the next few weeks pass by in almost a blur. michael won't speak to me, luke has texted me here and there, but we never really continue the conversation. mostly awkward hello's and how are you's. i kinda look back and laugh at how i thought he was flirting with me in the car that night. of course he wasn't. he doesn't even know me. why would he flirt with me anyway? of all people? i'm nothing special, really. i'm a boy who likes to stay home in his empty house with minimal furniture and sleep almost all day; basically 24/7. that's not attractive, that's just boring; dull. 

but, in all of that time i've had with my thoughts, i've decided to go and get a job. i am ninteen, anyway. i should have a steady job by now. i work at a record store; 11am to 6pm is my shift. it pays alright. i'm saving to buy some actual furniture and maybe even a t.v. just something.

but, right now, is my day off, aka wednesday, the only day of the week i don't work, besides the weekends. and may i just say that i am bored out of my mind. i have no friends; calum and charlie are at school, michael is just being idiotic and not speaking to me, and when i'm around luke i blush and stutter like a jackass.

so, i'm alone. i sit on my living room floor. alone. just listening to the light dropping of the rain outside. it's nice, the rain. it's very calming. i can sorta see why luke loves it so much. i just don't understand why he sits in it. honestly, the only reason i don't ask him about it, is because i'm scared. i feel like that's too personal and i barely know the guy. we've been texting a little, less than i prefer, but it's whatever. a boy as good looking and kind as him wouldn't like the real me anyway.

+

luke's pov.

"text me, you bastard, fucking text me." i mumble to my phone, just praying for it to light up and it be that one curly haired boy i can't seem to get out of my head; ashton. i really miss him. i hate how i have to go into my dreams to feel his loving embrace and hear his voice mutter sweet nothings into my ears.

after all, i used to have the real thing.

i groan, closing my eyes and laying myself back onto my bed, rubbing my eyes. he's not gonna text. why would he? he doesn't remember me. he just thinks of me as some odd boy who only goes outside when it rains and doesn't talk much.

i just miss him.

i just want my old ashton back.

+

ashton's pov. 

"okay, just stack these over on that shelf and once you're done with that, you can work on organizing the oldies to the newest."

"alright." i say, putting on a smile but on the inside i'm punching my manager in the face. he always has me do so much and it's just so tiring and i barely get enough sleep as it is and just- fuck.

my smile immediately turns to a frown and an eye roll soon follows when he leaves back to his office in the back of the store. he stays in there all day just watching day time t.v. and eating pizza, it's nauseating.

i carry the huge pile of old records to the nearest shelf and start stacking them accordingly. i hum the store music that is playing, but sigh when i hear it stop. stupid radio is always glitching and if i don't fix it, no one will.

i stick a couple of more records on the shelf before making my way to the radio at the front of the store. i stop dead in my tracks, a smile slowly creeps up onto my face as i see that the radio didn't glitch, or break, it was turned off by one special person. luke hemmings.

"hi." i say, so afraid i'll stutter and embarrass myself that i don't say anything else. he smiles at me, his smile is so beautiful, i just love it a little too much. he's wearing almost the exact thing he was when he picked me and michael up from the gas station a few weeks ago, but his hair is in a fringe and is very damp. he looks so flustered and cute i might explode.

"hi, ash." he squeaks. yes, squeaks. his voice actually cracks a little and i just find it all that more adorable. he's not nervous, though, is he? why would he be nervous around me? i mean, i'm....me. nothing special, like i said befire.

"did you...need to buy a record?" i chuckle, making my way to the back of the casg register and sitting on the stool. he smiles at me once again, shrugging.

"a look around wouldn't hurt." he says, and morions for me to follow him. i gulp, trying to even out my breathing and not lose it here and now. i follow him to wherever it is he's leading himself to. he seems confused, but i don't ask him about it. he goes up to the most cliché rack anyone could approach. the beatles.

"you like the beatles? really?" i ask, chuckling as he grabs their famous abbey road album, shrugging soon after.

"a little. they're...cool?"

"you don't seem to sure about that." i can't help but let out a laugh as he seems to know nothing about the band. he sighs, but a smile still creeps on his face.

"i'm not, i know nothing about them, honestly. i just thought that'd impress you." he says, so quickly i can barely make it out. he wants to impress me?

"god, you're so cute." i mumble under my breath. but panic when he snaps his head towards me and smiles. god, i love his smile.

"did you just call me cute?" he chuckles and i swear i see a blush creeping onto his cheeks. oh god, his laugh. i'm never gonna get that out of my head.

"um, pssht, no. definitely not. i didn't say that."

great. good one, ashton. you're sooo good at this.

"you're a really bad liar," he says, "but it's okay."

i love but hate the fact tbat i blush at that. hell, looking at this boy alone can make me blush. i don't know what it is, his looks, his personality, or just him all together, but i just adore him. a lot.

"so," i say after a couple of awkward glances, "what's the reason you came here then?"

without hesitation, he says, "you."

"me?"

"yeah, you. i wanted to, uh, see you. is that weird? oh, that's really weird. i'm sorry." i may be wrong, but he looks so flustered and embarrassed, i can't help but smile. luke is flustered because of me. i guess he doesn't know how much his cute laugh, or his amazing smile, or his gorgeous blue eyes, effect me.

"luke, it's not weird. you wanna come over later? i get lonely, it'd be nice to have someone over."

his face lights up and i gotta admit, he looks adorable. his smile is so big and his eyes are so beautiful and bright and he just looks completely and utterly adorable. i've never seen him like this, not that i'm complaining. he puts the record back on the shelf and pulls me by my wrist to the front of the store. oh my god, he's holding my wrist.

"i'll see you later?" he asks, sadly, letting go of my wrist. i nod, mindlessly messing with my hair. "um, yeah. i'll see you later."

+

"he's coming over?!"

"yeah, so you need to leave!"

"oh, c'mon, ash! it can be a sleep over!"

"no, charlie, bye."

"pushy." she grumbles, and i don't even bother replying before pushing her out the door and slamming it shut. i sigh, relieved that she's gone. my house is a mess and he could be over any minute now. i wipe some sweat off my brow and rush over to the living room, picking up any clothes, trash, or just anything that doesn't belong on the floor and putting it where it belongs. then u get to thinking; what are we even gonna do? i have no t.v, wifi, nada. what the hell, when did i get so boring?

i rub my eyes, which are starting to burn from being awake since 9am. i usually wake up at noon, but i've been having to wake up earlier due to my hours. it sucks, but at the same time i know i'm earning money. which is nice. basically, it's the only thing that encourages me to get out of bed.

my thoughts are interrupted when i hear a knock at my door. i actually shoot up to my feet, quickly walking to the door while messing with my hair, mindlessly. i look through the peep hole and see luke standing there on my front porch step just mindlessly looking all perfect and such. fuck- he looks really good.

i shake my head, trying to get rid of my inappropriate thoughts seem to be drifting into my mind, and open the door. luke's face immediately lights up and mine does aswell when i see him wearing a onsie. and i thought he couldn't get anymore adorable.

"hi." he says, sending me a small smile, but his blue eyes are still filled with excitement.

"hi." i reply, then motioning him to enter. he rocks back and forth on the heels of his feet for a couple seconds and sends me a shy smile, before entering my house.

this is going to be a long night. not that i'm complaining.

+

a/n; hiii guys. i just wanted to say sorry for the slow updates! i recently started my junior year (11th grade) of high school and it's going to take a little bit more time for me to update, but i'll try to get a chapter up at least once or twice a week. thanks for understanding! love you. xx.

- haley michele. ♡

p.s; i did not proof read. sorry for any mistakes! x.