Don't

Seven

"Will you stop bloody shouting!"

I hold the phone at arms length from my ear as my sister goes crazy on the other end after seeing the exact thing I was trying to avoid.

"WHEN WERE YOU GOING TO TELL ME?"

"You're still shouting" I'm too tired for this, I knew going out with Ashton for lunch was a bad idea. Always follow your instincts Dylan!

"Sorry" I hear her say through the phone at a normal level, so I put it back to my ear, "it's just I don't understand why you wouldn't tell me. Like hello! You're hanging out with Ashton Irwin, your fucking sunshine and you don't have the urge to just die down the phone to me?"

"How are you older than me?" I shake my head, "What time is it there anyway?"

"Seriously? You're asking me about the time?" I stayed quiet, she sighs, "it's just gone half nine in the morning, why?"

"I'm not near a clock and wanted to know what time it was"

"Ooo, are you going out with Ashton again?"

I lean against the kitchen counter and look over to Ash who's sitting on the chair in the living room like he usually does, a look of concentration on his face, shaking his head slightly at what I assume, are comments being left on pictures of us that are now all over Twitter, his finger quickly scrolling along the screen. Luckily, I was a nobody, no one recognised me, or knew who I was but damn, how they were trying to find out.

"He's here with me now" I mumble quietly into the phone

"Wow, you go sis! So what is it? Whirlwind summer romance, is it going somewhere?"

"We're not..." I turn, resting my elbows on the counter, my back towards Ashton, continuing in a hushed tone, "we're not together, we're just friends, okay."

"Friends with benefits?" It's like I can see the smirk on her face, and I really wish I could punch it off.

"Mary!" My voice harsh "stop it!"

Her voice changed to concern in an instant, "Dyl, what's wrong?" I say nothing, thoughts of Luke running through my mind, he hadn't replied to my text, and now with everything going on, I was worried. The talk with Calum. The conversation with Ash at lunch. I didn't want to think about it. I was leaving in less than two weeks and that was that. "Dylan?"

I snap out of my thoughts, "I have to go" I hear Ashton moving around behind me.

"Dylan, tell me what's going on"

I feel Ash's large hand on my shoulder, I look at him and he gives me a small smile, "I'll speak to you soon okay, I've got to go, laters" I hang up, placing the phone down on the counter.

Ashton pulls me into a hug, I hug back and he gives me a squeeze, "it'll be alright, you know? It'll all blow over soon" he says, gently stroking my hair.

"I know, it's not that, I don't care what people say, not really." I rest my head on his shoulder, "I'll get over it, it's just very intense and all at once, I'll adjust"

"You're worried about Luke?" he spoke, more like a statement than a question but his voice still sounded unsure.

Calum and Dee were still out, they had decided to do some exploring after Dee got her tattoo. I was still worried about how things were going to be with Calum, but I was honest and truthful when I spoke to him in the morning, just as I was with Ash at lunch. There was nothing to tell. Luke and I were just friends, neither of us hinted for anything more towards each other but apparently others saw things differently.

There was only one thing to do, one person I could trust to answer my questions, one person I knew that would definitely have the answers.

"Hey Ash, can you do me a favour?" I looked up at him and he smiled

"Anything"

~

The drive was quiet, neither of us turning on the radio. Ash's eyes on the road, occasionally looking towards me worriedly. I kept my head against the cool window, looking at the surroundings. Sydney was so beautiful, if I could, I'd never leave.

Plus it was awesome hanging out with Dee again. It's was our second holiday together and we'd had so much fun. It was great to see her since she's from New Zealand and I live in London. It's amazing how you can become friends with someone across the world through social media. That's one thing it's definitely good for.

I take a deep breath thinking about where I'm going, I'm starting to lose my nerve a little bit and maybe this isn't the best way to approach the situation. I feel Ashton's hand rest on mine, I look over to him and he gives me a small reassuring smile. I feel slightly better, resting my head against the window again.

Ashton had I had become such good friends these past weeks. We'd clicked instantly since that first day on the beach, where I had fallen asleep on him in the car and have pretty much been inseparable ever since.

He seemed to see the world through different eyes. He was sweet, a dreamer and always saw the best in everything. He would be frustrated sometimes but it never lasted long. He was always up for anything, and like me, he could run on very little sleep, so no matter what time it was, I knew if I needed, or wanted to do something, Ashton would be there.

That's how we had become so close.

We'd go on random drives to stargaze, sometimes staying out all night and watching as the sun would rise. Our brains never seemed to stop, always thinking, always wondering. Asking questions that would probably sound crazy to some but to us they made sense, not because they weren't weird because seriously, a couple really were, but the fun part was listening to each other's logic trying to figure out the answers.

When we would hang out at the flat Dee and I were renting, everyone would always fall asleep before us, so we would go to my room and talk until the early hours of the morning, just about anything and everything, eventually falling asleep.

We'd talk about our pasts, our dreams and even wrote a few songs together. Not for anything special, just because it was fun and I had told him about my love of writing, so he suggested it. I could talk to Ashton about anything. He was now one of my closest friends and I loved him for that.

We had kissed once, during the first week of us meeting, and yes it did feel nice at the time. His lips were firm but sweet, his tongue smooth, moving tenderly against mine. It lasted for a while, mostly because both of us just really enjoy kissing but it never progressed to anything else, and we never did it again.

We were just friends, and that was perfect for us.

I take a deep breath as we slowly pull up to the house. My recent thoughts long gone. I look up at it, it seems... Bigger, more intimidating.

"You right?" Ash says giving my hand a gentle squeeze

I nod, "yeah" I lean over to him and kiss his cheek, "thanks for driving me"

"No problem" he kisses my forehead, "call if you need anything"

I nod getting out of the car. Once I get to the door I turn back to Ashton quickly, he smiles, I smile back, wave and turn knocking on the door, hearing the car drive away.

A minute goes by, I contemplate knocking again slowly raising my hand when the door finally opens, revealing one confused looking guy, "Dylan?"

"Hey, Mikey"