Promise » [cashton] √

4.0

[27th of February]

Calum

Ashton was talking shyly to the girlfriends side stage, they were all looking at the soft red and white button-up shirt he was wearing. It was now mostly covered by Calum's long over coat, for some reason Ashton hadn't even bothered to wear an undershirt on the cool night.

Calum had been tempted when he'd invited Ashton to remind him that maybe he should wear something... not expensive or eye-catching. But they went out so little, most of their time together was spent on the couch in sweatpants or working side by side at the kitchen table, he couldn't rob him of a chance to dress up a little.

Smiling to himself at the thought he turned ready to say his goodbyes to the others, he'd done his work for the night, he wouldn't let them try and drag them out for a drink. He needed to take Ashton somewhere respectable.

"If I'd realised the pass was for Ashton Irwin, I would have given you a couple more and told you to bring that, tall, blonde one and anyone else they wanted," Sara laughed, a water bottle pressed to the back of her neck.

Calum rolled his eyes, trying to seem fond, "I'm not running a marketing business here, you want free Ashton Irwin PR you be nice to Ashton," she grinned, eyes squinting, "speaking of, if you don't let me go and take him on the date I promised, our names will be mud," he leaned himself away from her ready to start moving. He didn't like people talking about Ashton, which sounded insane but they never said the right thing, and it made him dislike them more than he should.

"Alright, alright," she laughed, as another girl, her girlfriend he assumed, slotted herself in against her side.

"Ashton's so sweet," she told him.

Calum smiled without thinking, "yeah," he agreed quietly, feeling arms around his own waist.

Lips pressed gently to the back of his neck, "Crystal and Michael said they're leaving the house now," he mumbled, settling his chin on Calum's shoulder.

"We should go then," Calum said quickly, not wanting anyone to ask where they were going, knowing Ashton would offer for them to come.

The girls hummed, "we'd invite you to the bar, but sounds like you have plans," the girlfriend said smiling.

He felt Ashton falter behind him and knew that if they hadn't had plans Ashton would have agreed to go with them in a heartbeat.

"Have a good night," he said instead, and the girls smiled, Calum giving a small wave in response. Ashton shifted around so he was holding Calum's waist with one arm, gently sandwiching them together. "Is KayKay still coming?" He asked quietly.

Calum started moving them to the back door, "she said she'd see how she felt after she finished up at her show," that's what she'd said but Calum got the feeling it was her deciding if she wanted to be bothered with Ashton.

Which annoyed him, she didn't dislike Ashton but she seemed to think he would be Calum's undoing and was having a hard time trying not to hold it against him. She'd barely spoken to him since the night they'd had drinks at Ashton's and that night all she'd done was lecture him, it felt like having another older sister.

Ashton hummed and Calum had to wonder whether he'd picked up on her attitude. The younger man didn't miss much and KayKay was anything but subtle.

"Even if it's just us, Michael and Crystal it'll be nice," he reassured.

"Crystal makes me nervous," Ashton confessed.

"Why?" He tried not to laugh, he'd picked up on that, Crystal had definitely picked up on it, he didn't think Michael had though.