45" ▪︎ a.i.

40"

The day passed way too quickly for my liking. But that's how it always goes when you're dreading something. Still, Ashton made sure I didn't back out and literally dragged me to the car. I did put some effort into trying to stay at home, but he wouldn't have it. So now we're sitting in his car, on our way to my mom's house.

"I can go in there alone, you know?", he offered, shortly before we arrived at hers. 

"No, I don't want you two alone in one room.", I reply, while Ashton parks the car at the side of the road. 

"We're not staying for long, don't worry. I just want to talk to her.", he states, and we both get out of the car. I stop shortly before ringing the doorbell. Anxiously tapping my foot, I wait for my mother to open the door and prepare myself for the reaction she'll have. I feel Ashton's hand slipping into mine and squeeze it gently. The door opens and even though I had mentally prepared myself for it, it was nothing compared to the look of disgust and hatred on her face. 

"It's you. Thought I'd never see you again.", she said dismissively, and I already wanted to turn around and get back into the car. Why I agreed to this is beyond me. 

"Hello.", Ashton said politely, and I didn't know how he managed it. 

"Could we come in? I'm Ashton, Hazel's boyfriend and one fourth of the band she's working for, and I'd like to talk with you.", he continued, and I eyed my mother's reaction cautiously. I could tell she was taken aback by his politeness, and honestly, I was too. Shocked like she was, she just nodded her head and let us into the house. We walked inside and once again sat down in the kitchen. This time, my mother didn't bother to offer something to drink, and I would've denied anyway. I'm not staying longer than necessary for Ashton to say what he has to say.

Ashton's P.O.V.

I sat down next to Hazel, across from her mother, and felt her anxiously tapping her foot next to me. I knew she wanted to leave. Her mother looked at me expectantly. When she had opened the door, I immediately felt unwelcomed, and I couldn't understand how the person that took part in her upbringing could be so completely different from her.

"So, Ashton, what brings you here?", she asked, fake smile present in her face. 

"Your talk with Hazel actually. You know, the one where you told her, that I'd leave her as soon as I find someone better. I'll have you know Hazel is the best thing in this world that has happened to me. She's the most passionate, beautiful, dedicated, and hard-working woman I've had the pleasure of meeting. If anyone in this relationship can find someone better, it's her. We offered her the contract because she has proved her ability to take amazing pictures of the band and at our concerts. 

She worked hard to learn and get better at it, all while promoting the record store to get it more customers. She didn't use our name to get the store going again, no, she insisted we weren't seen there too often, so she could achieve it on her own. If you tell her again, that she's naïve, isn't working hard enough or not worthy of everything she's earned in her life, then trust me, we won't only have a nice chat next time. I'm not letting you talk to her this way. Not now, and not ever again. Now if you don't mind, the day started off pretty good, and I want to keep it this way.", I finished, and nudged Hazel to get up and leave, which she luckily did without questions. We left her mother sitting there in disbelief. 

I'm pretty sure no one has ever dared to talk to her like that, but she needed a reality check. I felt Hazel slip her hand into mine, while leading the way outside. As soon as I closed the door behind me, and turned around to her, she had wrapped her arms around me, hugging me tightly. 

"You okay?", I asked quietly, hugging her back just as tightly. 

"More than okay. You didn't have to do this.", she replied, and I couldn't help but chuckle. I knew I didn't have to. But I wanted to. She deserves to know what she's worth and that everything her mother said was just ridiculously wrong. I know she tends to believe things like that, especially when people close to her say them. But I couldn't have that this time. But instead of arguing with her back and forth, I just settled with: "Only told her the truth.".

I know Hazel didn't feel like going home yet, so she grabbed her camera, we stopped at a coffee shop, and I soon parked the car close to the spot we first met up when we went on that hike. The weather was perfect, no clouds at all and it promised a beautiful sunset. By the time we got to the top it was already late afternoon, and I laid out the blanket I had brought again. 

"Feels like a déjà-vu right?", she asked, and I quickly agreed. It felt like that first time we met up all over again, even though so much has changed. We both sat down on the blanket and looked out at the city below us. 

"You know what's better than last time?", I asked, and turned to look over at her. 

"No what?", she replied innocently, but I noticed the smirk she had on her face, and I knew she thought about the exact same thing. I leaned over, my breath fanning her lips, and whispered: "I can do this.", before kissing her. She immediately kissed back, and I felt her smile against my lips, in return making me smile as well. I pulled away, and she rested her head on my shoulder. 

"I remember the last time, when I took that video of you and sat down next to you, I accidentally brushed your shoulder and was so nervous about it.", she recalls, and I couldn't help but smile at the memory. I had noticed that too and was disappointed when she had created a bit more space between us. 

"I knew you were, but I didn't mind at all, I just didn't want to rush into things, so I didn't initiate anything.", I explained, earning a chuckle from her. 

"We could've really sped up the process, couldn't we? All of the boys and Sav knew we'd end up together. Luke always told me from the start. Every time he wanted to talk; we would talk about you." 

"You did?", I asked, surprised, because I hadn't expected this. I didn't know what they were talking about, but I figured it was something music related even though, looking back, it wouldn't have made sense for Luke to do it in private. 

"Yeah, I remember one time he told me jokingly, that I'd have to sleep next to you for the rest of my life just so you can sleep better, and without even thinking about it, I told him that I wouldn't mind that. He was great about it though. I was all embarrassed and he just told me, that it was alright, and he had known anyway since that day we walked into the restaurant together.", she explained further, and I was impressed by my best friend. 

"How he knew that is beyond me. I mean I knew I liked you from the start, but I couldn't have predicted that we would end up like this. I'm glad though. With the way it went. I wouldn't have it any other way." 

"Me neither.", she replied, and we both stared out at the sun, that eventually started setting, providing us with the most beautiful sunset I've seen in a while.

A.N.: AHH THANK YOU FOR 1K READS!! xx