"This guitar is so cool! Do you think I should get it for Michael's birthday?!" Ashton asks you excitedly
You shrug, "If that's what you think he would like!"
Ashton smiles, "I think he would, but you don't think it's too expensive?"
You shrug again, "It depends, how much do you normally spend on the boys for their birthdays?"rr
"Not normally as much as this, but I don't know, I just think he deserves it"
"Then get it!"
"You sure?"
"Babe, ffffdon't need my permission!" You laugh
"Can I help you guys with anything?" A voice from behind you asks
You swing around and your eyes widen in shock, "James?"
"(Y/N)?" He replies
"Ashton?" Ashton says from behind you
You turn around and furrow your eyebrows at him, "...sorry, I thought this was some sort of name game and no-one said my name"
You roll your eyes, "Oh my god, Ash"
You turn back to James and smile awkwardly. James is your ex. Your split was mutual; you both thought it would be best for you to split up. You had agreed to remain friends, but like any couple who say that when they split, you never spoke much to each other again. This is the first time you've seen him in about two years, so it's taken you by surprise.
"You work here?" You ask
He nods, "Yeah...I've been working here for about a year now..."
"So, what are you doing here?" He asks you
"Erm, buying a friend a guitar by the looks of things" You reply politely
"...yeah, looks like your friend is doing that just now..."
You turn around and Ashton is stood at the counter.
"Oh, sure he is. I better get back to him, it was nice seeing you again" You smile, before turning away
"So you didn't even have the decency to tell me he's your boyfriend" James states
You turn to face him again, "what?"
"You weren't even going to tell me he's your boyfriend, were you?" He repeats
"Well...you didn't ask...I" You stutter
"Well it's a good job I already knew. You know with the constant updates on Instagram and all that"
You furrow your eyebrows, "If you already knew, why are you making such a big fuss about it?"
He tuts, "Because I thought we said we could be friends? Friends tell each other these things"
You're left speechless. You don't know how to reply. Surely he's being ridiculous?
"Never mind, he's a freak anyway, and his band sucks" James mumbles
"Excuse me?" You question "No! Don't have a dig at him when you're mad at me. Ashton's done nothing wrong, and you don't even know him! You can't talk crap about him like that. God, since when did you become such a dick?"
James rolls his eyes, "I wasn't having a dig, I was just voicing my opinion. I'm allowed to dislike his band, his bandmates are just as creepy as he is"
"They're my friends, don't talk about them like that!" You argue
You should know that he's only acting this way to wind you up. That's always been his speciality, and one of the reasons the relationship didn't work out in the first place. You didn't like how he would deliberately wound you up, and he didn't like how you took it to heart. So you both agreed that you shouldn't be together if you made each other that miserable.
"Argh, you're so full of yourself. Get over it. Just 'cause you're dating a band member now, it doesn't mean you're better than anyone else." He spits
"Hey!" You hear Ashton call from behind you "Hey, don't talk to her like that!" "Oh and here he comes, Mr Drummer boy to the rescue." James remarks
Ashton squares up to him, so you take him by the arm to try and stop any major trouble.
"Listen, don't talk to my girlfriend like that, you prick" Ashton repeats, harshly
"Yeah, yeah, she used to be my girlfriend once so I know what she's really like"
Ashton crumples his face before turning to you, "You dated this?"
You nod and Ashton tuts, "Argh! No wonder you dumped his sorry ass. Feel sorry you had to put up with this shit head"
"Ashton, come on, let's go" You say quietly so that only he can hear
"Yeah, yeah, let's go babe" Ashton agrees, bumping into James as he walks past him
As soon as you get out the shop, he stops and hugs you.
"I'm so sorry babe. I should never have left you alone with him. I just thought that maybes he was a friend of yours I hadn't met yet, so I thought you just wanted a catch up. If I'd known he was your ex, I would never have left you alone with him. Well, we won't be shopping in there again!"
You laugh, "Come on, let's go get Michael a card!"
