Fifty-Two Weeks

twelve

Ashton

"When I lost you, I didn't start thinking about you more. You have always drowned me in my thoughts. But back then, it felt like swimming in rum, leaving my skin tingling and my lungs breathlessly high.

Now, I feel like my skin is being drowned in acid. Your name seeps through every thought in my mind, and the ache is charring away at all of my bones." -Anonymous

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A kiss is a double ended sword; there is always an impact. The kiss you stole from your crush on the playground when you were eleven left a mark. As did the kiss you shared with your first girlfriend. As will the kiss you hopefully share after speaking a loving "I do". But the kiss you were dated to do also leaves a tainted mark. So does the last kiss before a rough break up. However, the kiss you didn't mean will leave you with a gaping wound.

I texted her everyday and left the same pitiful "I love you, come back to me, darling" message everyday. Nothing changed.

Never in a million years did I think I'd dread coming home to Sydney, yet here I was. The boys and I had a concert tomorrow evening and currently we were on our way to do a tiny house show. From what I heard, we'd be performing for a sick little girl, chit chat, take pictures, and be on our merry way.

Calum gave me the directions and we ended up in a quiet little subdivision consisting of several apartment buildings. I slowed the car and scanned the surroundings for building 381. Luke found it first (he needed the whole car to know that he, Luke Hemmings, was the best searcher in the world) and I pulled into the parking complex.

"From what I've been told," Calum started as he exited the car, "This fan doesn't know we're coming, but she also doesn't handle surprises well. Best behavior boys, no jump and scares, no fake pizza delivery disguise, just be yourself." He explained but his explanation sounded more like a warning.

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Scarlett

"Why did I have to dress up? I like being in my sleepy clothes!" I grumbled at Jess as I exited my room. I couldn't be fussed with my hair so it stayed in a sloppy braid, several pieces sticking out. My outfit fit my tired mood and had barely any colour to it. Black stretchy tights, a white tank top, and a cream cardigan that was extremely long and flowy clung to my body. The tank top had just the right amount of tightness to display my baby bump proudly, but I could also bunch the fabric and hide it.

"For someone who doesn't love Ashton, you sure do love wearing his clothes." Jess smirked and I rolled my eyes. My feelings for Ash were mine to decide and clothing played no role, even if he did own the comfiest shirts.

"Are we going out today?" I asked, still unsure as to why I had to change.

"Not exactly." Her voice trailed off at the end and she bit her lip, Jess was the worst liar.

"What do you me-" My sentence was cut short by three knocks on our door. "If I open that door, what will be behind it?" I stared pointedly at Jess, her cheeks burned red and grinned like a cheshire cat.

"It's not a 'what', it's a 'who'" She laughed and got up to answer the door, I followed and hid my body behind hers as best I could. My heart was beating in my chest and I could hear the thump thump thump.

The door swung open to reveal four idiotic boys, my boys.

"W-what? How? You're actually here? Like I'm not imagining this?" I shot a million questions still in disbelief that what I was seeing was real.

"Actually, you are imagining this. We're the maid service and we've come to clean up in here." Calum spoke in a girly voice and pushed his way into the apartment, the other three laughing and following him in. Ashton's hand grazed my side as we walked in and my eyes locked with his sorrowful ones briefly.