proud// 5SOS

8

Esme

"Oh look at you! You're absolutely gorgeous!" Ashton said, squeezing me tightly, "It is so good to see you again,"

"Same here,"

I hugged him tightly, even when he tried to pull away, so we hugged longer.

"You haven't grown one bit,"

"Means I am a flyer in cheer though," I said, spinning round when I let go of him, pushing my hip to the side.

"No way!"

"Mhm. You all need to come and watch on Friday,"

"Count me in. I'll be back in a moment,"

He pat the top of my head and went to the kitchen to see dad, so I waited by the front window to see if anyone else would arrive. Michael pulled into the drive and saw me in the window, giving me a small wave, then he let himself in and stood beside me, squeezing me in his side.

"How was your day?"

"Good. I've got a phone again,"

"Oh brilliant, give us your number, I wanna stay updated,"

"Okay. I got all my things from Link so I actually have clothes here too,"

"That's always good," he laughed, "Did you get much new stuff today?"

"Not really. Is that Luke?"

"Yep,"

I opened the front door as he was getting out the car and he gasped, sort of running over to hug me.

"She's back!"

"I'm back!"

"I missed you so much," he said, placing a kiss on my forehead, "You look all grown up. Very beautiful,"

"Geez I get it, I used to look like a rat," I laughed, "You have all told me I look beautiful,"

"You never looked like a rat," dad said, "Can I get you a drink, Luke?"

"Tea would be good,"

"Coming right up,"

"My best friend taught me how to do makeup,"

"Looks nice," Ashton said, "Tell us everything then!"

I sat next to Michael and tucked my feet up on the sofa, dad beckoning me to shuffle along so he could sit beside me. I leant back into him and laid my legs across Michael's, dad gently scratching my arm.

"Um, I changed schools. I met my best friend Clara on the first day, then her boyfriend Jay introduced me to my boyfriend Link,"

"Boyfriend ay,"

"Yeah. Mum kicked me out so I lived with him for a bit. He's really nice,"

"Has my approval,"

"Not that I need it,"

"I guess not," dad said, "You do cheer now,"

"Oh, yeah. I do cheer and theatre, I got the lead,"

"That is wonderful. I hope we can come and see?"

"Definitely,"

"Sounds like you got up to a lot. Do your new friends do it all?"

"Link and Jay do football, and Clara does cheer. If I kept busy I didn't have to think,"

"Can we see a game?" Luke asked.

"Yeah. Friday,"

"I can't wait. Do you like school still then? It sounds like you have some good friends,"

"Yeah. I am not very good at it, but I wanna do journalism,"

"Oh really? What kind?"

"Not sure yet, maybe sports,"

"That'll be fun,"

"Yeah. What about you guys? I see two rings," I said, pointing at Luke and Michael, "Don't tell me I missed an engagement,"

"You kind of did,"

"Shut up!"

"Show her the rings you got your missus,"

Michael showed me a photo on his phone and I gasped, snatching it from him.

"I can't believe it. That is beautiful, Mike,"

"I did a good job,"

"Definitely. Are these engagement photos?" I asked Luke, climbing off the sofa to go to him, "Stop it! This is amazing!"

"It was,"

"I can't believe I missed it,"

I chewed on my lip hard and smiled through the tight feeling in my chest, swiping through the photos.

"You have grown up more than me,"

"Seems so. Who is next? You or your dad,"

"You have a girlfriend?"

"No, so I think you're winning the race," dad said.

"You're lying,"

"I am not,"

"You are,"

"I don't have a girlfriend, I have been on a couple of dates, like two months ago and nothing happened,"

"He was all cooped up on his own," Ashton said, "Turning into an old man,"

"I bet. I am gonna use the bathroom,"

Giving Luke his phone back I slipped out the room and ran upstairs, locking myself in. This was meant to be happy. I smiled into the mirror because it was meant to be happy, but my reflection went blurry.

I had missed so much.

My family had all had exciting experiences, and they got to share it all with each other. Even dad had moved on.

"Hey, lovebug. You okay?"

"Yeah,"

"Your voice sounds a bit wobbly,"

"I'm fine,"

"We don't have to talk right now, we can just cuddle,"

I unlocked the door and dad let himself in, hugging me from behind. I held his arms, but then turned to bury my head in his shoulder, trying not to cry.

"I love you, so, so much. We all love you, and I know that it is incredibly weird for this to all go back to normal after a year and a bit, so when you are ready, I wanna talk about it. Both Michael and Luke said they didn't even wanna start planning their wedding until they knew you could come,"

"No they didn't,"

"They did. Ask them,"

I looked up at him and he cupped my face, tucking the hair out my face.

"How about we play some games? Keep your mind busy,"

"Yeah,"

"Can I get you anything? A cup of tea?"

"I'm okay. Can I call Link quickly?"

"Oh, yeah. I will set a game up,"

"Thank you. I love you,"

"I love you too, lovebug. Come down when you're ready, yeah?"

"Yeah,"

"It's okay to cry,"

"I know,"

"It might help,"

"I am fine,"

"That's what you said before. Famous last words,"