"You both live around here?" Ashton asked the girls as they were all sat together in the corner of the coffee shop.
In order for the bunch to fit, stray chairs and tables had to be pulled close and the sight of four, overgrown, lanky teenage boys trying to scoot in well enough to fit was quite a comical sight.
"We're roommates," Alyssa replied before sipping her hot chocolate. "We've only been here a year but it's been fun."
"Do you ladies come here often?" Luke added and Kassi wasted no time in answering.
"We live a little farther from town, but getting Starbucks definitely isn't something new for us."
All the boys smiled appreciatively.
"How do you like your drinks?" Alyssa asked before peering over their cups.
"It's quite nice actually, I'm glad we got them," Michael answered as he downed the last of it and dropped the cup on the table with a thump. "Thanks."
"No problem," Kassi said and grinned, finishing her's as well.
"Did you guys hear about our gig at the forum tomorrow night?" Calum questioned, leaning a little closer to Alyssa, who seemed oblivious to the gesture.
Kassi, on the other hand, smirked at this and nodded in response to his question.
"Are you suggesting that they come see us again, Calum?" Ashton bellowed, slightly aghast. "They're probably sick of us now."
Both girls laughed and shook their heads.
Casually checking the time on her phone, Alyssa suddenly gasped and nudged Kassi, telling her with her eyes that they had stuck around much longer than necessary. Kassi nodded in understanding before returning her attention back to the boys in front of them.
"Wow, it's really late," Alyssa claimed, shuffling awkwardly in her seat. "I think we better get going. You guys do have another concert tomorrow, so we don't want to keep you."
"Nonsense," Luke dismissed with a wave of his hand. "You know what they say: time flies when you're having fun."
Michael snorted. "You're so lame, bro."
Kassi also laughed, but nodded accordingly at Luke. "But he's right."
Luke sneered at Michael. "She gets me."
"Of course she does," Calum chimed in with a smug look on his face.
"If you're leaving now, let us at least walk you out," Ashton offered.
Allowing the girls no room for argument, all of them rose from the tables and headed for the door, entering the chilly night.
"Where's your ride?" Luke asked as he fell into step with Kassi.
"Just over there," she told him, pointing ahead of them. "No worries."
When all six of them arrived at the girls' car, an awkward silence filled the air as Alyssa noticed the boys lingering.
"Well, this was nice," Michael piped up, eyeing Luke knowingly before nudging him forward.
"It was," Kassi agreed while winking at Alyssa.
"You two are lovely. We definitely weren't expecting this to be as low key as it was," Ashton admitted, rather flummoxed.
"Trust me, once we get home we'll be bouncing off the walls," Alyssa reassured him with a cheeky grin.
"Or maybe not, I'm exhausted," Kassi stated, rubbing one of her eyes with the palm of her hand.
Both girls knew the possibility of seeing the boys again were slim, but they couldn't help but hope. They were kind of appreciative of the fact that they seemed to be prolonging their parting anyways... Or at least, they thought they were.
Finally, Calum was the first to seize the silence. "Well, if Luke isn't going to, then I will," he started before walking up to Alyssa. "We'd all like to keep in touch with you girls if you don't mind."
Eyes widening, both Alyssa and Kassi exchanged glances.
"Really?" Kassi inquired, her tone dripping with surprise.
"Of course," Calum replied, nodding.
Without another moment wasted, all of them exchanged numbers and the boys walked away feeling very satisfied with themselves. As Alyssa started the car, she glanced over at Kassi once more and stopped what she was doing; a ghost of a smile tickling at her lips.
"Did that just really happen?"
"It did!" Kassi exclaimed, smiling so wide Alyssa thought it hurt.
"Oh man," they sighed simultaneously before grinning at each other.
