The Only Reason ➳ l.h

Chapter 17

Skylar's POV

I left the house I thought I would live in for a long time, but I guess sometimes people get things wrong.

I could probably spend the night with Luke and maybe ask Natalie if I could stay with her for a few nights before my dad sends me off to live with Auntie Wilma.

I sighed, I still haven't told Luke I'm moving. In fact, I haven't told anyone bar Calum. Not even Natalie knows I'm moving, I just got her back and now I'm losing her again. What a fucking cruel world we live in.

I finally made it to Luke's and knocked on his door. I liked everything about his household, his family were extremely friendly and welcoming and even his house has a positive energy, if that makes sense.

Not even a minute later the door opened to reveal a smiling Luke, "Your back!" He quickly pulled me into his embrace, tightly wrapping his arms around my waist.

I giggled and brought my arms up and around his neck, "I missed you too, Luke."

We pulled away from the nice hug and he intertwined our fingers, leading me into his garage.

"We usually practise in Ashton's garage but we decided to practise here today since the boys were already here, as you saw this morning." He flashed me a smile.

I smiled back and we walked into the garage, instantly being torn apart as Michael attacked me in a hug.

"I missed you, Marsh!" He laughed.

"I missed you too, Clifford." I winked at him.

"We should take a break, we have been practising none stop." Calum piped up.

We started talking for a while until Luke's mum, Liz, walked into the garage, "Luke, honey, your dad is leaving for a business trip for the week, he wants to say goodbye to you before he leaves."

"Okay, one sec guys." Luke gave me a quick peck on the cheek, which I giggled to, before he left.

"I need to take a piss." Michael blurted out.

I burst out laughing, "Nice to know, Michael. Why don't you go do your business instead of telling us."

"Good point." He also left the room, leaving just myself, Calum and Ashton.

My gaze was set on Ashton as his was set on mine, I still need to know why he didn't seem in the best of moods this morning.

Almost as if Calum could feel the awkward tension in the air he spoke up, "You know, my mum doesn't know I'm here, I'm going to call her."

He quickly ran out of the room.

I decided now was the good time to ask Ashton, I walked over to the bench he was sitting on and sat next to him, "Hey, are you okay? You seemed out of it this morning."

This time he avoided my gaze, "I'm fine." He bluntly replied.

I was unconvinced, it's obvious he was lying. "Please, you can trust me." I put my hand on top of his and he cocked his head to look at our hands and I jerked mine away.

"Do you believe it's possible to fall in love with someone within only a few months of knowing them? Even if they don't share the same feelings?" He suddenly spoke up, looking ahead of him so he couldn't see me.

I furrowed my eyebrows, "What are you talking abo-"

I was interrupted by Ashton, "Because I think you can. You know," He shifted his body around so he was directly facing me, "I was reading about it and, according to the internet, if the feelings that person has towards another is strong enough, it's possible." His eyes burned into mine, it almost looked as if he was pleading.

"Ashton what are you on about?" I ask, I already had an idea of what was going on in that mind of his. But I didn't want to jump to conclusions.

"Ever since that party, when we had sex," I winced at his choice of words, "I've been feeling things, like I always get happy when your in the room, I get butterfly's in my stomach when you talk to me. And I secretly hoped you would feel them to, but it's obvious that you like Luke. Not me."

"Are you trying to tell me that you might possibly be.."

"In love with you?" He finished my sentence for me, "Yeah." He breathed out.

My stomach dropped. I was speechless.

"Ashton.." My voice trailed off.

He sighed, "Look, I don't need your sympathy. I get it, what we shared that night was only a one time thing. It was fun while it lasted." His eyes moved to above my head before he got up, "I need to go. You guys might want to talk."

Who was he talking about? I turned around to find Luke standing there, jaw clenched and he held a hurt expression on his face. Oh no, he heard our conversation.

"Luke.." I got up and walked towards him, as I got closer I noticed that tears had brimmed at his eyes. But he wouldn't allow them to fall.

"Please tell me Ashton's lying, that you guys didn't really?" His voice cracked.

My eyes averted his. I couldn't look at him in the eyes, I felt guilty. "I wish I could tell you that he was lying." I whispered.

I heard a whimper come from Luke. I looked up to find a tear slide down his face, I moved my hand towards his face but he cocked his head to the side so I couldn't see him.

I literally felt my heart shatter into a million pieces. "Luke, please don't be like that." Tears freely falling from my eyes.

He closed his eyes. "How long have you kept this from me?"

"Since Stacys party." My voice was barely audible now.

His face held so many emotions; anger, disappointment, distraught but the most visible emotion on his face was hurt.

"I'm sorry" My voice quivered.

He stepped away from me and walked out of the room.

That's when I lost it. I pressed my back against the wall of the semi-dirty garage and slid down it, I tucked my head into my knees and began to uncontrollably sob.

What just happened?

A/N So I found out Ashton's in hospital and was rushed in for an emergency surgery to get his appendix removed. I seriously hope he feels better and stays strong😭💖.