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"Lets Take A Break" - Ashton Irwin

Your Twitter feed was blowing up with people commenting on the latest drama. Pictures of Ashton with some girl who wasn't you had appeared all over the Internet, along with articles about how he was 'definitely cheating' on you. You had never believed any of these rumours before, but this time it was different.
Normally Ashton gave you a heads up on the drama, but this time he hadn't. Maybe he just hadn't seen it yet? You weren't sure.
A loud buzzing signalled that your phone was ringing, so you ran to grab it. It was Ashton.

"Hello?" You answered.
"Hi babe, you seen the drama?"
"Uh, yeah. Twitters a crazy place."
"Yeah."
You were silent for a minute, waiting for him to tell you they were fake.
"Um, so is that all you called up to say?"
"You don't sound happy."
"Ash you haven't even denied the rumours!"
Normally you wouldn't get this upset. You understood that he had a pretty hectic life. It was just odd, normally the first thing he would do was deny it.
"What the hell [Y/N]? Is it not a given that I wouldn't do that to you?"
"Well I guess it's just..."
"You seriously think I actually did that?"
"No it's just..."
"She's one of my mates girlfriends for fucks sake!"
"I didn't know that did I?"
"You shouldn't just assume that I'm cheating you know. It's a really immature and bitchy thing to do."
You were stuck for words. Ashton had never been like this with you before.
"I..."
"I think we need a break, [Y/N]. I'll call you at some point, but for now... Well I'll see you."

And he hung up before you could utter a word. What the hell? As you realised what had just happened, you began to cry. Why would he do that? Maybe he was cheating and breaking it off with you was easier than telling the truth. He had put you guys on a break. What did that even mean? You weren't sure. He had hardly let you speak. He was being strange; surely you needed more of a reason than that to practically break up with your girlfriend of four years?
The one thing you did know is that you wanted to go out and get very very drunk.

---

Your head pounded when you sat up. Trying to forget the events of the previous day by means of alcohol probably wasn't the best idea.
Twitter was going insane. There was pictures of you everywhere. You looked like a drunken mess - which is basically what you had been. At least people were sticking up for you and saying that you deserved to let go a bit - you were going through a lot.
A text with Ashton popped up on your phone.

'We go on a break and the first thing you do is go dance with some stranger in a shitty club?'

'I went out to get drunk and forget. That's all I wanted. Nothing else happened, and unfortunately I can still remember.'

He called you, but you rejected it immediately. You weren't in the mood.

Over the next few days images began to pop up online of Ashton looking extremely rough. Through the heavy bags under his eyes you could tell he hadn't been sleeping. What was wrong with him? He had annoyed you, but you still loved him. You still didn't want him to be sad or struggling or anything bad.

Your phone ringing at 3am was the worst way to be woken from your sleep. It was Calum.

"[Y/N] I'm a little drunk right now," he slurred.
"Okay, what's up? Is everyone okay? Nobody is hurt are they?" You asked groggily.
"Everyone is okay, apart from Ashton. Ashton isn't great. He's like the opposite of great. It's bad. He looks and feels like hell, [Y/N]. He didn't cheat, I promise, and he knows he was wrong for yelling at you but he's scared that you're gonna end it for good if he calls you." Calum rambled, barely taking a breath in between words.
"What should I do?"
Calum was silent for a minute.
"Come to us."
"Cal you're like halfway across the country."
"I c-can sort it."
"Calum."
He was drunk so you weren't really sure what to make of his words right now. You believed him about Ashton, but you weren't sure he was going to be able to sort this out.
"I can. I will."
"Calum..." You repeated.
"I'll sort you a flight out in the morning. It only takes like a half hour to get from there to here."
You sighed and told him okay. You still had a nagging feeling that something would go wrong but you decided to blame that on nerves.

When you woke up the next morning you had a message from Calum.

'Your plane is at 11pm from Heathrow. See you in Sheffield tonight.'

Maybe he was more reliable than you thought. You texted him thank you and began packing. You weren't sure how long you'd be gone for but you were sure if you didn't have enough clothes you would figure something out.

By the time 11pm came you were getting a little nervous. It would only be a half hour until you saw Ashton. Well, maybe anyway. You weren't sure if Calum was planning on letting you sleep before you saw Ash.

His smiling face met you off the plane. The nearest airport to Sheffield, which is where their next gigs were, was Doncaster, so you had a a little drive before you'd get back to the hotel.

"So tell me what's been going on. Has he called you at all?"
"He called to yell at me about going out and getting smashed the night he said we should go on a break. And he's text me a few times but hasn't said much. It's like we actually are broken up."
"He's been beating himself up. He's barely eaten, he hasn't slept... It's killing him. And it's effecting other stuff as well, like his performance. His drumming is slacking a bit - not that noticeably - but a bit, and he barely even talks when we go on stage. He's not in a great place."
"Why didn't he call me? Doesn't he realise that I never wanted to be apart from him. I just wanted answers about the girl in the pictures."
"Oh, her."
"Yeah."
"You had every right to be upset, but that was blown way out of proportion, believe me. That girl is one of our friends girlfriends. I think you'd like her actually. Her boyfriend was literally around the corner from where the pictures were taken. Ash was just making sure she was safe coming out of the club we'd been in. I think the papers only made something out of it because he had his arm around her. He was just being friendly."
"See if he'd have told me all of this none of this would've happened. I just wanted him to deny the rumours and tell me the truth."
"Well, hopefully he'll tell you himself. You almost ready? We're nearly here."
You shook your head. "I don't know what to say to him."
"Just tell him that you love him. Tell him what you've told me. Explain that you trusted him, you just wanted him to tell you everything. Tell him that you never wanted to be apart from him. Just tell him that you've missed him."
You breathed in sharply. It was almost time to face him.
Calum pulled up outside of the hotel. Just a few more minutes until you would see Ashton.

Ashton's voice seemed to fill the lobby.
"Hey Calum where have you..." Ashton began, trailing off when you stepped out from behind Calum.
"I brought someone to see you." Calum told him, leaving quickly.
"L-lets go to my room." Ashton said after a few minutes of staring at you in silence.
You nodded and followed him.

"So have... Have you come to break up with me for good?" Ashton mumbled, closing the door behind him. You gazed into his beautiful eyes for a moment. You felt a pang in your chest as you saw all of the pain in his eyes. You had to look away quickly. You hated it when he was upset. It gave you the strongest desire to make him feel better.
You strode across the room and pulled his lips onto yours, kissing him passionately for the first time in ages. He melted into your hands and pulled you into his chest, wrapping his arms around you securely.
You pulled your lips away a fracture and leant your forehead on his.
"Ashton, I love you. I never wanted us to be apart, I just wanted an explanation of those pictures. I trusted you, alright? I still trust you. I just wanted to know." You whispered, your hot breath tickling his lips.
He smiled and quickly rejoined your lips.
"I love you." He mumbled.
"I love you too, Ashton."