Emilia's POV
This is totally not weird at all. Me, taking a shower in their bathroom. I didn't expect to be meeting all of Ashton's friends today. Meeting Michael had proved to be fun, and I became curious when he had told me Ashton had been telling them about me. I wasn't anything special; just another friend of his. So as to why they are so excited to meet me is beyond me.
I twist the shower knob off and step out onto the bath rug, wrapping the towel that hangs over the shower rod around my body. I change into the clothes Ashton had picked for me to wear. Swiping my hand across the fogged up mirror, I look at my reflection to see just how oversized his clothes are on me. His grey sweatpants reach up past my hips, coving my belly button. The shirt has some random band name on it and falls just above my knees. His clothes are basically wearing me.
Deciding against pulling my hair up into the usual ponytail, I ring out as much water as I can and let it fall down my back to air dry. I quietly make my way downstairs and into the kitchen with the boys. My presence interrupts their conversation and all four heads turn to me. Ashton holds out a mug filled with a steamy liquid in his hands, waiting for me to take it.
"It's tea," he assures as I take the warm mug from his hands.
"Thank you." I take a sip of the deathly-hot liquid, and my face scrunches together from the shock of the burn my tongue has received.
"What time does Julia get off work?" Ashton asks.
Unknowing, I hold up my finger and tell him to wait while I check my phone to find the previous text messages that she had sent me.
"You're at Ashton's house?!!?"
"I'll try to get off work as soon as I can"
"I'll be there around nine. Maybe nine-thirty because of this damn rain"
"Where does he live?"
"She said she'll get off around nine, maybe a little after," I say. "What's your address?"
Ashton snatches the phone from my hands and types away, sending Julia the directions to his house. Once finished, he leans over towards me, his shoulder touching mine, and slips the phone into the pocket of myâhis sweatpants. He lingers for a moment, inhaling softly. "You smell like a guy," he whispers.
"Considering all you had was body wash and shampoo for men, I'm sorry that I don't smell like a field of flowers," I whisper back with a smile, earning a laugh and pat on the head in return from him.
"Emilia, are you hungry?" Luke asks. "We're not the best cooks, but we can make you a sandwich or something."
My stomach answers for me, growling loud enough for all to hear; maybe even the neighbors too. I wrap my arms around my stomach to try and suppress the gurgling sounds of hunger, but it fails to calm the beast that is my empty stomach. Four pairs of eyes stare me down, their mouths agape, spilling with laughter that echoes throughout the house. My cheeks burn, and if I weren't so comfortable with them, I'd be running out the house and into the rain to find myself the nearest food supplier.
"Well that answers your question," Michael jokes, opening the pantry cabinet and pulling out a loaf of bread. "Would you like a cheese toastie?"
I blink several times at his odd question before answering, "I'm not going to lie, I have no idea what that is." They all laugh at me again.
"I think it's the equivalent to a grilled cheese to you Americans," Michael clarifies. My mouth falls into an 'O' shape and I nod, giving Michael the okay to fix me a sandwich.
Ashton pulls himself up to sit on the kitchen island and pats the spot next to him, suggesting he wants me to sit with him. With ease, I lift my small body up onto the counter.
"So how long have you guys been in America?" I ask, swinging my legs back in forth.
"Almost 2 years," Luke responds, ripping a banana from the stalk that sits on the counter and peeling it open. "When Ash told us he wanted to go to America for college, we all jumped aboard his crazy train."
"And you all go to the University of Denver with me and Ashton?"
"Yep," all three answer simultaneously.
I learn that Luke and Calum are studying architecture and Michael, software engineering. Honestly, their majors don't seem to fit their personalities and they acknowledge that fact. Apparently, they all plan to change their majors but haven't decided on what yet.
Michael finishes making my sandwich and hands it to me on a blue ceramic plate. My eyes furrow at the sight. The dark crust of the bread annoys me, so I peel the thin layer off before biting into the sandwich. Ashton shakes his head and chuckles at me.
"So how do you guys afford this place? It looks expensive, especially for a college student. Do any of you work?" My words are almost incoherent thanks to my mouth full of what is left of my sandwich.
Calum chuckles. "No, none of us work. We all transferred over here with full scholarships. We use the extra money left over from tuition and books on the rent and other expenses." I raise my eyebrows in shock. "Don't look so surprised. Underneath these good looks is a man with a four-point-oh GPA." Calum wiggles his eyebrows and I rolled my eyes jokingly.
Michael sits on the barstool at the granite breakfast bar. "It used to be an old frat house but the fraternity was disbanded years ago and was left abandoned until we got here," he informs. "We were also lucky enough to know someone at DU who was able to hold this place for us to rent before we moved over here."
My curiosity gets the best of me. "Who?"
