melody

I had so badly wanted to ask for Ashton's number, but I was never the flirty type and didn't want to come across that way either. Maybe it was my fault for not being able to steady a relationship that way. I just hoped in my gut that Samantha had his number.

When we left, I ended up driving because Samantha was hammered. I slid into her black mini cooper as she lazily flopped into the passenger seat.

"You alright there?" I asked her as she pressed her wrist against her forehead.

"Yep, just a lil' headache," she slurred with a drunken smile.

I decided on just taking her to my place rather than her house because I had my own keys.

"Why are we here?" Samantha whined as I pulled into the driveway.

"It was quicker," I muttered as I opened her door.

We walked up to the door of my small home. I unlocked the door and led Samantha to the couch. She full body slammed into the cushion and passed out.

"That was easy," I mumbled to myself. I grabbed ibuprofen from the cupboard and a water bottle and set them on the table for Samantha in the morning.

I trudged up to my bedroom and changed into a thin tank top and baggy basketball shorts before tossing myself into my bed. I cuddled up into my comforter.

~~~

When I woke up the next day, I was starved. It felt like I hadn't eaten in two days. I headed downstairs to make some eggs, where Samantha was sort of awake scrolling on her phone.

"Good morning," I muttered sleepily.

"Morning..." Samantha murmured in reply.

I grabbed the egg carton from the fridge. "You want eggs?"

Samantha shrugged. "Sure."

I began cooking scrambled eggs and threw a few pieces of bread into the toaster. The only thing my mind could really focus on was Ashton. I was paranoid that I wouldn't ever see him again. I scraped at the pan aimlessly.

"Do you think we'll see them again?" I randomly asked Samantha as I served the both of us breakfast.

"Who?" Was Samantha slow?

"Calum and his friends," I replied before shoveling eggs into my mouth.

Samantha raised her eyebrows and chewed. "Probably," she swallowed. "I could ask Calum today, but everyone's probably dealing with a ratchet hangover."

I nodded. "Who's numbers do you have of everyone?" I asked out of curiosity.

Samantha shrugged. "I have Crys and Sierra's, and maybe Michael? Why do you ask?"

I tried to not look too suspicious and shrugged. "Just curious."

Samantha smirked. "You like someone, don't you?"

I furrowed my brows. "Hm?"

She laughed. "You know Luke and Michael are taken, so your options are Calum and Ashton."

I blushed when she said his name.

Samantha smirked knowingly. "You definitely like one of them. Is it Calum?"

I sat straight faced.

"Ashton?"

I still tried to sit straight faced but suddenly had an itch on my eyebrow.

"You like Ashton!" she exclaimed.

I blushed profusely, embarrassed she figured out my secret. I really didn't even know if I liked him, it was just random feelings that I didn't understand. "I don't know, maybe?"

Samantha shook her head and laughed. "You wouldn't  blush when I say his name if you didn't like him."

I sighed. "I guess..."

Samantha frowned. "Sorry, he's like the only one who's number I don't have. I could text Calum, though."

My eyes widened. "No! Don't ask Calum for his number, that'll expose me!"

Samantha started cracking up. "I'm not gonna ask him for Ashton's number, Melody. I'm gonna ask if we can do something today as a group."

I exhaled a sigh of relief.

~~~

"You ready to go?" Samantha swing a mint green bag over her shoulder.

"Huh?" I didn't know we were actually going anywhere.

"We're going to Calum's house. Ashton will be there," she wiggles her eyebrows.

I laughed lightly. "Okay, let me just put on deodorant. I stink."

Samantha sniffed. "Ew, you do."

We both laughed.

The drive to Calum's was about half an hour. We hopped out of the car and headed to the door. Ashton opened the door, welcoming us. He smirked at me a bit. I felt heat rising to my cheeks.

"Hello there," Ashton smiled again Samantha and I.

I gave a small wave before he moved out of the way, holding the door to the side. Inside sat the whole group again.

Michael and Crystal sat on the floor. I felt jealous. They looked all cute and coupley. Crystal was leaned against the couch, her legs draped over Michael's lap.

Luke and Sierra were perched on the couch together, and Calum was walking back from the kitchen with ice water.

I plopped myself onto the couch, slightly away from Luke, but not to the point where it was awkward. Samantha sat on the floor next to Calum, even though there was plenty of room on the couch.

Ashton approached me. "Miss, that happens to be my spot," he said slowly with furrowed brows.

My eyes widened. "Oh, sorry," I scooted over, looking down to hide my constantly blushed cheeks.

Ashton broke into a fit of giggles. "I'm just kidding. You take things too seriously."

I frowned slightly. "Sorry."

He shook his head, still smiling. "It's fine."

Everyone else had started a conversation once again. It was too awkward to try and butt-in.

Ashton turned to me. "We can make our own conversation," he told me. "Ask me a question, anything."

I pondered for a moment before speaking. "Tell me something about yourself."

I admired his green and brown eyes. There seemed to be sparks of yellow mixed in as well. Those eyes may have been my favorite feature on him.

"I love to laugh," he shot me his contagious smile that I had already grown to be obsessed with in the last two days of knowing him. "Now you tell me something."

I tried to think of something interesting about myself. "I like taking pictures. Not like professionally or anything, but like just selfies or pictures of my friends for memories," I told him. Ashton listened intently as I spoke. "At my old house, I had a whole wall of pictures I had taken. I still have them, but I haven't started putting them up yet."

Ashton smiled a bit. "That's really cool. You should put them up, I wanna see that."

I shrugged. "Whenever I get to it. There are so many pictures that it would take forever alone."

Ashton's eyes lit up. "I'll help you. Here, give me your phone."

I handed it to him. "Why?"

"I'll put in my number."

a/n wow does anyone enjoy this book? no? okay.

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