A Drop in the Ocean

Chapter 46

"Jordan?" Calum whispered.  I gave him a small smile.

"In the flesh," I replied.  He stood up, walking over to me.  He stopped right in front of me, studying me.  Trying to see if I looked the same.  I noticed that Luke's sudden aging and stress wasn't written on only his face, it was written on all of theirs.  

"You cut your hair," he said.  I nodded.  He suddenly grabbed me and pulled me into a massive bear hug.  "Oh my God, Jordan.  You scared the shit out of all of us.  I can't believe you did that.  Why?  Why did you leave?" he asked me, rambling a bit.  I shrugged my shoulders under his arms.  He let go of me, but Ashton and Michael were right there behind him, waiting with open arms.  I chuckled and wrapped myself up in their arms.  I forgot what this felt like.  This warmth from these boys.  I missed this.  Ash and Mikey let me go, and I noticed that Luke was still sitting.  His face was out of his hands, but he was still hunched over.  I went over to where we was and sat on the coffee table in front of him.

"Hi," I said.  He gave me a tight lipped smile.

"Hi," he replied.  We both looked down at our hands, but luckily, the other boys were talking to Aimie.  We didn't say anything or look at each other.  In a moment of courage, I reached my hand out and grabbed his.  I held his left hand in both my hands, caressing the back of it with a thumb.  He looked up at me, and I made eye contact.  He gave me a small smile, and I returned the expression.

"Hey, do you guys want to come back with us to our hotel?  We can have a little party," Michael suggested.  Aimie gave a huge grin, and I just sighed.  I wanted to hang out, but I couldn't party.  I wasn't cheery enough.  This was all so surreal and overwhelming.  

"Aimie, you can go," I told her.  She gave me a confused look.  "I'm exhausted.  I think I'm just gonna go back to our hotel and sleep," I added.  The boys gave me a little bit of a saddened look, but they bounced back slightly.  Ash threw his arm around Aimie's shoulder.

"That's fine.  We'll party it up with this kid here," he chuckled.  She smiled and wrapped her arms around his waist.  He wrapped his other arm around her shoulder and kissed the top of her head.  I was shocked.

"Wait, what was that?" I cried.  Aimie and Ashton gave me a look.  

"What was what?" Aimie replied innocently.  

"Don't give me that.  Why are you two all lovey dovey all of a sudden?" I interrogated.  Both of them looked at each other, almost as if they were trying to figure out what to say.

"Well, we've been talking..." Ash began.

"A lot," Aimie added.  

"Seriously?" I groaned.  They nodded.  I looked at the both of them.  I studied them a little.  Then, I gave a sigh of defeat.  "Okay.  I'm happy for you," I gave in.  They both smiled, and Ashton leaned down to give Aimie a small peck on the lips.  Cal and Mikey released noises of disgust.

"Eww!  If you two are dating, no PDA, please!" Cal cried.  I couldn't help but laugh.  I stood from the coffee table and walked over to them. 

"I'm going to head out.  It was great to see you guys," I told them.  Mikey grabbed me and pulled me into a bear hug.  I squeezed him tight.  Cal came up behind me and wrapped his arms around us.  I then felt Ash wrap his arms around.  I was getting a group bear hug from my boys.  What more could I ask for.  "Guys, if you don't let me go, I might cry," I told them.  I felt them chuckle, but they reluctantly let me go.  I went back to the door, but Luke had stood up.

"Hey, I'll come with you.  Just to make sure you get to your hotel okay," he said.  He reached out and grabbed his coat.  I felt my heart begin to race.