#Herby

Chapter 1

Liyahs POV

"Are you free tonight?"

"Helllloooooo!!"

"Its important, answer me!"

I am looking at my phone, once again. Ashton has left me over 10 messages, regarding something that is happening tonight. I am telling myself not to text back, because my exams are coming dangerously close. "Beep, Beep!". Once again my phone is reminding me that Ashton Irwin left me a text.

"Liyah, it's really important, we have a gig tonight with my new band and I can't do this without you. You're like my best friend!"

He always does that to me. I can't hide the big smile across my face that I would rather replace with sadness. It is so hard for me to accept that my "best friend" doesn't feel the same way. Everytime he looks at me I have butterflies in my stomach while he sees me as a buddy to talk about problems, as a girl to mentally support him before he goes on the stage. Why is life always so complicated? A One Direction song is awakening me from my stupid day dream. Ashton is calling me, yet again, so he can make sure that I can feel more friendzoned then ever. After the 14th ring, I finally pick up.

     "Hey Ashton, whats wrong?", I say too obvious, as if I don't know why he is calling.

     "Did you happen to get one of the 20 messages I sent you, Liyah?", he says with an angry tone in his voice.

      "No, didnt get a single one", I tease. He freaking deserves to feel let down, I hate him, but I love him. Ugh, why does love suck?

        "Listen, I know you take this school thing really seriously, but we have our first gig tonight and we have a new band member that you need to meet, he is really nice and talented. Calum and Michael are going to be there too, by the way, his hair is blue now.", he says and I know he is smiling.

I can't help but smile as well. Michael changed his hair color more than I ever will and I still can't believe he thinks it looks good on him. I have to admit, he looks cute in pink, but I would never tell him that in person, that's just weird. Once again, Ashton convinced me to go to one of his events, just because I want to get a break from the tower of homework I have in front of me.

     "Fine, I'll go with you, but only if you pick me up at my house. I won't spend money on public transportation for you if your mum can just come around the corner with you and bring me to...where is it anyway?

      Ashton answers, "Its actually right around the corner, in the club by 4th street. It's called "Walk down the street and don't make me spend gas money on you." Just kidding, it's that club where we always hang out, see you there in 5 minutes?"

I say yes and rush to the closet. I hate when he gives me a time limit, because I need to look presentable. What am I even talking about? I am dressing myself pretty for a boy that couldn't care less about my appearance, I'm just his best friend. I pick out my blue jeans, my uggs and a white, lace long sleeve shirt that I've been dying to wear. I look at myself in the mirror and I have to admit that I look okay. My brown, long hair is nicely laying on my shoulders and the workouts I've been doing all summer have really been paying off. I put on one more layer of perfume and leave my dads house quietly, so I don't wake thim up. He goes to bed really early, around 7 pm, because he works early in the mornings. 

After a 10 minute walk through our city park I finally arrive at the youth club where me and the boys always hang out with some friends. Ashton waits for me at the entrance and embraces me in his muscular arms and my head leans against his torso.

       "You look nice tonight", he says with a smile on his face. "Let me introduce you to Luke."

 So that's how the new boy is called, I think to myself. I follow Ashton through the crowded bar into the backstage area until we reach a door that says: "5SOS" on a piece of paper attached to it. 

      "Is that the name of your band?", I ask him quietly.

      "Yeah, we're called 5 Seconds of Summer, Luke came up with the idea. He actually- oh speaking of the devil, Hey Luke, this is Liyah", Ashton says as he turns to a teenager leaning against a chair.

Who is sitting in front of me right now is Luke, the boy Ashton was talking about. His face and apperance enlights the room with happiness and joy and I can't help but look at him. He had blonde hair that is in a perfect wave. He has a lip piercing that makes him look mysterious and exciting. Luke is wearing a shirt with a penguin and black skinny jeans. He has a sandwich and a soda in his hand as he starts looking at me with a weird expression.

    "Hey, I'm Liyah. You..eh.. must be Luke?, I stotter, sounding like a complete idiot.

    "Yeah, I know, Ashton just introduced you to me.", Luke says in a cold, uninterested tone. 

By his accent I can clearly tell that he must be Australian. I can't help but notice that he doesnt seem to care about my attendance at all. He is just concentrating on his sandwich and doesn't bother giving me a second look or ask any further questions. Even though he seems to be a jerk I can't overlook that he is one of the prettiest human beings I've ever seen in my life. Ashton shares looks between me and Luke as he breaks the awkward silence.

      "Okay then", he says. "So, Luke is playing the guitar and he is the main vocal in our band. Liyah likes singing too, perhaps you two could sing something together. She is really talented".

Even though Ashton is trying to loosen things up a bit, it doesn't help at all. Luke just shurgs his shoulders and leaves the room without any further comments or looks. I turn around to tell him it was nice meeting him, but the door already slammed and I sit down on a chair, not understanding the world anymore. Why is my heart pounding harder than ever, even though this boy just clearly showed that he has no further interest in making a conversation? 

     "The gig start in an hour, I'll go change", Ashton says in the back of my head. I just want to be alone right now and imagine a world without any damn feelings.