simmer down // a.i. [ON HOLD]

[7] no strings attached

The 2 leftover slices of pizza lay forgotten on the coffee table, in front of where I was sitting. We'd all eaten together, and Ashton and I had managed to avoid talking to eachother, subtley avoiding conversations involving the other person. It wasn't too awkward, but I was glad when him and Luke had taken Beck and Ciara back to the auditorium for a bit of a jam session - and judging by the off-key sounds coming through the wall, and the sound of Luke's laughter, I assumed Ciara was trying to play.

I leant back against Calum's legs and pointed the controller at the screen. He began to fiddle with my hair, and I paused.

He stopped. 'Is this okay?'

I nodded slowly, and twisted my head around to eye him jokingly.

'Don't knot it, I washed it this morning!'

He laughed and tugged at it gently.

'You've got pretty hair. Brown hair looks good on girls.'

I smiled, and tilted my head back, looking at him from upside down. He was looking at me thoughtfully. Calum had a really cute look on his face, as if he was thinking really hard, and his bottom lip was sticking out. His brown eyes grazed over my face for a while before he nodded.

'Ashton was right.'

I stopped, confused, but his eyes had wandered on, focusing on my hands as he slowly beginning to plait my hair.

'What do you mean, Ashton was right?'

Calum raised an eyebrow.

'That's for me to know and for you to find out, isn't it?'

I huffed. 'Whatever. I don't get his deal anyway. Why does he always act like there's something up his ass?'

Michael laughed from across the room, where he was waiting for me to finish choosing my team on FIFA.

'Something up his ass - that's a good one. He doesn't. You're so judgemental, just wait a bit and get to know him.'

'I don't want to. I can guess what he's like.'

'But that's the point. He really isn't that person. He's probably the nicest out of all us.'

Calum grinned. 'Yeah, chicks dig Ashton.'

I rolled my eyes. 'And that's why he has a big head. I know a lot of guys just like him. As soon as I let him get to know me, he'll either ditch me then or want something more. And I'm not looking for that right now. I just want a summer job, with good pay, and no extras.'

Michael pouted. 'Do we count as extras?'

I smiled. 'Nah. You guys are the exception.'

'Aww, shucks. But Emma, you have to give Ashton a chance. Do you think we would have put up with him for this long if he was a total dickhead?'

Good point.

'Calum, I don't know-'

He pulled his fingers out from under my head, and shifted himself slightly so he was looking directly into my eyes.

'Please Em. Give him one chance. Just for the summer. Be nice. We're just four normal guys who got lucky, and we like to make friends. We still want to try and make the most of our teen years. Ashton especially, all he wants is someone else he can talk to and laugh and do normal things with, without being seen as a member of 5SOS. All you gotta do is be his friend.'

Calum stopped speaking but kept looking at me. I felt Michael watching us closely. He was right, in a way. I could see their life from his perspective - always on the road, never in one place for more than a few nights. Anywhere they go, there must be girls jumping all over them, but it was clear to me that they just wanted someone to be their friend and see past the whole band image. And if I just got past the whole Ashton problem, I could do just that.