i miss you

Another Secret?

*Erika's POV*

The butterflies wouldn't go away. These last few weeks with Ashton couldn't have been more amazing. He was perfect. He was sweet, nice, hilarious...he was everything you could think of. Problem was, I don't think he feels the same way. Since that night at the hotel, he hasn't done anything more than hug me every once and a while and cuddle when there was a band cuddle session. I knew that what happened back at the hotel was simply out of fear for what I had done, and impulsive. I was fine with just being friends, but lately, when I went to bed in his bunk, I would pretend to be asleep until I heard his light snore then I would flip over and watch him, dreaming of a time and place where I could call him mine.

I was falling hard for this boy.

Tonight, because I gave him such a hard time about being in Missouri, I decided to leave him a note, hoping to catch his attention. When he read it, the smile on his face lit up my whole world. But his next words are what really had me spinning off the axis. He said he was in love with me. Of course as a friend, but it still made me giddy.

"Hello?? Erika, are you even paying attention?" Suddenly my attention was brought back to Kaitlyn who was on the other side of my phone screen. Her and Zach thought it would be a 'cute date' to go to my house and give my dog, Rootbeer, a bath. Kaitlyn knew how funny it could be and she also knew how difficult he could make it.

"Oh yeah, sorry." I said quickly, turning my attention back to my best friend and her boyfriend who was struggling to keep the puggle in the bath tub.

Just then, the door to the tour bus opened and I went into a panic. I put my phone behind my back, hidding the fact that I've had contact with Katy since we left. None of the guys knew.

"Hey, Ryde!" Ashton jumped on top of me, sending me into a giggling fit.

"Rootbeer!" Kaitlyn yelled through the phone, obviously not understanding to be quiet.

"What was that?" he asked.

"Uhh..." I looked down at my stomach, "I'm really thirsty. I think I want rootbeer.." As if he would believe it.

"What? You don't even like rootbeer." wow. THATS what was wrong with my answer?

"DR. PEPPER!" a voice said again. Oh my gosh. Shut up, I thought.

"I can get you some," he said, starting to get up. But I really didn't want him to leave so I grabbed his arm to hold him in place.

"No, I'm fine. I was just facetiming a friend of mine. Let me say bye." I reached behind me and picked up my phone.

"Who is it?" he asked, clearly surprised by the fact that I have friends.

"No one," I said, mouthing the word bye to Katy before ending the call.

"Erika, who was that?" he asked again. I think he already knew the answer, but he wanted it to be confirmed. I get it, I do. Ashton and Luke are so close. Like brothers and with the way Luke has been acting lately, its obvious that Katy not coming hasn't been too easy on Luke, so Ash was just looking out for him.

"It was Kaitlyn." I said, and all he did was nod. "Please don't tell Luke. She doesn't want him to know the real reason for why she didn't come."

"What's the real reason?"

"She has a boyfriend and she felt like going on tour with 4 guys for a couple months wouldn't be the best idea."  

"She has a boyfriend?! Then why did she lead Luke on like that? That isn't fair!" He started to get riled so I quickly tried to calm him down.