never letting go || lrh

Surprise meet-up.

That night, I had slept better than I had in months, thanks to Ashton. We had chatted a little longer before we hung up and I fell asleep, a huge grin on my face.

When I woke up, I had a slight hangover, but nothing I couldn’t handle. I headed towards the bathroom, opened the medicine cupboard, took a couple pills and as magic, I was good as new. I turned on the shower, letting the water heat up. As the water ran, I stripped, and waited a while longer, staring at myself in the mirror.

I didn’t like the way I looked. Sure, I had bright blue eyes and silky hair, and cute dimples (at least that’s what Ash says.) but I only saw myself as a used slut, remembering what I had been through a couple years earlier. I shook the idea out of my head, blasted Blink music on, and placed my body under the stream of scolding water. 

As I Miss You started, I sang the lyrics at the top of my lungs, and smiled smugly as the song drifted to an end. I applied shampoo and conditionner to my hair, and while it was resting on my hair, I washed my body. As I got to my thigh, I passed my fingers across a small scar that I had gotten when I was younger. I couldn’t remember actually hurting myself enough to get a life-long scar, but it was just there, it seemed like it always had been. 

I resumed washing, rinsed of my hair and walked out of the bathroom, a towel around me. The music was still loud, and I sang along as I dried my body and hair. I slapped on a pair of baby blue shorts and a white top with a cute collar around the neck. I accessorized my outfit absentmindedly, and went downstairs to grab some breakfast. By the smell that emerged from the kitchen, I supposed my mum had cooked pancakes. I saw her sitting on the couch, watching some TV. As I walked towards her, I kissed her cheek, muttered a quick «hello», and walked to the kitchen, following the delicious smell. Indeed, on the counter was a plate of steaming hot pancakes. I got a plate and got a pancake. I added some syrup and some fresh berries, and walked back to the living room. I sat down next to mum and watched TV with her while munching away on my breakfast. I was nearly done, when my phone rang. I looked at caller ID, it was Luke. I put my plate on the table and walked to my room. Half way up the stairs I answered.

«Hey Luke, what’s up?» I said enthusiastically.

«Not much, the guys and I were wondering if you wanted to hang out today?» He asked, hopeful.

«Sure, sounds like fun. Do you want me to check if Ay can come too?» I replied.

«Why not?» It sounded more like a question than an affirmation, and it was one of the first times ever that we ever fell in awkward silence. 

«Uum, okay. I’ll call you later then. Bye.» I got us out of the situation. I heard him mutter a quick ‘goodbye’, and I rang Aylin, while flopping on my bed. Se answered after a few rings. She sounded tired. 

«Hey, how are you?» I asked, concerned.

«Could be better, could be worse.» She deadpanned. «How are you?» She said directing the spotlight onto me. 

«Good, good. I was wondering.. Would you be up to hang out with the guys tonight?» I asked, hoping with all my might she would say yes.

«I’d like to..» She paused, I knew there would be more. «... but I’m not sure I could leave the house.» 

«How are things going with your dad?» I asked, genuinely worried.

«Well, the cops are wondering what to do. Em and I showed them some of our scares and bruises, and they said they would get back to us.» She said, sounding annoyed, which I understood.

«I’m just glad you decided to do something about it.» I encouraged her.

«Yeah, it made a difference.» She answered, I could hear positivity come back to her voice.

«So!» I came back to the reason I had called her. «How about some early lunch at Nando’s, then we can hang out for a bit and go meet the boys. I’ll meet you outside your window in 10?» I tempted.

«Sure, I’ll be waiting.» I heard a smile in her voice as she hung up. I threw my phone, headphones and purse in my small handbag, and walked slowly to Ay’s house.

As I got there, I stood outside her window, hiding, and texted her. She opened her window, and slid down the water pipe (cliché, right?) 

We snuck out, making sure not to walk past a window or a door. We quickly joined the busy streets of Sydney, and before we knew it, their house was out of sight. We walked our way to Nando’s, and when we got there, dozens of teenage girls were stood outside, phone in hands, some shouting. 

I froze. Could it be?  I remembered Mikey telling us Nando’s was their favourite place to eat. I held in my breath, took Aylin’s hand in mine as we pushed through the crowd. I couldn’t hear what the girls were saying, but when I heard «Ashton», «Michael» or «Calum», my suspicions turned into certainty. We pushed our way through the girls, which was difficult because they were all trying to get to the front of the restaurant to get a peek at the boys. I rolled my eyes and sighed.

«Okay, could you please move your butts to the side, my friend and I would like to go have some food.» I yelled. The screams and pushing ceased a little, but didn’t fully stop. Chicks were staring at me with bitchy looks but I didn’t give a damn. Aylin and I pushed through (well, I pushed, Aylin followed) and finally we made it to the door. I looked at the buff security guy, asking him to go in, to go have some food. He didn’t look convinced. I then got annoyed, and said :

«Well listen. If you think we’re some groupies..» I said pointing at me and Aylin. «You’re very wrong. We’re actually friends of the boys.» I affirmed, but the guard still didn’t move one bit. «Fine, you don’t believe me? Call the boys over and we’ll see.» The security man shrugged and spoked into a talkie-walkie. I rolled my eyes, we weren’t in a fricking movie, he could just open the door and ask for the boys. I was looking at my watch, we had been trying to get in for over 20 minutes now. As I came to this realisation, screams became louder, and the pushing became more agressive. I looked up to see Ash, Mike, Cal and Luke walk up to the glass door. They smiled when they saw us, and nodded to the security guy. I shot him a look that meant «I told you so» and walked in, pulling Aylin as I did so. Ash hugged me, and Luke went straight to Aylin, and hugged her. I then took Cal and Mike in a quick embrace and smiled as I saw how happy Ay looked. She really had it bad for Luke, and I felt guilty, knowing what he had asked me. I still hadn’t told her, but what she doesn’t know doesn’t hurt her, right? I convinced myself, and plastered a smile to my face.

«What are you guys doing here?» I asked.

«We thought we would come have some food before meeting up with you guys.» Cal spoke up.

«Well, isn’t this a big coincidence?» Ay said, giggling. We walked back up to their table, and I sat next to Mikey, and Ay sat next to Calum. I noticed those two seemed to be getting along quite well.

The waitress arrived, took our orders -the boys hadn’t been there for long, therefore, they hadn’t ordered yet- and we started chatting animately. It felt good seeing them again. The food arrived soon after that, and we dug in. 

When we were done, we all sat back in our seats, absolutely full. We sat there for a while, just talking, and laughing around. Mikey burped,and we chuckled a bit before heading out.

«Here comes the nightmare..» Luke said. I looked at him quizzically.

«The fans, it’s gonna be a pain.» Mike answered for Luke.  «Don’t get me wrong, we love our fans.. Just not when they mob us. I would rather them come quietly, and just chat for a bit, not throwing themselves at us.»  Ay and I nodded, and I totally understood what they meant. Their fans could become quite possessive.

As we walked out of the restaurant, we said thank you to the staff and saw that the security guys (there were now 3 of them) were holding the girls back. The boys plastered on smiles, and walked up to them, hugged some, signed stuff and took photos. Ay and I walked over to their SUV and waited for them there. When they were done, they walked over. 

We had agreed that we would go back to my place to get ready, and then head off to a club.