- Pandora -
Even when bowling, I still had an ever present feeling of disgust gnawing away at me.
It's not like I chose to focus on it, but that's all I seemed to think about.
Did I like Ashton?
Did he like me?
Was Evie right?
It was frustrating.
After dividing ourselves into two teams, I was placed in a group with Michael and Ashton, Evie placing herself with Calum and Luke.
Calum kept taking long confused glances at me, along with the rest of the boys. They were all under the impression I liked him, when they couldn't be further from the truth.
"You bowl." Ashton ordered, causing Michael to groan.
"I don't want to!"
"You have to!"
"Can we put up the sides?"
Ashton sent Evie a questioning glance and she shook her head, placing her hands firmly on her hips.
"Stop being such a püssy Michael."
"I can't bowl!" He exclaimed, abruptly standing up and stomping towards the alley.
I chuckled softly and picked at my nails, taking hesitant glances down at our baby.
She had been quiet for quite some time now, and it was really starting to worry me.
"Hey."
I slowly looked up to lock eyes with Ashton, heat rising to my cheeks. I didn't want to feel awkward, but Evie had made me paranoid.
What if I did like him?
"Hey."
"So, I'm guessing you like Calum?"
I shook my head, nervously nibbling on the corner of my lip.
"I just done that to make Evie jealous."
Ashton frowned, shuffled himself closer towards me. He seemed confused, which wasn't surprising.
"Why? I thought she was your friend."
"She is," I replied firmly, awkwardly glancing down at my lap "I just- I don't know. Shut up Ashton."
"Girls are so confusing," he chuckled, running his hand through his messy hair "I'm so happy I was born with a díck."
"We're not even confusing." I sighed, watching as Michael attempted to roll the bowling ball down the middle of the alley. It rolled straight for the first couple seconds before slowly beginning to go off to the right, eventually falling into the gutter and rolling away.
Michael yelled out multiple swear words and came stomping back, having hit a total of zero pins.
"Pandora, it's your go!" He yelled, falling heavily down into the seat beside me.
I nodded slowly and stood up, brushing myself down before making my way over to the bowling balls. I hesitantly picked up a green one, weighing it up in my hand.
I wasn't an expert, but it felt far too heavy.
Choosing another, I practised swinging it in my arm, receiving an exasperated sigh from behind me.
"Come on Dora!" Ashton called, shaking his head impatiently "It's just a ball!"
I flicked him off before weighing up the ball, deciding it would do. My feet slid as I walked up the alley, making me feel like an idiot.
Why couldn't they have made bowling shoes a little more attractive?
"Try and get a strike!" Michael encouraged, making me laugh.
"I've only ever been bowling once before!" I replied, eyeing the pins up wearily "Lucky if I hit one!"
"I'll help."
I frowned and spun around to see Ashton approaching me, his hands tucked deep into his back pockets. He didn't seem the slightest bit affected by his suggestion, causing me to second guess his hatred for me.
Maybe we were closer than I thought?
"Okay?" I frowned, taking a hesitant look at my bowling ball.
"Do you want the training ramp?" He questioned, pointing towards the ramp at my side.
I spotted a small five year old using it and quickly shook my head, colour rising to my cheeks.
"Can you just show me?"
He let out a small sigh and took a step forward, ordering me to turn around. I did as he said, even though my instincts were telling me not to trust him.
It was Ashton, nobody could trust him.
I let out a shaky breath as I felt a pair of large hands place themselves onto my waist, shifting me slightly to the left. Afterwards he grabbed onto my wrists, careful enough not to hurt me as he guided my arm back.
"Go Ashton!" Michael yelled, causing my face to burn a deep shade of crimson.
"Fück off!" Ashton yelled back, quickly dropping his arms.
I felt a wave of disappointment crash over me, but it was gone quickly, replaced by a feeling of embarrassment.
Did that really just happen?
"Do you get it now?" Ashton questioned, sounding slightly bored.
I nodded quickly and returned my attention to the alley, gulping down a scream lodged in my throat. My feeling towards Ashton were flying about everywhere, causing me to feel dizzy.
How could one boy cause so much confusion?
"Go Pandora!" Evie yelled, sending me a thumbs up from the booth next to ours.
She shot a cheeky look towards Ashton and back to me, causing me to groan.
