Rhythm || Ashton Irwin

Chapter Eighteen

(Lauren’s POV)

            “No, you need to keep him on his side! If he pukes on his back or his stomach he’ll drown in it! Jesus, did you idiots learn anything in school?!” I scolded as I turned Michael, who was now out cold, onto his side next to the toilet.

            “Lauren, please, we’ve taken care of Michael plenty of times to know how he works when he’s drunk. He’ll wake up any minute now, puke in the toilet for a couple of minutes, then wander to the closest thing with pillows and pass out. It’s like clockwork.” Luke assured, leaning against the doorframe of the bathroom. Rolling my eyes, I slid away form the unconscious red head next to me who was mumbling incoherent things to himself.

            “Do you guys do this often?... Look after Michael, I mean.” Bringing my eyes from Michael to the other two, they both sighed, in turn looking at each other.

            “Yea, Mikey does this once or twice a week. He’s not an alcoholic by any means, but, any chance he gets to make a scene, he’ll take it.” Calum explained, staring at the grueling mess in front of him, “He likes to start drama.” Laughing, Calum shook his head.

            “I’m like the real life gossip girl!” Michael slurred from beside me, “Except I’m not a bitch who gets off of other people’s personal shit, you know?”

            We all laughed at his musings, until he bolted up to the toilet, his body trying to get the alcohol out of his stomach. Leaning forward, I began rubbing small circles between his shoulder blades; having the motion down from all the times I’d done it for Cassie. A few minutes later, Michael was done and, as Luke predicted, stood up making his way towards the couch, hugging a pillow to his chest.

            “Told you, like clockwork.” Luke commented, walking out of the room and into the kitchen, grabbing a glass of water for his sleeping friend.

            “It’s getting pretty late, do you want to crash here tonight? There’s an extra bed in the back?” Calum, placing a hand on my shouler, motioned towards the back of the apartment, seemingly heading that way himself. Before I could politely decline, there was a knock at the door. Luke, being the closest one to, went to answer, Ashton bursting into the room.

            “I can’t stop thinking about her! Seriously, I don’t know what to do, how am I supposed to apologize if she won’t even fucking talk to m—Oh… Lauren.” Stopping in his tracks, Ashton’s eyes darting between Calum, Luke and I, confusion obvious in his gaze, until his eyes locked onto the hand on my shoulder, anger quickly replacing his confusion, “What the fuck?!”

            Just as fast as he had entered, Ashton was out the door, storming down the hall.

            “ASHTON, WAIT!” Calum yelled, following behind him, leaving Luke and I in silence.

 (Ashton’s POV)

            That prick, that absolute PRICK, I thought as I stormed through the hall, desperately trying to get away form my traitor of a best friend.

            “Ashton, stop!” Calum yelled, placing a hand on my shoulder, stopping me in my tracks, “It’s not what you think—“