End Up Here | AFI

Pancakes.

Ashton's POV/ 2 MONTHS LATER

I walked downstairs fresh out of the shower in a towel craving a bagel and some creamed cheese. yesterday was exhausting after being at the studio for almost the entire day, but I wouldn't trade that feeling or what I do for the world.

Pandemic update, the news this morning says it was all a simple hoax run by the government. They simply wanted to experiment on us, America's weird.

I hear the garage open then close, moments later I hear the door to the house opening knowing it was Lila. So I just walked towards the kitchen.

"Morning Ash!" She was panting while following behind me, taking her Airpods out of her ear.

"How was this morning's jog?" I asked, getting some orange juice sitting by the kitchen island.

"Well it was good until I almost got hit by someone's car, other than that everything was great, what time did you wake up?" she said, opening the refrigerator taking out milk and grabbing pancake mix from the cabinet.

"Woke up about 40 minutes ago,showered, now I'm here....Are we really eating pancakes again?" I frowned a bit.

"We?! Don't have to eat pancakes, but I want to." She grabbed a bowl and closed the cabinet.

"At this point I'm starting to think that's all you know how to make for breakfast besides cereal." I laughed out.

"Haha , very funny but last time I checked you hired a housekeeper not a personal chef." she dangled the whisk towards the side leaving a very sassy facial expression.

I looked down and laughed to myself. It's been pretty nice having a positive spirit here on a daily basis. The company was well needed but it makes it sad that I'm paying for that company to be here.

"Earth to Ashton!" she yelled, waving the whisk in my face.

"Yeah?" I blinked heavily twice.

"Are you gonna be wearing a towel all day?" she looked down the back up at me then went on to pour the pancake batter.

"Right, um two pancakes please?" I got up and headed upstairs to change.

I went into my closet and grabbed a black tank top alongside some black gym shorts. I went to grab some songs and grabbed my black Nike sneakers.

I walked into the bathroom and brushed my teeth and what not. When I hear a glass shatter.

"Shit!" Lila shouted.

"Lila!" Fear was heard in my voice as I ran downstairs with toothpaste still on my face when I saw Calum. He had on my yellow button-up that he claimed to have given back, obviously not.

"Didn't mean to scare ya there mate or did I interrupt a little um session?" He laughed while going over towards the living room to have a seat, which is connected to the kitchen in a way.

I grabbed some paper towel to wipe the toothpaste.

"Calum you have got to stop that! This is the third time within the last two weeks." Lila said placing our pancakes onto separate plates.

"When were the last two times? What?" I leaned against the kitchen island about to eat my pancakes there. "Thanks." we exchanged smiles.

"Oh, I came to give you this shirt back and to drop off the orange hard drive but Lila said you weren't home so I borrowed a new shirt and went over to Luke's." He said scrolling through his phone.

"Yeah take my shirts mate, free clothing store."

"Oh like you don't ransack my closet, riddle me this...where's my black Playboy button down?" Cal rubbed his chin sarcastically.

Lila laughed behind me.

"Your friend Rai said give her her hoodies back by the way," Cal said to Lila.

"Wait wha-" She was caught off guard by Cal's response.

"See we're one big happy family who borrows clothes, from my eyes I don't see anything wrong here." Cal makes the "I don't know" hand gesture.

"Annnnyways...as much as I'd love to stay and listen to you guys talk about borrowing clothes I'm gonna go freshen up." Lila walked towards the sink to put her plate in it and headed upstairs.

Cal got up and walked towards me and gave me this weird grin and a stare down. I feel like I know what this expression is referring to. He elbowed me playfully while raising his eyebrows up and down.

"Knock it off mate, you know I'm dating Kaitlin." I walked towards the sink putting my dirty dishes in.

"Yet you're upset every time you're with her and on top of that you haven't laughed this much since tour days. Come on you know I'm right." Cal tilted his head over.

"I love Kaitlin Cal, plus I'm not into her that way and I'm 100% the feeling is mutual." I leaned against the kitchen island.

"And if the feeling wasn't wasn't mutual?" he asked, also starting to lean against the opposite side of me on the island.

"I wouldn't want to get with her." I had an urge to slam something. I know Cal wants me to be happy but forcing me with another woman when I'm dating someone isn't the route to take.

"Yeah because you wouldn't date a housekeeper who just cleans your house, I'm surprised she's not cleaning the dirt on your ass." his tone changed and his remark was a bit harsh towards her.

"Yeah because me, Ashton Irwin would never date someone who cleans for me basically a peasant." I sarcastically responded.

"Don't talk down on her man. She's a woman with a job who's trying to make an honest living, she's not a peasant. Yeah, I'll admit she's beautiful, bright personality, active, mature, responsible, and more beyond that but-" I stopped before realizing the list I had just given off.

"And those things aren't what you told me you'd like in a girl literally like 3 months ago?" Cal snarked.

I had to think about what Cal said and what I've truly felt like lately with Kaitlin. My mentality has been everywhere here and there but hanging with Lila...I'll admit it was nice having her company. I genuinely felt happy but Lila is just a friend and it has to stay that way.....friends can make me happy too, right?

"Cal knock it off, I'm perfectly happy with Kaitlin, perfectly." I walked towards the sink to avoid getting deeper into this conversation and wash dishes since I gave Lila Saturdays off.

"Alright alright just looking out for you mate. Heard from the guys?" He changed the subject finally.

"Mike and Crystal went to Bora Bora for the weekend as a peace retreat, Luke's been going to the beach a lot....like damn near everyday with Sierra." I went to sit on the couch.

"Ah shit, you're right. Wanna grab some Alfred's?" he put his hands in his pockets rocking back and forth.

"That honestly is very needed right now, imma go let Lila know." I got up heading upstairs while Cal took a seat on the kitchen island chair.

I knocked on Lila's door.

"Hey um me and Cal are grabbing some Alfred's want anything back orr?" I didn't get a response back.

I knocked again and waited with no response so I opened the door to see Lila sitting on her terrace writing in a journal with her Airpods in.

Was she crying?