It had been about a month since Ashton and Luke had argued on the soccer field. They were both careful to avoid running into each other both knowing neither one would be strong enough to resist the other. When it came to splitting their time with their friends it wasn't easy. Ashton didn't go to the soccer field during lunch and Luke wouldn't go to any of the soccer practices. Calum and Michael always went to both. As far as outside of school went it was more of a first come first serve basis. Calum and Michael fought to keep the time split equally. If there was a group outing either Ashton or Luke would sit it out. Louis, Harry and Niall didn't seem to notice. Calum and Michael tried not to complain because they both knew how important it was for Ashton and Luke to stay separated.
"So what do you say Luke, will you come to the game?" Louis asked a hopeful look in his eyes.
"Ummm..." Before Luke could answer Harry piped in.
"Will your family be there Lou?"
"No, mom and dad have to work and the girls are staying with friends tonight." Louis answered a disappointed look on his face.
Luke bit his lip ring. He recalled the time Ashton told him about how hard it was for Louis that his family never had time to come to his games.
"So, you gonna come Luke?" Louis asked again.
"Y-yeah, definitely. I wanna see how all my hard work paid off." Luke winked putting on a fake smile. If he knew anything about Ashton it was that he wouldn't miss Louis' first game but he couldn't bring himself to say no to Louis. Especially after seeing the happy smile on his face when Luke agreed.
"Ash is gonna be there." Calum said in a whisper leaning over to Luke.
"I can't just not go. This means a lot to Louis. I don't have to talk to him." Luke whispered back.
Ashton made his way to the bleachers. He always liked to be one of the first ones there so he had his choice of seat. Which he preferred closer to the front. He walked towards the seating area stopping short.
There on the first row where Ashton usually sat was Luke. He hadn't really seen Luke in almost a month. He managed to avoid the blonde easy enough. But here he was looking as hot as ever. He had a bit of stubble on his chin from not shaving for a few days. He wore his usual black skinny jeans and a white t shirt with a black leather jacket. His hair in it's usual quiff. He was gnawing on his lip ring while reading from one of his school books.
Ashton took a deep breath not sure if he should say anything. He had managed to avoid this situation for almost a month, yet here he was. Ashton had missed Luke badly, but he didn't realize how bad until he saw Luke sitting in front of him.
Luke closed his book putting it in his bag before looking up and being met with hazel green eyes.
"A-Ashton." Luke stuttered. How long had he been there?
"Hi, Luke." Ashton breathed out. If he wanted to turn back it was too late now.
"W-what are you doing here?" This time it was Ashton's turn to stutter.
"Lou's game." Luke answered quietly not looking away from Ashton's eyes.
"Right, of course. His first game." Ashton nodded. He shouldn't have been surprised Luke was here to watch Louis' game but at the same time he sort of was.
"Louis asked me to be here." Luke explained.
"I know it means a lot that you're here. Thanks for agreeing." Ashton gave a small smile.
Luke nodded and averted his gaze.
"I-I want to apologize, for the last time we talked. I was out of line." Ashton sighed.
Luke looked up meeting Ashton's eyes again but said nothing.
"I'm sorry. I'm also sorry for all the dumb things I said. You know I didn't mean any of them. I was just upset. I know it doesn't excuse it and I should have apologized sooner." Ashton kept his eyes focused on Luke's.
"I'm sorry too." Luke said biting his lip.
"C-can I...Can I sit?"Ashton hesitated.
"Ash..." Luke sighed. Ashton had missed hearing Luke call him Ash.
"Please, just for a minute." Ashton looked at Luke with pleading eyes.
Luke nodded sliding over a bit to make room for Ashton on the end.
"I've missed you." Ashton said in a whisper. Luke closed his eyes tightly.
"Ashton...please." Luke begged in a quiet voice.
"I know, but it's true. I've hated being away from you." Ashton knew he shouldn't be saying these things but he couldn't help it.
"I've missed you too." Luke sighed not looking at Ashton.
Ashton felt a small smile pull at his lips.
The two of them sat in silence for a few minutes. Luke was chewing on his lip nervously.
"Ash, I-" Luke stopped himself he didn't know how to say what he wanted to say.
"You what?" Ashton urged.
"I wish things had played out differently for you and I." Luke said finally.
"I wish you and I were together...but I guess that's the story of another us." Luke sighed.
"We could be." Ashton said his voice barely audible.
"Ashton, we have long term plans with short term fixes that's not going to help us. You aren't comfortable coming out yet and I can't push that on you, but I also can't wait for something that may never happen." Luke shook his head.
"There's not a life I want to live without you in it." Ashton frowned.
"Can't we at least be friends again?" Ashton asked feeling a sinking feeling in his stomach.
"We tried that already." Luke shook his head again.
"But I-" Ashton stopped himself. He couldn't make the words form in his mouth. He didn't know what to say. He couldn't lose Luke forever.
"I can't avoid you forever." Ashton fought to keep his composure.
"Just for now." Luke shrugged.
"We have two more years of school. After that we never have to worry about seeing each other again." Luke swallowed hard. It wasn't easy to say these things.
"I can't avoid you for two years Luke and I don't want to never see you again, besides my best friend and your best friend are dating. We can't keep doing this." Ashton shook his head vigorously.
"Then what do you suppose we do?" Luke huffed.
"Be with me." Ashton said suddenly.
"Ashton." Luke groaned.
