Bright Horizon - Ashton Irwin au

¤ Chapter 9 ¤

I squeeze my eyes shut and try to fall back to sleep but my pounding headache won't leave me alone, so I envelop my head in a large, luxurious pillow to try and shield myself from my surroundings. I roll over to make myself comfortable, but my hand comes in contact with something. Something hard... and smooth. My eyes shoot open and I am staring directly into Dylan's sleeping face. I look down. My hand is on his chest. I look down further. He's naked! The only thing protecting my eyes from a vision I wouldn't be soon to forget is the thin, gray, duvet. I turn back around so fast that I almost take the duvet with me. I get out of the bed and gather up my clothes, which is cluttering the floor of the large guestroom.

The sun is just beginning to rise as I make it out of the room. I lean against the doorway to steady myself, trying not to throw up, when I hear someone else further down the hallway.

I look towards the stairs where I see Ashton leaving another room, putting on his shirt.

"Yeah, I'll call you." He sounds tired. He is pulled back into the room for just a second until he backs out into the hallway. He doesn't see me as he skips down the stairs. I hear the front door open and close, and I know he is gone. I stay, looking after him for a few seconds after the door has closed behind him before I push myself off the doorway and quietly walk to Gina's room. The door creaks as I push it open and from inside I can hear her faint snoring.

I tiptoe over to her bed. She is lying with her face pressed against a pillow large enough to be nicknamed a beanbag. I brush a few hairs away from her face before I lean over her and blow cold air straight into her ear.

She shoots up with a scream. "What the fuck!" She looks up at me with small, tired eyes. "What are you doing here?" She is eyeing me suspiciously.

"Had to escape my room," I shrug, crawling into Gina's warm bed.

"Right," she snorts, "Is Dylan a loud snorer?" she laughs at my disgusted expression.

"No, but you are," I poke her side, making her squirm. "Why did you ever let me get with him?" I try to make my tone sound accusing, but I just sound a bit disgusted.

"Hey, you're responsible for your own mess, babe." She pokes me back before pulling the covers over our heads.

"What are we doing?" I whisper. Gina has closed her eyes and she doesn't answer me.

"Gina?" I whisper, louder this time.

Still, with her eyes closed, she puts her finger on my lips. "Shh, I'm sleeping." I smack her finger away and pull the covers back off. Gina groans as the day's first, bright rays of sun hit her face.

"I'm hungry." I am still whispering.

"Yeah, me too. Let's go." She takes my hand and we run all the way down to the kitchen.

Gina pulls out a box of frosted flakes and we go into the living room, curling up on one of the massive couches, turning on the TV.

We stay like this until Eve comes down and joins us followed by Becca, who both take their seats on the other couch, buzzing about last night's events as Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers play in the background. Gina offers them the box of frosted flakes. Becca scoops out three handfuls and starts munching away, Eve passes. I don't pay attention to any of it before I hear Becca say, "so what are you gonna do with Ashton?" It is not to me she says it, it is to Eve. I sit completely still, hoping to catch more of their suddenly intriguing conversation. Becca continues, "I think it would be really good for you if the two of you were seen together at school, I mean, he is kinda hot and all." It feels like a punch to the gut and I can feel my stomach turning at the fact that she would even say that. But Eve just nods her head. She even looks enthusiastic about it.