If Only I Knew (5sos)

Chapter 3 - Ashton?

"Woah. Ashton? What are you doing here?" Samantha asked, clearly shocked. "How did you find this place?"

"Uh...the guys brought me here?" Ashton looked confused. He probably didn't know why we were so shocked that he was sitting in our secret hideout.

"Where are the guys anyway? I want to talk to them." I mumbled. I didn't notice Luke, Michael and  Calum were behind me until one of them asked, "Talk about what?" 

I turned around sharply. Maybe a bit too fast because I nearly smashed into Luke, who was standing right behind me. I looked up at him then looked down again, trying to avoid the awkwardness. I could feel his eyes looking at me. 

I took a step back and said quietly, "I want to talk about why you guys brought Ashton here."

Michael spoke up, "Talli it's no big deal, I mean he's a really nice guy, I think we can trust him." 

"Yeah, he is actually very nice. Besides, he already knows this place exists, it's not like we can make him forget about it." Sam agreed.

I can see them ganging up on me now. Geez, haven't they considered the fact that I haven't even had a whole conversation with Ashton once? Oh well, I guess this could be my chance to get to know him.

"Ok fine. I'm sure i'll like Ashton." I said. I couldn't show my interest in him, so I acted like I didn't care much.

We walked back over to where Ashton was sitting, and the boys began laughing over something Matty did. Samantha and I got bored and walked out to the park. Out of nowhere, Samantha sighs happily, "Isn't he cute?"

"Yeah he is." I said smiling.

I assumed she was talking about Matty, since he was the only cute thing around here. I mean he's a damn golden retriever, how can he not be cute? 

"Yeah...The way he laughs just makes me crack up. He is so funny. I feel like I can't stop smiling when i'm with him." Samantha said.

Wait. The way he laughs? Who is she talking about? I think of the guys. They aren't that funny, they just do stupid things. My mind stops on the one guy I have been thinking about all day. The guy that I have been wanting to get to know. 

Ashton?

Samantha continued, "I mean, I know that I just met him this week. But he's just so like-able. Remember in English class? We got paired with Calum and Ashton, and Ashton and I were fooling around the whole time. It's like he has a tendency to make boring classes fun!"

"Cool. I wish I could get to know him more." I said with a small smile on my face.

"I'm sure you'll get to know him soon. He's probably gonna be around us all the time." Samantha assured me.

We walked back to 'The place' and hung out there for a while. We did the usual stuff that we did every time we came here. We swept most of the leaves and dirt out of the way to reveal the stone ground, we laughed and talked about random things, we went back out to the park, and we talked some more.

Soon it got really dark, and we quietly snuck out of our hideout, but before we all got out, two of us had to close up the fence and cover it up. Since Luke and I were the last ones out, we stayed behind to do the work. We were both silent while covering up our hideout, partly because we had to concentrate on making the fence invisible, partly because we don't talk much anymore. 

Once we were done, we went out to the park, where everyone was waiting for us. Calum, Samantha and I lived on the same street, so we would walk home together, while Michael, Ashton and Luke would drive in Ashton's car to leave. Just before we left, Luke looked back at me and asked, "Hey, uh, Talli? You still coming to band practice?"

At first I didn't know what he was talking about, but then I remembered his invitation to band practice to "see Ashton play drums". I still wanted to get to know Ashton, and band practice felt like the perfect time. So I shouted back "Yeah, see ya!" 

We walked home in silence. We were all usually completely knocked out of energy after being at the hideout, as we spend a majority of our free time there. 

After Samantha went home - she lives several blocks away from mine and Calum's houses - Calum eyed me suspiciously, and said, "I saw you and Luke."

"Saw me and Luke what?"I asked, even though I knew where this conversation was headed.

"Are things still awkward between you two?"Calum asked me back, ignoring my previous question.

"No, It's been a whole summer, Calum, since he...um...yeah." I paused. Sensitive Topic. "Besides, he's got Felicia." I continued. Felicia was Luke's girlfriend, well sort of. They fought recently, and I don't think they talked at all during the last week of summer.

"Yeah. Good to know that you guys are getting along again. You were all tensed up around each other after-" 

"I know Calum, I know." I cut him off. Calum and Samantha were the only people that I felt comfortable talking about this with, even though I don't like it. 

It only took a few seconds to walk to my house after Calum went home, since we live next to each other. The rest of the evening consisted of me watching youtube videos and just chilling really.

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A/N:

Chapter 3! Ooh stuff is building up now! Hope you like it. xoxo - Tracy