Affection // irwin

Chapter 33

 I don’t go to school on Friday either. I hear mom open my bedroom door around 6 am and ask if I’m awake, but when I don’t reply, she sighs and leaves. I try to fall asleep again, but it’s impossible. I think I slept enough yesterday. My sleeping pattern has become messed up these past couple of days. I’ve taken long hours of naps during the day and yet managed to sleep throughout the night without waking up. Except for that one night when I had the nightmare.

My phone is turned on. I usually turn it off during the night so I can charge it, but I don’t want to miss if Ashton calls me, like he told me he would. Though, morning can mean anything from now till around 9, though I rather him call me now than at 9. I feel like some love-struck person. I’m usually hungry when I wake up, but not today. And I feel the butterflies every time I think about him. Yesterday was both hell and heaven. Started off bad with my parents and my story telling but Ashton was there and made the rest of the day perfect. That was until he had to leave. But still, after he left, I felt that tingling feeling. And now I feel it just by thinking about him. 

When he did leave, I knew it wouldn’t be long before I would see him again. It’s been about 12 hours but it feels much longer. Why can’t he just call me?

I hear someone calling from downstairs, I think it is mom saying she and dad and Adam are leaving, but I don’t respond. After a few seconds, the front door slams shut and I bolt right up. I can’t stay in bed anymore. I’ve been in this house for too long, I need to get out. I remember someone saying you should take at least one day off if you have a fever, one day off not doing any exercises, but I really can’t wait that long. I’m not going out for a jog, but maybe I could just take a walk? I feel stronger and my head isn’t dizzy anymore. Maybe I can take a walk in the park or maybe go to Sunday’s? I don’t know what Ashton’s working hours are but he might show up eventually. Maybe I should call him? I shake my head at my own thought. I’m still not one of those who call first. 

I grab a clean flowery t-shirt from one of my drawers and put it on along with a pair of skinny jeans – as usual. Skinny jeans are just something I’m really comfortable with. I don’t like wearing shorts because of how pale my legs are since I never tan. And even when I do try to get a tan, it doesn’t work. They just stay the same light color, they don’t even turn red, which is weird, since the rest of my body seem to get at least a little bit of color. 

As I reach Sunday’s my phone begins to buzz and I see Ashton’s name pop up on the screen. I have to take a photo of him. This anonymous pic I have now, does not stand near him. 

“Hi.”

“Hey, how are you?” Ashton asks through the phone.

“I’m good,” I think about it, yeah I’m good, “and you?”

“Great. Are those my sunglasses?

“Sunglasses? Wait…”

I turn around when I hear someone chuckle behind me. Ashton’s standing there, his phone to his ear. He’s wearing skinny jeans, as always, and a white t-shirt. He lowers his phone and waves at me, even though we’re standing less than 2 meters apart. I smile at him and remember the last time we stood here. The time we kissed for the first time. This will be my number one, favorite place from now on.

“Yeah, they’re yours. I didn’t realize…”

I raise the hand I’m holding his sunglasses in. I guess I’ve gotten used to wearing them so often, I didn’t even question where I got them even though it hasn’t gone that much time. I grabbed them when I opened the door and the sun beams blinded me but then the sun disappeared behind a cloud, so I took them off.