"I think we should play a few of our new songs for the gig." Michael suggested as he looked between the other three of his bandmates.

"And risk screwing up? It's a 'no' for me, dude." Luke declined, scrunching his face and shaking his head.

This is how it's been for almost hours now, suggestions being thrown out but at least one disagreeing with the rest.

But it was necessary because for the first time they were playing an actual gig.

Not those small bars across the street.

Not a kid's party.

Not an outdoor, voluntary handout gig.

But a real gig where there will be more than max fifty people.

Thanks to their YouTube channel, they were able to score a gig for an upcoming awards show there in Australia.

They knew they needed to get as much practice as they could before the day snuck up on them but they were having trouble even finding the songs to rehearse.

So, they all stood in the not so well air conditioned garage, sweaty and irritated with how things were going.

Calum sighed, "Why can't we just play one of our old songs, again?" He asked, hoping they'd change their previous answer since they were having all that trouble figuring it out.

"Because we've been playing those songs for over a year now."

"We've matured since then so it's time to play more 'mature' songs."

"Yeah, especially if we want to make it somewhere." Both Luke and Michael answered the boy, making him roll his eyes.

"This is why we need a manager." He mumbled, heading over to the mini fridge to get a bottled water.

He passed by Ashton, who sat at his drumset, eyeing Calum down as he walked.

"We're working on that also." Michael replied though it was delayed. Calum rolled his eyes again but this time in the small, cool, compartment.

"I don't know, man," Luke paused to turn to the colorful headed boy. "Maybe we should play some of our old songs. Well, we can play our more recent old songs like 'Long Way Home' or 'Beside You'." Luke added, gaining a head nod from Michael.

"How you feeling about that Cal?" The blond turned to face the brown boy who had an Aquafina blocking his mouth.

He also nodded. Luke then turned to Ashton, who was staring straight ahead, to ask his opinion.

"How 'bout you, Ash?" Luke asked, furrowing his brows when the boy remained silent. Calum raised one as he brought his bottle down to a nearby table.

Mhina came walking through the door, a small smile on her face as a greeting to all the boys but it faltered once she noticed they weren't looking her way.

Then she followed their gazes and lowered her brows in confusion.

Ashton sat at his drumset, a stone cold expression painted on his face as he stared ahead of him.

And how could he not when all he could think about is what happened the previous night at the 'surprise party'.

"Has anyone seen Mhina?" Asked the concerned, golden haired boy, glancing at his watch to note she's been gone for a good ten minutes.

Both Luke and Michael shook their head as an answer which frustrated him even further. He sighed and scanned the various heads in the dining area.

Not one of them his girl.

But not only did he notice she was gone...he noticed his bandmate and bestfriend, coincidently, wasn't their either.

"I'm going to go up and see if everything's alright." Ashton half lied, turning on his heel before he could get a response from the other boys.

In all truthfulness, he felt a pot full of suspicion boil over inside of him as he began climbing the stairs.

He made it to the four-doored hallway that consisted of the bathroom, Calum's, Mhina's, and Mama Joy's door.

Ashton eyed the black door, deciding whether or not to go in.

But when he caught sight of the slightly open lavender door, he started towards it, ignoring the one across from it completely.

"Babe?" Ashton called out quietly, not wanting to startle the girl just in case she was still changing. He opened the door and peeking inside to discover she wasn't there.

He furrowed his brows as he parted the door more, sighing and walking in to take a look at the closet.

"Mhin--"

"You won't find her in here." A voice said from behind the boy but he didn't jump, he simply turned around.

There standing was a smug smiled Nicki, arms crossed and leaning against the pale purple door.

Ashton raised an eyebrow and crossed his own over his chest.

"Oh yeah? And Señorita Nosey knows where she is?" Ashton asked sarcastically, rolling his eyes at the girl.

However, Nicki wasn't discouraged or offended, she just simply giggled and kicked off the door.

"Ah, Señor, this señorita knows more than you think. But since you have such a fast mouth...where's your novia?" Nicki said, a smirk forming on her lips. Ashton stayed silent because he hadn't an answer to her question.

This made Nicki giggle once more. She then tilted her head and said, "I didn't think so. But you're fortunate I'm feeling confessional. Which means I can give you insight on where she might be and why."

And from then, on, Nicki spilled the beans about everything.

He knew it.

He knew everything she had told him was true.

He felt it.

It was weird and borderline gross but true.

And as Ashton sat there, eyes now slithering over to Mhina then Calum, he felt that same pot boil over...but it wasn't suspicion...it was anger.

"Ash?!" A voice sounded, which turned out to be Luke's confused voice. The golden haired boy finally gave his attention to his bandmates and raised his brows.

"Wassup?" He finally replied as if he didn't hear the previous question. Oh, but he knew...he just had a plan in mind.

The other three plus, now, Nicki and Mhina wore an expression between concerned and irritated.

He was there for the whole time, meaning he heard the question.

So why is he asking what's going on...if he knew?

Calum was next to speak, a scoff leaving his lips, "Dude, you alright?" The boy asked, bringing a smirk to Ashton's face, a dark one.

"You know what, mate? I'm doing alright." He stood from his drumset and headed to the same mini fridge to grab a bottled water.

Calum glanced over at Luke with the same puzzled expression as the blond one's, then looked back at the drummer.

"Then what's your answer--"

"I'm fine. But are you alright, buddy?" Ashton asked, nearly slamming the door to the fridge and leaning against it after.

Calum crossed his arms over his chest and nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine, mate. But--"

"Are you fine? I mean, really, are you? Didn't seem fine the entire trip, to me." Ashton interrupted, knitting his brows at the boy and taking a swig of his water.

Calum opened then closed his mouth, not really knowing what to say.

"Dude, we don't have time for this." Michael chimed in, shrugging as he retrieved his guitar from the ground.

"What's wrong, mate? Got nothing to say?" Ashton ignored the colorful boy and took a few steps towards Calum.

The brown boy stood dumbfounded as his friend continued to try him. But he wasn't going to back down so easily when he's clearly being challenged by the mad boy.

"There's nothing to say, Ash."

"Oh, yeah? Because when you sent those texts to your dear sister Mhina at booty call hours a couple nights ago, you sure seemed to have a lot to say." Ashton released half of the tea provided by Nicki, who stood proudly against the garage door, arms crossed as she watched everything unfold.

Everyone seemed to drop what they were doing or were focused on previously to make a face at Ashton. One's that contained a mixture of uncertainty and shock.

Mhina's seemed to have another emotion behind her facial expression, fear.

She reached over to touch Ashton's arm. "Babe, chill--"

He snatched his arm away from her and took a step towards the girl. "Chill? You out of all people want to talk right now?!" He stared down at Mhina like he didn't know her. His nose tooted up at the girl in disgust. This wasn't his Mhina anymore.

Calum took a daring step over to where they stood and gently pushed Mhina behind him. "You really need to relax, dude."

"Oh, so isn't this a sight? The so-called brother is going save his sister, my bad, I forgot it needs to sound less disgusting for you, his foster sister from the big, bad boyfriend. You're sick." Ashton spat, sizing the golden skinned boy infront of him.

Calum felt his world crumble as Ashton slowly began to poke at something he's been trying to avoid, the truth behind him and Mhina.