Promise » [cashton] √

4.2

[11th of March]

Calum

He had ended up sitting between Sierra and Ashton's mother.

She was staring at him like the cat that got the cream, clearly delighted that she'd managed to snag the seat before Ashton could. She had to know that's who the seat was intended for.

"It's lovely to finally meet you, Calum, I would recognise you anywhere; I've barely been able to pick up a newspaper or go on Twitter without seeing your face," she laughed; it was a perfect laugh. Round in all the right places and just the right volume, her face didn't crinkle at the eyes like Ashton's, though, and her mouth didn't pull as wide. It wasn't just that it was fake, it was a very good fake laugh, in Calum's opinion, but despite how good the cosmetician was, he could tell it was Botox keeping it all controlled.

He chuckled back; she knew it was fake, as well as everyone else who cared to listen to them. Ashton already caught up in talking to his father. "Try as I might, they seemed to find us; I can't deny Ashton when he wants to go to popular places though, he shouldn't miss out just because people might recognise him," which was true, Calum hated being seen with Ashton, but they were going to be together for the foreseeable future so he needed to get used to it.

"Isn't that sweet? I certainly know since we stopped touring with him that we've been able to enjoy our privacy a little more," another of those warm, too-perfect laughs. Maybe in another life, she'd have been a talk show host.

She pulled finger food from the table as Calum tried to think of something to say, Sierra making the decision for him, "It's been so long since we've caught up, Lynn; I feel like we only ever talk on the phone now," Sierra mirrored Lynn, taking a cucumber sandwich from the centre of the table.

Bouncing between Ashton, Crystal and Sierra, they managed to keep Lynn and Wayne from focusing too much attention on Calum. Luke and Michael didn't do much more than agree with statements from time to time and sip the awful tea Ashton had made everyone.

Michael did come in handy when it came to the agreed-upon time, and Ashton's parents showed no sign of leaving, "Well, if we're going to make it to the studio booking this afternoon, Ash, we need to go soon,"

Calum nodded, "oh yeah, I should probably go home and edit photos; I'll start the dishes," he said, rising a little too quickly to start collecting plates. Everyone started passing them toward him.

"I'll help, dear," Lynn offered, standing too.

"Mum, no, it's fine, you're a guest; I'll do the dishes," he said.

"Calum's a guest, and he's allowed to do the dishes," she countered, taking the plates Calum had collected toward the sink.

Everyone except Ashton's parents shared quick looks, and Calum took the pile of teacups, following Lynn into the kitchen. The others chatted at the table, but Calum couldn't hear the conversation. It made him realise that no one would be coming to help him if she leveled any hard questions at him.

At first, they washed and dried the pieces too delicate for the dishwasher quietly, Lynn washing and handing them to Calum to dry. He thought maybe he was getting out of any of her needling or cruelty he'd heard about, by some sort of miracle. Maybe God was real and he really liked Calum?

"So, how long have you been living here?"

"Ah, I moved to LA about-"

She laughed cutting him off, "No, I mean this house,"

God was real, he hated Calum.

Calum was floored; he didn't live here, but... he didn't really live at his place anymore, either. "I don't, I visit a bit, but I have a place-"