The Space Between a Rock and a Hard Place- 5SOS

Chapter Seventeen

Sunflower Vol. 6- Harry Styles

Ashton Irwin:

"No, you have to follow the recipe, Ash, you can't just throw things in," Av lectures me.

"It's an apple pie, Av, how hard does it really have to be?" She gives me a disappointed look. Clearly, this isn't my area of expertise, I'm just trying to do something with her.

I step behind her and press my bare chest to her back, wrapping my arms around her.

"Ash, if I have to make this all on my own, at least let me do so," she says, her arms trapped under mine.

I press my lips to her cheek while remaining my hold on her, and I feel her smile as she fights me.

"Well, I wanna dance with you, sunshine," I continue our pointless argument, unraveling my arms and spinning her to face me. Brushing her hair out of her face with one hand, I pull her in closer to me with the other, then move my hands to her waist.

"Ash, really..." she starts, rolling her eyes at me with a smile.

I start swaying to the soft background music playing in my kitchen, pulling her along with me. She eventually gives into my cheesy actions, and I sing along, singing to her: "And you can tell everybody, this is your song..."

"Oh my gosh, stop it, Ashton," Aviana blushes, trying to break free from me again. She places her soft hands against my chest, trying to push me away, but I just lean into her, continuing to sing. I know I look ridiculous right now, but that's okay.

Bringing my head to hers, I softly sing the lyrics in her ear against her will, "How wonderful life is while you're in the world..."

Aviana, of course, tries to stretch away from me, and I attack her with another kiss on the cheek.

"Stop rejecting my affection!" I plead, both of us laughing in the middle of the kitchen.

"Okay then, fine, Ash," she smirks, dragging her finger up my chest and throat to eventually cup my jaw. Av barely brushes her lips against mine and pulls away.

"That's all you get until you actually help me with this pie," she concludes, escaping me and heading back to the project we had started.

"I promise it's not that hard, Ash, you just gotta cut the apples small, and then we're going to mix the apples with the mixture I'm making. Then, the crust goes over it and we're done. It's not that bad at all,"

She demonstrates for me, making perfect tiny slices with her delicate hands.

"Well, it's not gonna look like that, Av,"

"All you gotta do is try your best, and I'm proud of you... but small pieces, Ash! Small!"

I try to copy her motions, but it's nothing like hers. This was the worst idea.

"There you go, Av, I tried. Are those any better?" I ask cautiously.

"Absolutely perfect,"

Aviana covers the apples with her spice mixture and pours it into the crust in a heaping pile. She drapes the rolled-out dough we had already made over the top and makes it look all pretty.

"And now we wait. Now, we can do whatever you want, Ash,"

"I want you, Av. I want something official, I don't want to hide anymore," I confess.

"I'm just scared, Ash... not yet,"

I stumble around the kitchen quickly before finding a sharpie. Av gives me a questioning look, so I explain.

"Can I see your hand, please?" I ask, then turn the inside of her wrist to me, drawing a little heart.

"I'm with you, always, right here. I'll wait until you're ready, but I care about you, Av,"

"Thanks, Ash. It just really hasn't been that long, and I'm still kinda nervous about it all..."

"I know, I understand. You are my sunshine Av, the light in my life, and I just want everyone to see you shine as brightly as I do," I lift her up to sit on the counter behind her, making Aviana just a bit taller than me.

I feel her fingers sink into my curls and she places a soft kiss on my forehead.

"I'm so grateful for you, Ash,"

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