Troublemaker (5SOS)

Chapter Four

Kody took too long getting back.  Tara started to feel anxious, hoping that Ashton didn't feel like she was standing him up.  He recently admitted that, like her, he hadn't been on a date in a long time.  Plus, she's the one who asked him to join her at one of her favorite events because they just so happened to be playing one of her favorite movies.  She stood, eyes trying to figure out where he was in coordination to his vague description.  There was the willow tree, looming ominously over the crowd.  Its branches had been trimmed for the event so people sitting beyond the tree would be able to see the screen.  There was a group of guys off to the left, but she thought that Ashton would be alone.  One had a bandana around his head, but that could be a coincidence.

Tara sat back down, looking at her phone, debating what else to say to him.  After another few minutes, Kody came back with a tray of popcorn, Reeses Pieces, and nachos.  She wiped the sweat off of her forehead and plopped down on the blanket, offering Tara her favorite candy.  

"Thanks sis."  Tara put the box in her bag and dug the Converse out, trading them for her flats.  "I'll eat these when I get back.  I told Ashton that I would find him, and the movie is about to start."

"Wait!" Kody spilled some of the popcorn on the blanket as she pulled Tara back down.  "Do you even know where to look?  Don't leave the cemetery."

Tara rolled her eyes and laughed, nudging her head toward the group of guys a few rows behind them.  One had shorter dark hair and a tan complexion.  Another had blond hair and a lip ring.  The one she was positive was Ashton had dark brown hair and deepset eyes with an eyebrow piercing.  His gaze was intense, and he's exactly how she pictured him.

"Oh!" She exclaimed, a little too loudly.  "They're all cute."  

Ashton stood, as if he was going to come over, but as soon as the movie started rolling and everyone's attention turned toward the projected image, he sat down instantly.  This was her cue.  Tara made her way toward them, apologizing to everyone she got in the vision of.  Ashton seemed confused at first, but his smile welcomed her.  Maybe she wasn't what he was expecting--that could be a good or bad thing.

"Hi, you're Ashton, right?" She asks, inches away from his face so he can hear.  

He pauses, and for a moment she thought she made a mistake, but he looked down at her yellow shoes.  He knew who she was.

"Shit." 

The blond friend ran his hand through his hair, trying to hide his amusement.  

"Actually," a startling voice came from behind her.  She turned to see a man with strong features, shaggy dirty blond hair and stubble. "I'm Ashton.  I just let Michael borrow my bandana.  He gets sweaty, keeps it out of his eyes."  

Everyone snickered except Michael, who tore the cloth off of his head and mashed it into the ground.

The real Ashton produced a small bouquet of pink stargazer lilies from behind his back and handed them to Tara.  Her eyes lit up and Michael cleared his throat and craned his neck as if to say "get out of my way" without actually using any words.