Beating Heart// Lashton

Chapter 7

Something's telling me

To leave but I won't

'Cause I'm damned if I do you

Damned if I...

Don't make a fool of myself

When you hang around

When you're gone

I'm a match that's burning out

Could have been, should have done

What I said I was going to

-Damned If I Do You, Damned If I Don't by All Time Low

Ashton's POV

For the past nearly three hours, we've been taking turns playing the same All Time Low song, with the other giving tips on how to perfect our technique. We have about ten minutes until they're supposed to get here, and that's when I realize how we're dressed. Nia is in a black mini skirt with fishnet stockings and a cropped band t-shirt, while I'm in pajamas and moccasins. 

"I need to change," I tell her. 

She turns to look at me, analyzes my outfit, and nods.

I run upstairs out of the basement and then upstairs to my room. When I get to the top, I'm extrememely out of breath and my whole body hurts and my heart is pounding and my vision is faded and I truly think I'm about to pass out but when I put my hands on my knees and do some deep breathing, it gets better.

My door has caution tape on it, classic teenage boy door design. I open my door and walk in, shutting and locking it behind me. I know Nia wouldn't purposefully open the door to see me change, but I just get anxious that anyone could see my body if they decided to just walk in, so I lock.

I go over to my closet and look through the sea of black. I decided on a pair of skinny jeans and a Green Day t-shirt. I remembered I had scars on my arms, so I grabbed a purple hoodie and put it on. I noticed that the skinny jeans were on the looser side, when just a few weeks ago they fit perfectly. Huh. I brushed off the thought and put some socks and converse on. With a little messing with my hair, I was ready. I left my room and started down the stairs. 

There was a conversation going as I walked into the room. I had been looking at the floor, cause I always look at the floor as I walk, but when I looked up finally, I stopped on the second to last stair. They looked so fucking cool, I felt like I made a stupid outfit decision. I looked over each boy, and then I landed on the last one, a blond. He looks wildly familiar but I can't quite put my finger on it. I mean, he's very attractive, and maybe I've seen him in the halls, but there's just something more I can't quite figure out. 

I realize I'm just staring at them with my mouth hanging open, so I finished descending the steps, put on a smile, and waved. They smiled and waved back. The special blond guy had an amazing smile that gave me a great sense of happiness.

"Okay, so, lunch!" Nia clapped her hands and brought us to focus.

"Oh hell yes, I'm starving!" Michael shouted. 

Nia looked over at me to make sure it didn't bother me, I just laughed.

"What are we having?" Calum asks.

Nia starts to say, "We are having..." and trails off before looking at me. In that moment, we make eye contact and realize we haven't planned anything for lunch, we were just practicing our drumming.

"Do you guys like pancakes?" I ask.

"Luke loves pancakes," Michael says. The special blond guy nods. So his name is Luke. He looks like a Luke. Hearing his name triggers something in my brain, but I can't seem to bring it to focus.