:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟgoodbyes *:･ﾟ✧*:･
ashton sadly packed his bag, his frown unable to unplaster itself from his face.
he wasnt the only one sad to leave, though. so was the rest of his family. his dad sadly checking he had all his documents, and his mum dressing lauren and harry, with no smile visable.
most people would be a little disappointed to leave, but they would mostly be relieved, even if they wouldn't admit it.
they'd be back in the comfort of their own home, with peace and tranquility and wifi everywhere you go.
but it was more than obvious that the family wasn't feeling that kind of sadness.
it was more of a "having-to-say-goodbye" sadness, and not to the hotel.
but to the hemmings'.
anne had developed such a friendship with liz, and so had ashton's dad with andrew. (harry and lauren were little, so they weren't as sad to leave.)
and of course.
ashton realised his feelings for luke.
but it was much too late when he did, because now there was no point on telling him. they were all leaving, and ashton would never see luke again.
even if ashton got luke's phone number or something, it just wouldn't be the same.
so ashton was going to make the most of this short time he had with luke as they went to the airport.
he wasn't going to confess or anything. he was just going to admire luke more than he normally does.
that way when he goes back home, he'll have the perfect image of the blonde to never forget.
"well. are we ready?" ashton's dad asked, voice prominent with sadness.
the family nodded slowly.
ashton watched as his dad unlocked the door, and waited for the family to go out first.
anne rose up from the bed, collecting her bags, and holding harry and lauren's hands as she walked out of the room.
ashton followed, and he couldn't help but look back. he scanned the whole room, and then his eyes landed on the balcony.
he never did get to relax on the balcony.
that's because he met luke.
ashton sighed and shook his head. he felt a pat on the back and was met with his father's brown eyes.
he sent ashton a weak smile and ashton sent one back, before fully heading out of the door.
the family were soon at the lobby, and they waited on the couches as ashton's dad checked them out.
the hemmings' family still hadn't arrived down to the lobby, so ashton tried to zone out for a little by playing some music.
after a while, something caught ashton's eye. he glanced up and saw his mum waving. his eyes followed the direction it was pointed to and he perked up when seeing luke's family walk towards them.
his smile formed without his consent as he spotted the tall blonde, but it soon dropped.
luke was obviously trying to avoid eye contact with ashton, looking down at the floor and around him. he didn't even look a little happy.
and not that ashton's egotistical, but luke always smiled when he saw ashton. always.
but luke didn't even send a small wave, or a weak grin. he just kept his head down and stayed close to his mum.
the hazel boy frowned and slouched back in his seat, watching his mum get up to greet liz, a little sadder than usual.
his eyes would flicker back to luke every once and a while, and luke would always be looking to the floor.
what was up with him? ashton thought.
however, luke knew perfectly well what he was doing.
he didn't want to ignore ashton, or not smile or wave, but he couldn't help it.
he felt so stupid the other night for not telling ashton how he felt and now it was too late. there was no point now.
he tried telling ashton how he felt several times, even trying to kiss him, but something always went wrong.
it was obvious the universe didn't want luke to make a move.
and so luke didn't.
he didn't smile when seeing ashton's gorgeous face.
he didn't make eye contact with ashton's shimmering hazel eyes.
he didn't do anything.
he just kept it to himself.
"luke?"
luke looked up, and saw his mum sending him a knowing look.
"why don't you go and sit by ashton, huh honey?"
luke bit his lip, and looked over at ashton's couch. he gave the snallest nod, muttering an; "o-ok."
he made his way towards ashton, hands shaking. he was such a nervoust wreck for no reason. he wanted to slap himself for it.
when luke was stood beside ashton, the brunette glanced up from his eyelashes and secretly watched luke plop next to him.
there was silence for a while, luke not wanting to talk, and ashton waiting for luke to talk first.
but after what felt like years, ashton finally spoke up.
"h-hey."
luke kept his gaze down.
"h-hi."
ashton bit his lip.
"are you sad?"
"about what?"
"about leaving."
no, im sad because i want to kiss you so badly, but i cant bring myself to do it without feeling like a complete idiot.
"i guess you could say that."
ashton went to speak again, but the two teenager's dads came up to the family.
"well. it's time to go."
everyone frowned, and ashton eyed luke sadly, as he swung his bag onto his shoulder.
