"Knock knock." I said as I opened the door and entered the kitchen, tugging Ashton behind me.

"Carter!"Ari's shrill squeal pierced the room as she jogged towards me, wrapping me in a tight hug.

I let go of Ashton's hand so I could hug her back.

She was wearing a sleeveless Crimson dress that hit the top of her knees and a matching pair of heels. Her short hair had a few more blonde highlights and was curled slightly.

"Hey look who's here!" A jubilant male voice exclaimed and I looked up to see Jason walk into the room.

Jason had always been very handsome. His light brown hair was always perfectly styled and gelled to perfection. His eyes were a crisp green and his skin was less tan than the rest of ours because he wore suits practically everywhere.

Tonight he was more casual in a light green button down that matched his eyes tucked into khaki slacks and brown dress shoes.

"Jason!" I smiled and went over to give him a hug. His grip was strong and he swayed me awkwardly to the side as he hugged me.

I stepped back from his embrace.

"So Ari you've met Ashton." I re-introduced them.

"Yes, hi!" Ari grinned and gave Ashton a hug.

"Hi!" Ashton laughed, slightly confused as to why she was hugging him but went along with it.

Jason held out his hand after Ari's hug so he could shake Ashton's firmly.

"Jason. Nice to meet you." He introduced himself.

"Ashton. Nice to meet you too." Ashton gave his most charming smile.

I stepped back so my left shoulder was in front of Ashton's right shoulder and he put a reassuring hand on my back.

"Smells good in here Ar, what did you buy?" I smirked and she rolled her brown eyes and swatted at my arm playfully.

"Shut up! And for your information it's pork chops and vegetables."

"Yeah, Ari can't cook unless it's spaghetti and even then I cook half of it." I laughed and everyone joined in.

"Hey I do a damn good job!" Ari defended herself with a grin plastered on her face.

"Yes you do." I assured her.

"Alright well, Car come help me get the food and the guys can go sit at the table." Ari instructed, and clapped her hands like a teacher.

"Yes ma'am." Jason chuckled and led Ashton to the dining room.

Ari and I both grabbed trays from the counter and brought them into the dining room. Plates, flatware and glasses were already placed to perfection on the table

I took two glasses in my hands so I could make the drinks.

"Ash, what do you want to drink?" I asked sweetly.

"Oh, waters fine." He smiled politely.

I went and got our drinks while Ari did the same for her and Jason, and then went back to the table to sit.

Ari had set one end of the long rectangular table into a half circle. She sat at the head of the table (which I mentally deemed appropriate) and Jason sat on the other side of her. Ashton and I sat opposite from Jason, me closest to Ari.

"So Ashton, when did you get back to town?" Ari asked as she began to fill her own plate.

"Yesterday evening." Ashton answered.

"Oh, and when do you leave again?" She continued and I blinked heavily in annoyance.

"Tomorrow night, unfortunately."

I didn't even have to look at Ashton to hear the frown in his voice.

"Oh that's too bad. How long will you be gone?" She pressed.

I stabbed a piece of pork a little too hard and tried to cover it up like my hand slipped but a hand on my knee told me that Ashton had noticed.

"Uh three weeks."

"Oh wow. That's a long time." Ari poked out her bottom lip in sympathy.

"I know, it really sucks." Ashton sighed. "But it's my job."

"What do you do for a living?" Jason piped up from his chair.

"I uh- work for a band." Ashton took a sip of water.

"Oh, any band I know of?" Jason laughed.

"Probably not." Ashton chuckled.

"That's pretty neat. So what do you do for them?" Jason asked and then took a bite.

"Oh just a little bit of everything. I help with social media and the sound and a little bit of management." Ashton smiled.

"That's so awesome! So Ari said you're from Sydney?"

"Yeah!" Ash chirped. "What about you?"

"I was born here in Haven Harbour and moved to Sydney after I graduated high school but came back to help my father with his business."

"Nice. What business is your family in?"

"Marketing. You know those guys with the suits that go around selling random stuff? Yeah, that's me." Jason joked and Ashton laughed along.

I listened intently as Ashton and Jason conversed. The subjects ranging from work to talking about their favourite restaurants in Sydney. l could tell Ari was dying to pounce on Ashton with questions but she was holding herself back.

The leg that Ashton wasn't touching was bouncing anxiously and I went to sip my water but realised the glass was empty.

"Babe, you want some more water?" Ashton's voice said close to my ear and I turned to him nodding with a smile.

Ashton excused himself and got up, going to the kitchen, taking my glass with him.

"Car, how's Ender? I haven't seen the little man in awhile." Jason broke the almost silence.

"He's good." I smiled. "He broke his arm a few weeks ago but he's feeling a lot better and Dr. Carson said he should be able to get his cast off real soon."

"Oh what happened?!" Jason went wide eyed.

"The storm that came in blew out my window and he fell off the bed and landed on his arm. Scared the hell out of me." I admitted.

"God, I bet. That sucks. I'll have to take him out to lunch next week." Jason ran a hand across his forehead.

"He'd like that. Just don't let him trick you into buying him candy again." I laughed.

