Aria's POV
I got back to Reception and took a seat at my desk. Kate poked her head around the corner from her office.
'Someone seems very smiley, do tell' she said sneakily.
'Okay.. 'I huffed. Really I was desperate to tell her or someone what was happening.
'I have a lunch date at 12' I said quietly, incase any of them decided to come up the corridor at that particular moment.
'What? That's great. Who with?' she interrogated.
'Well last night I went to see 5 Seconds of Summer, which is the band currently in the studio. I've been going on about them for ages do you not listen?' I asked.
'You know I do I just can't remember everything, you are lucky if I remember what day of the week it is. Anyway continue' She demanded jokingly.
'Yes well anyway Calum, the dark haired, tanned bassist you were eyeing up, gave Doug some backstage passes and we hung out after the show. Ashton has been an idol of mine since the band started. He is so inspirational. When he came out of the back doors of the venue he locked eyes with me I felt like we were the only people there. We really hit it off backstage, so we all went for a bite to eat and they dropped me home. I gave him my number, obviously not expecting him to do anything with it. He text me last night and we exchange a few more messages and then I said I had to go to bed because I had work in the morning. Next thing I know he is calling me to say goodnight. I then got a text off him in the morning telling me to have a lovely day.' I finished slightly out of breathe. I decided not to tell her about my mini breakdown because I already knew what she would say.
'Aria, it sounds like he really likes you and I can tell by the look on your face that you really like him. Go steady but you should definitely go for it. After all that you have been through with Terri, Stephen and Cory, you deserve so much happiness in your life.' She said giving me a hug.
Ashton's POV
I usually love studio time, but today there was only one thing on my mind....Aria. The time between her leaving and our date at 12 o'clock seemed to drag. The other guys noticed that I was a little distracted.
'Ash, what's up with you this morning?' Luke asked, when I messed up the drum beat of one of the songs we were going through.
'Sorry, nothing i'm fine. Let's go from the top' I apologized.
'I think we should take five.' Michael suggested. I didn't bother to argue I just took a seat.
'Ash,tell us what's going on, you know you can trust us. We are your best mates after all.' Calum encouraged. I decided it would be easier to tell them.
'Fine, it's Aria.' I said.
'What about Aria?' Michael replied concerned.
'I just can't get her off my mind. I only met her yesterday. We are meant to have a coffee date at 12.' I smiled to myself.
'I think I really like her, and it sounds silly but there is a pain I can see in her eyes that makes me want to hold her and not let go.' I continued sadly.
'What are you waiting for then? If you like her, which after the look on your face all morning, I can tell that you do, then go an get her. I meant what I said this morning Ashton, you deserve all the happiness in the world' Michael finished.
I looked at the clock 11:55.
'Go get her mate' Luke said encouragingly. I stood up and as I did Calum followed suit, he stepped towards me and fixed my hair a little. We usually do this just before a gig.
'Thanks Cal' I said, he smiled. I almost skipped to the door in excitement. See you at one guys. They bid me luck and farewell and I casually walked up to reception.
Every time I see her she takes my breath away.
'Hey Ash, just give me a few minutes and I will be ready. Sorry i'm so unorganised' she says as soon as she sees me.
'No worries take your time' I reply with a smile plastered over my face.
Ten minutes later she was ready. She told her boss she was going to lunch and then we were off.
'So what do you fancy for lunch then?' She asked me. I thought for a second
'Am I right in thinking there is a Costa near by. We could go there if you fancy' I suggested.
'Yeah there is it's about five minutes from here' she replied pointing in the direction we needed to head in.
'So Aria, tell me a bit about yourself?' I smiled, as we started walking.
'What do you want to know?' She replied nervously.
'I don't know, where you grew up, your family, hobbies, that sort of thing.' I say.
'Um okay, well I was born in Essex. My dad died when I was young and my mum abandoned me. So we were brought up by my older brother Stephen and moved to London when me and Dougie were 6. Not much has happened for me, until about 7 years ago when Stephen joined the army and he was killed in action. He was 22. We were 16 when it happened so old enough to fend for ourselves I guess but it his us pretty hard. It got quite dark for me and Doug from there on in and it was only going to get worse. Terri our older sister got killed in a car crash 3 years ago. We kinda just kept spiralling out of control from there...' She paused, and I looked at her in a silent shock. I could see tears threatening to fall from her beautiful blue eyes.
'Hey come here' I say softly, pulling her into a hug.
'I'm so sorry I should never have been so nosy. I'm sorry for all you have been through' I said, her still in my embrace. She looked up at me.
'I'm sorry I should've stopped. You weren't being nosy you were just trying to get to know me more. I've kinda brought a massive downer on our lunch date. I'm worried I will scare people away with the full story.' She sniffed.
'Aria, you could never scare me away. I've known you all of a day and I already know I don't want to lose you.' trying to reassured her.
'Ashton, I don't wanna lose you either, but that wasn't even the full story' she replied pulling away.
'Aria, I don't care what the full story is. What happened in your past is in the past. Sure if you want to talk about it and when you are ready to talk about it then of course I will listen. But why should what has happened in your past affect what I think of you now.' I said looking her directly in the eyes, as a single tear falls down on to her cheek. I wipe it and then without really realising what I was doing I lifted her chin and placed a small kiss on her lips.
Aria's POV
It was like the world stopped for a couple of seconds. My stomach was doing flips, I couldn't believe what was happening. We both pulled away smiling at each other. I didn't really know what to say. He was such a sweet, kind, sensitive, genuine, down to earth guy. I had met him less then 24 hours ago but already I could feel I was falling for him. I felt like I'd known him for a lifetime. A guy hasn't made me feel like this in so long.
'Come on let's go' He said, as he slid his hand into mine and we carried on walking to Costa.