"Please, give us a chance. Once we think this is going to work I'll consider telling my mom. Please just at least give us a chance to make sure this is what we want. We don't have to tell anybody or we can tell Mikey and Cal. Please." Ashton felt his pulse race as he waited for Luke's answer.
"Ashton, I don't know about this." Luke bit his lip ring.
"Listen to me, Luke, I really care about you, a lot. I don't want to because it hurts so damn much, but I do. Please, at least say you'll think about it." Ashton held his breath.
"Fine, I'll think about it. But don't hound me, I'll let you know what I decide on my own time." Luke agreed finally.
Ashton felt a smile spread across his lips for the first time in almost a month. Luke couldn't help but smile back.
Michael and Calum walked hand in hand towards the soccer field.
"I text Luke asking where he was but I never heard from him." Michael said frowning down at his phone.
"Same here with Ashton." Calum said.
"You don't think they're both gonna bail do you?" Michael asked worriedly. He'd feel bad for Louis if they did that.
"I hope not. I couldn't imagine Ashton not showing up. It's Louis' first game and he's never missed a game of Louis'." Calum shook his head.
"I hope not either." Michael agreed.
"I don't think Luke would not show up after saying he would but I also know how much he doesn't want to see Ashton."
Calum sighed.
"I wish we could get them together. I didn't think breaking Luke and Liam up would cause them not to talk. If we're not careful Luke is gonna be dating Zayn next."
"That would not go over well with Ashton." Michael shook his head.
"Oh no." Calum groaned as he spotted Luke and Ashton together on the bleachers.
"Well we know why they didn't answer us." Michael responded once he realized what Calum was groaning at.
"Hi, Luke. Ashton." Michael smirked crossing his arms as they approached the two of them.
"Uhh, hey." Luke bit his lip.
"Hey guys." Ashton smiled cheerfully.
"What are you two up to?" Michael asked raising a brow.
"Just talking." Luke shrugged. He looked guilty.
"That's new." Calum narrowed his eyes at the couple on the bleachers.
"We both showed up a little early so we talked for a bit." Ashton answered simply.
"I see." Calum didn't look happy in fact he was almost glaring at Ashton.
"Hemmings, babe, there you are." Zayn walked over climbing up the bleachers.
"H-hey Zayn." Luke stuttered nervously.
Ashton's cheerful mood turned to one of dismay.
"I figured you'd be here." Zayn took a seat next to Luke.
"Were you looking for me?" Luke asked seeming almost disinterested.
"Of course, I wanted to see if you were busy tomorrow night." Zayn gave a large grin.
"I thought you and Liam were back together?" Luke questioned.
"Did Liam tell you that? He wants to get back together but I told him I still had my eye on you." Zayn gave Luke a wink.
Ashton sat stiff as a board and very uncomfortable.
"Zayn, I told you I'm not looking to date anyone for a while." Luke sighed.
"You and Liam broke up a month and a half ago." Zayn pouted causing Ashton to roll his eyes.
"I know but..." Luke sighed.
"I just...I'm holding out for a bit longer." Luke answered hoping Zayn would leave.
"For who?" Zayn asked.
"Why do you assume it's for somebody?" Luke frowned looking at Zayn.
Zayn gave Luke a large smile.
"Because I think you're craving some spaghetti but you're too afraid to heat up the stove."
"Ugh, not this again." Luke groaned.
"Craving spaghetti?" Calum frowned.
"Heat up the stove?" Michael frowned as well.
"Zayn's just being stupid." Luke huffed.
"Can I talk to you for a second?" Luke asked standing up. He grabbed Zayn by the shirt collar and drug him away from the others.
"It might take more than a second but we can definitely 'talk'." Zayn snickered following Luke.
Ashton clenched his fists.
"Zayn, you have to stop with the whole spaghetti thing. Ashton is not gay." Luke snapped in a low voice just in case others heard.
"But you totally have a thing for Ashton." Zayn smirked.
"No, I don't." Luke shook his head.
"Yes you do. And I think if you pushed the issue a bit Ashton would realize he likes you too." Zayn shrugged.
"Look, you can think what you want but please just leave it alone." Luke begged.
"Let me take you on one date. If you do that for me then I'll leave you alone." Zayn smiled.
Luke rolled his eyes and glanced back at Michael, Calum, and Ashton.
"Fine, one date. Tomorrow night pick me up at 7." Luke sighed in annoyance.
"Perfect." Zayn grinned.
"I'll see you then Handsome." Zayn placed a kiss on Luke's cheek.
Luke rolled his eyes before turning back to the guys.
"Well....?" Michael raised a brow at an annoyed looking Luke.
"I have a date tomorrow night with Zayn." Luke grumbled.
"You what?" Ashton asked loudly.
"He said he'd leave me alone about you being gay if I agreed to go on one date with him." Luke explained to an angry and jealous Ashton.
"This is why I need to get you tied down." Ashton huffed more to himself.
"Wait, what?" Calum looked at Ashton with a frown.
"Luke agreed he'd consider dating me." Ashton explained.
"Really?" Michael asked looking at Luke in surprise.
Luke only nodded. He looked tired.
"Are you planning on coming out?" Calum asked Ashton.
"No...not right now. I want to get used to the idea first." Ashton answered ashamed.
"And you're okay with that?" Michael asked Luke.
"I don't know yet. I said I'd think about it." Luke shrugged.
Michael and Calum exchanged unsure glances but neither said a word. They just hoped Luke and Ashton knew what they were doing.
*AN*
Sorry I didn't update last night, I wasn't feeling well. But here you go, let me know what you guys think!!