|Misunderstood| Ashton Irwin

Chapter thirty-four

Song for this chapter- End Up Here~5sos

Ashton Irwin's pov

"Come on Ashton!" Bella pulls my arm as we step into the taxi, I put on a fake smile and take a seat next to her.
I couldn't sleep very well last night, I was tossing and turning debating whether or not to tell Bella about her mum.
It will destroy her if I did, she only just got her back after five years but then again I cant lie to her.
I tap my hand against my leg, a habit I have when I think about things.
"Are you okay?" Bella asks me this time.
"Yeah. Why wouldn't I be" I say.
She just shrugs, "just asking"
The taxi falls silent again.
I decide I need to tell her. I cant just sit around today watching her mum pretending to play happy families while Bella innocently goes along with it. It's not fair on her.
"Bella" I blurt out before I have even planned out how exactly I'm going to explain this to her.
"Hmm" she hums looking out of the window.
"I um" I pause to try and buy myself more time to think and she turns to face me, suddenly looking concerned.
"You what?"
"I errm, I need to tell you something, but you need to hear me out, okay?"
She nods slowly, unsure about what I'm about to say.
"Look, I don't want to create any arguments or get involved in family business but yesterday I over heard a conversation between your mum and her boyfriend when we were leaving and I-" I stop again and look down at my hands.
"Ashton! What is it?" She says raising her voice a little. The taxi driver looks at us through the rear view mirror and rolls his eyes then looks back on the road.
"Your mum was saying some things about you then she said" I trail off.
"Said what?"
"She said that the only reason she wanted to see you was to make sure you haven't and make sure you wont go to the police about her leaving you. She's using you, she doesn't really want to see you because she missed you or because she's sorry for what happened, it's to make sure she wont be going to prison"
At first I cant look at her. I feel awful but it's the only way. She deserved to know and to be honest I should have told her sooner.
I slowly look up at her though when the taxi comes to a halt as we arrive at the apartment blocks. Tears stream down her face as her mouth hangs slightly open and she continues to stare at me.
"That will be $5 please" the driver says but neither of us move.
"I knew it" Bella barely whispers, "it all makes sense now"
"Bella I'm so sorry I didn't tell you yesterday, I was just worried"
"That will be $5 please" the driver repeats.
"Do you want to see her or go back to the hotel?" I ask her.
She shakes her head and let's out a sigh, "I need to see her, I need to have a word with her" she climbs out the taxi and I throw some money towards the taxi driver, calling "keep the change" then follow behind her.
"Bella wait, you need to think about this, don't go mad at her, it wont help this situation" I yell after her but she ignores me as we step into the lift, her cheeks still stained with tears.
The lift seems to arrive at floor three quicker then I remember and before I know it I'm running down the corridor as Bella marches towards her mothers flat. She doesn't even bother knocking and opens the door.
She walks into the living room and comes face to face with her mum. I stay behind her as they look at each other for a few moments.
"Bella, love, are you okay, what's happened?" Charlotte asks.
"Don't give me that shit" Bella snaps.
"Excuse me?" Her mother gasps.
"You are unbelievable! Absolutely fucking unbelievable!" She shouts the last part. I place my hand on her arm but she shakes me away and takes a few steps closer towards her mum.
"I don't know what your talking about?" Charlotte begins.
"Oh really?" Bella shakes her head again, "you really thought I wouldn't find out didn't you!"
"Find out what?"
"Don't play innocent mum! You know exactly what I mean! About the whole reason why you invited me in the first place! Your so selfish, you only ever think about yourself and I hate you okay, I fucking hate you! I didn't even want to come in the first place because I knew something like this would happen" Bella starts to cry again and I want to take her to the hotel and hug and her and tell her it will be okay but I just stand there and watch as her mother suddenly looked panicked, which I find weird as surely, as a mother you would feel heart broken that your own daughter just told you that they hate you but no, she's more panicked that Bella found out her little secret.
"But, I don't understand, how do you-"
"How do I know? Ashton heard yours and that dick of a boyfriend of yours conversation as we were leaving yesterday"
Charlotte shoots a glare over in my direction and I awkwardly bite my lip and shuffle from foot to foot.
"Why is he getting involved anyways! This has nothing to do with him!" She shouts.
"Well if he hadn't of told me then who would? You were going to keep this a secret from me weren't you!" Bella is practically screaming now and the anger in clear in her voice, "he's all I have now mum, he's more of a family then you'll ever be, he looks after me, he's there for me, he cares for me, unlike you, you stuck up cow"
I stand there in shock. This is getting a little out of hand now, this is the last thing I wanted to happen, I didn't want to destroy any relationships here, I just wanted to be honest.
"What do you mean he's all you've got? I'm still your mum! You've got grandma and you've got all your friends! Bella your just being a drama queen and making this more than it should be!" Her mother says to her, "this thing about me only inviting you here because of the police is stupid! I've missed you so much, I love you and-"
"Your lying!" Bella says through gritted teeth.
"I'm not I-"
"And for the record, yes he is all I have now! For your information he is my only friend!"
"What about that Emma girl you used to hang out with?"
Bella lets out a laugh that makes me jump slightly, I've never seen her like this before, I want it to stop but my whole body is frozen as I watch the two of them argue over something that was my fault for over hearing in the first place.
"Your fucking kidding me aren't you? Her name was Emily and no mum, she fucking died nearly three years ago, one day after mu sixteenth birthday! But no! You wouldn't remember that would you? Your to busy with your new life here while I was at home, alone and suffering because I had lost the three people who had meant most to me in ten years and I wasn't even an adult yet!"
Tears start to fill Charlotte's eyes as well. I decide its time I should step in.
"Bella I think we should go" I begin.
"No Ashton, I'm not done yet" she turns around to face me and her cheeks are red and tear stained, her make-up is running down her face and the pain in her eyes is visible.
"What's going on out here!" As if on cue Richard walks into the room and his eyes grow wide as he takes in the situation that lays in front of him, "what have you done to her!" He shouts at Bella.
"Hey! Don't fucking talk to her like that or you'll have another thing coming!" I shout back at him, my protective side for Bella suddenly coming out.
He backs away a little and turns his attention to Charlotte.
"Babe, what's going on? You shouldn't be under this much stress, it's not good for the baby"
As soon as the words leave his mouth Bella and her mother look at each other again.
"What?" Bella's mouth hangs open, "your pregnant and you didn't think to tell me?" Her voice has gone back to her normal tone.
"Bella I-" she begins but is cut off by Richard, again.
"You don't need to explain anything to her" he cradles Charlotte in his arms and sends us a nasty glare.
"Why don't you just stay out of this" I snap at him and he pulls away from his girlfriend and takes a step towards me.
"No because I love Charlotte and will do anything to protect her okay? Now why don't you stay out of this as you actually don't have anything to do with any of us, apart from being friends with her" he nods towards Bella and I feel the anger bubbling up inside me.
"Bella we need to go" I whisper to her and she nods then turns around to face me.
We walk out of the apartment, her mother screams her name a few times but we continue walking, we get into the lift, get to the ground floor then step into a taxi that is parked outside the building. As soon as we take a seat and set off Bella hysterically cries into my chest while I rub her back in small circles and whisper how it will all be okay into her soft hair.
It's so unfair. So, so unfair that she goes through all this pain and hasn't done anything to deserve it. She's a young and beautiful girl who deserves the best, not this, no one should deserve this.