Daylight (a.i)

Fifteen

~

Ashton shot up and rushed out the house, slamming my door behind him.

I couldn't help but stare at the door, I was left in complete shock.
Seriously what is Ashton's problem? We haven't talked in months and then when we do he attacks me. And now he can't even stand to look at Mikey and I?

"I'm sorry about him Jo, I didn't expect him to act like this"

Michael's hand were in his hair and he looked stressed.

"It's not a big deal Mikey- don't be so upset" I tried.

"Jo he's the one who asked to come here! You think I want him around you?! I don't. He messes everything up! I swear."

"Mikey what are you taking about, everything is fine, I'm ok. Ashton can run off if he wants to, we can still enjoy ourselves" I suggest.

A small smile begins to appear on Michael's face and I know I've won him over.

" I went online and found this really cool pizzeria, it's only like 10 minutes away" his accent grew thicker with his excitement, causing me to laugh.

"What?" Michael's face scrunched up in confusion reminding me of a small cat. I laughed again before replying nothing and heading upstairs to get my bag.

I settled for a brown over shoulder and slipped on my vans.

My hunger drove me to rush down the stairs and meet Mikey in his car. I almost forgot Ashton was there until I saw his mop of hair pressed against the backseat window.

I ignored the pain in my stomach the best that I could before greeting Michael in the front seat.

Michael smiled at me before popping in his own copy of the new ATL cd and I let out an embarrassing squeal in response.

"You sound like a pig" Ashton fired.

"At Least I don't look like one" I fired back quickly regretting it, since I sounded like a child.

"You guys are being ridiculous just be quit until we get to the pizza place!" Michael yelled.

Ashton and I both shut up, I could tell that we both felt like children being reprimanded. Which obviously sucked but I didn't want to make Michael upset so I went along.

~

The pizzeria wasn't what I was expecting, it was a small, family owned one. I liked it, we were greeted at the door and the seating was pretty fast.

"Isn't this nice,

just friends,

hanging out"

Michael stuttered awkwardly while resting a hand on my thigh and then one on ash's shoulder.

Ashton sat across from me with a straight face while I cracked at smile at Michael's lame attempt to lighten the mood.

"Yup this is great" I replied sarcastically earning a playful glare from Michael.

"I'm going to go take a piss - behave, will you? " Michael said looking at Ashton. I cringed at his tmi statement before he got up and left.

All to soon a felt the familiar stare of Ashton but this time it wasn't angry, I wasn't sure what it was.

"Jo we need to talk."

"If your gonna start with you bullshit again - then I don't wanna hear it." I replied, keeping a straight face.

"Jo just let me talk I don't need your sarcasm right now.

Look we haven't talked in months and truth be told I made the worst decision of my life. I shouldn't have pushed you away. I missed you and hearing the way Michael talked about you, it made me emotional and I couldn't bear the thought of it anymore so I totally shut you out. And well I shouldn't have.

I over reacted that night that you and Michael kissed - but the way he looked at you. I...I was furious with him and i didn't even want to see him anymore.

So I tried moving on but with every girl, there was something that lead me back to you;

Wether it was hair colour, or voice or eyes. I was desperate to have you back and I just thought I could say all these mean things about you and that would make me believe you were some sick monster.

But now I've realise, I made one of the worst mistakes of my life and I know how I said you deserve better and I'm not good for you, I mean you deserve much better than some douche like me but please Jo, please can we maybe try things out again?"

I stare at him with wide eyes and he finished talking. It was so much to take in.

I started feeling light headed, so I brought my hands up to my temple and started taking long, calm breaths.

How could he do this to me?!

"Oh my god Jo what happen? What's wrong? Are you okay! Shit I'll get Mike for you" Ashton starts blubbering out but before he gets up, I placed my hand on top of his, as a signal for him to stay.

"Ashton I don't know what to say. That's a lot to say to a girl you haven't spoken to in months whom you only knew for a weekend."

I hear him sigh as his facial expression turns bitter.

"Then none of it matters. Like you." He mumbled.

"Ashton" I sigh, "let me finish. I would be lying if I said I didn't miss talking to you- and yeah I would love to put the last behind us and start over, but it's Michael I'm worried about Ash. He doesn't want us together even when we're only friends.

He hates what you did to me and told me he wanted to kill you. To hurt you. To ruin you.
He doesn't think you're good for me and you'll drop me at any seconds for 'an other gullible slut that has fallen for you. He doesn't like the thought of us together - he never has."

"But we can give it a try?" Ashton asks anxiously

"I guess we can try...?" I say, trailing off.

"Try what?" Michael asks, as he walked back to his seat and say down

I look over at Ashton and realise Michael may have heard a lot of that. I panic in my head before Ashton talks.

"Oh just try and get along here for you. Unless we kill each other in the bathrooms or something" Ashton laughed.

Oh how I missed that laugh. And his dimples. And smile. And care free personality.

Oh how I missed him.

Ashton.

Him.