Thin White Lies | a.i.

Twelve

"Yo, dude," Michael Clifford called from next to Ashton, his voice getting lost in the loud bar. Lily's eyes caught his as she pulled away from Ash. "Where the hell's my hug?"

Lily smiled, peeling herself out of Ashton's hold and skipping around his bar stool to the purple haired cutie. She threw her arms around his waist, hugging tightly as Ashton pouted slightly next to the two, not wanting to admit that he wanted one hundred percent of Lily's attention, but showing it quite obviously.

"Lily!" Luke shouted as he stumbled around the table, latching on to the two hugging beside Ashton. It was an all-in pile on Michael and Lily now as a drunken Calum joined the party with a cheeky gin and a giggle.

Ashton shook his head with a smirk, still not quite believing that Lily was there. He'd dreamed of having her with him on tour since the moment he'd left his home town, thinking of her in every single city he visited. "Alright, alright, break it up boys," Ashton giggled, reaching for the very flustered and very squished little girl. "Give the girl some room to breathe."

"Says you," Michael says sarcastically as all the boys resume their places around the table, Luke slinging an arm around his mothers shoulders. Michael continued on in a high pitched voice: "Why isn't Lily replying? I love Lily! Lily Lily Lily!"

"Whatever, mate," Ashton laughs, taking a swig of his beer as he pulls Lily into his side.

"Dude, he wouldn't shut up about you today," Calum adds in.

"He's like, actually obsessed with you," Michael chuckles.

"Okay!" Luke shouts, waving his hands around in the air. "Please, can we stop talking about how much Ashton likes my little sister?"

"I do not!" Ashton defends in a high pitched whine, and all four people at the table besides Lily give him a glare as if to say 'yes, you do.' Ashton shrinks in his seat, gulping slightly at the sudden confrontation. Sure, he told Lily daily how much she meant to him, that didn't mean he wanted his feelings to be broadcasted so openly to everyone else. "I'm getting another drink."

Lily perked up at the sound of a beverage, and her eyes reached Ashton's hopefully. He leaned into her, whispering: "You want one, baby?"

"Yes, please," she chirped happily, pressing a kiss to the curly haired boy's cheek.

Ashton's eyes lit up at her gesture. He poked her nose lightly before placing his black felt hat on the younger girls head and turning in the direction of the bar, actively ignored the whipping sound Michael made as he left.

Lily sat patiently, watching her breath fog in the cold of the night, thinking about nothing in particular as she waited for Ashton to return with her drink.

"So," Michael began in a sing-song voice. "When are you gonna admit you're dating him?"

Lily blinked. "I'm not," she said, not missing a beat.

"Oh, come on, Lily," Mike rolled his eyes. "I see the way you two look at each other. Anyone from a mile away could tell you two adore each other. Just admit it."

Lily blinked once more, readjusting in her bar stool. "I promise, Mikey, It's not . . . like that, with us, I guess?"

"What do you even mean, 'not like that?'" He said. "I just watched Ashton openly kiss you in front of everyone. That's the second time he's kissed you--"

"It's not only the second time," Lily cut him off, hardly thinking as she spoke. Hey eyes widened with realisation at what she'd just implied to Michael.

"Wait," he said, thinking carefully before he spoke once more. "You mean . . . it's happened . . . more than once before?"

Lily bit her lip, nodding slightly.