Starry Eyed. Lashton AU

1.

I remember the first letter I got from the boy that got me so caught up in his web of stars and mysterious nothings.

It was the second week of school, and I'd forgotten my meds that morning, and I was watching the ceiling panels of the hallway, wondering how many designs people could see when someone looked at them. I thought I saw one arrangement of the dots that spelled out my name. I liked the way my name sounded, but then I realized someone was actually saying my name.

"Luke!? Hello? Earth to Luke, I'm talking to you!" Calum called to me, waving at me as I finally snapped back to reality and my eyes registered over his face and I realized he was trying to get my attention.

"Uh, yeah? Sorry, spaced out," I mumbled.

He rolled his eyes, but smirked and clapped me on the shoulder, "you gonna stand there or open your locker?"

I smiled sheepishly and turned around, twisting the combination as quickly as possible. 7, 23, 16. The lock popped open with ease and all I could see was a clutter of white fluttering all around me as the papers flew all around me.

Calum immediately started to pick up the papers, thought it to me a second to register what had happened. After cramming all of the maths papers back into the folder, and Calum making numerous comments about how my locker really should be cleaner, the bell started to ring and then I was being pushed towards my first period class.

As soon as I sat down, I started to play with the strings of my hoodie, until the teacher asked me if I had my homework. So I quickly grabbed it out and handed it to her, but when I grabbed the paper from my folder, my eyes caught sight of another slip of paper folded up behind it with unfamiliar writing scribbled on it.

All it said was Luke, which confused me, because if it was mine and in my folder, why would I have written my own name on it?

I unfolded it, thinking maybe it was from Calum.

Luke.

Your eyes are the bluest fucking things I have ever seen. I'm writing this from across the parking lot, you're sitting in your car listening to your music like you always do on the mornings when you have off days. You just sit there. And god you get me all messed up. I can't think straight when you do that stupid smile. And why the fuck did you pierce your lip? Do you know how suffocating that is? And stop biting your lip. And when you get confused you do that cute little thing with your eye brows. And I just can't get over every thing you do. And those stupid skinny jeans make it so hard for me to breathe. I can't breathe when you come around, Luke. I can't focus on the things my friends are saying or even care. All I've got the time or patience for is watching you exist. I envy every single person who gets to touch those hands of yours. I think I'm in love with you Luke. And it's pretty exhausting.

-Ash

I folded up the white piece of paper with the scribbled writing and tucked it safely into my front pocket of my flannel, close to my heart, which I find ironically fitting even now.

At first, I didn't take the note seriously. I thought, maybe it was meant as a joke or for a different Luke who happened to also have blue eyes and a lip piercing.

But then I looked to my right, and in the back of the class sat Ashton Irwin, grinning right at me, with that stupid perfect smile, and I knew that was it. I was done for.