worlds collide

ashton

i was a friend, a brother, a son, a drummer. i never thought single dad would be on my collection of skills. but, the love of my life committed suicide two years ago and left me with our beautiful daughter. she was going insane with postpartum depression and had raving visions of hurting our daughter. i wish it wouldn't of ended up how it did, but at least my daughter is safe and with me.

everly rae was born two years ago and it was the highlight of my life. i loved music and touring and i thought nothing would ever compare to the feeling of doing a show. then, i looked into those little girls eyes and knew shows would never feel the same.

the guys and i took a bit of a hiatus when ev was born. soon enough, we would be back on the road and touring once again. i was excited and nervous all at the same time.

"ev, eat your breakfast," i laughed at the small girl in front of me. cheerios were spread out across the table, milk outlining her beautiful smile.

she laughed to me, shoving a few more cheerios into her mouth. as she continued to eat, the door swung open revealing my three best friends and bandmates. they all stopped to kiss everly's head before making themselves comfortable in the kitchen.

"we leave for tour in a month, ash," luke reminded me. i nodded, looking to everly. i still had no idea what i was going to do with her.

"have you decided if you're bringing her?" calum asked. i shrugged, pushing my hair out of my face.

"it's a lot of responsibility. it'd be a huge toll on her. it'd definitely take away from you guys' fun. i'd have to hire an extra hand to come with us," i rambled.

"you're not taking away our fun, ashton. we love her just as much as you. we would love to help out," luke added. i nodded.

"hey, ev." she looked up to me, milk surrounding her lips and dripping down her chin. i couldn't help but smile to her. "do you remember when i told you about when your uncles and i went on tour?" she nodded excitedly.

"yeah and you see the whole world and get to play music and you have so much fun," she yelled. i chuckled at her excitement.

"well, your uncles and i are going on tour again soon. do you wanna come with us or do you want to stay with grandma for a while?" i asked her. i wanted to put the decision into her hands, so i didn't feel guilty for choosing one way or another.

"daddy, i wanna stay with you," she whined. i nodded.

"i think that is a good idea. i don't think i'd be able to go without seeing my beautiful peanut for that long," i told her. she smiled, finishing the cheerios that remained on the table in front of her.

by the time she was done eating, we were all buzzing with excitement. we sat around the living room telling stories about all of the previous tours we had been on. it made me even more excited to get back on the road and continue playing music.

i was excited that everly decided to come with us, but in all honesty, it made me that much more nervous. i knew i wasn't going to be able to do it by myself, even with the help of the other guys and crew. i was going to need to hire a nanny that's sole job was to watch after everly when i couldn't.

we moved to the backyard, watching as everly ran around the backyard playing an imaginary game. i leaned back onto the chair i was sitting on, looking up to the bright sky. a car door slammed in the distance, making me look next door.

a black car with an uber sticker on the window was parked outside of the house next door. a woman got out of the backseat and pulled two suitcases and two backpacks out of the trunk. then, she went back into the backseat and pulled a little boy into her arms. i was slightly confused until i looked at the lawn and saw the bright red SOLD sign. i smiled lightly.

"i'm gonna give her a hand. looks like she needs it," i chuckled, watching as the boy had a meltdown in her arms. she stood on the sidewalk beside her bags, rocking him.

"do you need help getting your bags up the driveway?" i asked her. she flinched, but quickly regained her composure and smiled.

"if you don't mind, but don't feel obligated," she laughed. i nodded, grabbing a suitcase and a backpack and heading up the driveway. she unlocked the front door and let me put them in the front room. "thank you guys."

"no problem. i'm ashton and this is calum. i live next door if you ever need anything," i told her. she smiled, a blush rising to her cheeks.

"i'm emerson, but most people call me emmy. and this is finley," she replied. i nodded, shaking her free hand. i smiled to finley but he buried his head into her neck. "he's very shy," she chuckled. i nodded.

"well, i'll let you get settled in. like i said, i'm right next door if you ever need anything," i reminded her. she nodded.

"thanks ashton," she smiled, her cheeks still rosy.

"no problem, emmy," i replied, walking back into my backyard.

everly stopped the intense conversation she was having with luke and michael and ran into my legs. i picked her up into my arms, kissing the side of her head. she hugged me tightly and pulled away, her hazel eyes staring right into mine.

"i make new friend?" she asked me. i chuckled, kissing her forehead once more.

"yeah, i think you'll have a new friend. maybe we can go visit sometime soon," i told her, not so sure if it was actually a treat for everly or myself.

//

getting back into writing. lemme know what ya think! vote and comment xx