25. Mali-Koa

                                    

                                          
---Kelly---
                          
Something is tickling my nose.
                          
There's laughing.
                          
"Shhhh, you're gonna wake her up!"
                          
"What do you think I'm trying to do?"
                          
"But she's grouchy when she wakes up though."
                          
"You would know!"
                          
"Asswipe, that's not my fault!"
                          
"She's never grumpy when she's in Ashton's arms you dipshits!"
                          
My nose is tickling again. This time I swat at whatever is making it tickle.
                          
"FUCK Tiger!" 
                          
My eyes finally pop open to see four sets of eyes looming over me, one set belonging to Mali. Michael's rubbing his arm, apparently he was the one tickling my nose. I really don't want to know what with. Everyone starts laughing, except Ashton who's still lightly snoring in my ear. As soon as I try to move, he instinctively pulls me in tighter. 
                          
"Gooooood morrrrning Sunshine!" sings Luke. 
                          
"What the fuck are you guys on?" I ask them. I've never seen them this chipper in the morning. 
                          
"Mali, you did it again, didn't you?" Ashton grumbles behind me. Even grumpy morning voice is sexy. Damn. 
                          
"I have no idea what you're talking about Ashton!" she feigns innocence and starts giggling. 
                          
"She gave them Skittles," he explains. I can't help myself from bursting into laughter. 
                          
"See? I told you she's never grumpy in Ash's arms! I know my little sis!" Michael says proudly. 
                          
I roll my eyes at him and smile. "Do I even want to know what time it is?" mumbles Ashton. He's extra grumpy this morning. I guess I need to fix that. 
                          
"Nope!" Calum answers, popping the p sound. 
                          
I squirm my way to roll over and face Ashton, who still has his eyes closed through the conversation. I put my only free hand on his cheek and press my lips to his, in which he quickly returns the kiss. After a minute, I pull away. "Good morning baby!" I say with a smile. 
                          
"Mmmmm good morning to you, too! Now this I could wake up to every day!" 
                          
"Oh god! Here they go again!" whines Luke. Ashton and I giggle at his comment. 
                          
"Oh hell no! No tigers this morning please!" That just makes us laugh harder, and earn a questioning look from Mali. I feel myself turning red and Mali walks away, 
"You know what? I REALLY don't wanna know!"
                          
The five of us work together to get the media room cleaned up and the "fort" put away, then head to the kitchen where Joy and Mali are making a huge stack of pancakes. Michael starts digging into the stack and I smack his hand away. "Ew! God only knows where you've had that hand!" 
                          
He wiggles his eyebrows at me, "Wouldn't you like to know?" Some things will never change with that boy! Ashton smacks him on the back of the head, "No she wouldn't, now go wash your hands!"
                          
After devouring the entire box of Bisquick pancake mix (that's a LOT of pancakes), the guys take off somewhere in the house, leaving Mali and I to clean up the breakfast mess. I am actually happy about this because I really wanted a chance to get to know Mali. Calum talked so fondly of her all the time. 
                          
"So Kelly, Cal tells me you went to State High?" 
"Yeah. I just graduated in June. Barely, but I did." She look at me questioningly then continued. "So do you have plans for college or anything? I know it's not far, but even this little bit of distance can be a challenge."