Speak//Ashton Irwin

Chapter 2

Brooke:
At lunchtime, I walked to the exit to eat outside the school grounds. Just as I was about to reach the front door, an arm shot out, stopping me from going further.
"Brooke," Delaney said with a fake smile. "I'm having a party on Saturday to celebrate the end of the year. You should come. What do ya say?" Delaney and her friends laughed under their breaths. How could they still find that funny? Did they ever get bored of their own stupid, pathetic jokes.
I pushed past her, almost running towards the door. The laughing stopped as soon as I was outside. I'd had enough of today already and needed to leave. Blinking the tears back, I walked quickly through the parking lot. How could people hate me so much for doing absolutely nothing? I swallowed the lump in my throat and willed myself not to cry.
"Brooke?" Ashton's voice called out, making me instantly brighten up. I turned around to see him jogging towards me, his messy hair blowing across his forehead.
I took a shaky breath and smiled. I was not going to let him make me cry again, and I really didn't want Ashton to see me cry either. He strode across the parking lot and stopped right in front of me.
"Hey. Are you okay?" He asked, scanning my face. I nodded. Ashton raised his right eyebrow. "No, you're not. Hold on a minute, I'll come with you and we can talk."
I grabbed his arm as he went to turn away and shook my head. I didn't want him to come with me. He didn't need to be the boy that hung out with the weird girl that didn't talk. I nudged him in the direction of his waiting friends, telling him to go with them. He looked to his friends for a second before returning to me.
"It's fine. I'd rather come with you," he said, reading my actions.
Great, I'm the loser charity case that needs babysitting. I shook my head more fiercely and clenched my jaw in frustration. Of all the people in the world, I did not want him feeling sorry for me. Ashton gave me a mock-exasperated sigh, his eyes tightening a little.
"Either I'm coming with you, or you're sitting with us. It's up to you." He folded his arms over his chest, challengingly.
"Ashton, are you coming or not?" His friend, Liam shouted. I had met Liam a few times before but only in passing when Ashton was walking to his car with him or something.
"Come on, babe. I'm hungry," some girl called. Babe? Ashton mumbled something under his breath, but I couldn't make it out. Who was she? Was she his girlfriend? She couldn't be. He would have told me something like that, wouldn't he?
My chest felt like a hand had gripped it tightly. I didn't want them to be together. Perfect now you're jealous. The thought of him being with someone else made me feel sick and want to gouge the eyes out of the girl. "I'm going with Brooke," he shouted back. I slapped his chest and pushed him again, which just made him laugh. Just go! "Eating with us it is then." He smirked, grabbing my hand and pulling me along with him. I tugged my arm, trying to get my wrist out of his iron grip, but he was too strong.
"Shes sitting with us," he explained to his group of friends. My face flamed in embarrassment. He made me feel like a three-year-old. I was so angry that I refused to look at him. How could he do that? He knew I didn't like being in a group of people, I felt so out of place. They nodded, and we all walked around the building to the field at the back. Well, I didn't walk. I was pulled.
The girl that had called Ashton 'babe' didn't look happy at all that I was there. She shot me the occasional discreet glare as we walked. I didn't even want to sit with them in the first place, and I certainly didn't want to sit with them if he was with her.
Eventually, we sat down, under some trees.
The nameless girl, who looked a little like Meg from Family Guy but without the glasses, made a real effort to talk to Ashton as much as she could. I didn't blame her. Ashton was an amazing guy.
I frowned at the floor and picked at the grass. I was angrier with myself than I was with Ashton. I shouldn't like him as much as I did. I wasn't good enough for him.
"Brooke, you want?" Ashton asked, holding his Pepsi out to me. A shake of my head answered his question and he frowned, putting the can down on the floor. "You're annoyed with me?" I lowered my eyes and wished I could disappear. We were actually going to have this out in front of everyone?
He sighed, exasperated. "How long are you going to ignore me for?" I shrugged my shoulders, still refusing to look at him. I was close to crying again, and I didn't want to do that in front of everyone.
"What did you do to piss her off so much?" Liam asked, not even bothering to lower his voice so I wouldn't hear.
Ashton snorted. "Nothing. She's just being impossible."
How am I the one being impossible? He didn't have to make me come over here.
Someone stepped in my light, casting a dark shadow over my lap. Looking up, I shrank back.
"Brooke?" Harry sneered. "Come out with me tomorrow night? Whatya say?" He and his friends chuckled, too hard for the lame joke. His friends were sheep, they did what he said, followed where he went and laughed at whatever he joked about. I pressed my fists into my lap and looked away. Just as they were about to leave, Ashton jumped up and grabbed fistfuls of Harry's shirt. My eyes widened. What on earth are you doing? I screamed at him silently.
"What did you just say to her?" Ashton growled, his knuckles turning white as he clenched his fists harder.
"Chill, man. I was only joking," Harry mumbled, stiffening his back and pulling at his shirt in an effort to try and release it from Ashton's grip.
I couldn't watch and I certainly couldn't let a teacher witness what was looking like turning into a fight, and let Ashton get into trouble. Jumping to my feet, I pulled at Ashton's arm, but he didn't move an inch. It was as if he didn't even see me; so this was what he was like when he was angry.
"Ashton let it go," Liam demanded. Please let it go, I begged with my eyes.
"A joke, was it? Well, I didn't find it very funny. If you so much as look at her again, I'll kill you."
Ashton shoved Harry away from us and gently pried my hand from his arm. Whoa. As soon as I was no longer touching him, he launched forward and punched Harry in the jaw. I flinched in shock at Ashton punching someone.
Harry stumbled backwards, almost falling over his own legs, but managed to correct himself. One of his friend's hands shot out and grabbed the top of his arm to steady him. For a second, Harry glared back at Ashton. He looked like he was weighing up his options: start a fight, or leave.
Grabbing my bag, I sprinted towards the school gates. I couldn't do this; I needed to get away.
"Brooke?" Ashton shouted after me.
If I turned around, I would probably cry, so I kept running. I ran out of the gates and towards the park. My legs started to burn as I pushed myself faster. I could feel a pain forming in my side, but I didn't slow my pace, I pushed harder. Why were things so complicated? If I could go to sleep and wake up as someone else, anyone else, I would do it in a heartbeat.