Paint Stain <Lashton>

XIX

The best thing to hold onto in life is each other. ~Audrey Hepburn

Ashton's POV

"You're covered in paint," Larra sighed as she looked at me. "You should change before going on a date."

"It's a double date it's not like it's going to be that intimate." I muttered as I folded my arms.

"Let the boy blow it." Lucas chuckled as he walked behind me. "The boy with millions will surely cast you out, Ashton." He patted my shoulder and I felt myself slump slightly.

"Get out." Elias huffed and pushed Lucas out of the room before handing me a different pair of clothes. "The least you could do is dress up." I looked at the clothes before walking back to my room and changing into the dark red button up shirt and the black dress pants before walking back out into the room.

There was something like a golf clap in the room as everyone looked at me. "Now, here's the plan." Kodi began to explain. "You and Michael are going to meet Luke and Esther at a restaurant downtown. It's called.."

"City Lights." Michael said.

"Right." Larra nodded her head. "You'll be there first, then Esther will come in with Luke, they'll find you, sit down. Here's how the night will go."

"The four of you will eat dinner together. You and Michael will pay." Kodi said. "I understand that Luke has more money than the four of you combine but don't let your date pay, Ashton. After that, you're going to go and see a movie, I think there's a nine o'clock showing for a few different movies."

"Like?" I cocked an eyebrow.

"Well you'll see when you get there." Kodi rolled her eyes. "After the movie, you will go with Luke, Esther will go with Michael. So your double date turns into single dates. Understood?"

"Why is this a game plan?" I sighed as I rolled my eyes.

"Because neither of you know how to treat someone on a date." Larra snorted. "Now come on, you have to get their first, so just go now so they don't miss you." I nodded my head before walking out with Michael.

"This is stupid." I immediately commented when we pulled out of the driveway.

"Why do you think it's stupid? I'm really nervous, you don't need to be saying this kind of garbage." Michael sighed.

"Because this isn't really my idea of a good first date." I folded my arms.

"Is it the double date thing?" Michael asked.

"No, it's just so.. Typical." I sighed. "What kind of person wants to go to dinner and a movie? That's the worst thing. Taking someone on a dinner date for the first one is awful because no one likes eating in front of someone else. And you can't talk during a movie! How are you supposed to engage the person you're with? Besides, it really shows you don't actually know what they would like on a date."

"You think Luke wouldn't enjoy himself?" Michael asked.

"Absolutely not." I groaned. "He's into gardening and poetry and really solitary hobbies. He's even into solitare! There's no way that he wants to go and get dinner and see a movie."

"I don't know." Michael said. "He said he would go on a date with you, not because he was excited for the kind of date it was, but because he wanted to get to spend time with you. Because he likes you." Michael explained. "If someone says yes to a date without looking like they just shot themselves in the foot, it's because they want to go on a date, and will do it despite what it is."

"I just.. I want it to be - "

"You want it to be perfect, and it's not going to be." Michael rolled his eyes. "That's part of the beauty of actually feeling something for another person. It's not perfect, but it still melts you every time you think about it."

A/N: I'm so proud of that line, like I'm actually a poet. Lol sorry.

So I kept my mouth shut, trying not to be so overcome with anxiety that I faint when I see Luke. Michael and I sat in a comfortable silence before we arrived at the restaurant and was shocked when Luke and Esther were standing outside. They waved to us and I exchanged glances with Michael.

"Kodi's plan is already falling apart." I whispered.

"Calm down." Michael scoffed. "Just go with the flow, who knows what'll happen when you live a little?" Michael nudged me as we walked over. Michael made small talk with Esther and I remember seeing him messing up her hair or something and I smiled at Luke.

"You're actually wearing a bowtie?" I cocked an eyebrow. Luke shrugged and gave a proud smile as he adjusted the black bowtie on his blue shirt. "That's also a nice color on you."

"Thanks." Luke smiled.

"Do you guys want to go inside now? I really want to eat." Esther said and Michael began to laugh. "W-What are you laughing at..?"

"Your love for food is pretty fantastic." Michael said as he opened the door for all of us. We walked inside and Michael spoke to the women before we were lead to a corner booth where the seats were a semi-circle. I sat next in between Michael and Luke and we sat in silence under the dimlit light.

"Have you ever been here before?" I asked Luke as he looked all around the room.

"No, I never spent a lot of time on this side of town. I never went out and ate a lot either." Luke shrugged.

"Really? You think that being big business you would - "

"I attend a lot of banquets." Luke shrugged. "There you eat expensive appetizers and hope that the things that are nearly raw don't give you food poisoning."

"Oh that's the last thing I want to think about." I shook my head.

"I've never had food poisoning, Ashton." Luke laughed lightly as he shook his head. When the waitress came over and asked what we wanted for drinks I was surprised when Luke said all he wanted was a water. You would think he had exotic tastes for something else.

Maybe I misjudged the boy a little bit.

"How was class today?" Luke asked after a moment of silence.

"Class." I shrugged. "How was work?"

"Work." Luke gave a chuckle. "I mean, I had a couple of interviews today, and I just hate those things. It was for a couple of magazines and they always just use the stuff that makes me look cool and edgy. Not the stuff that actually, well, matters. Although, I did get quite a few questions about my interactions with your school lately."

"You can't say that's surprising." I replied.

"No, I can't say it is." Luke smiled. "Being an iconic figure is a lot of hard work, Ashton." He rolled his eyes as if he was being sarcastic.

"As a bum artist I could only imagine." I laughed. "I would love to be the next Andy Warhol or Vincent Van Gogh. An iconic artistic historical figure."

"Speaking of art," Luke began, I could have sworn he was going to ask about my commissioned piece, which I instantly hated, because that meant he was not seeing this as a date. Instead he leaned a little closer and whispered. "When are you actually going to teach me something? I'm really excited."

"You can't just start painting things like The Starry Night, you have to start small." I laughed. "Like.. Making a perfect circle."

"That's scientifically impossible." Luke went wide eyed.

"That's why you can't paint, because your thinking facts and numbers. Forget about it, and you could create amazing things. Trust me on that, no one is born a great artist. It takes perseverance, and all of this other inspirational stuff." I laughed. Luke gave a wide smile as he looked at me.

And I knew it would be a better night than I anticipated.

AUTHOR'S NOTIFICATION; Ariana

Lol I've been gone for so long and I'm so sorry I'm trying to do as much as a can in terms up update.

Hugs, Kisses, Cuddles and Serenades xX