Benches | Mashton AU |

3. Red Bookstore

On the Side/top is the red bookstore. This book seems to have a lot of red in it.... oh well. It's Ashton's favourite colour in real life too.

I  walk between the shelves, letting my wrinkled fingers brush over the spines of the books. I smile as the little bell rings when the door opens and make my way towards the front of the store.

My granddaughter rushes in, closing the door behind her and kissing me lightly on the cheek, "Hey Grandpa!"

"Hi Mikayla, why are you here?"

"Well if you don't want me.....!" She clicks her fingers sassily before flipping her hair and sashaying out of the store.

I count down from ten and sure enough, when I reach zero, she's walking back in, smiling brightly as her pink hair bounces on her shoulders.

"But actually, you asked me to come round to help mind the store," she looks at me, her face a mix of curiosity and sadness, "Don't you remember?"

I chuckle fakely, "Of course!" I lie, rolling my eyes as if I were obviously joking

I stop nodding and look at her curiously, my head tilted, "You never come round when I ask you to help out unless I offer to pay you. So, again,  why are you here, Mikayla?"

She sheepishly grins, "You were telling us about a boy you used to know, Michael. I just wanted to hear more."

October 6th 2015

54 yearsand 203 days ago

10 years and 102 days before

"Hey, Dimples." Michael chuckles as he takes his usual seat beside me.

"Hey Kitten," I retort without looking up from my book.

"Aw, we're like an old married couple already and we haven't even gone on our second date. Which reminds me...."

I hear shuffling and it takes all of my willpower not to look up from my book. Finally, Michael nudges me, and I look at him, with a bunch of flowers in his hands and a hopeful smile on his face.

"Will you go on a date with me, Ashton Irwin?"

I nod frantically, "I'd love to. What do you have planned this time, Clifford?"

"Well, I honesty didn't think I'd get this far, so not much, honestly. But there's a place I think you'll like,'

He gives me by the flowers and grabs my free hand. We walk along until he stops suddenly, smiling mischievously, a glint in his eyes. He reaches into the nearby bush, and pulls out a guitar.

"I thought you didn't have much planned?" I question, one eyebrow raised.

"I didn't. This is just improvised romance," He grins cheekily, winking. He puts the strap around his neck and starts to strum a few chords, clearly very talented.

I recognize the tune instantly and I have to stop myself singing along when Michael starts, "He woke up from dreaming and put on his shoes. Started making his way past two in the morning. He hasn't been sober for days,"

The street is almost completely empty. We pass a few people, and they give us weird looks, but I don't care. All I care about is Michael's amazing voice filling the dark street, and how he's singing for me.

" I guess I'll go home now. I guess I'll go home now. I'll guess I'll go home...." Michael finishes softly, the last chords echoing as he stops walking. I stop beside him and look around.

I have to stop myself giggling as I realise we've stopped in front of a red bookstore, "Um- why are we here?"

"Well, you like red, and you like books so why the fück not?" Michael asks, taking the strap off and holding the guitar by its neck. He goes to open the door, but sees the closed sign, "Oh, I didn't realise it would be closed. Sorry, Ash,"

I chuckle, "It's fine," I pull out the key from my pocket and open the door saying, "Wanna come in for some hot cocoa?"

Michael follows me inside, staring at me in wonder and for once he's the confused one. I lead him to the back of the shop, toward a little door, opening it and revealing the narrow staircase that leads to my flat.

"So this is what you do? You own a red bookstore?" Michael grins as he takes a seat on my couch. I put the flowers in a vase quickly before hurrying into the kitchen.

"Well it's like you said. I like red, and I like books so why the fûck not?" I call as I make hot cocoa. "Why? What's your job?"

"I'm a journalist. That's why I'm so perceptive,"

"It's also why you're so cocky," I mumble.

"Hey! I heard that! You better give me extra marshmallows to make up for being a rude ass bìtch!" He teases.

"I save my marshmallows for someone special!" I joke as I start adding whipped cream.

"Come on, give me a break! I dyed my hair red for you!"

I walk in slowly, two overflowing mugs in my large hands as I try not to spill anything. "Hurry up!" Michael yells.

"Be patient!" I yell back as I hesitantly sit the mugs on the coffee table. "I didn't spill!" I exclaim happily.

Michael rolls his eyes, "You must be so proud,"

"You're a meanie bo beanie," I pout.

He shrugs, and continues sipping his cocoa as he looks around the room curiously. He puts his unfinished mug back on the table and wanders around the room. "Is it okay if I take a little tour around your flat,"

"Well, emm," I look up to see he's already gone, "Fine then,"

I finish my drink then wander around, trying to find Michael, "Where are you, red- haired pest?" I call, to lazy to even leave the living room.

"I'm not your anything, and I'm definitely not a pest!" Michael retorts and I follow the sound of his gorgeous voice. I find him on my double bed, lying on his side, with one leg bent so his knee sticks up, and his head resting on his hand.

"What are you doing?" I giggle as he pulls a face.

"I'm trying to be sexy."

"Why?" I sit down next to him, and he sits properly beside me, "There's enough sexy in the room with me here," I tell him seriously.

He chuckles,  grabbing my cheek "You wish, Dimples,"

I smack his hand away an lie back on the bed, "There's more to me than dimples,"

He flops down beside me, lying on his side so that he faces me, "Like what?"

I shrug. He hesitantly puts his hand on my waist and pulls me closer, and I put a hand on his shoulder. He whispers, "I want to find out everything about you. Every little detail, so I can convince myself that you're not just a beautiful dream,"

[A/N] Awww Mikey. I hope you had some feels in that chapter anyway., because this is all about cuteness overloads. The song Michael sings is Remembering Sunday by All Time Low. Again, thanks for reading, commenting and voting!

P.S. Do you guys like the cover? Is it okay or should I change it? I used to like it, but I'm not so sure anymore.