A Crash of Fate [5SOS FANFIC]

CHAPTER 3

It's been a week since I last talked to Nicole. School starts in 20 minutes, and I barely have enough time to breathe, let alone do my daily routine. I throw my lazy body off of the bed and grab whatever clothes I had lying on the floor. I walk out of my bedroom, refusing to look at myself in the mirror.

I go downstairs with the hope of finding anything to eat to see an empty kitchen and dining room, wishing that Calum hadn't already left with Nicole. I grab a granola bar from the cabinet, and start walking to the prison that they call high school. I mean think about it: the principal is the warden, the lunch ladies are the prison food givers, the classrooms are the cells, and gym class is the cruel and unusual punishment that is prohibited in the Constitution. Before I know it, I'm already walking into the doors of the school and at my locker. Wow, time really flies when you're analyzing the faults of the American education system.

As I walk through the doorway of my first period, I hear the bell ring, indicating that class has begun. If I was one second behind, I would have to have been marked tardy by my teacher. Shit, that was close, I think to myself.

"Iris, you're lucky, just in time for you to hear about the partner assignment we'll be doing," Mr Jones announces. The class was excited to not have to listen to another one of his boring lectures, just in time for him to add on, "I'll be telling you your partners and the directions after I take attendance." The class sighed in response to hearing that we didn't get to pick our partners. I scan the room, looking for a new place to sit in light of Nicole and I's falling-out. The two empty seats left are next to Michael and Ashton, meaning that, unfortunately, there was only one seat left: the one next to Michael.

"Looks like we've got a full class today, meaning that I expect this assignment to be done by tomorrow. We'll be doing a lab in class, and you'll be finishing the lab report at home," Mr. Jones explains. Michael and I exchange a look of dispair. "Calum, you'll be with John. Nicole, you'll be with Chloe. Adam, you'll be with..." I begin to zone out as he calls out the list of partners, thinking about whether it would be worse to be with a random person than it would to be with Michael. As awkward as it is between us, I just want an excuse to spend time with him. I snap back to attention upon hearing his name: "Michael, you'll be partnered with Jessica". I let out a small groan, and I overhear him letting out a "Fuck." under his breath. "Iris, you'll be partnered with..." my heart starts to beat out of my chest, and my mind races through all of the possibilities. What if it's someone I hardly know? What if it's someone I hate, like Abby? And what if it's someone like...

"Ashton," Mr. Jones finishes. My heart sinks. Michael and I exchange nervous glares, and a wave of anxiety is unleashed inside of me. "Everyone, go sit by your partners and I'll pass out the lab materials." I get up, keeping my eyes off of Michael, and make my way over to where Ashton is sitting. We locked eyes, just for a second, but that small period of time was enough for his carmel eyes to engulf me.

He broke the awkward silence by asking, "Uhhh... so do you want to do this right after school? I could give you a ride if you want."

***********************************************

*HONK HONK*

"Get in loser, we're going shopping!" Ashton shouts from his 2001 Toyota Sienna, or in other words, his mom's old beat-up minivan. Despite the butterflies rioting in my stomach, I roll my eyes and hop in the passenger seat.

"Buckle up, because this ride's gonna be a little bit bumpy!" he says, making me let out a small chuckle.

"Wait, so are we stopping at the mall or something? What's going on?" I ask. I dread the thought of taking an extra, prolonged excursion with Ashton on top of finishing the lab report with him.

"What?" he responds, making a weird face at me.

"You said we were going shopping...?" I replied.

"Are you kidding me!?" he shouts, looking disgusted. I look back at him with a blank face. "It's a line from Mean Girls you idiot! Haven't you seen it?" he yells. I shake my head in response. "Well you need to educate yourself," he says in a snobbish tone, "All educated members of society have watched Mean Girls."

"Well we both know I'm stupid already. Like, you did all the work in the lab today and probably will do this entire report by yourself. I don't even know why I'm coming along, all I can do is pick the font and format the text. But anyways, I hate basic movies like that."

"Oh really? What kind of movies are you into then?" he retorts.

"Well, you probably haven't heard of my favorite one, but it's called Juno. I like indie movies like that."

"Huh, I guess we've both got some movies to watch. How about Saturday?" he asks. The blood rushes from my face, and I don't know what to say. Luckily, the silence is cut short by him saying, "We're here!".

We hop out of the car and he lets me into his house. Stepping into his house brings back a mix of emotions. As there is with anyone's house, there's the initial discomfort, the adjustment to the new smell, and the feeling of sensory overload. I take my shoes off and plan to head to his room, when I hear a voice echoing from the kitchen.

"Is that you Ashton?" his mom yells.

"Yep! And Iris is with me, we have a Physics project to finish," he responds. "Actually Iris, I need to grab something from downstairs. I'll be right back," he tells me before going down to his basement. I see Ashton's mom's head peek out from around a corner, followed by the rest of her as she walks over.

"Oh, Iris. It's been so long since I've last seen you. We've really missed you around the house. You look great!" she said before pulling me in for a hug.

"I've missed you too, Mrs. Irwin," I respond back.

"Oh stop it. Remember, it's Anne Marie to you," she says lightly. Both of us heard footsteps coming, but we pulled away from the hug a little too late.

"Uhh, what is going on?" Ashton asked. "Sorry Iris, my mom can be a little too friendly sometimes." Ashton's mom and I exchange a look.

"I was just saying hi to your friend, Ashton! First impressions can go a long way."

"Whatever you say, mom. Let's go up to my room, Iris." Ashton replies. He starts walking up the stairs, and I follow, but not before making a final eye contact with his mom, reading a facial expression filled with nostalgia.