"Yeah, not one of my finest moments." Jason admitted and Ari joined in our laughter.

At that moment Ashton walked back in the room and sat back down next to me, handing me my glass.

"Thank you." I shot him a smile. He matched one of equal happiness.

"Well tell Ender that I found his score on my xBox and I'm challenging him to a re-match." Jason spoke again and I turned back to him shaking my head with a chuckle.

"Deal." I laughed.

We were all done with our food and I knew Ari would want to continue talking in the living room so it wasn't a surprise to me when Ari stood up suddenly to clear the dishes.

"I'll help." I spoke softly and helped gather the plates and flatware to take them to the dishwasher.

Ari was waiting for me in the kitchen ready to explode.

"You look like your about to have a conniption." I remarked.

"I'm trying to behave myself but I'm just so curious." She whined.

"Well, I'll allow you to unleash your holy wrath of questions on him, so long as you control yourself." I agreed and she actually sighed in relief.

"Thank you."

I rolled my eyes as she clicked back into the dinning room.

"Okay, everyone in the living room!" She clapped her hands and I knew she was back and ready.

I quickly dried my hands off on a dish towel then went to the living room.

Jason had taken to the large leather recliner while Ari sat at the adjacent sofa, leaving the love seat for Ashton and I where he already sat. I mentally mocked the irony and had a feeling Ari had this part planned out just for her amusement.

I took my place next to Ashton who immediately adjusted himself so that his thigh was touching mine and an arm was rested behind me.

Ari leaned forward and her mouth opened to let the great flood of questions escape and I pictured her with a clipboard and and glasses, ready to check off the questions one by one as she went down her list. I had to stop thinking about it so I wouldn't start randomly laughing and make an embarrassment out of myself.

"So Ashton, how long have you and my best friend been seeing each other?" Ari began.

"It's been about a month." Ashton nodded and I imagined Ari checking box one as she nodded. "What about you you two? How long have you been seeing each other?" He gestured to Ari and Jason.

"Three years." Ari answered.

"And you're engaged, right?"Ashton raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, for four months." Ari smiled again. "And where did you two meet?" She flipped the spotlight back on us.

"I booked a tour with her company and we've seen each other ever since." Ashton shrugged with a nonchalant grin. "And what about you two?"

"We met at one of his fathers business dinners." Ari smiled pointedly. "So how are you two planning on making this long distance thing work?"

"Well we phone everyday and text." I answered for him.

"But is that enough to keep a new relationship going? I mean, three weeks is a long time, especially for a beginning relationship." Ari continued.

"It is and we aren't happy about it but there's nothing we can do. And besides, I feel like if you are in a long distance relationship and you want it to work than it will, but if you don't then it won't." Ashton explained.

I smiled proudly at him.

The expression on Ari's face was one of sudden realisation. It was as if the imaginary clipboard had been tossed into the wind, her game plan discarded.

"I hope you know why I'm being so nosy..."She started off slowly, "It's just that Car, is like my sister and I've seen her go through so much and I don't want her to get hurt."

"I know that, and I'm glad to know that Car has someone in her life that loves her as much as you do. You're a great friend Ari." Ashton told her and I was positively beaming.

"I think you're good for her Ashton, I really do. I'll admit I had my doubts but I'm happy for both of you, really." Ari smiled and I took Ashton's hand in my own, enthralled with the direction the once dire conversation took.

Ashton and I hung around not much longer after that and called it a night, thanking Ari and Jason for inviting us and for the lovely store bought dinner.

The night was black as we made our way home, the only light coming from the occasional street lamp and the moon.

When we got to the house Ashton loosened his tie and undid the first few buttons on his shirt.

"I'm gonna go change." I said into the quiet that had settled over us.

"Alright." Ashton smiled in my direction.

Tromping upstairs I prepared myself for bed, checking my phone to see a text from Ari that said "I really like him!" with a ton of smiley faces, and then went back down to see Ashton making a drink in the kitchen.

He must have heard me walk in because his body whipped around and he gave me a look like he'd been caught doing something wrong.

"You don't mind, do you?" He gestured towards his ice filled cup.

"No?" I cocked my head to the side. "Ash, when you're here just make yourself at home, okay?"

He nodded with a smile in response and began to fill his cup with some lemonade from the refrigerator.

"So Ari says she approves." I giggled and jumped up onto the counter behind him, my dangling feet kicking the white, wooden cabinets.

"I think we had a good dinner, and I'm glad she feels that way. She's a really great friend to you, you can tell she cares more than you know."

Ash leaned against the opposing counter to face me.

"I know. Her and Jason both have been the best friends I cold ask for." I swung my feet again.

Draining his cup, Ash set it on the counter and moved forward to place his hands on my thighs, stopping my legs from moving.

"So what do you want to do, babe? We can watch a movie? We can play a game? We can simply cuddle on the couch, the choice is yours." Ashton brushed his nose against mine and I giggled.

"Hmm...why don't we do all three?" I hummed.

"Deal." He laughed and kissed me once.

I was about to pull him back for more when the obnoxious twinkling of his ringtone went off.

