You Chose Mine

Chapter 7

“You were busy yesterday” Derek smiled as he leant over the counter; I shook my head as my sleepy eyes attempted to close. That talk with Luke took the life out of me and him kissing me on the cheek caused me to stay up until about 3:30 just thinking about the physical contact we made, as crazy as it sounds his all I’ve thought about since we’ve met.

“Kennedy won’t stop talking about it” he sighed.

“Why do you let her do that to you? I love you and all but you are such a push over” I told him, he shrugged to me knowing how much I dislike it when he doesn’t answer this question; his been avoiding it for the past few months but at least he didn’t walk away.

“Shannon!” Kennedy called out with her eyes glue to her phone. I groaned knowing that it was either a party invite or something that she would drag me too.

“She’s not here!” I replied as I rested my head on the counter.

“Oh come on!” she protested as she waved her phone about.

“Kennedy we have customers, can you act like an employee?” I asked.

“Calum just invited us to one of their shows tonight!” I groaned once more.

“I’m tired!”

“You wouldn’t answer my texts last night so I bet you were in bed by 10, come on grandma!” I turned and looked at Derek before he shot me a sympathetic look.

“Yay! We’re going”

*

The waiting door opened with a smiley Ashton on the other side. “You guys came!” he said hugging Kennedy, I grinned back at his happy greeting before wrapping my arms around him “He won’t stop talking about you” he whispered.

I pulled away before he gave me a look, a look that made me happy but slightly sick to my stomach. I turned to see Kennedy embracing Luke into a big hug and swaying back and forth.

“Yeah, he totally looks interested” I replied before Calum and Michael greeted me with hugs.

“I come bearing gifts!” I announced as I handed them each an individually wrapped t-shirts. I smiled as they rushed to open them, and when they all smiled approving of the customised shirts I knew I had done something right. My favourite would have to be the one I made for Ashton; I took his name from the front of his Cajon and put it on a white t-shirt for him. I thought it looked pretty cool, I was proud of it.

“These are one of a kinds, so if you lose them your dead.” I stated before they all engulfed me into a hug.

“Thanks” I heard Luke whisper in my ear. He pulled back with a smile spread across his face, the same shy smile I saw when I told him that I thought he was nice last night.

“These are sick Shannon!” Calum gushed.

“Oh! That reminds me!” I reached into the bag once more and pulled out a black hoodie with ‘Runaway’ printed on the front of it. “I know this doesn’t make up for you losing your favourite snapback and I know it’s coming up to summer but, you know” I handed it to him before he teased the boys about getting something extra when they didn’t. I laughed at them before I made brief eye contact with Luke, that shy smile found its way back onto his face before he looked down to the ground. I giggled to myself before I did the same thing; suddenly Ashton caught my attention with a cheeky look. I shook my head before Kennedy stood next to me.

“See I told you, you would have wanted to come tonight” she hip bumped me before hugging me, I hugged her back. Part of me hates the fact she has Luke, and the other half just wants him and her to be happy.

*

“Thanks Jake!” I said patting the back of his van; he beeped the horn in acknowledgement before driving off.

“His going on a date with her…” I heard a voice say, I turned to see Ashton taking steps towards me.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, “It’s late”.

“I know, I just… wanted you to know before they did anything” I found it sweet how he wanted me to know but it was too little, too late for that.

“I had to help Kennedy pick out her dress this morning” I told him as I picked up a cardboard box and took it into the store.

“Well, if it’s any help at all he didn’t seem too excited for it” he said.

I placed the box on top of the counter before turning to him, “Why would he ask her then?” I asked.

“He didn’t ask her, she asked him…” It stung that he said ‘yes’ but he likes her, I can’t stop that.

“I’m going to tell you something, in complete honesty…” Ashton began; I walked back outside to pick up the other box as he followed me like a lost puppy. “I see the way you look at him…” Goosebumps formed on my arms and legs as I felt my heart race in my chest. I knew he caught my glances and short stares last night, ever since that day at the beach Ashton’s been like my big brother that watches my ever move whenever there’s boys around.

I placed the boxes on the ground behind the counter before sighing. “Don’t tell him, it’ll just ruin everything with Kennedy. I don’t even know if we’re considered friends yet, but I would really love to stay friends with him and you guys” I confessed.

“I also see the way Luke looks at you…” he said.

My eyes shot up to his as they seemed to shine in the dim lights of the store. “He looks at me like any other person would look at me, the ‘nice girl with great hair’ look” he chuckled.

“Don’t forget your modesty”, I laughed at him. I liked having Ashton to talk too, it was nice.

“Luke likes you, whether he knows it or not and Kennedy is a phase.” He stated, “All guys have those girls that are just phases” he added. I nodded slightly agreeing with his statement, and the amount of times I’ve been just a phase girl for some guys is more than I care to acknowledge.

“Shouldn’t you be getting home?” I asked after a few minutes of silence “Home will always be there, I just thought I should come hang out with you for a while” I smiled before giggling at him.

“Now I finally see the true meaning to why loads of girls have you as their favourite”