Heartbreak Girl (Ashton Irwin Fanfic)

Chapter 31: Memories

*5 years later*

"Thank you all. We have been 5 Seconds of Summer. Have a good night!" Luke shouted to the crowd of screaming fans while the other boys looked around in amazement. It was hard to comprehend that years after touring with the biggest boyband in the world, they would still be relevant and adored enough to be headlining the main stage at Coachella Festival. This was it. All their hard work, sleepless nights, pain and joy had finally amounted to this. Mike and Cal walked to opposite sides of the stage, launching their guitar picks into the sea of beautiful girls. They felt a warmth overtake them, knowing that whoever caught it would be the happiest person alive. They loved that they could be responsible for making someone feel that way. Ashton soon joined them, tossing his drumsticks gently so not to hurt anyone. He smiled, but the hole in his heart just seemed to get bigger and although he did his best to ignore it, the pain still remained. He was happy, of course... There was just always something missing.

Their tour manager became visible at the side of the stage, giving them the nod that signalled it was time to leave. With one final wave, they took off backstage to get their shit together before hitting the road once more.

"You were awesome, Daddy." Ashton's 4 year old son, Aiden, smiled up at his Dad.

"Thanks little man. One day, you'll be just as awesome." He picked Aiden up by his arms and spun him around. The toddler chuckled and his huge grey-blue eyes lit up.

He's just like her, Ashton thought.

He tried to fight the memories, but some days they were just too powerful. Today was one of those days.

*2 years ago*

"Is the show still going ahead?" Aoife asked, worry evident in her voice.

"I think so." Ashton replied, stroking her cheek reassuringly.

Aoife hadn't been on the road with the lads since Aiden was born, but Ashton's Mum offered to look after him back in Sydney so she could join them this time. They were both so excited, until they heard the awful news... It had only been a few days since the Paris attacks happened, the entire country was on edge and people were being encouraged to stay in their homes. They flew in the same day they occurred, and ever since had been wondering if tonight's performance would be cancelled. Their former tour manager insisted that the show must go on. "Lightning never strikes twice", he had said. Ashton didn't feel comfortable performing at all, but it wasn't his decision to make.

"I'm scared." Aoife admitted.

"Don't be." He kissed her gently. "We'll be fine, I promise."

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Three songs into their setlist, a loud bang could be heard above the music. Everything cut out. The sound, the lights... the entire arena went still before erupting into screams of sheer panic as a round of gunshots ensued. The band were rushed backstage while fans ran helplessly towards the emergency exits. Security were doing everything they could to locate the shooter in the darkness, but many lost their lives in the process.

"Let go of me! I need to get Aoife!" Ashton screamed as his tour manager wrestled him down the hallway and out of the building.

"She'll be okay. There are police riot vans everywhere. Security will get the crowd to safety, it's my job to protect you." He said firmly.

"No! I need to get her!" Ashton was crying now. He knew this was a mistake. He knew it and he risked it anyway. He put her at risk.

He pulled out his mobile and dialed Aoife's number. No answer. He tried again, and again, leaving heart-wrenching messages and begging her to call him back.

A call that sadly, never came.

*Present day*

"Hey, Dad?" Aiden looked up at his father expectantly as he placed him in the backseat of the car. Luke and Calum made room so he could be in between them.

"What is it, son?" Ashton responded, doing up his seat belt.

"Do you think Mom was watching?"

Tears pricked Ashton's eyes as he looked down at his son. Their son. He was the perfect mix of both of them. He had Aoife's beautiful eyes and shy smile, with Ashton's curly locks and infectious chuckle. She had been his entire world, until now.

"I think she's always watching." He answered truthfully, giving his son a quick kiss to the forehead before closing the car door and hopping into the passenger seat.

"So," Michael looked at Ashton, "you ready for the next adventure?"

He wiped away the stray tears from his cheeks, took a second to compose himself, and turned to Michael with a smile on his face.

"Hell yeah!"

They all cheered as Michael turned the key in the ignition and started up the car. The Great Escape by Boys Like Girls came on the radio, and they all sang along in unison. Even Aiden knew the words. This was Aoife's favourite song. They all remembered.

For a while, Ashton wished that he could just wake up with amnesia. He wanted to forget the stupid little things, like the way it felt to fall asleep next to her and the taste of her lips on a Spring evening. But now, he wanted to remember all of that. Those are the things that made him fall for her, and have the epic love they did. They gave his life normality. They made him feel real. New memories were being made every day. New chapters were being written. New stories were being published.

But her? She was the best one of them all.

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A/N: Wow I finished it, go me... Is sort of a happy ending? Lol

I know the readers from 5 years ago won't be keeping up with this now, but I hope anyone new who stumbles across it enjoys and I hope you're all doing well in these difficult times

Take it easy x