Your Lies Are Your Only Mask

Behind Closed Doors

CHAPTER 10 YAAASSS!

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3 Days Later

I know that when one door closes, another one opens. But my mum never told me there would be this many damn hallways to get there. This was our current situation and we were evaluating every problem, rather than how to resolve them and get to the other end. Three days ago, we were basically kicked out of the hotel. The damage to the wall had the manager fuming, so much so that he couldn't even recommend a new place to stay.

I was forced to pay £200 for the repairs, Ashton tried to persuade me otherwise but he couldn't afford it as well as paying for our room. Even when he tried to scare me with his 'glare', I simply laughed and threw a pillow at his face. Now, making our way to the corner café; it was clear he was rattling his brains to think of a new place to stay.

***

"We don't have the money, Ash." I hissed, taking a quick sip of my hot chocolate. I pursed my lips together at the over-powering sweetness.

"Well, we don't have another option, I have to get a job somehow. Otherwise we're screwed, basically." He shrugged at my scowl and lent back on the booth, tapping his fingers in a repetitive beat, he noticed my un-amused expression and stopped, "Look if we get the guitar, we can find some producers to sign us up, perform in clubs, pubs, even the street until people get to know us. We'll earn some money and get on the ladder. We'll find a way, I promise."

"What if it doesn't work out? Where are we going to live? What if there are no options, no producers willing to take us? What if we aren't even good  enough?" Questions clouded my already overflowing mind. Ashton sighed in frustration and rubbed a hand through his hair, he then tapped his lips with his index finger, he was deep in thought. I noticed he was just about to say something, when he was interrupted,

"I didn't intend to overhear. I just wondered if you might want some help?" A familiar voice spoke from behind me, I turned to face a shy looking guy, Jared. "I can offer you a place to stay, if you want?" He switched his gazes between Ashton and I, smiling eagerly. My voice abandoned me and I glanced over to the boy opposite, hoping he would give Jared an answer.

"I'm sure we'll manage." Ash smiled falsely, his answer receiving a slight kick under the table. My eyes gave him a 'what the hell' look which he ignored. We had an 'argumentative' eye conversation. I guess Jared became impatient because he started to walk away after saying,

"Oh, okay. I hope you find what yo-."

"Jared! Wait." He stopped abruptly and turned around. "We'd love to."

We made our way behind the counter and through a door. Jared led us to a room which seemed like a place where the caterers went for their break. There were a few worn sofas and a medium sized sink with a few mugs scattered around it.

"It's not much, but no one comes in here. Not even my mum." he said shyly, opening a cupboard where a few hand towels were kept. "You can put your stuff in here and the toilets are just down the corridor." He pointed in the direction, I nodded. "I can give you a spare key. Just don't make it obvious you're staying here, maybe come back later when we're closed up."

"Thank you, Jared. Really." He nodded in acknowledgement, I stared at Ashton expectantly. He rolled his eyes,

"Yeah thanks, it means a lot." Ash rubbed the back of his neck, my look of disappointment clearly made him feel awkward, because he picked up his bag and lobbed it into the cupboard just as the main door closed.

"Did you have to be so fucking rude? He's helping us, we'd be paying for a hotel right now if it wasn't for him."

"I just wanted everything to be fine, I didn't expect us to be in this situation." He sighed and sat on the edge of one of the sofas. His chin resting in his palm.

"Neither of us expected to be in this situation. It sucks yeah, but it doesn't mean you can take it out on the one person trying to help us."

"I guess. But it's easier to take it out on someone else, easier for me and for you." Silence overcame us as we both remembered the previous nights events, knowing I was the last victim of his outburst.

"Get some sleep, we can go to that music shop across the street tomorrow." I mumbled and avoided his sorrowful eyes. The sofa was more comfortable than it looked and soon I was sinking into the cushions. I heard a heavy sigh then the squeak of the other sofa, presumably Ashton settling down. My eyes closed and the energy I had used during the day, washed over me, pushing me into a deep sleep.

***

"Can you show me where you live?" Ashton asked, skipping down the street like an over sized child. I remained silent for a bit, considering my answer. I guess it wouldn't be much of a deal, but no one has seen my house before. At least, not me going into it. "You don't have to, I'm just interested."

"Soon you can. Not today though. It's not... fit for viewing at the moment." He eyed me with an unconvinced look but shrugged and continued down the empty path.

"I bet you live in a massive house."

"How much?" I smirked, rummaging through my pockets to see how much loose change I had.

"As much as you've got on you." He watched me pick through my pockets, and then my slowly pinking cheeks. I had none, not one penny.

"You're lucky I have no money, or else you'd definitely be paying me back." I smiled, he huffed and pulled my arm. "Where are we going anyway?" 

"Just walking, but I do want you to meet someone." 

"What, now?! Ashton I can't, I don-."

"Shush. You're coming and that's it." All my attempts to convince him otherwise, failed. I pulled, pushed, screamed even tried to make a run for it. "Eva, please. Just do this for me, just this once. I really want you to meet him." I couldn't deny that the adorable look on his face almost changed my mind, actually scrap that, it did. I thought his head nearly snapped off his neck when I mumbled,

"Fine, I'll go." I rubbed my hands together, the material covered my frozen fingers. But then I couldn't see them, and it took me a while to realise that I was being spun around in a tight, small circle. "Ash!" Showing his pearly white teeth in a cheeky grin, he gently put me down and within 10 minutes we were standing in front of someones front door. "Well, are you going to knock, or...?" We stood, Ashton was patient and I was just eager to leave and go back to the sanctuary of the playground. I kept averting my gaze to the street, hoping he would notice my discomfort and say we could leave, of course he wouldn't. Instead he pulled out his phone and tapped away. "You do get that it's 3 am and we're outside someones house dressed in dark hoodies and jeans. We are the typical image of your stereotypical mischief makers." He rolled his eyes, I caught the whiteness in the moonlight. 

"He's coming down now." I sighed, my chest tightening. Ashton slipped his phone back into his pocket and turned to face me, smiling pleasantly.

"I swear if someone calls the cops on our asses, I'm sending you with them to the station without a second thought while I run far away." He let out a low growl and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Like that's going to happen. Just shut your mouth, you're giving me a headache.", leaning on the porch wall I noticed his humored eyes. My mouth gaped open in shock at his words. Ash just chuckled, winked and turned away. Just as the door opened slowly. His posture changed immediately so he was stood straighter, he removed his hands from the pouch on his hoodie, then spoke.

"Hey Sam."

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Heyaaa! I know I haven't done an authors note in a while. I also haven't updated in a while and that was due to writers block and homework. 

Hope ya liked it!

Byeyeyeyeyes