Distant (Book 3)

Chapter 3: Spring Break~

I walk in the door and go to the living room, where Dad is watching tv.
"Hey Dad, i brought you some Taco Bell." I say handing him his food.
"What do you want?"
"What? Nothing i just-"
He gives me a look.
"Fine. Ashton invited me to go on a cruise with his family for spring break, i really want to go." I say.
"Okay."
"But Dad! You know cruises are my dream vacation and- wait did you say okay?"
"Yeah. I mean why not? Like you said, cruises are your dream vacation and what kind of dad would i be if i didn't let you go. Plus, i trust both you and Ashton." He says.
I squeal.
"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" I say hugging him.
He chuckles.
"You're welcome honey. When do you leave?"
"Tomorrow morning, bright and early. So I'm going to go start packing now." I say.
"Okay."
I smile.
"Really Dad, thank you."
He smiles back.
"You're welcome."
I rush up stairs and start to pack. As I'm packing my phone rings.
"Hello?" I answer.
"Hi beautiful." Ashton says.
I smile.
"You cant even see me right now, how do you know i look beautiful?" I ask.
"Because you're always beautiful, no exceptions." He says.
I laugh a bit.
"So, what did your dad say?"
"Im packing right now!"
"Awesome! I'll be at your house around 4 am in the morning." He says.
"Wow thats really early, you might have a hard time waking me up." I say.
"Im not going to have to drag you out of bed am i?" He teases.
"No promises." I tease back.
He laughs.
"Im really excited. Thank you for inviting me."
"Of course. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Ok. Bye."
"Bye."
We hang up. I finally finish packing at one in the morning, because i need enough clothes for a week. I quickly get dressed in my donut pj shorts and the matching tank top that says i (picture of a donut) care. Then i get in bed and go to sleep.

"Sadie." I hear someone say.
"Go away Austin."
"Austin?"
I sit up.
"Why did you say Austin?" I ask.
"Because you just did." Ashton says.
"No i didn't."
"Yeah you did, you just said go away Austin."
"I did? Im sorry i only got three hours of sleep." I say.
"You can sleep in the car if you want." He says.
I nod.
"Can you help me get my stuff?" I ask.
"Already done. Your stuff is in the car."
"Thanks." I say then get out of bed.
I grab my pillow and a blanket and when i turn to Ashton, he's already looking at me.
"What?" I ask sleepily.
"Nothing. You just look so cute." He says.
"You call messy hair, bags under my eyes and pjs cute?" I ask.
"Yes. I told you, you're always beautiful. No exceptions." He says with a smile.
"Right. Well i don't think you've seen me when I'm tired. Im not someone you want to be around, so can we go to the car?" I ask.
"Yes, lets go."
So we go out to his car. We both get settled in the back. I immediately lay my head on Ashton's shoulder and fall back asleep.

When i wake up its light outside and we're on the highway.
"Morning." I hear Ashton say.
I look at him and smile.
"Morning."
"You feel rested now?" He ask.
"Yes, i do."
"So...uhh, I'm sorry i have to ask, who's Austin?"
Im silent for a minute.
"Uhh no one." I say.
"Sadie." He says, concerned.
"Really Ashton, its no one. Just forget i said that name." I say.
He nods.
"Okay." He says.
I look out the window.
"Hey," he says, getting my attention.
I turn to look at him again.
"Im sorry if i made you mad." He says.
"No. No, you didn't." I say.
"You sure?"
I lean in and kiss him softly.
"I could never be mad at you."
He smiles, then puts his arm around me. Soon we reach a gas station. We all get out to either get snacks or go to the bathroom or both. Before i do any of that i pull Kealie off to the side and away from Ashton. I have to know this.
"Hey Kealie i have a question." I say.
"Okay."
"Umm well Ashton told me that you get really excited whenever he tells you I'm coming over. And i know a fourteen year old girl wouldn't normally act like that to their brother's girlfriend. So whats up?" I ask.
"Well you know i love Austin Mahone right?"
I nod.
"So then you should know that i know you two use to date. And you sang on his tour, you're his best friend.You really think i wouldn't get excited every time someone who knows Austin Mahone personally and is basically a celebrity is going to come to my house?"
"I'm really not that big of a celebrity, not a lot of people know me. I need you to promise me something."
"Anything." She says.
"You cant tell Ashton that i use to date Austin. I know that he knows how much you love Austin and i don't want him getting jealous or anything that i dated him, so please promise you wont tell him." I say.
"I promise. But you have to do something in return."
"What?" I ask, worried about what she is thinking.
"Get me to meet Austin at some point."
"I was afraid that what it was, i'll...i'll do my best." I say.
She smiles widely.
"Thank you!" She says hugging me tight.
I laugh a bit.
"You're welcome."
"Hey, what going on over here?" Ashton asks.
I turn to him.
"Uhh nothing. We were just talking about..."
"How much fun we're going to have on the cruise." Kealie lies.
"Yeah." I say.
He nods.
"Okay. Well mom wants you back in the car Kealie." He says.
"Fine." She says.
She leaves.
"Sadie, what going on?"
"Nothings going on Ashton."
He eyes me.
"Nothing." I say then walk past him to go find some snacks.
"Sadie, i don't want to start the vacation of with an argument." He says.
"Who says we're having an argument?"
"Well your hiding things from me."
"Oh you mean this argument? Well i wouldn't say its an argument because I'm not going to argue back."
He grabs my hand, pulls me towards him and kisses me.
"You know you can tell me anything." He says, looking into my eyes.
"I know. I know. I-i promise i'll tell you by the end of the cruise if not sooner. But only if you don't bother me about it." I say.
He nods and i kiss him again.
"Now I'm going to go buy these snacks." I say then go to the checkout counter.
After getting the snacks we get back in the car and keep driving.

