But Loved

18. Strange Love

"What?" He asks and I sit down next to him on my bed. "You can't be serious about that."

"I don't mean literally," I explain and he looks at me like I'm crazy.

"What the hell happened at work?"Ashton asks standing up from my bed and walking to the window.

"The school board doesn't want me broadcasted as your girlfriend," I explain and he turns to face me once again.

"That's.." I cut him off.

"They don't want the parents to complain about their children's longtime sub going to bars with celebrities. I'm not even old enough to drink, you know. Not until the middle of September," I remind him and his jaw clenches.

"I don't get why we have to 'break up' yet," he states putting air quotes around break up. "We haven't even announced we're dating."

"I know. But I just need to rip myself from your life. All of their lives. I need this job, Ashton," I tell him.

"You don't need the job. Your grandmother was loaded and you own two houses with the mortgage paid off already," he reminds me.

"I never said I needed money," I exclaim standing up as well. "This job is how I try to have a normal life. Ashton please."

"What do you want to do, then?" He asks letting his head fall.

"I'll make an announcement on Twitter or Instagram or something," I shrug.

"Alright," he sighs. "But you have to tell the others."

"You need to make sure you aren't seen with me Ashton," I tell him and he nods.

"I get it. This job is important to you. I can do this," he tells me and I smile.

"Help me fake cry," I say and he starts laughing a bit.

"That's so random," Ashton mumbles.

"What no!" I defend, "it's for the video."

"You should tell the others first," he suggests.

"Probably yay," I laugh.

--

I finish wiping the table as the boys start packing up. My summer job was at the café the boys first performed. It's about ten o'clock and the café is closed but it's nice. They're messing around a bit on the stage making me giggle.

"Amethyst?" I turn around to see Calum there with his hands in his pockets. He looks awkward.

"Yes?" I ask.

"Do we have to leave you?" He asks and I chuckle.

"Your tour starts soon, doesn't it? It'll be normal," I shrug.

"Yah but Amethyst, I hate the fact that we could possibly make you lose your job," he admits and I sigh.

"It's an internship really. I not even staying the whole year," I remind him and he sighs this time.

"I still feel bad."

"Don't be. It's mostly my fault," I confess.

"Not really but I'll let you win," he says and I give him a small smile.

"You guys can still stop by. You just can't be seen," I remind him. "I mean no one even knows that me and Ashton are together so...."

"I guess that's true. Are you still going to make a video?" He asks.

"I'm just going to deactivate all my accounts," I tell him and he nods.

"Okay," he smiles.