Tangled Strings (sequel to Red Strings)

Chapter 44

The hour and a half goes by quickly and before we know it Natalie's phone is buzzing with a text from Calum.  We grab our sign that we had constructed out of a construction paper from convenience store, along with a box highlighters and head toward the gate.  

We first spot Ashton and Sylvana holding hands, I chuckle watching Ashton holding his carry on and Vana's leopard print suitcase. I wave frantically at then until they notice us. Ashton points at our sign and starts to laugh "Welcome back losers? Really?" Ashton giggles shaking his head. "Natalie came up with it!" I say pointing at her "Me!?" she says offended then she shrieks dropping her end of the sign. "Calum!" Natalie runs towards him and he picks her up whispering something. 

Suddenly my stomach twists Luke and Michael come out next, I bite my lip Luke looks even taller and Michael hair is now blue. Luke looks at me and our eyes lock as he walks towards me, a guitar strapped to his back. 

"Hey," he grins "Hey…" I see his eyes scan the sign and I chew the inside of my cheek and Luke leans in close giving me hug. "Nice sign." he tells me I giggle. "Thanks we worked really hard on it." "The family's back together!" Ashton grins clapping his hands together.

"We are one fucked up family!" Michael jokes and I smile. "The man speaks the truth!" Calum agrees. "You guys must be exhausted." I tell them remembering the huge time difference. "Yeah, I can't wait to sleep in my own bed." Michael says.

"Oh my god!" Ashton shouts. "What?" I say. "Babe, you haven't met my family yet!" Ashton says to Sylvana.  We all look at Sylvana, her eyes are comedically wide. "I-I completely forgot" I cough trying to defuse some of the tension.  

"Ash, they can't meet me like this, I look awful" "Vana, you look perfect!" She gives him a look and he sighs "Sylvana you can stay with us until tonight…" Natalie volunteers. "Wait what's tonight?" Calum asks.

"We are going out!" I announce. "Is that so?" Luke smirk. I look at Natalie "Karaoke!" we say in sync. Michael starts laughing, "Seriously?" "Yes, my friend Emma is having a party and she invited us and we're going so she doesn't think I just made you guys up."  

Vana, Nat, and I all stay at my house. "Do you guys want a milkshake?" I ask them Natalie nods and I smile walking into the kitchen and pulling out the ice cream. "So whats been going on since we left?" Natalie asks Sylvana as she enters the kitchen. 

"Honestly, not much." she tells us as I pull out my blender. "The boys have been crazy busy with the new single publicity." "I'm obsessed with the song!" I tell them and they hum in agreement. I scoop the ice cream into the blender and pour in some milk.

"So lets talk about why you didn't want to go to Ashton's…" Natalie smiles "You guys have facetimed with his family before right?" Sylvana blushes "I mean yes, but it's different!" "How?" "I don't know, I just know how important his family is to him and I really want them to like me." Sylvana says.  

I turn the blender on filling the silence. "They're going to love you just as much as Ashton does, trust me!" Natalie assures her. "I'm scared." Sylvana whispers. We both 'aw' and she smiles.

"Fuck you guys!" she shouts, smiling. "We love you, it'll be fine trust me!" I tell her handing her a milkshake. "Now go get some sleep, big night tonight!" "Alright, alright thanks for this." she tells me. "Anytime!" I wave. 

We get to Emma's place around 8:30 the place was already filled with people, some I recognized as local singers and others are actors. "Woah." Calum says looking around. "I know." I sigh looking around we can hear someones rendition of a Last Friday Night by Katy Perry. 

"Skyler!" I hear Emma shout coming towards me with her arms open she's wearing a pair of high waisted jeans and a plaid shirt that's cut off at the bottom. "It's so good to see you!" she says. "You too, Emma these are the friends that are totally real." Everyone's looking at Emma in disbelief "you and Natalie look so similar!" Luke says and Emma smiles.