"Who the hell is calling me at midnight?" Ashton grumbled and yanked his phone from his pocket. He glanced at the screen and sighed as he answered.

"Yeah?" Annoyance was thick in his tone.

A few more seconds passed while Ashton stared at nothing, still holding onto my leg with one hand. I could hear the muffled sounds of talking but I didn't know who is was.

"Can this wait?" Ashton asked.

"Yes I'm with her right now." Ashton's eyes flickered to me and I quirked an eyebrow.

"Well have Michael do it." Ashton continued talking as I continued to get lost.

"Luke, I really don't have time for this. I'll be back tomorrow night, okay? I'll see you then. Bye."

He hung up the phone and then slid it back into his pocket.

"Sorry." He sighed.

I reached up to brush a few strands of hair from his eyes. "It's fine. That was, Luke?"

"Yeah." Ashton sighed again.

"What did he want?" I fiddled with his collar and he watched my hands.

"Just work stuff."

"What about it?" I continued and Ashton chuckled.

"Nothing too interesting, I don't want to bore you."

"You never bore me." I smiled up at him and he leaned down to give me another kiss.

"So I have a game idea..." Ashton lead on and I raised an eyebrow.

"Oh yeah? What is it?"

"Hide and seek."

"Hide and seek?" I laughed.

"Yes." He bumped his nose to mine again.

"Are you asking to lose the game? I have a little brother, I'm practically champion at this game." I smirked and Ashton grinned.

"Oh, you're so on." He challenged.

"Alright then, you hide first." I told him and he nodded, immediately glancing around the room for hiding spots.

"I'll count to thirty." I covered my eyes with my hands, remaining perched upon the kitchen counter.

I called out loudly as I counted back from thirty hearing the occasional thud or noise as Ashton found his spot but I couldn't tell where he was.

"Ready or not, here I come!" I uncovered my eyes and hopped down from the counter.

I walked around the dimly lit house, searching for the buff boy.

He was no where to be found in the kitchen or in the living room. The laundry room was my next choice and he wasn't there either.

I quickly made my way up the stairs, being as quiet as I could in case he made any noise revealing his whereabouts.

The only rooms upstairs were Ender's bedroom, my room, and the bathroom. I checked the bathroom first, flinging back the shower curtain to reveal a white tiled wall.

My room was next and I crept inside.

He wasn't under the bed, nor behind the door. I was about to leave when a flash of movement caught my eye. A slight shadow under my closet door shifted to the left and I smirked as he unknowingly revealed his location.

I sighed dramatically and took a few steps to the door of my room as if I was leaving. "Not in here." Taking a few more steps away to signify my leaving, I waited a few moments before sneaking back in.

My toes were stretching as I tip-toed across the floorboards, making no sound. When I arrived right outside the closet I flung the door open and yelled "Gotcha!"

Ashton literally jumped a foot into the air, his hazel eyes going wide as I scared him.

"Jesus, Carter!" He placed a hand over his heart.

Loud laughter fell from my lips like a waterfall. Ashton joined eventually while I clutched my sides.

"You - should've - seen - your - face." I said between gasps and continued cackling.

"How did you know?!" He threw his head back, showing off his white teeth.

"I saw your shadow under the door." I attempted catch my breath.

"Damn." He cursed.

"You're cute when you're scared." I giggled and Ashton stepped closer to me, putting his hands on my waist and tugging me closer to him.

"Oh yeah?" He murmured with a hint of a chuckle. His lips grazed my neck before he kissed the skin at the base of my jaw. "It's your turn to hide." He spoke into my skin.

"You'll never find me." I spoke back, focusing on the way his lips moved.

"I'll always find you." He kissed my jaw once more.

He released me from his grip and sat on my bed, covering his eyes and started to count back from thirty.

From the amount of times I had played hide and seek in this house I knew where the best spots were. As fast and as quietly as I could, I jogged downstairs and into the laundry room, slipping between the washing machine and the dryer. I crouched down and waited until I heard him call out that he was searching for me.

I could hear him upstairs for a few minutes and then his footsteps against the wooden stairs as he came for me. I listened as he walked through the living room and the kitchen and then finally arrived at the laundry room.

He walked in and the dryer creaked as he leaned against it.

"Where is she?" He spoke to himself and I had to cover my mouth so I wouldn't laugh.

He left the room and I decided to leave my spot and mess with him. I waited until he went back upstairs to double check and snuck into the kitchen, sitting criss-cross on top of the counter, taking my phone from the pocket in my hoodie and opened up my photo app, scrolling through the pictures.

A minute later a confused Ashton tromped back down the stairs only to find me perched upon the counter as if I had been there the whole time.

I looked up when he approached me. "You took too long." I shrugged innocently.

"You my dear Carter, are truly a brilliant hide and seek player. Well done." Ashton admitted.

"Why thank you very much." I winked.

"Movie and then bed?" Ashton asked with a raised eyebrow and I nodded.

Ashton slid his arms around me and lifted me off the counter, placing a cute kiss to my nose and then carried me off the couch so we could begin our movie and the rest of our perfect night.