chemical kiss | ashton irwin

Chapter Thirteen

Since it was summer and we had nothing to do, Ashton and I went outside. We didn't really plan on doing anything out there, but we left the house regardless.

Ashton turned on some of his ugly music whilst we strolled blindfoldedly on the footpath. He stuffed his phone into his back pocket so he wouldn't have to carry it around, the music on shuffle, so he didn't need to worry about changing the song either.

"Your taste in music sucks," I said honestly.

"Oh, shut up. You'll learn to like it, just watch," he laughed.

"Whatever you say," I sighed, not agreeing with him at all. This was literal hell for the ears. I thought it was that moronic Pierce The Veil band or something because the lead singer sounded the same each time I was forced to listen to this crap.

I kept my eyes on the ground as we walked, but I saw another pair of feet and ran into somebody, but I couldn't see who.

"Sorry," I said, looking up, and gasping. I started stuttering, "Uh-- dad, h-how are you?"

"Who's this?" he demanded. "And what is that horrid sound?"

I knew he'd say that, I thought to myself. This was probably the worst way for Ashton and my dad to meet.

"Ashton," Ashton said. I was glad he could speak for himself, because my voice ran away from me.

"Where are you from?" dad asked.

"Australia...?"

"And do tell me what motivated you to soil your own skin like that?"

"Dad!" I chimed in. Dad raised his brows at me and then gawked stupidly at Ashton.

"Wait, did you say your name is Ashton?" he asked Ashton.

"Yes."

"Thalia, you said he's the one who--" he started but I cut him off.

"Yes, I know," I rolled my eyes.

"And the person who beat--" he bleated, but he cut himself off.

"Again, I know," I breathed out, exasperated.

"This isn't safe!" he suddenly yelled.

"Why isn't it safe? You know he wouldn't hurt me, he was just nervous," I added.

"In fact, I thought I was saving her. I'm sorry about that, I swear to god I didn't know it was you," Ashton inserted. I nodded, because it was true.

"I don't think I want you to see this boy anymore, Thalia," dad interjected stubbornly. My jaw dropped and my blood was boiling, how could he say that?

"Dad!"

"If he's going to beat me up when he sees me then imagine how dangerous this is for you. I'm just trying to help, dear," he sighed.

"That was nothing! All you're trying to help with is making me upset!" I boomed. "And you act like he's not standing right here. How can you say that I can't see him, you don't know what he's done for me?"

"Yes, I do. He caused you grief and anger, and I don't want you to feel that way anymore."

"You're making me feel that way!"

Ashton looked down at me and lightly touched my shoulder, pulling me back. He whispered, "Why don't you go inside? I'll deal with this."

I stood back but I stayed behind Ashton. I didn't want to go inside, I didn't want to miss this.

"Stay away from him!" dad shouted at me, clenching his teeth together.

"I'm not a little girl anymore, you can't tell me who I can and can't see!" I exclaimed.

"Go, Thalia," Ashton told me again. I backed up even further as he tried to beg my dad to let us be able to see each other. My dad didn't buy it though; he just pushed himself further away from the reasons Ashton and I shouldn't be forbidden of whatever this was.

Tears slid down my face and my dad's expression softened, it made me feel sick. If he was going to give in anytime soon, it would be because I was crying and not because he finally accepted Ashton for who he was. It maddened me, too, I felt so spiteful of him all of a sudden.

I bit the inside of my cheeks and watched as Ashton and dad fought back and forth, their voices becoming distant and only a subtle ringing was heard by me. My vision wavered and I stumbled backwards, this was happening to me again. I choked another sob out and sat down on the ground, hugging my knees. I felt my head pounding and my heart beating like a set of drums. My breathing pace was jagged and I felt like I was fatigued.

Dad stepped in front of me and so I backed away, I didn't want his help. I wanted his blessing, so that I didn't have to feel like I was doing the wrong thing by living with Ashton.

I saw Ashton striding forward and heard the muffled contradiction my father made, "If she doesn't want to see her own father, what makes you think she'll want to see you?"

However, Ashton kneeled down at my side and I didn't move because in that moment all I needed was Ashton. Dad's face fell and he stood there like a blockhead.

"Are you okay, Thalia?" Ashton asked softly. "Please don't cry, I can help you."

I continued to chirrup as my dad gazed furiously at us two. His figure was bristled-- his shoulders squared and his chin tipped upward. He stomped away, fortunately for Ashton and me.

Ashton stood up straight and reached down, helping me up off the ground. He lead me back into his house and sat on the couch. I sat down next to him and hugged my knees again, uncountable tears streaming down from my puffy eyes.

"You told me this only happened with your mum," Ashton said quietly. "So does this mean you dislike your dad just as much?"

"I-I think I'm...Start-ing to," I stammered. "What-- do I do?"

"Calm down, baby. It's okay, they're not here anymore, but I am. Stop crying, Thalia," he whispered, scooting closer to me on the sofa, hugging me. I slowly moved my arms around him as well, and eventually I stopped trembling and weeping. My heart rate slowed down to its normal speed, as well as my breathing.

Twenty minutes later, I finally realized Ashton turned off his music, because he plucked his phone out of his back pocket and it was silenced. I had fully recovered by then, so I was laying on the couch with my head on the armrest and my legs sprawled out across Ashton's lap. Ashton appeared to be texting.

"Who're you texting?" I asked for no reason at all.

"Luke," he replied simply. "We have a band practice tonight, and we're talking about what we're going to play."

"Oh," I said. I liked that Ashton always told me what he had been talking about when I didn't ask; It meant he trusted me.

"But I broke my drumsticks, again, so I need to go and get some new ones. Coming?" Ashton added.

"How will you get there?" I asked. I thought he didn't have a car?

"There's a shopping center a few minutes away, it's a walking distance though," he said. I moved my legs so that Ashton could stand up, because I'd had a rough day so far and didn't want to get up.

Ashton returned soon enough with a new pair of drumsticks and his three bandmates. Luke flipped me off and then Ashton kneed him where the sun didn't shine, causing him to stagger out to the garage in obvious pain. I got a kick out of that.