Coming Up For Air

4.2

"Anyway the thing is what I really mean

Yours are the sweetest eyes I've ever seen

And you can tell everybody this is your song

It may be quite simple but now that it's done

I hope you don't mind

I hope you don't mind that I put down in words

How wonderful life is while you're in the world."

-Elton John, 'Your Song'

☂Ashton☂

"Hey, Laurie." Ashton couldn't help but smile as he answered his phone, pressing the speaker button so Luke could hear.

"Lovely to speak to you, Peach. How have you been doing, as of late?" Lauren said in her normal-abnormal way of speaking. Luke raised his eyebrows at Ashton questioningly, and all Ashton could do was silently laugh and shake his head because his sister was odd and wonderful.

"I've been great. You?"

"You sound very happy. Has something occurred that I need to be informed of?" Lauren knew him so well it was a little terrifying at times. Ashton stifled a giggle when Luke wiggled his eyebrows and mouthed "Me?".

"Um, well...I made a friend. His name is Luke. You'll like him." Ashton said, winking at Luke and hoping he understood why he couldn't tell his younger sister about them. It wasn't that he didn't want to, because he did--but he couldn't expect her to keep something like that a secret from his family, his grandma.

"I will? Your choice of tense implies that I will meet him in the near future. Is my judgement correct?"

"Yes." Ashton chuckled. "Actually, you're on speaker phone right now and he's been listening. Say hi, Luke."

"Hi, Luke." Luke deadpanned. Lauren laughed on the other side of the world.

"I like him very much already, Peach. Thank you, Luke."

"Thank you for what?" Luke asked, and Ashton couldn't help but fall apart a little bit listening to Luke, who he loved, and Lauren, who he loved, liking each other over the phone.

"Thank you for making my brother so wonderfully happy. His voice sounds like bells." Lauren told Luke frankly, and Luke glanced up at Ashton who was blushing. Luke just smiled.

"He makes me sound like bells too, I think. So we're even." Even though Luke was talking to Lauren, Luke was taking to Ashton, and Ashton just wanted to kiss him and kiss him and make their voices ring together.

"Excellent." Lauren said, and Ashton could hear her thinking in the quick quiet that followed. "I certainly wish I had someone who made me sound like bells."

"You have a long time for that, little lady." Ashton grinned. "Now tell me about home. How's Harry? Grandma? Mum?"

"Harry and Grandma are here right now. Harry, Peach is on the phone. Shall I connect you to Harry, Ashton?"

"Hand him the phone, please." Ashton said, while Luke narrowed his eyes.

"Peach?" He whispered.

"Long story." Ashton whispered back.

"Ashhhhhhton!" Harry slurred into the phone. "I jus' got home from football an' I tripped an' hit my head on a shinguard an' now my head hurts but I made three goals an' Coach told me I'm gonna start in our game on Saturday an' I'm excited an' you should come watch me on Saturday 'cause I've never started before Ash an' I miss you and you should come home now aren't you done learning?"