"Don't ever leave," she said to me - A 5 Seconds of Summer story

Chapter eight.

Sophie's POV

"So, if you guys are done, I think we should let these two continue with their day." Calum announced, standing up from the table and nodding towards Luke and Michael.

"Alright, alright. Jeez, what's the rush?" Sighed Luke, standing slowly, slurping the remainder of his drink quickly.

"Just take it with you!" Said Calum, laughing at his friend.

Luke pouted, but picked up his drink, and began making his way out from the table.

"We'll see you later then, I guess." Michael said awkwardly, turning towards me, and giving me a small hug.

"Yeah, I'm sure I'll see you guys around." I smiled.

Ashton had remained seated, and had a slight frown on his face. I caught his eye and smiled, which he returned. But, it wasn't one of his warm, genuine smiles.

"Hey! Why don't all of us have a movie night tonight? You guys can come round to mine, cos my parents are going out." Said Luke suddenly, breaking me from my Ashton centred trance.

"I'm in!" Smiled Michael.

Luke looked at Calum. "Sure man, sounds good!"

"Soph?" Three pairs of eyes turned towards me.

"Um, well, it's really up to Ash, as I'm staying at his." I looked over at Ashton, who looked uncomfortable. He sighed, looking at me, before replying.

"If Sophie wants to, we'll come." He said flatly.

Now all of them turned, and watched me. I wanted to go. I liked these boys, and a movie night with all of them, sounded like fun. But, I also just wanted to spend the night at Ashton's, as I would be leaving in the morning for my hostel. Then again, maybe I was getting carried away. Ashton most probably didn't like me, as liked him. He liked me, sure, but I highly doubt he'd fallen for me, or even felt half of the feelings I do towards him.

"Sure, why not." I smiled, ignoring the pang of guilt in my stomach, and the slightly disappointed look on Ashton's face.

"Sweet! Well, do you wanna come round about seven-ish?"

"We'll be there." Said Ashton sourly.

Luke, and Calum hugged Ashton and I goodbye, before leaving us alone in the small coffee shop.

It was awkward now, and I didn't really know why.

"So, tonight should be fun, right?" I smiled, attempting to make conversation with Ashton, who was looking at his fingers as he played with them.

"Sure."

"What's wrong? You've gone all quiet..."

He looked up at me, and my heart sped up.

"Nothing." He said bluntly, looking down at his hands again.

I stood up, grabbing my bag from the back of my chair, left money for my drink, and walked out of the cafe. To be honest, I don't know why I did it, and I had no idea where to go once I was outside, I was just irritated by Ashton's mood. I was in Sydney, my home town, and he was not going to ruin it for me.

I turned, walking back towards Circular Quay. The sun was warm on my bare shoulders, but I couldn't enjoy it because I felt bad for saying we'd go to Luke's, and I felt bad for making Ashton feel bad, and I felt bad for waking out of the cafe, and I felt bad for feeling bad, because I barely knew Ashton, and I was acting like a stroppy girlfriend. I breathed in deeply, stopping to look over the wall at the water of Sydney Harbour. I heard footsteps behind me, but thought nothing of it, until Ashton appeared beside me. He let out a long breath, leaning on the wall next to me.

"You walk fast." He attempted a chuckle, and I shrugged.

"Look, Sophie, I'm sorry..."

"No, I'm sorry Ashton." I cut him off. "I don't know why I walked out, and why I got cross, and.."

"It's my fault. I shouldn't have acted like a spoilt child. I'm never usually like this, that was so stupid of me. I don't want to ruin your day, or your trip, I just... I'm sorry." He ran his hand through his hair, glancing at me out of the corner of his eye.

"It's okay, honestly. I'm not mad. I shouldn't have left like that, it was stupid. Do you wanna talk?"

I hoped he did want to talk, because I could tell something was bothering him. He seemed distant, even though he was right next to me, and it looked like it was an effort to smile.

"It's nothing, it's stupid." He brushed me off.

"Okay." I placed my small hand over his on the wall, and he looked down at it and smiled. A genuine smile.

Ashton's POV

"Okay." She didn't push anything. I thought she'd ask more questions about why I'd acted the way I did, and I could tell she was curious, but she didn't push it.

She placed her hand over mine, smiling up at me. My chest filled with warmth, and all my irritation towards Luke, annoyance at Sophie, and envy of them both, left me. Right there, in that moment, I could pretend that she felt this too. That she felt the ache in her chest whenever I smiled, how her heart would speed up if she caught me already looking when she looked at me and the way a single touch, would make her legs feel like jelly. This is how she made me feel, but I knew that I could never make her feel like this. And for what felt like the thousandth time that day, I found myself wondering if Luke made her feel that way.