Easier [Ashton Irwin]

1

Is it easier to stay? Is it easier to go?
I don't wanna know, oh

~~~

Sydney Harper had met Ashton Irwin at his second band practice (Calum had met him at the same time. That, however, is unimportant), and had taken to him within seconds.

Sixteen-year-old Luke Hemmings had dragged her along, declaring that Michael had found a drummer, and she had to approve of him, for, although she didn't play in the band, she was still apart of it. Luke had been so excited, saying that Ashton seemed like the perfect fit (although he had a strong hatred for FIFA), and that she was bound to love him.

Sydney has merely laughed, saying that she was to be the judge of that. Sydney knew that both Michael and Luke were awful at people - they had hated each other for a solid five years before she and Calum had been forced to intervene.

Yet, when Sydney has entered Michael Clifford's garage, she was surprised to find Michael and Calum laughing with a curly-haired, honey-blonde teen.

    When Ashton had introduced himself to Sydney by stating his name and holding out his hand, she had laughed at his formalities and replied with her name and a grin. Ashton had smiled back, before being told by Luke that they were going to start playing.

    As Sydney had sat on the old dresser in the garage, her eyes had been alight as she watched them play. Or, more specifically, Ashton.

    One of the first things she had noticed about him was the endless amount of energy he put into playing, never once slowing down or giving up. The faces he made whilst playing made her laugh, yet his hands moved so wildly she almost missed them.

And after they would finish each song, the four boys would talk between themselves, giving advice to one-another. And Ashton accepted that advice, and he in turn gave advice and gave praise when it was needed.

But it was when they were finished that Sydney finally gave their approval.

It was apart of the routine to go up to Luke's room and play FIFA; or, the boys played the game and Sydney sat on the side, laughing and eating. Yet, Ashton had opted to join her rather than play with Luke, Michael and Calum. And when Sydney had asked why he wasn't playing, Michael had managed to shout "he hates the game" before groaning because he had lost the ball.

It was only then that Sydney had shouted "he's a keeper!" across the room, a smile on her face and a grin on Ashton's.

After that, Sydney was as close with Ashton as she was with Calum, Luke and Michael; secrets were shared, stories were told and memories were made.

~~~

    Ashton had loved Sydney the moment she started talking.

    Having been too nervous to say much on the first day of meeting her (Michael had warned him that Sydney's opinion mattered more to Luke than anything else), Ashton had merely sat back and listened to the girl with ocean eyes and soft honey hair. He had listened as she told him all about how Michael and Like used to be deadly rivals, and how poor old Calum was stuck with Michael wishing he could be friends with the kid he thought was cool. He listened to her describe the way she had practically pulled the two together (with the help of Calum) and how Luke Hemmings and Michael Clifford had fast become friends. He had watched the way she looked over at the three with such love that it lit up the room.

    That night, Ashton had gone back home to his family with a smile on his face that couldn't be removed, not even when Harry came running into his room, demanding that Ashton took him to the shop on the corner now or else.

    The following week, however, was a different story. Ashton had arrived right on time for practice (the four had failed to tell him that Michael never showed up on time and Calum always missed them - hmmm they had to wait quite a while before they could start) and he couldn't wait to play. Sydney had been extremely encouraging that day (which made Luke worried - he should've been, she had stolen one of his band shirts) and had been cheering them on whilst dancing for the hours that they played.

    Afterwards, the three boys had sat on the sofa and played FIFA as Ashton and Sydney took their designated spots on the floor in front of them. Ashton didn't listen this time - Sydney did. Her eyes were bright and interested as he told her all about his siblings and his parents, of how they had helped him through so much and he loved them so dearly. She listened when he told her about his job at KFC, and how his coworkers were brilliant but the customers were often rude and impatient. He told Sydney about how he has to take a bike wherever he goes because the job didn't pay much, and his mum was pretty worried about him driving, anyway.

    When Sydney told Ashton how it was just her  mum and herself, Ashton listened with a soft, understanding smile on his face. When she told him how she would do anything for her mum, Ashton understood. When Sydney told him how her mum was so overprotective because she was scared of losing her daughter, Ashton could relate.

    Ashton told Sydney all about his parents in return; of how his dad had left when he was younger and his mum had become very overprotective of him because of this. When she remarried to Chris, Ashton had gained the father figure he needed, along with two wonderful siblings that he would sacrifice everything for. Ashton didn't need his good-for-nothing-father. In fact, Ashton didn't consider the man his father. It repulsed him to think that eighty percent of his DNA was made up with the man's. Yet, he felt so proud that he was nothing like the man, and that he was his mother's child.

    And right before they were getting ready to leave, Ashton asked the question that he had been burning to ask.

    "Why'd your mum name you after the city you live in?"

    Sydney laughed at the question, and Ashton could hear the three boys sat on the sofa behind him laughing quietly amongst themselves.

    "My mum's not very creative. Everyone normally laughs or looks at me funny when I introduce myself but I don't mind. Luke says it's cool." Sydney shrugged, looking up at her best friend.

    "I'm just the girl who was named after the really cool city."