---Michael---
Calum and I are in the middle of a game of FIFA when I hear Kelly and Ashton in a fit of laughter coming down the hall. I am so glad to see things improving between them. They really are the perfect couple. It's hard to believe that I was so infatuated with her when we first met. It was purely sexual desire, and while I wouldn't turn down the opportunity even still, the infatuation is long gone. Sure, during those two months apart, I had hoped for a chance to be more than a shoulder to cry on, but seeing her happy with Ashton is all that really matters to me now. He's the one she needs.
They walk in the door holding hands and still laughing, just as Calum scores the winning goal. I set down my controller and get up off the couch to grab some water.
"Hi Mikey! Did you miss me?!" she asks, giving me a big hug.
"Me? Miss you? Why would I do that?" I tease. She makes me laugh when she smacks my arm and calls me a jerk.
"So did you two lovebirds have fun?"
"Oh my gosh yes! We went to a trampoline park and it was a blast! It was hysterical watching Ash try to do a flip in the air! We had so much fun!" She looks at Ashton with so much love in her eyes and I know right here and now that everything will be fine between them.
Ashton heads off to take a shower and get dressed for tonights show and Kelly comes and sits with me on the couch.
"You look really happy today Tiger."
"I am. This is the Ashton I fell in love with. We got off track for awhile with all the traveling and court and everything else that we forgot how to have fun. I'm really enjoying this trip, so much more than the others."
"That's awesome. That's how it should be. Just don't let yourself get overwhelmed, okay? Stick to what feels right." I tell her. I really couldn't handle seeing her get heart broken again.
"I know. I promise." She climbs up in my lap and gives me a hug. She's a lot different with me than she's ever been. I know it's because I was the only one there for her but it feels strange. She's different. Stronger, more self confident, but still self conscious, if that makes any sense. As much as I hate to say it, I think these two months are exactly what she needed.
Ashton returns, fresh from the shower, and I can see the pain in his eyes when he spots us. She is more physical with me than him, and it hurts him, even though Kelly and I are strictly in a friendly manner. He'll get it back, there's not a doubt in my mind. It's just a painful reminder to him of the two months he lost.
"Shower's free Kel!" he finally says. She hops up off my lap and goes over to Ashton. She takes him by the hand and leads him to a corner out of earshot. That's my cue to look away, so I start a new game with Calum.
---Ashton---
I had a great time with her today. I think she had a lot of fun, too. These are the things we need to do more of. I think I'll try to find something fun for us to do in each city this week.
After fifteen minutes of brainstorming, she comes back out with a frown on her face.
"What's wrong babe?" I ask her, without even thinking about the pet name I just called her. Too much Ashton.
"I smell like a guy!" she pouts. The room erupts into laughter, Kelly excluded. "It's not funny! I can't go out there smelling like Old Spice body wash! I'm going to the bus to shower. Again." She stomps away and the laughter continues.
"I'm going to go take a nap. I'll be on the bus." Luke nods in acknowledgement and I make my way out to the bus. I lay down in my bunk and listen to Kelly singing What I Like About You in the shower. I don't even try to stop myself from smiling. I just enjoy hearing her happy. I let my eyes close and drift off the sleep.
"Ashton? Wake up." I'm woken up by Kelly smiling at me. "Trampoline wear you out?" she teases.
"Naah, just dozed off while thinking." I tell her.
"What were you thinking about?" she asks curiously.
"What my mind always thinks about when I'm not on stage. You." I tell her. It's the truth, I just hope it's not too much.
"Oh. Let's go. You need to be on stage in half an hour. Luke said you need to go warm up with them," she tells me as she gives me a kiss on the cheek. My stomach does flip flops just from that little peck, and energizes me to get out of bed. It's like she has some kind of spell over me. But I honestly don't mind. Call me whipped, but I like it.
---Kelly---
"We're 5 Seconds of Summer. Thank you and good night!" As soon as they leave the stage, Ben looks to me and smiles.
"You're really getting the hang of this! I could almost leave you to do it by yourself!" he says.
"Oh, no no no. Please don't. Not yet!" I'm not even close to being ready yet.
"I said almost. Relax Kelly!" he chuckles. "It's good to have you back though. Those two months I had to work extra hard to make them sound right. They were just... off... All of them. You're good for them. I hope you stick around for a long time, Kelly."
"Thank you. I hope so too!" I leave the sound mix and go backstage. As I'm almost to the guys dressing room, I see Harry round the corner. This feels an awful lot like deja vu and it has my heart racing until he walks past with his head down. Thank god. I stop outside the dressing room door to allow my pulse to return to normal before going inside. Every time I think about or try to take a step back with Ashton, someone does something, or something happens that pushes me closer to him. Fate is trying to tell me something and it's about time I start to listen.
"You guys sounded amazing out there!" I squeal as I walk in the dressing room finally.
