-chapter 10-

       The door shut behind Ana as she entered her apartment. Passing the living room, the voices from the tv drown out the anxiety and somewhat stressful feelings running through her head. The blonde quickened her pace down the hallway to reach the bedroom door that was now in sight.
   "Hey," She heard, reaching for the door knob. Ana jumped and retracted her hand quickly, pulling it toward her body in a swift movement.
   A stream of fear made its way from the frightened girl's head to her palm. She turned around and snaked a few steps past the intruder, with her palm held high ready to strike, "Woah, calm down Annie, it's just me," Izzy put her hands up defensively, "No need to go all OJ on me now," she laughed a little.
    The taller of the two let out a breath of relief and got her thoughts back in order, " OJ chopped his wife's head off you ignorant brat," Ana said, annoyed and still recovering from the heart attack her best friend nearly gave her.
    "Then don't go all Chris Brown on me, that better?" Isabelle sarcastically added with a chuckle, "So, where were you all day anyway?" She raised an eyebrow as they both stepped foot into Ana's room.
      "I went to meet pharmacy boy's friends," Ana told her, "and you'll never believe who was there," the blonde sighed and rubbed her forehead in frustration and stress. Isabelle raised an eyebrow waiting to be informed further, "The guy from the park is one of his friends," her mouth made an 'o' shape as she took a seat next to me on the bed.
    Isabelle wanted to scream at first and tackle her friend again. It aggravated how all these rockstars practically threw themselves at Anastasia,"Does Calum know about it?" She asked, genuinely concerned. Ana shook her head no in response and rested her head in her palms. She didn't know what to do.
   "He drove me home and everything," Ana muttered, not really talking to Izzy, more out loud to herself. The darker haired girl still responded nonetheless.
   "Luke fucking Hemmings?" She put an arm around her stressed friend's shoulder as she nodded her head.
    ''I just don't know how to feel, or deal with this," Ana said to herself again, not really expecting her room mate to understand what she meant.
    Isabelle was contemplating shooting herself in the throat. Not only was Ana seeing Calum Hood romantically, but Luke Hemmings drove her home. SHE WAS LIVING THE DREAM! So badly Isabelle wanted to shake her and let her know how amazing the situation was, because obviously she had no idea.
    "What do you mean Ann?" The dark haired girl rubbed circles on the blonde's shoulders, trying to comfort her the best she could. Ana couldn't blame her, she wouldn't know what to do either if Iz came home talking none sense.
   "He asked me out," Anastasia paused waiting for her to gasp, or to shout, seeing as she knew who they were.
    "Well aren't you miss popular," she snorted to herself but after seeing her torn friend her humorous smile turned back into a plead for Ana to stop moping, "What did you say to him?" She scanned the sad girl's eyes to try and find an answer.
      Ana shook her head, begging her own mouth to let the words free. Not just so she could tell her best friend, but admit it to herself as well. Ana did have sort of a crush on Luke, but She liked Calum as well. The flustered girl did not want to be considered a slut, or a cheater. Though, Calum and her weren't a 'thing', she still was not sure if she should go through with the date with Luke or not.
    "I said yes," Anastasia slammed her face onto a pillow, "Now if you don't mind, Dr. Phil, I'm going to wallow in my stupid decisions for a while, and possibly tear my hair out from all the stress it is bound to cause," She mumbled on the pillow, hoping her friend understood.
      Isabelle couldn't handle pitying her anymore. She had nothing to feel bad about. Rock Stars wanted her, she should feel flattered, not flustered.
    Soon enough, the bed moved and Isabelle's footsteps moved towards the door, "Well, if you need anything, just call me the Doctor, just the Doctor," she said in a British accent, mimicking one of her favorite tv shows.
     Ana took the pillow from under her and threw it at her idiotic friend, "Okay, get out of here with that 'Doctor Who' shit," Isabelle laughed and stuck out her tongue, earning a surprisingly genuine laugh from Ana.

