What Doesn't Break You (Ashton Irwin Fanfic)

Chapter 11

Ashton’s POV:

I jerked out of sleep early on a Monday morning to the sound of my phone alarm going off on the floor beside my bed. I fumbled my hands along the floor looking for my phone for a few seconds and finally clicked it off when I found it. I groaned as I sat up and ran both my hands through my hair and down my face.

After sitting there for a few minutes trying to let my eyes adjust to the little bit of light coming through my window, I finally yawned and swung my feet over the edge of my bed. I got up and walked out of my room and down the hall, stretching my back as I went. I came to the first bedroom door down from mine and lightly knocked before sticking my head inside.

“Lauren? Time to get up kiddo.” I heard a mumbled reply coming from my sisters covers which I took to mean she was up. I then continued to my little brother’s room and did the same to him. Harry was a little harder to get up in the mornings than Lauren was, but he finally sat up and rubbed his eyes.

When I was sure they were both up and getting ready for school I returned to my own room and starting getting ready as well. After quick showers, a breakfast consisting of cereal and juice, and making sure everyone had their school uniforms on right, we were out the door.

I didn’t mind my morning duties of sorting out my little brother and sister before school. Mum always worked late shifts on the weekdays, so I got the kids up and ready for school so she could have a lie in before heading back to work. Ever since dad left us she has been working twice as hard to keep things running smoothly, and as soon as I was able, I began to help her as much as I could.

Besides taking Harry and Lauren to school in the mornings, I also took Harry to football practice, Lauren to her piano lessons, and went to the grocery store when we needed food and supplies for the kitchen. I would say I helped out in the kitchen as well, but that would be stretching the truth a little too far.

I could cook if I needed to, but the range of my cooking skills extended to cereal, PB&J sandwiches, and McDonalds. Thankfully mum learned to cook meals that could be made in large portions, and she would separate them into small containers and freeze them so they would last for a few weeks. All I had to do for dinner was pop a few in the microwave for me and the kiddos, and we had an instant meal.

After dropping Harry and Lauren off at their school I started driving back to Norwest. As I drove I tried not to think about how boring today was going to be. Again. I finally parked my car and made my way to my first class, still caught up in my thoughts.

I tried not to be a resentful person. We did all right for what we had, and I was very grateful. But sometimes I really hated the fact that we were just stuck where we were at, all because my dear old dad decided to turn tail and leave us behind.

I had no trouble stepping up and being the man of the house, but sometimes I just wanted to be a kid. There was no room for me to be a screw up. I had responsibilities at home even though I was only 17 years old.

Sometimes I would wake up in a cold sweat in the middle of the night thinking about everything I had going on. I don’t think anyone knows about my home life except Cal. For the most part I just try to make other people believe I’m a cocky bastard and they just left me alone. As long as I look tough, nobody will pick up on how lost I feel all the time.