Ashton's PoV

I stood for a moment in pure shock. For once, I'd tried to speak to her, make a joke, lighten the mood now it was just the two of us... but the door got shut in my face. Something must have been wrong. This wasn't her usual 'earphones in so I didn't hear you' stuff. She was upset. Too upset to speak to the one person she tried to help earlier this week. What could be wrong? Was it something with her family? I've never heard her mention them, literally ever, and she did make that comment about eating dinners for one...

Why am I analysing this? Why do I care? I'm Ashton Irwin, biggest name in college and town for being a reckless troublemaker with no feelings or sense of right and wrong. The very same one who has a delivery job to try and fund a career he's keeping secret from all his friends whilst developing a weird connection to the loner in class. Great. My sigh was long and heavy as I made my way back to the bike, realising another pot was still in my box. Shit. Now I'd have to go back.
I rang the doorbell and prepared a smile ready for Earphones but instead of her, a tall man in a suit greeted me with a snarl.

"What?" He snapped instantly, making the smile fade and turn into a frown. I shoved the pot into his hands.

"Sorry, SIR." I emphasised. "I'd forgotten to give you this."

"It's not his fault dad, don't bark at the delivery guy." I heard earphones shout from inside. The man I now knew as her dad visibly relaxed for a second although I knew it was going to be short lived.

"Right, yes. Sorry. Kid trouble." He said as he nodded in the direction of earphones.

"No problem sir. Have a lovely evening." I lied through gritted teeth as I turned back to my bike, blood boiling from how he spoke to me. Things like that triggered me so easily. It takes nothing to have manners, especially when you're a grown man. I jumped on my bike and threw my helmet on, speeding back to the shop to finish the last of my shift. I only had an hour left and hopefully, it'd be a quiet one. The manager was pretty lenient with me anyway, he understood me and what I was doing so he didn't pressure me into anything that would make me quit. He could see the good kid hidden beneath the troublemaking exterior. He told me he used to be like me, reckless and troublesome, until he hit college and got a job. He realised life wasn't going to give him opportunities without him trying. Things weren't handed on plates in life. You had to earn your way. Now he managed this place which was something he'd always wanted to do. I aspired to be like him, but I wanted to study some more and work out what I wanted to do after that. I had options, which was good for me - but what wouldn't be good was my friends or anyone at college finding out that I had this plan in life. I'd be dropped faster than Amber had left me. Fuck.

"Well?" Andre stood before me with his arms crossed and a smirk on his face, one eyebrow raised as if he were waiting for me to explain myself. I looked at him in confusion. What did I do this time?

"Well what?" I questioned my manager, shrugging.

"If I remember rightly, earlier this week you delivered to that address and came back saying it was someone from college. I know you never want to deliver to them. Yet you went back to that address... so... who's the lucky girl?" He let out a suggestive smile as he leant against the desk and waited for my response but the truth was, I didn't have one.

"The name was different." I tried to lie my way through.

"Same surname though." Andre butted in quickly. I shook my head and looked down to the floor. Should I just be honest? It'd be good to talk to someone about all the shit going round in my head. I mean, I had noone to offload this too and I think that made it worse.

"She's just someone trying to help me through tough times." I decided to speak without thinking too much about it, that way it'd be truthful and honest - surprising even.

"Do you like her?" He quizzed like men always did. Of course he'd think I wanted to fuck her. That's all guys think when you end up talking about a girl. Why did I even think this was a good idea? I sighed heavily.

"Nah. She's a friend." I tried to steer away from the subject.

"With benefits?" He suggested again. My blood began to boil. What part of this wasn't he getting? It's not always about that.

"You know what? Forget I said anything." I spat as I pushed past him. "I'm taking this last delivery and going home. See you later." I shook my head as I grabbed the last bag and headed out, leaving him in my dust. I jumped on my bike, trying not to think about it and annoy myself any more. I needed to remain calm for this last drop and then when I got home I could let it all out and be free. My room was the only place I felt I could express my true self. I was in the confinement of my four walls with no judging eyes. It wasn't like anyone was going to start second guessing me or suggesting things. I could just be myself and get everything sorted in my head.

I parked up and dropped off my last order, trying to be as polite as possible before heading back to my place and instantly making my way to my room. The bare walls were a true reflection of myself, the one I showed to the world - too scared to be myself and have an opinion in case it ruined my image. My room was coloured in a cold blue, yet I found it strangely warming.
Slumping down on my bed, I thought back to my day and how I was saying this was the only place I could be myself. There was only one person that had accepted that from me from day one, and it was that weirdo on the phone. Maybe I could use that to my advantage. Maybe that person would help me sort out my life and my feelings...