I've Got This Friend

"Good morning.." Ashton raps as he rolls over, being awakened from the alarm clock.

"Mmm." I respond. "What time is it?"

"The ass crack of dawn. Let's go back to sleep." He sighs, obviously annoyed by conversation in the morning.

I automatically nod without thinking, and almost drift back off but then I remember why we have to wake up so early. School. And today Ashton has to take that test so that he can graduate and we can all take a trip together like we all wanted to. "Ashton." I nudge him, sitting up a bit taller still pretty half asleep.

"Ash." I nudge him again.

"What happened to 'let's go back to sleep'?" He sasses up nonetheless sits up too.

"We have to go to school today Ashton. You've got that test to worry about, and I need as much credits as I can get. I started falling behind some when-" I immediately close my mouth because I know that he's still touchy with the whole subject.

"You started falling behind when what? When I tried to kill myself? Is that what you're getting at?"

"Ashton, that's not what I was going to say." I protest, trying to hold on to his arm to keep him in my grasp.

"Yeah well you didn't have to." He spats and jerks his arm away. He throws on a shirt and some jeans and sprays on cologne to mask the oder from not bathing since he's been too afraid. When he sees me watching his rolls his eyes, grabs the rest of his books and belongings and bolts out the door.

I don't bother running after him because I know that it will only make things worse. Honestly, I'm so stupid for even thinking that. Of course that was what I was going to say, but I didn't mean it in that sort of way. I didn't mean that he was holding me back from anything. Moments later I see Emmy rushing up with one of her looks on her face.

"What happened?"

"What'd you mean?" I shrug, getting my books together and running my fingers through my hair, reminding me that I'm forgetting something but I don't know what it is.

"Ashton just stormed out of the house, Jessica. You're the one who's sleeping with him so how about you let me in on what's going on."

"It's nothing, Emmy. Geez, you think you know everything but you don't." I state very mater of factly.

Emmy puts her hands on her hip and smirks. "I know that you're still in your pajams and that you haven't even taken a shower, yet you're still trying to go to school." Then she walks away without even seeing my reaction because let's face it, I was defeated.

***

"You're late." Michael states standing beside me whilst I rush to get my books at my locker.

"No shit smartass. Why aren't you even in class?"

Michael smirks and holds up a bathroom pass. "Why are you so crabby?"

"Have you not seen the king of crabbiness?"

"What?" He chuckles.

I roll my eyes. "Ashton. Have you not seen him this morning?"

"Isn't he taking that test?"

I shrug. "Hope so. He stormed out this morning and haven't seen him since."

"What'd you do to him?"

"Why do you think that I had to do something?"

"Well he stormed out of your house and hasn't seen you since. And well you answered my question with a question."

I roll my eyes, and slam my locker shut. I begin walking down to my class of the day, preparing myself for the stares and judgments from Jack. I turn the handle and everyone turns their attention towards me as I interrupt the class. "Good to see you, Miss. Montgomery." The teacher says.

I nod and sheepishly hand her my late pass. Then I turn around and take a seat at the back of the room. I lay my head down in my hands, but I'm soon interrupted by Jack. "Long time no see eh?"

"Can I help you?"

"No." He shakes his head but sits down anyways. "You could go out with me tonight though."
"I have a boyfriend. And I wouldn't go out with you even if I didn't."

"You almost did."

"That was before I found out how much of a dick you really are." I put on a smug look.

"Well your so called boyfriend said that you could go out with anyone you wanted. I'm open since you too are broken up."

I laugh in disbelief. "W-what?"

"That's the word on the street." He shrugs.

"Well the street is wrong. We're still together, and I'm not going out with you." I sigh, and blink a few times, hoping the rumors were all fake. Thankfully I missed enough of 1st period so that the bell rang and I was off to be in a class with Calum.

***

The rest of the day was a drag. Calum had told me that that's what he heard too, and Michael asked the same thing. Luke surprisingly was the only comforting one. But I was still too upset to care. I now sit in my room doing what homework I can when someone barges through the door.

I sniff away the tears that had fallen onto my book, but I don't look up. "Don't do that." Ashton's voice speaks.

I slowly look up to see that he'd been crying too. "You don't do it either."

"I told Jack that we weren't on the best terms and that right now I couldn't care less what happened between you two. But that was then, and I promise I didn't mean it. You know how I get when I'm mad. I'm sorry."

"It's okay." I whisper, not being able to find a voice.

"Good." He smiles and places a delicate kiss on my lips.

"I'm sorry for this morning." I say, fiddling with my sleeve.

"I just felt like you thought that I was holding you back from whatever you wanted to do. I don't want you to fall behind in classes because of me, Jess. I love you."

"More than yesterday?"

"More than a million years."

I giggle. "Did you pass that test?"

"As a matter of fact.. I did!"

"Ashton! That's great!" I exclaim wrapping my arms around his neck.

"New York here we come!"

Notes