My Half Brother - A Ross Lynch/R5 Fanfic

Chapter 6 - Secrets, Hiding, and Ryland

Chapter 6

-- three months later --

Ashley-

I sit up quickly in bed, breathing heavily. I had a bad dream. I check the time on my phone after slippingmy glasses on. 3:30am. I sigh, walking out of my room, walking to the kitchen, being met by the light being on. I walk in to see Ross.

"Ross? What are doing up so early?" I whisper, not wanting anyone to wake up.

"Oh, it's just you," Ross turns around, startled. "Couldn't fall alseep. Not a big deal, babe."

"Talk quieter!" I scold him, still whispering. He walks toward me, then wraps his arms around my waist. "You look cute when you wear your glasses." He grins down at me, making me blush and pull away from his arms. "We can't get caught, Ross."

"We won't, Ash," he sighs quietly. "And even if we did, I know neither of us would want to end this." He motions in-between us. "Now, my question is, why are you up so early?"

"I had a bad dream..." I look down. Ross wraps his arms around me again. "You wanna talk about it?" He asks. I nod as he walks over to the kitchen island, sitting on a stool, putting me in his lap, my legs in a straddle position. "What happened in the dream?" He asks, lifting my chin.

"You - you and I got caught, and you thought it was my fault, so all you did was scream at me. Then that night, you tried to kill me, but Riker saved me." I feel the tears streaming down my cheeks.

"No, no, baby. Shh," Ross pulls me into his chest, letting me cry it out. Once my tears decided to stop coming, I look up at Ross. "I love you." That was the first any of us said it.

"I-I love you too, Ash." Ross kisses my forehead, just as we hear footsteps.

We get up as fast as lightning, darting apart.

Rydel walks in. "What are you two doing up so early?" She looks at her phone. "It's 8:00!"

We both shrug, looking at each other. "Okay then. I'll be in bed if you need me." She walks back up the stairs, and I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.

"I didn't know we were down here for so long," I comment, making Ross smile at me. "That's what happens when you're in love."

-- later that morning --

I walk into the living room, sitting on the couch beside Rydel, watching the boys play some video game I forget the name of.

"Ha! I won! IN YO FACE!" Rocky does this funny victory dance, making Delly and I giggle.

"Whatever, bro," Ryland rolls his eyes. "Rematch." Rocky grins. "Oh, you're on."

"Who are you cheering for?" I giggle as I turn to Rydel. "Hmm, I think Rocky." I nod, still giggling a little. "I'm going for Ryland."

I turn toward the boys again. "GO RYLAND! WOO!" I say loudly, making him turn to me, and wink, making me blush slightly. Rydel nudges me playfully, making me blush even more.

I see Ross get up off the couch and walk out of the living room, then a door slamming. I bite my lip. I better go talk to him.

"Gotta use the washroom," I pause. "Be back." I walk out of the living room, up the stairs, and I knock on Ross' bedroom door. "Ross, it's me. Can I come in?"

"No! Go away!" I hear his muffled yell in return. I sigh, rolling my eyes, but I open the door anyway, then closing it behind me, sitting on the edge of Ross' bed beside him.

"I said I go away. What don't you understand about - oh, it's you. Sorry," Ross lifts his head from his pillow.

"Why'd you leave the living room?" I say as Ross sits up on his bed, back against his headboard, then he opens his arms, gesturing for me to come closer. I climb onto his lap, leaning against him.

"Well I didn't want to watch you flirting with my brothers," he says with a bite in his voice. I sigh. "Ross, you know I love you and only you. Now stop this."

"Fine, I will for you," he sighs, pulling me closer, kissing my temple just as Ryland barges in.

His eyes widen. "Oh... Uh..." I jump off Ross and stand in front of Ryland, and since he's a bit taller than me, I have to crane my neck slightly. "Please don't tell anyone. We're planning on telling everyone when we're ready."

"Okay, so wait," Ryland sits on his bed, and I follow, sitting across from him on Ross' bed, Ross beside me. "So you two - are dating?"

I nod. "Uh, yeah." Ryland nods slowly, taking all this in.

"Okay," he says. "I won't tell. Just don't make-out in here. Do that stuff in your room, Ash." The nickname kinda caught on.

"Okay," I laugh a little. "Thank you, Ry. I'll make it up to you." He smirks. "Can't wait." I roll my eyes, smiling. Boys can be boys.

He walks out, leaving Ross and I alone again. "This is not good, Ross," I say after awhile. "It's fine, stop worrying." He dismisses me. I turn to him. "Oh it's fine?! One person already knows," I run a hand through my hair.

I guess I was just afraid of Mom and Dad's reactions if they found out.

"Well if you keep talking about it, they will find out!" Ross raises his voice then closes his eyes, biting his lip, taking a breath, walking toward me. "Just - it's okay for now. What about tonight at dinner? We'll tell everyone then." I nod. "Fine. I just - I don't want to go back to that orphanage again."

"What? What do you mean?" His eyebrows furrow. "I mean, if Mom and Dad don't accept us, they might send me back and-" my voice cracks, as my tears overflow and fall down my cheeks. "No, no," Ross murmurs, wiping them away with his thumbs. "They wouldn't do that. They love you too much, Ash." I look up at him. "Really?" I sniff.

"Yeah," he smiles lightly. "Tonight, right?"

"Tonight."

How will everyone react...?