"That's cause we had a kickass friend in the mix making us sound good!" Luke argues. I think about what Ben said and I smile.
"No, tonight was all you!" I say, getting a smile from all four guys.
"You looked really hot out there tonight," I whisper in Ash's ear as I walk past him, making him blush and his eyes widen, then I sit on the couch next to a very smelly Michael.
"EW! Go shower Mikey! Yuck!" He lifts his arm high in the air and leans his armpit towards my face, making me screech and jump off the couch. "NASTY!" I laugh with him. "Now go!" He laughs at me before getting off the couch for the showers. "AND NO CLIFFOCONDA SIGHTINGS EITHER MIKEY!" I yell as an afterthought, making everyone in the room laugh.
"DAMMIT! YOU'RE NO FUN TIGER!" he yells back, the shower starting immediately after. What am I going to do with these guys?!
"I'm going to shower in the bus so I don't smell like guy again. See you guys later!"
After a long hot shower, I put on a pair of sweatpants and a hoodie, then climb into the bed in the back room for some quiet time to myself before we have to leave for the next city, whatever that may be.
It's been a lot easier than I expected to get back in the same groove with the guys, but it's different this time. Mikey and I are closer than ever before, and things with Ashton are just, well, different. I really like how he's not pushing me, but not backing off either. He has the perfect balance to get things back to where they should be. The only thing stopping us is me. He really did look amazing up there tonight. He had this glow of happiness that you could almost visibly see. After what Ben said tonight, I'm starting to believe that we truly are meant to be. Sure, we'll have ups and downs, but I have no doubt that we can make it through whatever life throws at us. Look at what we've been through so far! More than most couples go through in years, and it's been... 9 months. Wow.
"Knock knock" Ashton interrupts my thoughts.
"Oh hey! Come on in. I pat the space next to me and he climbs up on the bed next to me.
"You seemed kind of out of it. You okay?" he asks.
"Yeah, just thinking."
"Mind me asking what about?" Tables have turned now.
"Us." I tell him.
"Oh. Look, Kel. I love you. I feel like absolute shit for what happened and I will never let myself be that stupid again. I can't ever go through that again. I will do whatever it takes to prove that to you, and to never let you go again."
"Ashton?" I interrupt.
"Yeah?"
"Shut up!" I lean over, putting my hand behind his head and bring our lips together. I could kiss him for hours, but I just wanted to prove a point right now, so I pull away much too soon.
"I love you Ashton. Nothing will ever change that. I'm done looking at what did or didn't happen. Let's just focus on getting us back to where we belong." And there's my favorite dimply smile in the world!
The bus door swings open and it sounds like a herd of wild elephants climbing on the bus. Ashton starts to leave and I ask him where he's going.
"I guess we're heading out. I'm sure Mikey's ready for bed."
"Well then he can take a bunk tonight. Do you want to watch a movie?" I throw down the covers for him to climb in with me and after he's propped up against the headboard and all settled, I lean my head against his chest and turn on the TV, opening up Netflix. Just as we decide on some movie we've never heard of, Mikey comes back to the room.
"Hey Tiger, I'm beat. Do you mind if I..." he stops and smiles when he sees Ashton and I "sleep in a bunk tonight? You snore and I need sleep!"
"I do NOT snore you punkass!" I laugh as I throw a pillow at him. He laughs and tosses it back, saying goodnight and shutting the door behind him. I curl up into Ashton's side a little more to get comfortable and start the movie. Being in Ashton's arms like this again feels so peaceful, so right, that I was asleep in minutes.
---Ashton---
I'm awakened to something tickling my cheeks. I open my eyes to see my favorite blue ones looking up at me. The tickling I felt is her running her fingertips along my cheekbones and this is the most beautiful sight I've seen in months.
"Good morning Ash."
"Mmmm good morning beautiful. How'd you sleep?" I ask.
"That was the absolute best sleep I've had in months! How about you?" I know I'm smiling some cheesy grin, but I've been waiting three days to hear that.
"First time I've slept the whole night through in months," I tell her honestly.
"Well good. I'm glad," she says, scooting up higher and wrapping her hand around my neck, pulling me in and gently connecting our lips together. Unlike the others, this kiss is soft, gentle, and full of passion. The kiss continues longer than usual and she tilts her head to the side, giving me access, and permission, to lower my lips to her neck, finding her sweet spot as she memorizes the feel of my shoulders and biceps. Her head falls backwards and to the other side as my lips taste every inch of her neck. She takes my wrists, guiding my hands to her bra-less breasts and she lightly moans when I knead them through her shirt. Oh god I've missed that sound! That sound alone gives me an erection that I know I can only get rid of in the shower. I move my lips slowly back up to hers before pulling away.
"God I love you so much Kel, but we need to stop before I'm not able to." She nods and squeezes me tight before releasing me from her grasp. I climb out of the bed and quickly make it into the hot shower without being seen and I resolve my discomfort with the replay in my head of what just occurred.