Aria's POV
We got back to the studio ten minutes late. We said goodbye at my desk in Reception and Ashton carried on along the corridor, to the studio he was using with the guys. As soon as he was gone, Kate poked her head around the door of her office. She gestured for me to come in and take a seat. I was fully expecting her to tell me off for being late back. However she was rather eager to find out how my lunch date with Ashton went.
'A bit nosy aren't we?' I say to her.
'Oh please tell me Aria' she begged.
'How could I not?' I chuckled.
'Okay so we went to the coffee shop down the road. He asked me about myself, where i'm from, family, hobbies, etc. I ended up telling him about Terri and Stephen and mentioned that it fell apart. I got emotional and he gave me a hug.' I smile thinking about that moment when he also kissed me for the first time too. I continued with my story.
'This is even before we got to the coffee shop. He said he could see that I found it hard to trust people and that's when everything else came out.' I pause to check Kate's facial expression.
'Define everything?' she says.
'Everything, what happened with Doug, everything that happened with Cory, my depression and...I showed him too.' I replied rubbing one of my wrists with my other hand where my scars were. I was still trying to take it in myself.
'What did he say?' She asked cautiously.
'He didn't really say anything, when I lifted up sleeves to show him he looked shocked and took a while to say anything. But he took my hand and kissed my wrist and showed me his. He sat there and he listened to every word. He also asked if he could see me again as we were walking back. I thanked him for listening and he hugged me and he then....we kissed.' I finished. Kate just sat there taking all the information.
There was a long pause before she said, 'He sounds like he really likes you. After everything you've been through you deserve to be happy. I know it's a bit early and by no means rush into anything, but I think he is a keeper.' She looked a bit teary but maybe that was because she knows what I have been through. She gave me a hug and I wondered back to my desk with a smile on my face.
Michael's POV
'Mate, come on you're late' I said as Ashton finally appeared, 10 minutes late, with the same beaming smile he left with, if not bigger and brighter.
'Someone looks happy, I take it your date went well?' Calum asked.
'Yeah it was really good thanks, we just went to the coffee shop up the road. Done a lot of talking.' Ashton smiled.
'Did she make an appearance in your conversation' Luke hissed. He still hadn't forgiven Paisley for what she had done to Ashton.
'No she didn't, we talked more about her. She's been through a lot, worse then what happened with me and Paisley, and even before' Ashton replied sadly.
'Like what?' I ask concerned.
'It's not my place to say, but I will tell her about Paisley eventually. We are seeing each other again, so we'll see' he said positively. I could tell only three days into knowing this girl, Ashton was falling for her. I just hope that she doesn't hurt him like Paisley did.
'Shall we continue where we left off?' I ask. The others agreed and we all picked up our instruments and got in our places.
Aria's POV
5:30pm came around quite slowly and it seemed like ages since mine and Ashton's lunch date. I had just finished for the day but Kate was working late until 5SOS had finished. I decided it would be a nice idea to get everyone a hot drink from the coffee shop. I asked Kate what she fancied and then went to go and ask the guys. Ashton wasn't there when I got to the studio, I assumed that he had gone to the toilet as I didn't pass him on my way. My thoughts were confirmed by Michael. I asked them if they wanted anything from the coffee shop, they all said yes and gave me their orders. Calum asked whether I would like a hand, I decided that six drinks would be quite difficult to handle so accepted. As we were about to leave Ashton came through the doors.
'Hey' he said happily, engulfing me in a huge hug. He was so much taller then me, it made me feel safe.
'Hey, I was just going to the coffee shop. I came to see whether you guys wanted anything. Michael has already given me your order.' I smiled.
'Did he now? Did you want a hand?' He chuckled. Before I could reply Calum had already answered.
'It's okay I'll help, you need to go work on the rest of that song with Michael and Luke'. Ashton looked a little put out but he agreed. I said I'd see them in a bit and set off with Calum in tow.
Calum's POV
I set off with Aria to the coffee shop. I waited until we were out of the studio and out of earshot of the others before I started any conversation.
'Ash said you and him went out for lunch' I stated. 'Yeah we did' she smiled.
'He's been through a lot. You're the first girl he's trusted since everything that happened. He really likes you, you know that. I can't remember the last time he was properly happy.' I replied.
'Really?' I say slightly taken aback by this information.
'Yeah.. he went through a bad break up. It came out of nowhere really to be honest. He loved her more then life. I'm not convinced that he never thought about taking his own life when she ended it. He was a mess for months. She just ended it, said she hadn't felt happy for a while but wasn't giving him any exact reason as to why.' I explained.
'I knew he must have suffered some heartbreak because I can see it in his eyes. I feel so bad, he kept asking about me when we were at lunch I never even got to ask about him. We just spoke about all my past issues.' I said guiltily.
'Don't feel bad Aria, he will tell you soon. He doesn't like to relive it. He writes about it in songs and then tries to forget.' I smile weakly at her.
'I do exactly the same. You know, I really like Ashton too. He is the first guy i've trusted for a while now.' I look at her and see her cheeks have glowed a slight red colour.