I knew she would do that.
Drawing my arm back, I took a deep breath before swinging it forward, releasing the heavy ball from my hands. It landed slightly to the right and rolled straight, managing to hit down four pins.
For my first time, I was impressed.
"Oh my god!" I screamed, excitedly jumping up and down "Did you's see that?"
"Wow," Ashton replied sarcastically, slowly clapping his hands "absolutely amazing."
I rolled my eyes and picked up another ball, attempting to aim for the other pins. I managed to hit one before falling into the gutter, taking my total up to five.
It was still better than Michael.
"Is your hangover getting better?" I asked Michael, dodging Ashton as he walked past me.
The red haired boy shrugged and tentatively tapped on his head, his eyes distant.
"I don't know, I think so?"
"That's good," I smiled, gently sitting down beside him "does your head still hurt?"
"What, do you want to stroke it like you did with Calum?" He smirked, causing me to groan.
"Shut up Michael."
"Are you's talking about dícks?" Luke called, peering over from his seat.
Michael and I frowned simultaneously, peering at Luke in the darkness. The bowling alley was dimly lit, allowing us to see the outline of his face but none of his features.
"What are you on about?"
"Well, you's said head and stroke and Calum and I was just thinking-"
"Fück off Luke!" Calum yelled, harshly shoving him to the side "Why would I let Pandora touch my díck?"
I leant slightly into Michael as I tried my best to hide myself, feeling colour rise to my cheeks.
The amount of times these boys had made me blush today was ridiculous.
"Michael, it's you." Ashton called, slowly walking towards us.
Michael gave me a small pat on the shoulder before getting up, shuffling over to the alley. Ashton sat in his space and slowly pulled his phone out from his pocket, the screen illuminating his face.
"Ashton, that's too bright." I mumbled, taking a quick glance at the blinding light before quickly averting my gaze.
"Ask me if I give two shíts." He spat back, hurriedly texting someone.
I didn't mean to be nosy, but the minute I saw how many kisses he sent, the aching sense of jealousy returned.
"Who's that?"
Ashton shot me am annoyed glare before locking his phone, shoving it back into his pocket.
"Why do you care?"
"No reason," I mumbled, nervously picking up our baby and holding it in my arms "I was just wondering."
Ashton paused before replying, his voice a lowered to a whisper.
"Her names Lola Finkle."
I frowned, racking my brain for any recognition of the name. She definitely wasn't from our school.
"Who's that?"
"You don't know her," he mumbled, leaning slightly closer to my ear "she's a YouTuber. I met her once when I was visiting some friends down in Melbourne, managed to slip her my number. We've been texting ever since."
"Why are we whispering?" I frowned, following his gaze over to Calum.
He licked his lips nervously and turned his head, his breath tickling my ear.
"Under no circumstances you tell the boys, okay? Especially Calum. He's quite good friends with her boyfriend and would kill me if he ever knew."
"Boyfriend?" I gasped, quickly drawing away "You mean you send that many kisses to a girl with a boyfriend?"
"Shut up!" He hissed, grabbing my arm and yanking me forward "Yes, she has a boyfriend you twát. That's why it's a fücking secret."
"You are so disgusting Ashton," I spat, shaking my head in disappointment "at least tell me the poor guy's name."
"Luke Brooks."
I felt my blood boil as I finally put two and two together, my eyes wide in surprise and horror.
"Luke Brooks' girlfriend is cheating on him with you?"
"It's not exactly cheating," he chuckled, awkwardly scratching the back of his neck "it's kinda just playful banter."
"Playful banter my áss," I sighed, watching Michael send his last ball into the gutter "you - Ashton Irwin - are horrible."
"And you - Pandora Hemmings - better keep a fücking secret."
I rolled my eyes before standing up to take my turn, dropping our baby down onto Ashton's lap. It burst into tears and I smiled smugly, sauntering over to the bowling balls.
Ashton turned out to be more of a díck than I thought.
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Here's the update that I promised. I know questions don't always go down well with people, so I thought I'd put up another chapter.
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Song: We are Young by Fun (cover by 5sos)
I love their version of it and Idk. Calum sounds so nervous in the beginning and my heart just bleeds cause same.
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Please vote/comment/add to your libraries.
And thank you so much for reading!
- Esmerelda 💜