✿ a secret no more ✿

I watched as guests exited the house from Calum's room window. Couples held hands while leaving and drunken friends laughed their way down the street.

The music was also dialing down, and my heart rate was speeding up. It meant I was gonna tell Luke. I feel like I'm overreacting. But what if somethinggoes unexpected? What if Luke needs time to think because of me? What if Francesca will look at me differently?

What if I ruin our friendship?

Oh great I could pass right now.

10 minutes passed of me trying to breath properly, and the sounds downstairs turned to a couple murmurs and no more music.

"Wait guys, did anyone see Ashlee?" I hear Bailey's voice. My eyes go wide and I held in my breath. I hopped onto the bed, sitting normally, waiting for someone to knock on it.

Under the door frame, I watched a shadow pass by. And the same shadow came back going the other direction.

"Ashlee? Where are you?" Calum's voice called.

'Should I tell him?'

"I-I'm in your room!" I reply, watching the shadow under the doorframe stop at the bedroom door. The knob jiggled, but the door didn't budge.

"How'd you even get in there? It was locked earlier." Calum asked almost naive.

"Well maybe you shouldn't put your keys on top of the doorframe, you doofus." I slightly chuckled walking towards the door and turning the lock.

I opened the door to Calum with a blank expression. "Did you just call me a doofus?"

"Maybe may be not." I teased crossing my arms.

"Ashlee there you are!! You have to tell Luke now." Bailey whispered the last part. I uncrossed my arms and stared at her.

Shit I'm still not ready.

"F-fine." I mumbled stepping out of the bedroom, jogging down the stairs. I went into the kitchen finding everyone else was there. I avoided all eye contact.

"Where were you?" Luke asked curiously. I only looked down.

"In Calum's room. I got tired so I went to the bed." I answered in monotone. Calum and Bailey came up behind me, and Michael only looked at me.

"C'mon, just do it." Bailey whispered into my ear. My hands began to feel sweaty.

"Ashlee you okay? You look like you need to tell a speech in front of the world." Francesca asked. I didn't answer, I just kept my eyes on the floor.

'Yeah you can say that' I thought.

"Ashlee?" Luke says. There's only silence.

"Luke, I-..." I pause myself. I look up and Luke is staring at me. Francesca is staring at me. Michael is staring at me. Calum and Bailey are behind me probably staring at me too.

"I need t-to tell you something." I fiddled with my fingers. I've never stuttered this much. Why am I so scared?! I should be nervous than scared!

'Shit my eyes sting and now I'm seeing blurry. Crap now I'm tearing up. And now I think a tear just fell. AND EVERYONE IS LOOKING AT ME THIS IS. FUCKING. FANTASTIC.'

I opened my mouth to say something, but I couldn't comprehend my words.

"I can't do this..." I whispered, but said loud enough for everyone to hear. I turned around and pushed past Calum and Bailey.

"Ashlee, wait!" I hear Bailey. I only walk fast towards the door.

I was one step closer to the front door. I grabbed the knob and opened it, running out of the house. I went down the street.

The door was still open and I hear Luke.

"Did I do something?!"

I just kept running.

"Of course you did something." I muttered wiping my face from tears.

*Calum's POV*

Ashlee pushed past me and Bailey and we watched her.

"Ashlee, wait!" Bailey called out. By the time she called her, Ashlee was out of the door. And I ran to Bailey who followed Ashlee. She was already running down the sidewalk.

"Did I do something?!" Luke then yells/asks, coming to the door. But Ashlee was too far to be seen.

"What happened??" Luke questioned. "What did she want to tell me?"

'Now I probably have to tell him'

"Ashlee...she..." I trailed. I sighed letting it out.

"Ashlee likes you, and she had this crush on you...even before you've started dating Francesca."

And therefore, the truth was out. Luke looked stunned, like he didn't know what to say. He roughly ran his fingers through his hair before walking away. Francesca was staring and looking at the floor. She looked like she was shot. Michael sighed, rubbing his neck nervously. He too went away somewhere in the house.

"I'll go find Ashlee." Bailey said before leaving the door and running the direction Ashlee went.

*Ashlee's POV*

I made it to the street corner, and stopped near a stop sign, panting and crying. I took time to catch my breath and I took a seat on the curb.

I curled my knees to my chest and put my forehead between them, and I cried.

It was already pitch black out. I'm surprised I still saw the curb. It was also chilly out, and luckily I had my flannel around my waist. I put it on, covering my face with the sleeves.

"Ashlee?" I hear my best friend's voice. I only let out a sob, but I brought my head back up.

Bailey saw me with her phone flashlight and sat next to me. The light went off a second later.

"How are you feeling?" She asked calmly. I wiped my face and tried to find my breath.

"S-scared." I stuttered because I couldn't breath from crying.

Bailey said nothing after that. She only hugged me from my side as I laid my head on her shoulder still crying my eyes out.

"I was afraid I was g-gonna ruin our friendship. I should've told him sooner. The l-longer I kept it in, the h-harder it was. I knew I had to tell him, but I didn't w-want anything to go wrong." I then explained using every breath I still had. Bailey rubbed my back and arm comfortingly.

"Too late now...Calum spilled it." Bailey whispered. I gasped sitting up from Bailey. It was dark but I still saw her face.

"He did?!" I said almost in a panic. "Mmhmm." Bailey hummed. And that made me tear up more.

I don't know if I was still scared or I was sort of relieved it came out. But my first instinct was to cry and I don't know why but it just happened.

"I'm scared to go back into that house." I muttered wiping my face again.

"It's okay, I'll be next to you. C'mon lets go back, its cold out here." Bailey told. She stood up offering a hand to hold. I took it and stood up next to her.

"If Luke is acting weird or if Francesca is acting weird, tell me or Calum, okay?" Bailey said. I nodded. "Okay."

Still holding hands, we both walked back to the house.

"You ran so fast out the door." Bailey chuckled trying to make me feel better. I laughed a little.

"Yeah, well I run away from my fears." I replied still sniffling a little.

"And you've conquered them! With the help of Calum." Bailey chuckled. I just rolled my eyes.

~~~~~~~~~~
THE TRUTH IS OUT AHHHHH. I also switched POVs for the first time in the story. I don't really like switching but if I have to I will (they won't be often)
SOOOOO what was your reaction?