5 Words

McKenzie

I got up after an excruciating battle. Mornings? Not really my things. Especially after the guys left to go on tour. I missed their stupid comments and their all-night video game stands. But most of all, I missed Ashton. Well, the conversations we would have. I got along marvelous with Calum, Michael, and Luke, but it was different with Ashton. He was my confidant. We could talk for hours and not get bored. And school without them? Worse than anyone could imagine.

The classes were so much longer, and everything was a thousand times lonelier.

I was a few blocks away from the school when my phone buzzed.

How are you?

That was Ashton. My smile was now a mile wide.

Fine, for now...just wished I didn't have to go to school :(

What if you don't have to?

I could already see his dimpled smile as he sent it.

What did you have in mind?

Just go to the bench by the candy store, you know the one

Indeed I did. Ashton loved a candy store a few blocks away. He couldn't get enough of it.

I quickly changed course and stopped by the store. In the moment, I forgot that Ashton was not even supposed to be there. Stupid! He's on tour! My heart broke a little. It was stupid for me to think he would be here. He probably just left a special order with the shop owner or something.

The smile I was wearing turned into a frown. I'm such an idiot. The pain tugging at my heart was unbearable. My fingers found their way underneath my sleeves. The scars were soothing, and horrible. Another reminder of who I am. 

A long sigh escaped my mouth and just as I was about to turn around, someone grabbed me from behind in an enormous hug.

My heart filled with joy as I realized who it was.

"Ashton! Aren't you supposed to be on tour? What are you doing here?"

He let me go so he could look me in the eye.

"Well, we kinda had some time to sit back and I wanted to come see you"

"I'm so glad you did!"

He took my hand and led me into the store. We were just looking through the candies, and two minutes later, we were in a seriously captivating game of tag around the store. It was empty, so it wasn't a problem. Not that we'd care either way. Our laughs filled it, and soon we were both on the floor gasping for breath.

It had been a while since I laughed this much. I had forgotten how liberating it felt. It was as if in that moment nothing could ever go wrong. It was just Ashton and I laughing our asses off in the middle of a candy shop.

I left the store while still grabbing my side.

"Where are we going now?"

"It's a surprise, follow me"

"Ugh, can't you just tell me?"

I haven't seen him in ages, and he wants me to be content with a surprise? I just want to spend the whole day with him. Make up for lost time.

I was zig-zagging on the sidewalk, so Ashton pulled me into his side to steady me. It was actually very comforting. We walked a couple of minutes and I started to get an idea of where we were going. To be honest, there was only one place he could be heading to. A minute later, my suspicions were proven true.

"Ta-da!"

Ashton let me go to make a grand expression with his arms. He had led us to a park, but not just any part of the park. We were at the children's playground. His eyes mirrored my own with a childish and a little mischievous glint in them.

"Race ya" I told him as I ran towards the slide.

We went down it a couple million times in another million positions. Then we went to the monkey bars, and the mini rock climbing wall. At the end, we were at the swings. At first we raced each other, trying to see who went the farthest. Of course, Ashton's horribly large muscles gave him an advantage. Then we went slower, and slower. Next thing I knew, we were just looking into the distance, not talking. But the silence was nice. It wasn't awkward, or heavy. It was the silence one could only have with a close friend. It was the silence I missed.

Then Ashton's phone rang.

"Could you-"

"Go ahead"

I watched him as he walked away. He started talking and his eyebrows were pulled together as a frown started forming on his lips. He closed the phone and started to make his way back with a look of disappointment in his eyes.

"I have to go" Those four words were enough to make me frown too.

"Okay, I'll see you when you get back"

"I wish I didn't have to go"

"Don't say that! The guys need you; your fans need you."

So many people out there needed them. Maybe more than I did. They had no idea of how much they had affected people. They didn't know how they had the power to help them.

He was right in front of me.

"It just doesn't feel right to leave you here alone"

It sure as hell didn't feel right when he wasn't here, but I couldn't tell him that.

"I'll be fine" as I said that, he hugged me. Maybe it was the leftover adrenaline, or just a moment of courage, but I whispered in his ear "I'll miss you" and gave him a quick kiss on his cheek. He hugged me tighter and whispered "I'll miss you too" and gave me a kiss as well.

I pulled out of his arms and told him to go.

"Tell the boys I miss them too!"

I doubted that he heard me, but he replied, "Okay, we'll see you soon".

And with that he left, and I went back home. But it was okay. He gave me a day of undivided attention, and that would suffice until he came back.

It had to suffice.