Everyday Amnesia

1.1

"Can I drop out of school?" Ashton groans.

"Oh come on, you and Michael both are passing with straight A's," Luke replies.

Ashton shrugs. "I still don't like school."

"God I have so much homework," Michael complains. Him, Calum and Luke are sitting on Ashton's bed begging for help with homework.

"When you were sick, I had to write the entire speech for Spanish by myself," Ashton says. "Be grateful you twat."

"I am forever grateful Ashton," Michael drapes himself over Ashton's outstretched body. "Accept this as a token of gratitude." He kisses Ashton's cheek sloppily and gets off.

"Ew," Ashton jokes, wiping at his cheek with his sleeve, pulling a look of disgust. Michael goes back to cuddling Calum and frowning at his homework.

"Wanna play a game?"

"Sure. What game?"

"I don't know," Michael says, glaring at his Chemistry text book. "I guess say as many lame Chemistry jokes as you can."

"I got one," Ashton speaks up. "Don't trust atoms, they make up everything." Luke's face goes blank before he burst into a fit of giggles, while Calum and Michael stare at him.

"It wasn't even funny," Michael says.

Luke shrugs. "I got one. What do you do with a sick chemist?"

Ashton, Calum and Michael exchange confused glances before shrugging and motioning for Luke to continue the joke.

"If you can't helium, and you can't curium, you might as well barium," Luke giggles. They actually laugh for a bit, not because it was funny, but because Luke's laughter is contagious.

"Um I got one. Why did the noble gas cry?" Michael asks. "Because all his friends argon."

"Let's play another game," Ashton says. "What are all the different words for butt?"

"Ooh the Synonym Game!" Michael claps, familiar with it from summer camp.

"Butt."

"Bum."

"Ass."

"Tush."

"Booty."

"Behind."

"Backside."

"Arse."

"Rear."

"Buttocks."

"Fundament."

"Gluteus maximus," Ashton ends the game. "I believe I win."

"Damn it," The others whine. They all pull out their wallets and each toss five dollars at Ashton, who smiles smugly and pockets it.

"Do you guys want pizza?" Ashton asks. They nod frantically so Ashton picks up his phone and orders pizza. Luke and Michael engage in a poke war which turns into a full-blown wrestling match. Calum groans and shoves them both on the floor.

Ashton hangs up. "Are you serious? I'm busy for two minutes and you're acting like maniacs?!"

Michael shrugs and flutters his eyelashes innocently. "Let's play Monopoly."

And so, they play Michael's version of Monopoly. When you have less than $500 you have to take off an article of clothing, and when you land on somebody's property and you have to pay, you push them off the bed.

"Pizza's here!" Calum yells when the doorbell rings. He stands up, pulls his shirt on (backwards) and runs down the stairs to pay. He brings up four extra large boxes of pizza and waves a piece of paper.

"I got the delivery guy's number," Calum snorts. Michael gets up and yanks the paper from Calum's fingers and stuffs it into his mouth, chewing it up before spitting it on the Monopoly board.

"Now you don't."

"Ew," Ashton says, picking up the paper wad with a tissue. "That's disgusting. I don't wanna play now." So he shoves the board towards the end of the bed and rolls off, landing with a groan. He sits up and grabs a slice, devouring it quickly.

"Jesus, slow down Ash," Michael says.

"Strip Monopoly is tiring," Ashton, who is only in his boxers, replies.

"Yeah no kidding," Calum comments. "I'm gonna have so many bruises on my back from Mike."

"It's your fault for buying so many properties," Michael retorts.

"That's how you play!"

"You didn't have to buy all of them," Michael pouts.

Calum leans over and kisses his pout, much to the delight of Luke and Ashton. When he pulls away Michael reaches up and touches his lip.

"What was that for?"

"I like you, you dork," Calum laughs.

Ashton puts his hands on their faces, pulling them apart. "Okay this is all nice but I still exist you know, if you're gonna fuck, get outta my room."

--

" 'S getting late," Ashton comments.

"Do you want us to go home?" Luke asks. He's sprawled on the floor with Ashton whilst Calum and Michael are cuddling on Ashton's bed.

"You guys can stay if you want," Ashton yawns, grabbing his journal and filling in an entry quickly, before shutting it and putting it away.

"I'm going to Cal's," Michael says, getting up and bending over to kiss Ashton's cheek and whisper a quiet 'Love you, mate' before dragging Calum out of the room and down the stairs.

"Guess it's just you and me," Ashton says.

"Cuddle?" Luke pouts and damn it, Ashton wants to rip out that stupid lip ring. He sighs and moves into Luke's outstretched arms. "Is something bothering you?"

"No," Ashton lies. He stands up, pulling Luke up with him, and they curl up under the covers of his bed. "I'm just tired."

"I call bullshit," Luke retorts.

"It's nothing Lukey," Ashton insists. "I'm fine."

Luke sighs and pulls him closer, ducking his head into Ashton's neck, lip ring dragging across his collarbone and sending shivers up his spine.

"You're so warm," Luke sighs. "Ashton?"

"Hm, yeah?" Ashton mumbles sleepily.

Luke falls silent for a moment. "Will you go on a date with me?"

"Yeah," Ashton replies. "Yeah, Luke, I'll go on a date with you."

"It feels like I've known you for a while," Luke says. "Like, maybe in a past life. Um, reincarnation? I guess you just seem more like home. Even if I knew you before. It's like I've known you since forever ago."

As he speaks, he rubs circles into Ashton's back with his thumb, speaking in such a quiet voice that Ashton strains to hear him and god, there's a warm fuzzy feeling inside, and everything was just. Falling in place.

"Yeah," Luke continues. "Since forever ago."