All The Crossed Wires

Great Escape

I’m going to pack my things and go

Travel the world before I’m old

I’ll send you photos in the post

To capture the moments I love the most

This is my great escape

Chapter 22 – Great Escape

“CENTRAL COAST BABY!” Calum screamed as they passed the sign that read ‘Welcome to Central Coast’.

Ashton pulled into the car park of their bed and breakfast hotel that they were staying in for the night. The four of them got out the car and grabbed their suitcases and headed inside the quaint bed and breakfast.

“We have two rooms booked under Irwin,” Ashton said to the small old man behind the desk.

The old man nodded and put a pair of thick burgundy glasses on the very end of his nose then started to type into an ancient computer. After ten minutes of silence he nodded and grabbed two of the keys from under the desk.

“Follow me,” he waved, his voice was worn and he walked with a slight hunchback.

“Do you need me to get your bags?” he asked.

“No its fine,” Gray said quickly, he didn’t look like he could pick up a butterfly let alone her suitcase that may as well have rocks in.

He kept his head down as he walked them to the room.

“Next door to each other,” he gingerly placed the keys in Ashton’s hands. “Have a lovely stay and if you need anything then don’t hesitate to shout.”

“Thank you,” Ashton said politely.

“Aww!” Piper let out as soon as he was round the corner.

“Bagsie sharing with Ashton!” Gray said quickly.

“No!” Calum argued. “It should be boy boy and girl girl!”

“Sorry grandpa!” Gray rolled his eyes.

“This is mine and Ashton’s trip!”

“But we are here though,” Calum glared.

“Fine I’ll go with Piper!” Gray huffed.

“Feeling the love,” Piper giggled.

“See you in the morning guys,” Calum excused himself as well as Piper and went into the room.

“See you tomorrow Ash.”

“See you tomorrow Gray,” Ashton hugged her.

She walked into her room where Piper was already in her pyjamas and staring at Gray suspiciously.

“Is there something going on between you and Ashton?” Piper asked.

“No! No way! Absolutely not!”

“Defensive,” Piper sang.

“I’m not getting with Ashton, he is just my best friend… He has been there for me a lot,” Gray spoke softly.

“How you hanging in there?” Piper asked.

“Better than I could be,” Gray shrugged.

“I’m here too Gray, you can talk to me.”

“I don’t want to talk about it because talking about it makes it more real. It also makes me sound more pathetic and I don’t want to be the girl that is hung up on the boy forever. It’s over, it has been for months.”

“Okay,” Piper said simply.

The both of them fell silent, Piper got under the covers and Gray put on an oversized t shirt to sleep in.

“Night Pipe.”

“Night Gray.”

“Pipe?” Gray asked.

“Yeah?”

“No more boy talk this road trip?”

“Sure.”

-

Luke was sat glaring at his phone, Michael opposite him, was fixing his hair.

“So…” Michael began awkwardly trying to break the ice. “Whatcha looking at?”

“Instagram…” Luke said gruffly.

“Okay Mr. Happy,” Michael rolled his eyes.

“Did you know that Ashton, Calum, Piper and Gray had decided to go on some stupid road trip?” Luke demanded.

“They went on a road trip without me!” Michael whined.

“And me!”

“That’s understandable,” Michael mumbled.

“What?”

“Nothing,” Michael grinned sweetly.

“I’m so pissed!” Luke threw his phone at the sofa.

“They went abseiling without me!” Michael whined again as he got up his own Instagram and scrolled down Ashton’s to see multiple pictures of the four of them. “Why would they do this to me?” Michael asked.

“Why would they do this to me?” Luke agreed.

Michael scoffed.

Luke silenced him with a glare.

“We should go on our own road trip!” Michael declared.

“No,” Luke shot it down straight away.

“But-.”

No,” Luke stopped him again holding his head in thought.

“We should gate crash!” Michael screamed.

“That isn’t a bad idea,” Luke considered.

“I don’t think it is a good idea…” Michael hesitated.

“It was your idea!”

“You should never listen to me though,” Michael reminded him.

“It’s not like it will hurt anyone…”