Thin White Lies | a.i.

Six

SIX YEARS AGO

"I just can't believe that your sixteenth is finally here" Kira shouted through the phone at her best friend.

"I know," Lily said, her voice sounding breathless as she made her way up the porch steps of her Sydney home. "Neither can I."

It felt as though her fifteenth birthday was only yesterday, and the Idea of going home to play her beloved piano was just about the only thing on her mind.

A few things had changed since her fifteeth birthday, however. Lily had yet to hear from Ashton, but she had also stopped asking. Luke and the other boys never seemed to really bring it up, though, by this point they understood that she didn't necessarily want to speak to him. The only way Lily would happily accept concersation with the boy, is it it started with a decent apology. But alas, she knew that wasn't coming any time soon. Anyway, they boys were all still on their tour with One Direction, probaby somewhere in the US or Canada.

Whatever, it's not like Ashton's absence bothered her anymore.

At least she still had the piano he'd given here.

"Well, I'll see you tonight anyway for your party!" Kira screeched. A sweet sixteenth party wasn't exactly Lily's idea, but she also hadn't protested. It would be a nice distraction from the hazel eyed boy.

Her disconnection from Ashton wasn't the only thing that had changed. Her appearance had sort of started to . . . develop as well. Her bust was bigger, and she thanked the heavens regularly for being gifted with such well proportioned C cups. Her hips had grown too, probably from all the ice cream she stuffed her face with. Chocolate chip, which was absolutely not Ashton's favourite. Either way, Kira was constantly saying how great her figure was, and she was proud of it. That wasn't all that had changed. Her hair had been dyed three months ago to a deep chocolate brown, making her baby blue eyes pop and her pale skin seem just a little less washed out and a little bit milkier.

But, with a womanly figure came womanly problems. Like Shark Week. And pimples. And crying. Lots and lots of crying. Or all three of those things at once. Sometimes, during the build up to Shark Week, she'd walk through the hall way and catch sight of a certain photo. One in which Ashton had the little girl on his back, his arms wrapped around her lips. Giant grins plastered on both teens faces. Then she'd suddenly burst into tears and down an entire tub of Ben and Jerry's and listen to her brothers band as she fell asleep.

Talk about pathetic.

Lily dismissed her thoughts, skipping through the front door and straight to her bedroom, knowing that her mother wasn't home. She was busy at the function hall she had hired out for this special occasion.

Lily was quite surprised, really, at how many people she managed to willingly invite. Enough to fill out a small function hall. She couldn't quite believe she was close with so many people. Strange. She'd always thought of herself as this shy little girl. Maybe she was only like that around certain people.

She swung her door open, catching sight immediately of the black A-frame dress lying out neatly on her bed. A pair of healed boots accompanying it. It wasn't anything too flashy, and that was what Lily loved. Her mother had paired the outfit perfectly. It was black on black, not usually her style, but for tonight, a celebration into adulthood, she'd try it out.

She ended up showering and blow drying her hair all before Liz arrived at home. It was 5:30pm by the time her mother waltzed into her room, seeming just as excited as Lily was. She was wearing a navy blue long dress that flowed nicely around her shins. She looked beautiful. Lily smiled at her mother as they spoke about the evening to follow. She took the time to curl her hair, letting it fall in elegant loose curls around her face and over her shoulders, her fringe sitting whispily above her lashes. That was new, too.

The dress ended up fitting perfectly, and the heals made her feel ten times older than she was turning. Finally, at 6:30, Lily was ready to head to the hall for her sixteenth birthday party.

"Are you excited?" Her mother had asked, as the pair skipped out the door and towards Liz's car.

Lily nodded enthusiastically, a huge smile on her lips. "I really wish Luke could come, but Ben and Jack will have to suffice."

"I know sweetie," Liz smiled sadly. "He really does wish he could be there, too. He promised to make it up to you."

"It's just weird that he hasn't even called me all day," Lily frowned slightly. Come to think of it, she hadn't heard from Michael or Calum today either. Maybe they were just really busy with tour stuff. That was probably it.

Liz was silent after that, seeming deep in thought.

By the time they arrived at the hall, the place was full of family members and friends, and the gifts table was exploding with pink and blue wrapped boxes. A deep shade of pink was cast around the room, giving it a night club vibe, but filled with all of the people who Lily loves dearly. The music was loud, Liz even let Lily have a glass of wine for her birthday. Almost everything was perfect.

She was dancing sloppily with Kira and her other two friends Rachael and Autumn, giggling like crazy and spinning around with no shoes on when the music cut out, leaving a room full of confused guests and an even more confused, and slighly tipsy--from her glass of wine, and several sips of her big brothers beers--Lily.

The lights cut out then, and it took Lily's eyes a moment of squining to finally spot the bright yellow cast of lighting in the far corner of the hall. She headed for it immediately, like a moth drawn to light. She felt her friends hot on her heels, probably just as confused as she was. It took Lily no more than ten seconds before she spotted the ginormous blonde head of hair on a small stage. She ran for it, her eyes wide with excitement.

"Hey everybody," Luke said into the microphone. "We're Five Seconds of Summer and we're here to play for my amazing sister tonight."

"So put your hands together for a very special someone," Michael shouted.

Calum added, "Happy Birthday, Lily."

And finally, Ashton, her beautiful Ashton and his blond curly hair and dimples so deep she could swim in them forever, shouted: "We love you!"

The chords for She Looks So Perfect began, and so did Lily as she and her friends broke out dancing. They danced and they danced through four entire songs, sweaty as hell and probably in dire need to water, but Lily didn't care. She couldn't. Her brother and her best friends were all here, all celebrating. All celebrating her.

"We have one more song for you all tonight," Michael said, smiling with excitement.

"This song was actually written for someone in particular," Luke explained.

"And we think Ashton really connects with this song the most," Calum mused. "So if it's okay with you, we'd like to slow it down a little with this one."

A chorus of cheers could be heard from the gathered hall. Lily beamed as Ashton's eyes caught her own. She'd missed him so much that it hurt, and seeing him right in front of her was somewhat surreal, as if it couldn't possibly be real. But it was. And he was. And Lily would be forever grateful.

"This song," Ashton "Is a very special song." His gaze hadn't left Lily's. "It's about being beside you."

Lily hadn't expected Ashton to sing as much as he had during Beside You, but every time he did, he put his entire heart and soul into every note and every word, and Lily could tell that he meant it. And he meant it for her. This song was written for her. The very thought of it pulled on her heart strings.

By the time the song had ended and the boys had left the stage, Lily was in tears. This had been by far the absolute best gift any girl could have asked for. She was so blessed to be surrounded by such amazing people.