-.-.-.-

     Luke tossed the keys on the table and plopped down next to Michael on the couch cushions. Mikey didn't turn to greet his band mate, instead kept his eyes glued to the television screen, on it was Beyoncé's new music video for 'Partition'.
    It had been a long day for Luke, so many disappointments along with a small amount of hope. Although, Michael's day was very different, he didn't have any struggles or stress to deal with. He was a happy go lucky type of guy without a care in the world. Luke envied that. Oh, how he wanted nothing more than to just not care about anything, but he can not just sit by and watch a nice girl's heart get trampled on by a sex demon.
    There had been so many thoughts swarming his mind like a newly colonized wasp nest. Thinking about this and that, but not thinking about what was happening right before his eyes. Unfortunately, this was the wrong moment to take notice to his surroundings.
   "Michael hide your boner a little better," Luke scoffed, averting his eyes from my his violet haired friend.
   "It's not my fault, look at her!" Mikey protested, pointing at the screen.
  The blonde bared the painfully explicit video as long as he could, but he just wasn't into it. Any other day he would watch it on repeat, however it just didn't seem right tonight. Luke shook his head, not able to endure it any longer, "Alright, I'm done with this," snatching the controller away, he changed the channel as quickly as humanly possible.
   "Nooo, she was about to twerk," the lilac colored haired boy whined.
   "So childish," Ashton strolled in the living room with a cup of tea in his hand. He heard it all from the kitchen. He thought it was mature of Luke to switch the channel, but there was different reason for him being childish.
   "Thank you Ash, at least someone understands," Luke sighed and gave Michael a knowing stare, glad that someone was agreeing with him.
The oldest of the three chuckled, "I was talking to you too Luke."
Luke pouted, "What did I do?"
Taking a sip of his tea before replying, Ash said, "Driving that girl home, you like her."
     The other blonde bit his lip,"So?", what was it to Ash if Luke found someone of the opposite gender pleasant, quite frankly it was none of his business.
      "Remember what happened last time Calum was messing with a girl and you caught feelings?", he reminded his band mate. It was painful for Luke to think about it. The last time, the whole band split ways for a solid three months before the pair made amends.
Shaking his head, he refused to recall the memory, "This times different," he insisted, but Ashton didn't believe him.
"How so?"
   "Calum doesn't actually like her," Luke smiled because he knew the truth, while Michael sat back and listened closely. The tall blonde knew in his mind things would work out, the good guys always win right? Eventually, Calum's true colors would be seen and Luke will be there for comfort. Right?
Before Ashton could rebut, his phone rang in his pocket, interrupting their dispute. He paused and checked the caller ID. Calum was calling him. Perfect timing actually.
    "It's him right now," Ash smirked, answering the phone, "Hey Cal, where'd you run off to?" -------       "Oh-okay, see you tomorrow then."
     Both boys stayed silent and listened the best they could. Moments later, Ashton and Calum said their goodbyes and the call ended.
   "Well?", Michael was curious, he, as well as everyone else, wanted to know where their fellow band mate was.
"He's with some girl," Ashton shrugged, secretly disappointed at Calum for already ignoring that poor girl's feelings.
Luke furrowed his brow, "It's not Ana though, is it?"
    "Nope", Ash frowned. It was wrong for Calum to be doing things as manipulative as this, although even if the boys confronted him nothing would change.
   Relieved, he smiled ,"Good, cause I really like Anastasia," Luke stood and left the room without another word. He felt stressed from the situation he was tangled in. Cal was his best friend, and what the tan boy was doing was despicable.
    Noticing Luke venture to his room, Ash followed, "Well, I'm gonna go to bed now so I'll see you in the morning," he gave Mikey a small wave an headed to the hallway.
"Wait Ash?" He called after him.
  Ash paused in the hallway and turned to answer,"Hm?"
"I know."
Confused, he raised an eyebrow, "Know what?"
"You're gay."
     Ashton gulped as Michael's words processed in his mind. He thought his constant hiding and excuses covered his trail, but apparently his footsteps in the snow were seen by Michael, "I won't tell anyone, no worries, but you need to tell everyone," Michael stated.
"How do you know?", Ash crumbled to his words and took a step closer.
      "It doesn't take that much to figure out you like Luke. Plus, you talk during your wet dreams and your room is right next to mine," The purple haired boy admitted, shrugging his shoulders
Ashton was shocked, he was positive no one knew of his secret. He was sure of it. He felt broken inside, like someone finally peeled back the mask and was staring at the real him. However, Michael was understanding and did not judge him right away. He seemed to genuinely care for his fellow band mate. In return, Ashton should listen to Michael. He did have the decency to keep it a secret, so he should at least repay him by following his wishes.
Nodding, Ash agreed, "I'll tell everyone, just not yet."
      A friend is a person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard. Someone who gives assistance when needed, a mate, ally, chum. Micheal was being just that, possibly more. All the countless days Ashton stayed awake drying his tears and punching pillows to not wake the boys and peak their suspicions. The endless excuses he created to be sure not even the slightest thought would stray them from his lies. All of it will be gone soon and that scared him. What if they were homophobic, and disowned him?
      He refused to think such things about his band mates, whom he's known for years. They care for him, they respect him, they love him. Something as silly as his sexuality should not alter that affection. However, he may lose Luke as a friend if he confessed everything. That was something he couldn't bare. Maybe for a little while longer he would keep that part to himself. Ashton believed in himself and all that he was. He knew that there was something inside that was greater than any obstacle, especially one such as this.