Eva's PoV

Ashton gave me a ride back to his place and I welcomed the idea of actually having someone to spend time with when I was in a house. I may have looked a little too eager once Ashton had asked me and I jumped at the opportunity. The car ride had been particularly quiet as Ashton's mind sorted through everything that had happened and where we had got to. He glanced over to me and let out a smile.

"We made a mess of that, huh." He said humorously, referring to pretty much everything that had happened since our first encounter. I looked down at my lap in embarrassment.

"Yeah. There definitely could have been an easier way to sort that out." I said, shaking my head. Hindsight was a bitch.

"Well..." he coughed as he tried to psych himself up. "Thank you, I guess. I mean you fucked me up and made me go crazy but thanks for the help at college." My jaw dropped as I looked over to him. Did Ashton Irwin just thank me?

"Thanks for not being as bad to me as your friends. And for listening to me." I replied, hoping to make him feel better about everything. He nodded and we fell back into a comfortable silence until we arrived at his house. He jumped out of the car and headed to the front door, noting my hesitance to just waltz in as if I knew the place.

"Don't worry, no-ones home." He shrugged and I swiftly followed him, heading into the front room.

"Are your parents always out?" I quizzed, perching on the edge of a chair as Ashton wandered into the kitchen. I heard the fridge open and close and then a lid being popped off. He returned with a beer in his hand.

"Dad is nonexistent, mum works nights." He said vaguely, clearly wanting to keep it as a quick conversation. I laughed a little, receiving a glare from him.

"I know how you feel. I mean my parents are around but they're not. You know?" I played with my hands under the intense watch of Ashton, analysing what I'd said.

"That day I dropped off your food...?" He pried. I could tell he felt awkward asking in case it upset me but I'd spoken about it enough that It didn't bother me anymore.

"First time I was home alone, both parents working late. Second time I'd argued with my dad because he used me to help seal a deal at work and never thanked me. Tried to call me ungrateful." I scoffed, being reminded of the moment once again caused my blood to boil. My fists clenched in my lap. Ashton shook his head.

"Maybe we aren't so different after all." He shrugged. He held his beer bottle towards me. "Beer?" I shook my head, almost disgusted.

"Water is fine, thank you." I said politely, still trying to be on my best behaviour. As Ashton walked into the kitchen, someone knocked on the door aggressively, hammering on it as if they were trying to knock it down.

"Get that please." He called out. I looked back in disbelief but realising he couldn't see me, I got up and headed to the door. When I opened it, I was greeted with something I didn't want to see. Calum, bloodied and beaten, barely able to speak as he staggered into the hallway. Blood dropped from a couple of places, his face bruised and swollen. He looked like he'd taken a serious beating from someone who wanted him dead. My heart was in my mouth.

"Earphones?" He said, barely conscious as his eyes began to roll back.

"Jesus! Ashton!" I called out, Ashton rushing straight to the front door just as Calum collapsed onto me, me barely able to carry his weight.

"Shit! Cal?" He rushed over and helped me move him into the front room where we laid him on the sofa. There was a tense silence as I watched Ashton get to work, rushing around to get things that could help Calum. It was weird to watch, as if Ashton was some sort of nurse that I never knew about. "Douse the towel in water and put it on his forehead." He ordered me and I obeyed without question, wringing the hand towel out slightly before laying it on Calum's head. I left it there for a second before I dabbed his cheeks and began to wipe some of the dried blood from his face. Despite how he had been with me in pretty much every encounter we'd ever had, I didn't want to see him in this state. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. Ashton watched me as i delicately wiped Calum's face, clearing up what I could and making him look a little better. I then rinsed out the towel again and left it on his forehead. I looked over to Ashton who was now sitting on the sofa, his hands together as he concentrated, his mind racing.

"Everything okay?" I questioned, his eyeline raising from the floor to me. He sighed.

"Whoever this was. They're going to pay. This was a message and I think the message was meant for me." He sighed, running his hands through his hair.

"What makes you so sure?" I pushed, knowing I was treading on dangerous territory and needed to be careful.

"Calum is a hothead but he's never really pissed anyone off like that. He doesn't make lasting enemies, just ones in the spur of the moment when he's being a mouthy asshole. Unless he's in some shit I don't know about, this wasn't for him." I wanted to ask the next question, who he thought it was but as my mind ticked over, I think we both thought the same thing. Slowly, we looked at each other as if we'd both had a lightbulb moment. Both of us thought the same thing. It was Sirgani.

"Ash, no." I said as he shot to his feet, storming towards the front door. I dashed after him, getting in the way and stopping him getting out.

"Get the fuck out of the way." He ordered, pushing me but I remained strong.

"No."

"Fucks sake Earphones. Move." His anger was causing him to revert back to the college bully. He grabbed my clothes and shoved me into the door hard. His face got in mine. "Move. Now."

"Ashton, Sirgani literally said he'd call the police on you if you went anywhere near his house." I reminded him, causing him to retract. He let out a sigh.

"But look what he did to Calum. I can't let that slide." He said, slowly uncurling his hands from my clothes and taking a step back. I brushed myself down.

"I'm not saying you need to. I'll go and talk to him. He won't know what hit him."