Gone || Ashton Irwin

Chapter 20

“So, Ashton’s back?” My mom asks me the next morning.

“Yeah, mom. He’s back.”

“Oh. Did you go see him?”

“Yeah, mom. I did.”

“Are you gonna keep answering me like that?” She asks, raising an eyebrow and putting a hand on her hip.

“Yeah, mom. I am.”

She rolls her eyes. “Well, you sort things out with him. I’m just thankful we both have this week off.”

“Gotta love breaks.” I mutter, holding up my mug of chocolate milk.

“Have a nice breakfast, okay? I’ll be back tonight. I’m gonna run some errands and then go to the spa. My friend gave me these coupons and-”

“Go have fun, mom.” I tell her with a gentle smile. “I’m just gonna be catching up on some homework.”

“Alright honey. See you later. Love you.”

“Love you too.” I call out as she shuts the door behind her. I finish my chocolate milk and put my cup in the sink before making my way to the bathroom. I brush my teeth and run my fingers through my wet hair before returning to the kitchen.

Winston nips at my feet as I unzip my backpack and take out some of my notebooks. I decide it’s better to do work than to even think about what happened at Ashton’s house last night.

“Shoo.” I tell Winston, waving him over to the couch in the living room. He wags his tail and plops down by my feet and starts licking my toes. I groan and pull my feet away as I pull out my math assignments.

Two and a half hours later, I’m done with my math, science, and half of my english paper. I call it good as I take a seat on my couch. I flip the television on as Winston climbs on top of me. I pet his head and pull out my phone.

Nothing.

“Didn’t think so.” I mutter as I stuff my phone back into my pocket.

Someone knocks on the door and I groan as I get up, Winston trailing closely behind me. I open the door and roll my eyes.

“What do you want Luke?”

“I just wanna say I’m sorry.” He tells me.

“Alright.” I tell him indifferently. “Bye.”

“Val, I need you to come with me.”

“No, Luke! I’m mad at you. No way in hell am I-”

“Sorry.” He cuts me off with a shrug before throwing me over his shoulder.

“Put me down!” I yell as I beat on his back with my fists. I look over at Winston, who’s sitting by the kitchen table, wagging his tail with his tongue hanging slightly out of his mouth. “Oh come on, Winston!” I call out as Luke shuts the door behind him. “Seriously, Luke. Put me down.” I groan, struggling to pull away from him.

“Nope.”

“Luke-”

“Seriously, Val, we both know I’m not putting you down or letting go of you. Just give it a rest.”

So I do.

I sit in the passenger seat of his car, arms crossed over my chest for exactly four minutes and thirty-six seconds before I realize where he’s driving me.

“Luke, I will jump out of this car-”

“No you won’t.” He tells me plainly as he drives into Ashton’s neighborhood. He takes me down a couple of streets and turns onto Ashton’s street before parking his car. He parks it in Ashton’s driveway and turns to face me. “You can come in calmly or I can carry you.”