All of my 5sos work

Preference #55. Sometimes the darkest days have bright bursts.

Coming home wasn't going to be easy, trying to settle back into everyday life after all it all. We'd been around the world, we'd seen so much in so little time. Now we were sat on a plane, flying back to our loved ones. I knew Luke was looking forward to seeing his family, Michael to see Crystal soon after all the secrecy and me well, I was seeing family. Then there was Ashton, Ashton was sat opposite me holding his head in his hand as he eagerly watched the view slowly pass us by.

We were all looking forward to being home but at the same time everyone was anxious, life wasn't going to be the same and the thought of this affected Ashton the most. Back home he'd been waiting to tell her for so long, to long to tell her how he felt. Every time we'd go somewhere all of us would be asked who we were with, if there was a celeb we would want to bang. Whilst we all laughed it off and kept it quiet Ashton merely muttered her name knowing she wasn't famous, no one would know her more than being our closest friend back home.

Except she was more than just a friend, to me she was the one I called or spoke to in the early hours of the morning. For Luke she helped him with music, they wrote songs together. To Michael she was the little sister to keep an eye on when he could and to Ashton, she was something else. 

We've been able to tell this for some time now, when she'd come over unexpectedly he'd try to disguise the fact that he was flustered, that she didn't make him nervous. He would avoid staring at her but could never not wholeheartedly gaze her way as she laughed, I swear he lit up whenever she laughed as if it were the cure to every disease in the world. We all loved seeing him happy, coming home from tour isn't the easiest on him. 

When he goes home the responsibilities continue, he helps out more and wants to be there for his brother and sister and mum more importantly. Yet he lies there every night and doesn't mutter a word about it to anyone but her. How do I know this? Because I receive phone calls at 5 in the morning from her close to tears from what Ashton has told her, that she too wants nothing more than to spend time with him. 

Last time we spoke she told me about how she broke her wrist, it wasn't too bad but all she wanted was Ashton to be there to sit with her in the late nights or hospital check ups. She wanted to hear him giggle or see the joy etched in his eyes. How two people can be so in love with one another yet unbelievably oblivious never ceases to amaze me. Yet, we all agreed to let them discover this themselves, even if they need a little push now and then. 

As we entered the airport we all stayed fairly quiet, it was late night/early morning flight. No one was happy to still be awake at 3:39am, but here we are. Thankfully none of the fans were aware of us coming home so soon, meaning we could have a bittersweet private moment with our families. Luke and Michael were tired but radiated excitement to see their family, I too. But for Ashton, he seemed hesitant. Wide awake, wired almost. 

Nudging him I smiled but his eyes seemed glazed over, that was until we reached the arrivals area. Immediately I heard my parents calling for me and hugged them tightly, thankful to finally have a long awaited hug from my own Mum. Glancing over to Ashton I saw her walking towards him, clearly hesitant herself. She held a bunch of sunflowers to him and as she hugged him they fell out of her hands. 

It was the sort of hug you'd see in films, the bone crushing, packed with emotion, unable to let you go kind of hug. The one you secretly dream to have someday with someone so precious. We all went our separate ways as the two of them chatted away like nothing had changed, there was no tension between them as they laughed, his face slowly lighting up as she giggled at his stories. 

*

Laying in bed I saw my phone screen light up, another phone call. I didn't expect it to begin so soon. All she could do was ramble, I heard footsteps and the sounds of cars whizzing by. She told me how she was going to his house, that she couldn't not tell him any longer how she felt. Now was the right opportunity, she said, that Ashton made her mundane life have excitement. Even with a mere smile. 

I hung up knowing that the next time I'd see the two of them they'd be together. They could finally hold hands rather than hesitate. Hug without lingering for too long. Kiss. Breathe. Laugh. Live. 

As cliche as it may sound his days at home would get easier, my early morning phone calls would cease to be. I know that sometimes the darkest days have bright bursts, and to them the bright bursts came in laughter.