how ashton met luke ➳ lashton

2002

age eight

Ashton's mom had planned a week long vacation with her friends on a Caribbean cruise for a while now and the date had finally arrived. She had already cleared it with Liz to have her son stay over for the week, which Ashton was very excited about. That meant an entire week with his best friend, a whole seven days they can spend with each other. Even though this was the longest Ashton will be away from home, he was still super excited.

Luke had been planning things to do weeks in advance, he took out a notebook from his mom's desk and used his crayola markers to messily list things he wanted them to do during the week they had together.

Ashton and his mom walked up to the Hemmings' front door together, Ashton holding a bag filled with clothes and his tooth brush. Oh! and his favorite pillow that had a turtle on it. He knocked three times and smiled in anticipation as he waited for his best friend to come to the door. The door slowly opened, but Ashton was disappointed when it was Liz and not Luke. He looked up at her with a confused expression because it's always Luke who opens the door when he comes over. So why is it different now?

"Hi Ashton, honey. Luke isn't having a very good day today, do you think you can cheer him up for me?" Liz asks politely.

Ashton nods confidently and enters their house that has become a second home to him. Instantly, he hears cries come from Luke's room and he rushes to get to him. Why is he crying?

Slowly opening the door, he finds Luke laying in his bed with his back turned, hugging a pillow.

"Luke?" Ashton quietly whispers.

Luke stops crying when he hears Ashton's voice, sitting up and facing his friend, rubbing the tears from his face away. He sniffles as he tries to look better.

"H-Hi Ashton." He breathed, smiling to hopefully cover the fact that he was crying merely seconds ago.

"Lukey, why were you crying?" Ashton questions, hesitantly stepping closer to the blonde.

Luke shakes his head, "I wasn't crying."

"Yeah you were, what's wrong?"

"Mommy says we're moving." Luke tearfully replied.

Ashton widens his eyes, "Where are you moving?"

"I don't know. I'm afraid we'll be separated and I don't want that, Ashy."

Ashton walks to Luke and pulls him into his arms, closing his eyes when Luke's head rests on his shoulder. He feels bad for Luke and wishes he wouldn't waste his tears. But now he's worried that they won't see each other after he moves.

"You can live with me if you have to move far away. You sleep in my bed with me and we'll do everything together." Ashton tells him, rubbing his hand down Luke's back peacefully.

"I can?" Luke mutters, still remaining held to Ashton.

The sandy brunette nodded in response, releasing his grip from Luke but taking his hand in his.

"Before you do that though, let's ask your mom where you guys are moving first." Ashton remarks, walking them out of his room where Liz and Anne both stand by the door.