"Ash's dad," Luke says. "He's the head of the business department and teaches a few classes at the university."
My eyes widen. Ashton has told me a few stories of his mom and siblings, but not once has he mentioned his dad.
"Aren't you taking his Business Management class this semester?" Luke directs his question over to Ashton who was waving his hand across his neck, giving him a 'shut the fuck up' gesture.
I stare at Ashton for what seems like minutes before he lets out a long breath. "My dad and I don't get along well or even talk for that matter. I'm pretty sure he doesn't even know that I'm in his class." The bitterness is clear in his tone, and it's a change in character from his usual happy self.
His hands are clenched at his side, his knuckles turning white from the pressure. I would be frightened if I didn't know Ashton wouldn't hurt a fly. I gently place my hand on his forearm to try and calm him down. He tenses at my touch but relaxes as soon as he glances down to my hand. I know most young adults have their issues with their parents, but this is the first time I've actually seen someone show so much anger, almost hatred, towards them.
The scowl that was once on Ashton's face is wiped completely and turned into a weak, but genuine smile. I pull my hand back and lay it in my lap. An awkward silence fills the room, the only noise coming from Luke scratching the stubble on his chin and me slurping my lukewarm tea.
"So Emilia," Michael thankfully says, breaking the silence, "where are you living while you go to school? With your parents? On campus?"
"Neither. My parents died when I was fifteen, so I've been living with my best friend Julia since then," I say bluntly, not even fazed by the personal information I just revealed. Silence fills the room once again. Sympathy is drawn on all their faces, a look I'm all too familiar with. "When we graduated from high school, we decided to go to the same college and got an apartment just outside of campus," I continue, hoping it will lift the mood a bit.
They all nod in understanding, all except Ashton. Creases form on his forehead as he stares at me with pity. The intensity of his eyes bearing down is borderline uncomfortable, but I know he is only concerned. Ashton hops off the island and motions for us to go into the living room with him. Luke and Michael sit on the long, brown leather sofa. I take a seat next to Ashton on the matching loveseat and Calum chooses to sit on the armrest next to me.
We spend our time learning more about one another as we wait for Julia to pick me up. Time elapses as questions, answers, and stories are thrown from one side of the room to the other. My stomach begins to hurt from all the laughing I did when Michael tells me about each of the boys' driving experience when they first moved here.
The sound of my ringtone interrupts our laughter as I take it out of my pocket and answered the call.
"Hey Em," Julia says. "I'm outside their house so come out when you're ready."
"All right. I'll be out there in a minute." I hang up and shove the phone back into my back pocket.
"Julia is here so I have to go," I announce to the boys, causing them to groan in disappointment. I gather my things and give each of them a wave goodbye. Before leaving, Calum, Luke, and Michael add their phone numbers into my phone and mine into theirs so that I can get in touch with them if something were to happen again.
Ashton walks me out to the front porch that protects us from the heavy rain and pulls me into a warm hug. I've spent many hours with him, but this is probably the most time that we've ever spent together, and I've enjoyed every minute of it. A chill runs down my spine from the cool air, causing me to shiver and Ashton's grip around me to tighten.
"See you tomorrow?" Ashton releases me from his grasp, grinning.
"I don't really have a choice with you," I tease. "You manage to show up wherever I am." I watch his chest rise and fall as he laughs. I give one last smile before dashing out into the cold rain and into Julia's car.
The drive back to our apartment is incredible long due to some minor flooding and slow drivers who, as Julia said, needed to 'get their ass moving.' After dodging large puddles and Julia's complaints about how we should have chosen an apartment on the first floor instead of the second, we make it home.
"So what are his friends like?" Julia prods.
I ponder her question for a moment, trying to think of the best word to describe them. Unfortunately, the best I can come up with is, "Nice."
She just shakes her head and laughs. "You need to come up with some better adjectives, Em." I explain what each of the boys are like, digging through my internal dictionary to describe them more efficiently and to Julia's standard. As I tell her about Ashton's dad, she interrupts me. "Whose clothes are you wearing?"
I glace down to the oversized shirt and sweats that hang loosely around my body. "Shit. I completely forgot that I was wearing Ashton's clothes." I quickly pull out my phone and send him a text to let him know I will wash and bring his clothes back tomorrow. Julia laughs at my forgetfulness before calling it a day and leaving to her bedroom.
I leave to my own room, closing the door behind me and sliding into bed. My phone buzzes and I unlocked the screen to see Ashton's reply.
"Keep them. They looked cute on you anyway. See you tomorrow"
I smile at the text, secretly happy I get to keep his comfortable clothes. I don't know how to respond, so I just lock my phone, plug it into the charger, and let my head fall to the pillow, slowly drifting off into unconsciousness.