"hey, dad?"
ashton's dad turned to face his son, giving him a face to tell him to continue.
"are we all going to the same airport?"
"yes, why?"
ashton looked down to play with his fingers, nervously.
"i kind of wanted to ride with luke there." ashton spoke, barely above a whisper.
the dad couldn't help but smile at ashton with a fond face. he walked up to him, and ruffled his hair.
"of course you can. i'll tell liz."
and with that ashton's dad walked off, leaving a slightly blushy ashton.
as soon as liz heard the "news", she looked over at ashton with such a loving look.
it was so obvious the luke and ashton liked each other, how had they not told each other yet?
the families' taxis soon arrived and ashton casually walked towards the hemmings' one.
"um. why are you here?" luke asked, rather harshly. ashton immediately frowned, and got slightly intimated by luke's strict voice.
"i -- my dad told me to ride with you." he lied, and ashton swore he saw luke grimace. the blonde left ashton alone, and the brunette just felt a little emptier.
*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ *:･ﾟ✧*:･
the car ride was torture.
the driver, and luke's parents were sat at the front ( there were three seats at the front ), leaving the two teens alone at the back.
now, if the two were like they normally were, this would be the best.
the two would giggle, and joke around. maybe even some cuddiling, who knows?
but, instead. the car ride was full of silence. luke looking out of the window, and ashton looking down at his jeans.
he couldn't stop thinking about why luke was mad at him before.
did he do something wrong?
did he forget to brush his teeth?
oh my god, his hair. he didn't tame it.
ashton immediately shuffled to face the window, and frantically tried fixing his mop of curls on his head.
the blonde just stared at him with the most blank expression.
"could you not?"
ashton's eyes widened, and he turned to face the angered blonde. luke had turned back again, and so ashton only caught a glimpse of his back.
"s-sorry." he muttered, but luke didn't care. well, that's what ashton thought.
*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ *:･ﾟ✧*:･
"what?!"
ashton's dad was stood at the check in, luke's dad stood next to him.
"i'm sorry sir, but there was a slight mix up with the names, and so you two have different flights." the woman at the check in desk spoke, trying her best to keep a smile.
today just wasn't ashton's day, was it?
"but we booked the same flight together." ashton's dad huffed out, pointing towards andrew, with a slight attitude.
the woman at the desk pretended to type something up, but it was obvious that she was just trying to ignore the raging man standing in front of her.
"honey." anne spoke sweetly and quietly, setting her hand on her husband's shoulder.
ashton's dad calmed down, and let out a sigh with closed eyes.
"alright. can we just -- check in." he spoke, and the lady nodded with some amount of sass.
ashton saw his dad turn to them, with a slightly disappointed look.
"turns out we have different flights. ours is an hour before andrew's." he explained, and ashton bit the inside of his cheek.
his eyes landed to the blonde stood beside him, but luke wasn't at all looking back. he was looking beside him, pretending to be interested in the people walking.
the brunette let out a loud sigh.
hopefully this day will get at least a little better.
*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ *:･ﾟ✧*:･
the two families had been waiting for their flight for a while.
liz and anne talking their last talk, the two dads talking their last talk of soccer, and lauren and harry playing on their parents' phone.
the only people silent were luke and ashton.
luke was on his phone, headphones on, and ashton secretly sparing glances at him, not really having anything to do.
he didn't want to waste his battery for the plane journey.
but all (not really) good things must come to an end. and ashton's dad spoke up.
"looks like it's time for us to embark."
ashton frowned. he looked over at luke for the last time, and saw as he slowly took off his headphones.
but still not looking at ashton.
liz and anne hugged each other tightly, and ashton's dad and andrew gave their last hand shake.
harry and lauren ran up to luke, pulling on his shirt, and the blonde couldn't help the smile that was forming.
ashton also couldn't help the smile from forming.
he got to see luke smile before he left.
a smile that wasn't because of him.
ashton's small voice in his head ruined the "moment", and the brunette had to bit his lip to try and hold back the tears.
the way he was going to remember luke was; the blonde being angry at him.
the hazel eyed boy didn't even dare to say goodbye to luke. it's not like luke cared. he hated ashton anyways.
for some reason, that wasn't explained to ashton.
he stood beside his mum, mumbling small goodbyes to liz and andrew.