We arrive at the hotel that we are staying at for the night around 10pm. Ashton's dad parks the car and we all get our stuff and head inside. We get to our hotel room, there's two queen sized beds, a couch and an extra bed that we ordered. I set my stuff down on the couch.
"What are you doing Sadie?" Ashton asks.
"Putting my stuff down on the couch.."
"Your not going to sleep there right?"
"Yeah i am."
"No, you're sleeping on the bed with Kealie." He states.
"But im-"
"The guest, which means you get the bed." He says.
"But you-"
"Don't worry about me, i'll be fine on the couch." He says.
"He's a big boy, Sadie. He can handle it." Ashton's dad says.
"Okay. If ya'll insist." I say.
I take my stuff off the couch and put it next to the bed. Then i go to the bathroom to get ready for bed. I kept my pjs on all day to be comfortable in the car so i don't have to change. I just wash my face and brush my teeth. After everyone is ready for bed we turn off all the lights. I fall asleep fairly quick.

"Rise and shine kids its time to get back on the road so we can reach California before midnight." I hear Ashton's mom says.
I sit up and stretch.
"Good morning Sadie." She says.
"Morning." I say with a smile.
I get out of bed and start looking through my suitcase to pick out what i want to wear. I pick leggings and a turquoise long sleeve spirit jersey that says Texas along the top of the back and has the state of Texas over the heart on the front. I then put my hair up in a bun and put on my black nike shoes and I'm ready. Soon everyone else is ready and we checkout and leave. Back on the road again, i listen to my music and look out the window.
Soon we reach California and its around 5pm so we decide to go to a restaurant called Urth Cafe for dinner. Its delicious.

The next morning we are in line to get on the cruise ship. Im so excited.
"You are so cute." Ashton says, looking at me.
"Whats the reason this time?"
"Your smile is so big right now."
"Im really excited. Ive wanted to go on a cruise for so long." I say.
He smiles and takes my hand. After a long wait we finally reach the entrance and give our tickets to an employee. We enter the ship and go into the main lobby. Its breathtaking, the carpets are a royal blue with gold detailing, everything looks like its made out of gold, and there are three floors.
"This is...beautiful." I say.
"I know." Ashton says.
"Okay lets go put our stuff down in our rooms first, then you guys can go off and explore." Ashton's dad tells us.
So we go to our room that are connected. Ashton's parents are in one room and the kids are in the other. We put our stuff down.
"Alright, ready to go exploring?" Ashton asks.
"Yess!" I exclaim.
So we go out and walk all around the ship. This place has everything! Swimming pools, water slides, shuffle board, mini golf, restaurants, gift shops, its all so amazing.
"Who knew a ship could have all of this stuff." I say.
"Yeah, its pretty amazing, isn't it."
"Yeah."
We keep walking around for a while then we get changed into nicer clothes and go to dinner. We have a good dinner. Afterwards Ashton and i go to the main deck. We look out over the ocean, his arms are on either side of me on the rail. After feeling the wind in my face for a bit i turn around to face him.
"Im going to tell you now, because i want to get it out of the way and have a good time, i wont be able to have a good time if i don't get it out now." I tell him.
"Get what out?"
"What i told you i would tell you."
"Okay. Im listening."
"So you know Austin Mahone right?"
"That famous boy that Kealie is in love with?" He asks.
"Yes."
"Is this the same Austin you said when i woke you up?" He asks.
"Yes. He's from here and we've actually been friends since we were two. We always stuck together. Then he moved to Miami to start his singing career, and i moved with him. We ended up dating for about a year." I tell him.
"Is that what you didn't want to tell me?"
I nod.
"Why?"
"Because i didn't want you to get jealous or anything because he's famous and you're...not, we haven't even talked in three months and even if he did come back i don't want you to think I'm just using you and will drop you the day he gets back because i love you and even if he and i are still good friends you don't need to be jealous." I say.
"Did-did you just say you love me?" He asks.
Im silent for a second.
"Maybe."
He steps closer and kisses me passionately.
"I love you too." He says.
I smile.
"So your not jealous? I didn't ruin your vacation?"
"No. I cant stop you from being friends with other guys, especially one you've known since you were two. I trust you Sadie, and i know you wouldn't leave me just because your best friend came back." He says.
I smile.
"Thank you."
He smiles back and we kiss again.
We spend three days on the water then the fourth day we reach Jamaica. We spend a day in Jamaica then we get back on the boat to head back to California.

The whole cruise was such an amazing experience. Right now we are on our way home and we have almost reached my house. Once we get there Ashton helps me take my bags inside.
"You can just set them down right here." I tell him, as i set some of the stuff down.
"Sadie." I hear someone say.
Oh no. It cant be. I turn around.
"Austin?"