Last Dance || 5sos

Chapter Nineteen

"Ashton wait!" I scream, escaping Luke's grasp to run after him. I catch him just as he's reaching the end of the driveway. "Ashton! I was going to tell you!"

"When, Noelle? When were you planning on telling me that after he made you cry, after he made you feel so lousy that you called me to come over because you needed someone to be there, you just went straight back to him?" he's yelling and I know that he's upset but I didn't think he could be this angry with me.

"Please don't be angry, Ashton! I was going to tell you, I swear! We're not even really dating, I don't think. We're just sort of..."

"Dating!" Ashton finishes for me. "You're dating him, Noelle." I wish he would stop calling me that. I know that it's my name but that's not what he calls me. He calls me Noe, and I would give anything to hear him say that right now, but I know that he won't.

"Ashton please, you're over reacting, and you're causing a scene!" Ashton grips his hair in fist, trying so hard to hold back a scream. He takes a deep breath, bringing his arms to his sides, but his hands are still balled up in fists.

"Have you kissed him?" he asks me quietly.

"Does it matter?" I ask, not wanting to answer because I'm afraid he'll blow up on me if I do.

"Have you kissed him?" he repeats. I stare at Ashton in disbelief for a few more seconds. I know he's not going to leave until I give him an answer. I sigh, defeated.

"Yes. Is that what you wanted to hear? I'm sorry, but who I date or hang out with shouldn't be your business. I'm thankful that you were there for me when I needed you and don't you dare think for a minute that you're not the only person I would ever go to when I was broken. He apologized, and explained himself, and I forgave him, because that's what people do, Ashton."

"Not all of the time, Noelle," he growls, turning back around to go to his car. I follow him.

"Why does it matter to you?" I yell. "I want the truth! Why do you care that I'm dating Luke so much? What has he ever done to you?" Ashton gets into his car, closing the door. His window is down, and I'm staring into it, watching him.

"He stole the person I love," Ashton flatly answers, driving off immediately without saying another word, or even a goodbye. When I pictured seeing Ashton for the last time before my birthday, I pictured it going like the other night, when he stayed over. But never like this. 

I can feel the tears running down my face and my makeup has to be running. It's not water proof; I didn't know I would be needing that factor. "Noelle," a male voice calls from behind me. It's not Luke's, so I can't be bothered to turn around. 

"Go away," I answer, burying my face into my hands. 

"Luke's looking for you," they say. I don't respond, I just cry. The next thing I know I can feel them picking me up, but I'm crying so much that I can't even yell for them to put me down. "Shh," Michael hushes me. "I'm taking you to Luke, I promise." Why is he being so nice to me? A few weeks ago at the start of the school year he was staring at me at lunch. Then he warns me to stay away from Luke, and now he's taking me to him? Somehow I don't buy that, but am pleasantly surprised when he puts me down in a room, and seconds later after he leaves, Luke comes in.

"Thank god!" he gasps, holding his arms out. I walk straight into them, burying my face into his shirt and continue to cry. "What happened?"

"Ashton left," I choke. Luke runs his hand up and down my back, soothing me.

"Shh. You're gonna be alright. Do you want to leave?" I shake my head no, but part of me does want to. However, I came to this party to have fun. It hasn't been too long since we got here, and it was still Halloween, so I was determined to hang out with my friends, even if it killed me.

After I cool down, Emily and Jackie help me fix my makeup and the fun actually begins. Michael had actually set up games like bobbing for apples and pumpkin carving and others, which surprised me. There was a costume contest going on as well. Some people inside were playing spin the bottle, while other people outside were playing manhunt. Our group of friends were inside, playing a Halloween addition of charades. It may sound lame, but we were having a blast. When it was my turn, I stood, and did my best to act out the word on the slip of paper that I had pulled. After a minute or so, someone said it, but it wasn't any of us. I turn around to see who it was, and a wide smile spreads on my face. "Calum!"

I run over and give him a hug. He wasn't in a costume, but I didn't care. "What are you doing here?" I ask, thoroughly surprised.

"Actually, Luke texted me. He said you could use someone to cheer you up." I look over at Luke, smiling. 

"Well come on, you can join in!" I sit back down next to Luke, kissing him on the cheek. "Thanks," I whisper, putting my lips up to his ear and smiling. He smiles back, putting an arm around me. Calum coming and playing charades had distracted me from my encounter with Ashton, which I was grateful for. This was much better than standing outside in the driveway, chasing after who I thought was my best friend. He still is, but I fear that I might no longer be his.

At the end of the night, when I'm in the car with Sadie, driving home, I can't help thinking about what Ashton had said. The memory replays in my head. 

"Why does it matter to you? I want the truth! Why do you care that I'm dating Luke so much? What has he ever done to you?"

"He stole the person I love."

Who could Luke have stolen from him that he loves? Was it someone from their past, when Ashton went to school? No, I would have known about it, one way or another. I can't think of anything. I lean up against the window of the car and that's when it finally hit me. The way he looked at me when he saw Luke and I together. The way he stared right through me as he was driving away in his car. Every time he looks at me when we're together, every single word he's ever said to me. The way he watches over me, the fact that he blew off studying for a major test when I needed him to come over. I wasn't just Ashton's best friend; Ashton loved me.

Loved me? Still loves me? I can't say for sure, though after tonight I wouldn't be surprised if he hated me. I should have told him. I should have told him the day that I forgave Luke, instead of waiting until now. It's my fault, and I'm so stupid for not telling him. I broke his heart, tonight. I saw it in his eyes when he drove off without saying goodbye to me. I immediately text him a very long but much needed and heartfelt apology, though I doubt that he'll even read it. Not yet, anyway. How could I have been obvious, all this time? Ashton loves me. I'm dating Luke. The only problem is, I think I might love them both.