Somewhere in Neverland (Lashton)

Ch. 30: I'll Stay With You For All of Time

"I know now, just quite how

My life and love might still go on

In your heart, in your mind

I'll stay with you for all of time

If I could, then I would

I'll go wherever you will go

Way up high or down low

I'll go wherever you will go"

The Calling

Once Ashton's parents arrived home, he ran up to his room, searching up stuff on his computer. He googled, music colleges in London. And sure enough, there were plenty of great music colleges. He knew it would be very unlikely for colleges to still take admissions this late, but he sent his application to several of them with an essay at the end explaining why his admission was so late. He hoped that at least one of them would let him in.

Ashton drove to the forest. It had finally stopped raining. He hadn't been there since the breakup. The forest seemed different to him but he just couldn't his finger on how until he reached the treehouse or more of where the treehouse should of been. The tree that used to hold the treehouse up laid on the ground broken into two pieces, with a large black streak through it which was probably left from when the lightning struck it down. The treehouse itself was in ruins on the ground. Ashton stared at the remnants of their hideout. He suddenly came upon the perfect idea to win Luke back. He called Harry up, who brought a few of his friends along to help him.

"What exactly did you call us here to do?" Harry asked. About ten other boys stood around Ashton.

"Well, you see that broken down treehouse?" Ashton said pointing to the broken tree. They nodded their heads, still unsure of the task at hand.

"Well, we need to rebuild it," he told them sounding determined. The group stared at him wide eyed.

"And how the hell are we going to do that?" Louis asked. So Ashton and the group of boys spent the day getting supplies to build a new treehouse and scouted out to find a tree suited for it. They found a tree over by the cliff that overlooked the ocean. It seemed perfect to Ashton. The next day they spent constructing the tree house. It took them all day and even a few minor injuries. Harry and Ashton worked on cutting out windows and doors on the inside while the rest worked on making a ladder.

"So, you're doing this all to win Luke back?" Harry asked with a hint of admiration in his voice.

"Y-yeah," Ashton said in a nervous voice.

"You know that he would probably take you back even without a big gesture."

"Yeah, I know."

"It's romantic though, I'd die to have someone love me as much as you love him."

"You still haven't told Louis yet, have you?" Ashton questioned already knowing the answer.

"No, what's the point of telling him. I already know what he's going to say," Harry told him with a hopeless expression.

"No, you don't. You have to tell him before he leaves for college. Otherwise, you're always going to have those 'what if' scenarios in your head." Harry nodded, knowing Ashton's right. Once the treehouse was finished, Ashton raced home to check his email to see if any of the colleges responded. As expected, most of them sent him emails that stated it was too late to apply. But there was one that didn't. Royal College of Music. Ashton's eyes skimmed the email, anxiety running through his veins. He had gotten in. And the college was less than two hours away from Cambridge. He sent Luke a text, asking to meet him in the forest at noon the next day.

Luke was in the middle of the final episode of season four of One Tree Hill when he got the text from Ashton. A smile grew upon his face, his insides screaming, butterflies filling his stomach. He quickly replied he would be there. He didn't want to get his hopes up but at the same time he couldn't help not to. Luke was excited and scared all at the same time. He couldn't sleep at all that night. He spent the whole morning trying to pick out the perfect outfit. In the end, he picked out a white v-neck with a red flannel over it which Ashton had told him was his favorite and ripped black skinny jeans.

"Whoa, what is this? Is Luke Hemmings actually leaving the house for the first time in a month?" Jack asked, a smile playing on his lips.

"Yeah," Luke said, not being able to stop the smile from forming onto his face.

"And who has finally convinced you to leave the house?"

"Ashton, he wants to meet me."

"Well, good luck," his brother told him with a smile, glad to see Luke happy again.

Luke hopped in the car, jamming out to All Time Low's newest single, Something's Gotta Give. He knew the way to the forest by heart now. It was a sunny day and wasn't too hot nor too cold. It was the perfect day. When Luke arrived there, Ashton's car was already parked in the dirt road. He couldn't spot Ashton though. There was a trial of rose petals leading through the forest. Luke smiled wider than the sun as he followed the trial. He followed it past the broken down treehouse and all the way to the end of the forest. His mouth gaped open when he saw the newly built tree house on which had Luke and Ashton's initials spray painted on it in a heart. Ashton stood in front of the treehouse smiling wide. He had on a Blink-182 shirt and his usual ripped black skinny jeans. He held a bouquet of roses in his hands.

"Did you build this?" Luke asked referring to the treehouse. He made his way over to the boy he'd been longing to see.

"Yes, I had some help though."

"It's incredible," Luke spoke, awed.

"Luke, I'm sorry. I didn't mean anything I said that day. I was scared of the future and I pushed you away when I shouldn't of have. Truth is, you mean everything to me. I don't see a future without you. My life isn't worth living without you in it. I want to spend the rest of my life with you." Ashton paused before going on.

"I uh, I applied to a music college in London, and I got in. It's less than two hours away from Cambridge."

"Ash, I don't want you to give up Auckland for me."

"If it's between you or Auckland, I'm always going to choose you. I'm always going to chose you. I'm in love with you, Luke Hemmings. And frankly, I think I would do anything and everything for you, which can't be good nor healthy. But I don't care. I have never been more happy than when I'm with you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Grow old with you by my side. I can't even imagine the future without you. So, um." Ashton's voice was beginning to shake and tears were gathering in his eyes. He pulled out a small box from his pocket, getting down on one knee. Luke just stared at him in disbelief.

"I will never stop loving you, nothing in the world would make me love you less. So, Luke Hemmings, will you marry me?" he asked, his hands tremulous. Tears poured down both their faces. Luke just stared at him dumbstruck. Finally, he found the strength to respond.

"Yes, yes," he told the boy, a smile danced upon both their faces. Ashton slid the silver ring onto Luke's finger then kissed his lips being reminded of how much he was in love with this boy.