"Stuck In The Friend-Zone Again and Again"

"Late Night Conversations"

(For my main Ash trash Tamwyyn )

Luke's P.O.V.

Michael woke Paris up by jumping on top of her before I could stop him, so a half asleep Paris grabbed her suitcase and trudged up to the hotel room, speaking only in quiet mumbles and sleepily rubbing her eyes.
Immediately upon reaching our rooms, she retreated into the bathroom and came back in shorts and her hair in a French braid, sans glasses.
She crawled into bed, curling into a ball under the covers adorably.
I got ready for bed as well, shedding my jeans and shirts and brushing my teeth before hopping into the single bed next to Paris's. I didn't bother to push them together like I knew the other boys had; I was too tired.
I laid on my back and looked up at the ceiling for a few minutes, before glancing to my left.
"Paris?"
"Yeah?" She replied softly.
"Have you moved on?"
Her brow crinkled and I regretted bringing it up.
"Neverm-" I started to say.
"I think so," she said, cutting me off.
"It would be harder if I didn't know that none of it was real. Or if I wanted him back. I don't. So I'm not really sad anymore, I'm just lonely and insecure."
I must've frowned pretty deep, because she gave me a sleepy half smile.
"I'm alright, Luke."
I kept frowning. "How is that alright?"
"Compared to what I've been through before?" She chuckled drily. "I'm okay. I mean, some days not so much. Some days I hate myself and I really just want a hand to hold and stuff, but mostly I'm okay."
I sighed, upset that she felt like this because of some douche that didn't deserve the privilege of being thought of by her.
"Paris..."
"Luke," she said sharply. "Don't start."
"I just want you to be okay," I protested weakly.
"I mostly am," she said meekly. "I just want to go to sleep, okay?"
I sighed in defeat. "Okay."
"Goodnight, Luke," she said, starting to sound sleepy again.
"Goodnight, Paris."

• • • • • • • • • • • •

In the morning, we got up and explored the city some, trying local foods and buying some keepsakes.
"Another postcard?" Ashton asked Paris teasingly, referring to the fact that she had purchased one at every tour stop so far.
"Ashton Irwin you know full well I'm collecting them," Paris said sassily, handing the man a small handful of New Zealand coins for the postcard.
She smiled in thanks as she took the bag from the man and led the boys from the shop, her long brown ponytail bouncing behind her as she walked.
She paused to take a picture, lifting the large camera from around her neck to snap a photo.
"I didn't know you were so into photography," Calum commented as Paris fiddled with the dials and knobs on the camera before talking another picture. I smiled; she was so cute when she was focused.
Paris nodded, observing the photo and turning off her camera, satisfied.
"It's fun, and beautiful," Paris smiled. "And fairly easy."
"How hard can it be? You just take pictures," Michael asked.
She shook her head. "No. You have to consider, lighting, setting, angle, and other things."
"Oh," Michael said, clearly not aware of that.
"Yeah god Michael," I joked.
"I'm sorry!" Michael fake pouted.
"It's okay," she chuckled. "Most people think that."
"Disrespect," Ashton fake sniffed, evoking a small laugh from Paris's lips, her eyes lighting up.
It took effort to keep myself from sighing; she was just so perfect.
Michael noticed my probably stupid expression and rolled his eyes, guessing my thoughts.
"What's next?" I asked, trying to cover up my stunned expression from before.
"Hotel please," Calum groaned. "I'm tired."
No one argued, since we had stayed up late and had been travelling around all day.
As soon as we got back, Michael and Calum passed out in their room, and Ashton and I turned on the TV to find a movie to watch.
Paris curled up on a chair, plugging in her camera to her laptop and fiddling with cords and typing and clicking furiously.
"What are you doing?" Ashton asked after a while.
"Uploading the pictures onto my laptop," she answered distractedly, not looking up.
"That's it?" I asked.
"And into a program where I can write notes beside each picture so I don't forget what's what," she replied, continuing to type.

After about an hour, I glanced over to find Paris asleep, her laptop still on her lap.
I got up set her MacBook on the table and set a blanket over her, knowing she'd be cold since she was in only a romper and the air conditioning was blasting.
"Whipped!" Ashton said, pretending that it was a cough.
"Shut up, Ash," I snapped, sitting back down. "You've never been in love, you don't know."
"Then explain."
"It's like your whole world is centred around that one person, and you'd do anything and everything to make them happy and help them. It's like they're the air you breathe and the sun on your face," I said.
Ashton rolled his eyes. "You're so corny."
"Someday you'll understand," I told him.
"You know she's only 16, right?" Ashton said. "All of these things you say... Don't you think it might be overwhelming?"
I shook my head. "You don't know her. She dreams of true love and someone to hold and love. Besides, what normal 16 year old is scared of sex?"
"I dunno," Ashton said. "But I guess you know her best."
I nodded.
After a moments silence, I spoke again.
"Do you really thinks she loves me?"
"I thinks she does," Ashton answered. "But I also think she doesn't know it. I think it's more something that needs to be discussed between the two of you before she realizes, because even if she did know, I don't think she'd say anything about it."
"Really?"
"Really," Ashton told me. "Now watch the movie, I wanna know what happens."

A/N: they just like having conversations after Paris falls asleep don't they?

So I might start a new Luke fic on the side called Little Sister (on the side meaning this one takes priority). I might not post it till next week, but I'll let you guys know when I do. It would mean so much to me if you would check it out. Thank you xx