"did you say your last goodbye to luke?" anne asked, and ashton had to take in a deep breath, to try and keep his tears from dripping.
but it was too late, and anne sent a soft smile to ashton, hugging him tightly.
"i'm so sorry, honey." anne caressed ashton's hair, the boy still sobbing into his mums shirt.
luke watched everything, trying to keep his tears contained, bringing his sleeve up to wipe them away whenever one did fall.
look, luke. ashton's crying because of you.
luke's conscience began putting ideas into luke's head.
if you had just told him instead of being a coward, this wouldn't be happening.
luke looked down at his lap. drops of water fell, and it took him a while to realise they were tears.
luke, don't believe that.
luke looked up once again.
this voice sounded different. it sounded more pure, much sweeter than the other.
the reason this is happening is becuase you thought all of those bad things.
luke's eyes widened. that was the reason.
if luke hadn't taken out his anger on ashton, this wouldn't be happening. they could have joked around for the last time.
hugged for the last time. but luke treated ashton like shit, and he didn't even say a small "bye" to him.
his blue eyes watched as the irwin family all stood side by side, sending the last of their waves towards his family.
lauren and harry were waving big and bold, and luke let out a choked laugh from inbetween his quiet sobs.
but then, ashton made eye contact with him. the two stared at each other for a while, luke sending him a placid expression, and ashton sobbed out once more, and looked back down.
luke slouched in his seat, but his eyes still followed ashton.
he started walking away with his family. every step taken, was closer to luke never seeing him ever again.
one step closer.
two steps closer.
three steps closer.
luke saw no hope.
he had fucked up everything, and that was final.
no it wasn't.
luke perked up.
you could say your goodbye if you just ran to him. catch up with him and fix everything.
say the goodbye you wanted to do ever since the beginning.
and before luke could stop himself, he ran towards ashton, getting faster as he got closer to short brunette.
ashton stood up straight as he heard the loud footsteps against the marble floor.
he slowly turned around, and it took him by surprise when someone wrapped their arms around him, and hugged him tightly.
ashton looked around awkwardly, before he looked back down, noticing the blonde hair.
luke.
so he didn't hate you.
ashton smiled so big, his arms holding luke closer, luke's nose tickling his neck, and neither of them wanted to let go.
luke felt so happy. he got to hug ashton one last time, and ashton hugged him back, the two bringing each other as close as they could.
luke's eyes were clenched shut, small tears escaping, and all his thoughts scrambled together in his brain.
and in fact, one thought slipped out of the blonde's mouth before he could stop it.
"im so in love with you."
the two boys' eyes widened.
i did not just say that. luke thought.
i wasn't imagining that, right? ashton thought.
luke rapidly let go of ashton, and stared at him with pink cheeks and an agape mouth.
"ash. i - uh - it slipped. i didn't mean it. i mean i did mean it, but not at the moment. wait, i did, but i didn't want to tell you because you probably hate me, and you'll never see me again and -"
ashton watched as the blonde rambled on, a fond smile appearing on the shorter boy's tanned face.
his eyes landed on luke's lips, and he couldn't help the smirk that landed.
the blonde was still too worked up on trying to get his point across that he didn't realise ashton bringing his hand up to his cheek, and slowly bringing him closer.
luke's words kept escaping his mouth, but as soon as ashton's soft lips gently placed themselves on luke's, the blonde shut up.
his bold blue eyes eyed ashton's close face, noticing his closed eyes, and how softly he moved his lips on his.
before luke could at least kiss back, ashton let go, and bit his lip as he searched luke's face.
"im in love with you too." he whispered, leaving luke speechless.
the brunette turned to walk away, sending one last wave, and the irwin family were soon out of sight.
the blonde stayed frozen in place, his shocked expression still visable on his face.
liz and andrew sent each other small smirks, making their way to their son.
"you have no clue how long we have waited for that to happen." liz told her son, and luke flushed red.
*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ *:･ﾟ✧*:･
the flight back home for the two teenagers wasn't as bad as they thought.
mainly because their worry about never seeing each other again was painted over by their kiss.
however, who knows?
maybe fate will bring them back together.
*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ *:･ﾟ✧*:･
the ending was so cheesy but yeah
also, idk if its too quick for them to "be in love" but i liked it more than just a "i love you"
one more chapter and then its the endzzz :-(((
- ria