybe he wouldn't have died."

Ashton stroked my hair back away from my face before cupping the side of my face with one of his large hands, "Look at me," my red puffy eyes met his bright hazel ones, "Don't blame yourself. Think of it this way. When your dog is in too much pain, you get it put down to relieve it from all the pain. Jack killed himself to relieve all the pain inside of him. It's unfair to keep an animal alive if it's in pain, just like it's unfair to keep a person alive if it's in pain."

I wiped under my eye with the back of my hand. I sniffed, "You're right," I smiled sadly, "He isn't in pain anymore."

He helped me sit up. I looked at my side and said, "I have mud all over my side."

"It's in your hair and on half your face too," Ashton chuckled. "Come on, let's get you in the bath back at my place. Before you say no, it wasn't a question. I know that you don't want to be alone, tonight of all night."

He looped his right arm under my knees and wrapped his left around the bottom of my back, lifting me up. I wrapped my arms around his neck and buried my face in the crook of his neck. His scent of cheap musky cologne filling my nostrils.

**

He placed me down on the closed toilet seat. He began to run the water for the bath. I mumbled, "I'm sorry for getting the seats of your car muddy."

"No worries," he smiled.

Once he had drawn a nice bubble bath for me, he set soap, shampoo and conditioner on the side. He stood up and headed for the door, "I'll leave you too it."

"Will you help me?" I softly spoke. He froze for a moment before he turned around and walked over to me.

"Sure," he smiled. I took my top off while he took my phone out of my pocket, sitting in on top of the cabinet before sliding my jeans and socks off. His arms slid around my sides as his hands swiftly unhooked my bra. I placed it on the floor on the heap of dirty clothes that had formed.

I stood up. Ashton slid my panties down my legs and I stepped out of them, kicking them to the pile of laundry. He gently placed his hand on my back, guiding me to the bath.

He placed his hands on my waist as I stepped into the bath. I sat up straight, knees to my chest as I rested my chin on my knees. He took a plastic jug from the side and dunked it into the water. He brought the full jug up and poured the water down from my head down my back, using his hand to protect my eyes.

Once my whole body had been rinsed with water, he brought out a soft sponge, squeezing the shower gel onto it. He gently moved the sponge in circular motions all over my body, removing every bit of mud and dirt.

He rinsed my hair again, using his hand to block the water getting in my eyes. He shampooed and put the condition in my hair.

Once my hair was rinsed and clean along with my body, Ashton helped me out of the bath. I stood on the bathroom mat and he wrapped a towel round me. He grabbed another towel and gently dried my hair.

Once he finished my hair he used the towel that was wrapped around my torso to dry my body. He was drying my legs when I chuckled, "I feel like such a three year old."

He stood up and wrapped the towel around me again. He smiled, "anything for you." He leaned down slightly so he was my height before he kissed me softly. He left a long, lingering kiss on my lips. He smiled at me, "Let's get your hair dried and then bed."