Last Dance || 5sos

Chapter Thirty One

"So, how was France?" I ask Ashton. We're sitting downstairs by the Christmas tree which is lit up and decorated, courtesy of my siblings and I. 

"It was amazing, but I'm glad to be back." I smile at him. We're both in our pajamas, and it's late at night. Sadie is upstairs, watching a movie, and Tristan is on the phone with one of his friends in the kitchen. Our mom is doing some last minute wrapping in her room. She had made Christmas cookies, which me and Ashton are also currently snacking on. 

"I'm glad you're back too," I say, laughing. "I've missed seeing you like, every day."

"I've missed you too," he smiles. The smile soon fades, though, and I know something is troubling him.

"What is it?" I ask.

"You know my friend Madeline?" he asks.

"Maddie? Yeah, what about her?" He sighs. Uh oh... 

"Well she went to France with me, on the study trip. And I wanted to tell you, that we started dating, while we were there..." he mumbles. He's not looking at me directly, and I can tell that he's unsure of what I think. To be completely honest, it makes what I'm about to tell him all the more easier.

"That's great!" I tell him, smiling. "I actually was going to tell you that Luke asked me to be his girlfriend today," I confess.

"Really?" he sounds more shocked than happy for me, but I smile and nod. "That's great, Noe. So, you're not mad at me?"

"Of course not, why would I be mad?" He shrugs.

"I don't know. Because of that big fight we had. I'm sorry."

"I know. I'm sorry too." I slide over next to him, giving him a hug. "But I'm not mad; I'm really happy for you. And by the way," I tell him, grabbing a candy cane off of the tree. "This, is for you. I got you a candy-gram from school," I explain with a laugh.

"They still sell those?" Ashton smiles. "Thanks, and I'm happy for you too. I guess things worked out for the both of us," he says. I can tell there's a little bit of disappointment in his words, but I can also see that he's really trying to be happy for me, and that's all that matters. 

"Yeah, I guess so. Too bad I can't say the same for this gingerbread man, though," I frown, holding up a headless cookie. Ashton laughs, tipping his head back.

"You're such a nerd," he tells me, hugging me. "I've missed that." I hug him back, giggling.

"I've missed hearing you laugh."

'Well I'm here until after new years, so I expect us to hangout again before I leave. If Luke's okay with that, that is."

"It should be fine," I tell him. "I think we could both use it. You've been gone for too long," I say.

"Well I'm back now," he smiles. "And we get to enjoy these delicious gingerbread folk together," he adds, biting into another cookie. I really have missed Ashton, but I'm glad that we're just friends. I think us dating would have been too awkward for me, and I can't imagine what would happen if we were ever to break up. For now, I'm perfectly content with having him as my best friend.

Ashton slept in Tristan's room last night, and I woke up at seven, walking downstairs to see everyone in the living room already. "Happy Birthday!" they shout. I smile, running over to them and giving them all hugs. 

"Happy Birthday, Noe," Ashton smiles, handing me a present. He's got his glasses on, his hair is just a little messy from sleeping, his cheeks are lightly flushed pink, and he looks adorable. I open it, and it's a beautiful scarf, gloves, and of course, a beanie. I smile, giving him a second hug, and thanking him for the gift. "That's my Christmas present for you, since I got the basketball tickets for your birthday," he explains. "But I needed to give it to you early, because I can't stay long, unfortunately."