Secrets // a.i.

Two

Tour starts in just a short amount of days, but we leave tomorrow to head to the first city. London is the first stop, I've been there many times with Michael over the years to visit family and go on summer breaks. But this was going to be a whole new experience, and I was beyond excited. I finish packing the last of my stuff just as I hear the door bell ring, it was Michael. I take the stairs two by two, opening the door to find him standing against the door frame.

"Took you long enough" he laughs. "Are you ready?" 

"Yeah just let me get my purse" I turn away, leaving him at the door as I head for the hall closet. I pull my coat over my shoulders and grab my purse, pulling it open to grab my house keys. I lock the door behind us as we head to the car. "So who's house are we going to again?" I ask as we pull out of my driveway.

"Ashtons" he says focusing on the road. "His parents wanted to throw a dinner for us before we all go off for a few months."

"Are you sure me coming isn't too much?" I ask softly. The last thing I wanted to do was be in the way, especially since I was already going to be with them on tour.

"No, of course not. Calum's bringing his sister and stuff, and I think Luke's siblings are coming too."

"Yeah but that's family, I'm just your bestfriend" I sigh.

"But I consider you family.." he says sweetly.

"God, don't go getting all sappy on me" I giggle.

"No, I mean it. You're like a sister" he smiles.

"And you're like a brother" I smile back. After another ten minutes we finally arrive at Ashtons house, cars filling the driveway as we find a spot on the street. He had a pretty nice house, nothing over the top but there was plenty of space. Conversations and laughter could be heard as we got closer to the house, heading to the back yard. Michael goes before me and shouts erupt all around, as everyone comes to hug him.

"Hi dear" Ashtons mom says as she hugs him. "So glad you could make it" she smiles. She was gorgeous.

"Thank you for having us. This is my best friend Riley, this is Ashtons mom, Anne" he grins.

"So nice to meet you, you have a lovely home" I smile, shaking her hand. 

"Oh why thank you. Make yourselves at home, foods on the table" she beams as she turns to greet a family that arrived just after us.

"Are you hungry?" Michael asks me.

"No, I'm okay" I shake my head.

"I'm gonna go get me something, I'll be back" and before I know it he's gone. I stand at the side of the house, fidgiting with my fingers.

"Riley?" someone asks. I turn around to see a tall boy with blonde hair, a muscle shirt adoring his upper torso.

"Ashton?" I ask in shock. He looks much different than the last time I saw him, a good different though.

"I didn't know you were coming" he smiles.

"Michael wanted me to come with him, I hope it's okay" I cringe, biting the side of my lip.

"No, no it's fine. I just didn't know" he giggles. I feel awkward, only because I don't know Ashton and the other boys all that much yet.

"So are you excited?" I ask, trying to void the awkwardness.

"I'm stoked, so ready to get back on the road. Did you ever hear from management about you coming with us?" 

"Uh yeah, Michael got a call the other day. They said it was okay" I smile.

"So you get to come?" He gasps.

"Yeah" I laugh.

"That's so cool. We don't get to see you much, so I know Michael will love that."

"I know, you look so different since the last time I saw you" I motion to his body. 

"Yeah, I'm all grown up now" he says in a low voice before busting into a fit of giggles. If there's one thing I remember about Ashton it's that he was always happy and silly. I can't help but join in when he giggles, it's a bit contagious.

"What's so funny?" Michael asks, approaching us with a plate full of food.

"Bro, do you think you have enough?" Ashton asks.

"No, you don't have pizza" Michael says with a mouth full. I stifle back a giggle, covering my mouth. 

"You and pizza" Ashton scoffs, rolling his eyes.

"Did someone say pizza?" Someone asks from behind us. I turn around to find Calum looking over Michaels shoulder.

"If there was any you couldn't have it" Michael shouts with his mouth full. 

"That's not fair, I need food too" Calum whines, pouting his bottom lip.

"Seriously you too, there's no pizza. There is plenty of food in the kitchen my mum made" Ashton huffs, running a hand through his hair. 

"Calum you remember Riley right?" Michael asks, motioning to me.

"Oh yeah, of course. You're coming on tour with us right?" He asks.

"Yep" I reply.

"That's sick, we're gonna have so much fun!" He says with excitement.

"We're probably gonna scar the poor girl, she'll never wanna come on tour with us again" Ashton chuckles. 

"If she can handle me for four years, she can handle the four us" Michael says before stuffing more food in his face.

"He has a point.." Calum mumbles.

"But we're pretty bad, like all together" Ashton says.

"I'm sure I'll be able to handle it" I laugh.

"You guys aren't talking about pizza again are you?" Luke asks as he approaches, standing next to Ashton.

"What else do they talk about?" Ashton rolls his eyes.

"FIFA" Calum nearly shouts.

"Only when you're not talking about pizza" Luke says. 

"Dude one word, manners" Ashton says, gesturing to me.

"Oh no, it's okay" I insist.

"Riley right?" Luke asks, I nod. "I remember you, yeah. Tour's gonna be wicked, you play any video games?" 

"I've played FIFA with Michael a few times" I say softly.

"Oh dude! You play FIFA?" Calum asks loudly, making us bust out laughing. These next couple of months were definetly going to be entertaining to say the least.