Mr Irwin | Ashton Irwin

Ten

ASHTON

I decided to help her remember. I talked to Dr. Wilson and she says that they more I tell her, the more she'll remember.

I walked into her door without knocking, what a mistake. What I saw was a heartbreaking scene. Lauren an Calum we lying beside eachother, arms around each other as they laughed at something.

Before he saw me, I ran out the room. I kept on running, down the corridors and down the stairs until I finally ran out the hospital doors. I leaned my back against the building wall as I cried. I haven't let myself cry since my father died six years ago. I slid my back down the wall until I was sat on the ground with my knees to my chest.

I heard shuffling as someone sat down beside me. I looked over and saw Luke. He said, "You okay mate?"

"She remembers Calum. She fucking remembers Calum but not me," my voice coming out as an unintended yell.

Luke said, "Stop beating yourself up. And stop being so damn loud. Win her over. He's like 18 and you're 20. You made her fall for you once, you can do it again. Go in there and go get her, even if it means Calum finding out. It's now or never. I know you want to go in there."

"You're right," I stood up. I had a new sense of hope in me. He stood up beside me, smiling. I patted his shoulder and said, 'thanks Luke."

I walked off, my steady walk becoming increasingly fast until I was almost stumbling up the stairs I was running that fast. I saw Calum at a vending machine a few floors down so I had time.

I sprinted down the corridor and burst into her room. She looked up at me, wide-eyed in shock. She gasped, "What are you doing here?"

I don't have an explanation. I slowly walked to her bedside, each stride I took, the more nervous I felt. I was stood directly beside her. I said, "You might not remember us or anything we did but maybe this will refresh your memory." I pushed all nerves aside. Luke's words echoed in my head 'now or never'.

I leaned down, cupping her face in my hands as I did so. I gently kissed her. I was going to go for the whole 'crashing' my lips onto hers but just cupping her face made me realise how fragile she had become.

My lips moulded against her's perfectly. I kissed her gently but passionately. I pulled away when I knew that she wouldn't kiss me back.

I stood up straight and said, "That was stupid. I shouldn't have done that. I um. . ."

"No," she whispered, "It wasn't stupid. It made me remember one thing. It made me remember why I liked you-"

"Liked?" I gulped.

"This is hard for me to say Ashton. I can't say that I still like you because I don't know you but if I say 'liked'," she paused before whispering, "It makes it sound like it's over; that we're over."

"I understand. Sorry, continue," I spoke.

"It made me realise that even though I can't remember if we ever had a connection, that one kiss made me feel more special than Ross ever could," she smiled.

I smiled, "I'll help you remember."

"I also remember something. Why do I have a vivid picture of you looking at my breasts in my Calvin Klein bralette?" She smirked.

I burst out laughing. "Lauren! I though you didn't see that. Oh god." His laughter died down and he frowned, "I wish you would remember something better than me being a pervert."

She giggled, "Even though it sounds like a silly thing to remember. Ashton, I remember the way I felt when you looked at me. Even now, I have butterflies."

"I missed you." I looked at my watch and sighed, "It's ten. Visiting hours are over. I'm sorry but I'll come over tomorrow."

I went to walk away but I felt her bony hand grasp my arm. I turned to face her and said whispered, "Lie here with me, please? I don't know why but I don't want you to leave. Please don't go?"

I smiled, "Well shift up a bit. I'm way more muscular than Calum."

She giggled at my comment, moving over. I took my shoes off and opened the covers up, sliding in. I pulled the covers over us again.

I couldn't help but think about how uncomfortable I was but I didn't want to annoy her. We lay in silence for at least half an hour. I actually thought she was asleep but then she whispered, "Ashton?"

"yeah?" I asked.

"This is very uncomfortable," she whispered.

I giggled and said, "thank god, you said it." I wrapped my arms around her waist. I pulled her -now, feather like- body onto mine. She rested her head on my shoulder. She whispered, "Irwin, where's your bandana?"

"you remember?" I asked, shocked that she remembered the irrelevant little thing; my bandana.

"You always remember it. I remember," she breathed. I could sense how tired she was from her breathy voice.

"Go to sleep princess." I turned my head to the side and kissed her forehead, "You sound tired."

"Princess? It's cute. Goodnight Ashton," she smiled.

I closed my eyes, tightening my grip around her waist, trying to make her feel secure. I kept one arm around her. My other arm slid up her back and I stroked the hair on the top of her head with my hand. "Goodnight princess."