"Okay, now slowly press on the gas."

A sudden forward jerk of the car sent Ashton's hand to the steering wheel and a gasp flying from my lips.

I quickly put the car in park and let my face fall into my hands.

We were parked in the middle of his street in front of his house and I could see Ann watching from the front window.

"You'll get it." Ashton assured me from the passenger seat. "It just takes practice."

I nodded and huffed before putting it in drive and ever so slowly pressing on the gas pedal.

My hands griped the wheel so tight that my knuckles were turning white and my hands were clammy.

"Good." Ashton praised as we rolled forward. "Gradually keep pressing down on the gas." He instructed.

I drove about thirty more yards before I came to a stop sign and practically brake checked us through the windshield.

"Sorry! Sorry!" I apologised profusely in my slightly embarrassed and frustrated state.

"Slow, Car, go slow." Ashton corrected me and I nodded before continuing.

Ashton had me drive around the block a few times before we took the car back to the house. We parked in the driveway where he went over the turn signals, windshield wipers, gas and mileage. He then had me practice backing out onto the street and back up the drive before he parked the jeep in the garage.

I had gotten used to braking and I wasn't scared to press on the gas anymore in our short lesson but to me that was a victory.

"For your first lesson you did really good, Car. I'm proud!" Ashton gave me a side hug as we walked through the door to the living room.

"Michael's mum just called and I'm going over to her house while you lot watch movies." Ann announced as we stepped into the room.

"Alright." Ashton nodded as he went and grabbed a drink from the refrigerator.

"Carter, if you'd like to come have wine with me instead of hanging around with the rowdy boys you can." Ann offered with a laugh.

"Hmmm..." I jokingly pondered, playing along and Ashton chuckled beside me.

"Stop trying to get my girlfriend drunk, mum." Ashton rolled his eyes and Ann smacked his arm.

"I'm just giving her the better alternative." She shrugged and I laughed.

"I'll give you a call if I change my mind." I winked at her and she grinned while Ashton pouted in the corner.

Ann gathered her things and gave Ash and I a hug goodbye. Ender was still asleep and I knew that I would wake him up a few minutes before the boys got there.

I helped Ashton make some snacks and gather up all of the pillows and blankets in the house and spread them on the floor.

The guys were supposed to be here at eight so I woke Ender up at 7:30, knowing he would never go to sleep again that night.

Michael and Calum burst through the door as I was taking a bowl of popcorn out of the microwave. Immediately making themselves at home by grabbing a beer from the fridge and plopping down on the sofa.

Luke strolled in a few minutes after, doing the same and even ringing the pizza place while he was at it.

I could tell they spent a lot of time here at Ashton's place by their comfortableness. Ashton and his mates were close like Ari and I were close; and it made me happy to know that even when we didn't have each other at arms reach, we still had people in our lives to keep us company and to be our second families.

"Why are you so smiley?" Ashton's voice danced into my ear and I realised that I was in fact smiling.

"Oh", I blinked and shook my head," I'm just happy to be here with you." I let my smile linger as I looked up at him and he mimicked my expression with a breath taking grin of his own.

"Well I'm happy you're here too." He leaned down to give me a kiss and then hand in hand we joined the boys in the living room.

Ender had made himself comfortable between Luke and Calum while Michael aimlessly scrolled through Netflix.

"Oh, let's watch Disney movies!" I suggested and pointed at the screen as Michael passed by a few of my favourites.

"No!" He scoffed and I chucked a piece of popcorn at him out of mock spite.

The popcorn smacked him square on the cheek and his jaw dropped in surprise and amusement.

"Ashton, control your girlfriend please." Michael rolled his eyes and scrolled back up to the Disney movies.

Ash just laughed and pulled me in for a quick peck on the lips which resounded in a loud, drawn out "ew" from Ender.

"Oh shut up!" I tossed one of the blue throw pillows on the sofa at him that he deflected with his arm.

"So violent." Michael muttered as he continued his movie search.

"Keep talking and you're next." I playfully threatened and added a wink in for good measure.

"That's my girl." Ashton hugged me from behind and I could feel the muscles of his chest and stomach move against my back as he laughed.

"We're watching Lilo and Stitch!" Calum shouted suddenly and dove for the remote as Michael scrolled past the movie.

Michaels eyes widened and he surrendered the remote to Calum.

Everyone settled down a bit when the movie started and I nestled into the warmth that was Ashton.

Around halfway through the movie I climbed off of his lap so he could get up and get a drink and joined Ender who was lying on the floor.

I used his back as a pillow and enjoyed the rest of the movie from the floor.

Ashton stayed on the sofa and at one point I heard the soft click of the camera on his phone as he probably took a picture of Ender and I.

At the end of Lilo and Stitch, Calum went straight into the sequel which caused a groan from all of us.

I left a few minutes in to use the restroom and change into something more comfortable.

As I walked down the hall from the bathroom into Ashton's room, I suddenly realised how real this was.

I was in a relationship, something that I had only seen in movies or heard about from Ari...this was real. I didn't think I would ever get used to how awestruck Ashton made me feel.

Letting out a long breath I began to change into a different tee shirt and shorts.

Rejoining the group in the living room, Ashton had now joined Ender on the floor and made grabby hands for me to sit with him.

Instantly and almost magnetically he had pulled me up onto practically his lap and held me like one of those big stuffed animals you win at carnivals.

"Nice shorts." Ashton whispered into my ear.

Confused by his random remark I looked down to see that I was accidentally wearing his basketball shorts instead of mine.

"Oh my God I'm so sorry!" I made to get up but he tugged me back down.

"It's fine. It's actually quite cute." He snickered against my cheek and like always I felt my face turn pink. Thank God it was dark in the room.

"Will you two please shut up, I'm trying to watch my movie." Calum snipped at us and Ashton checked to make sure Ender wasn't looking before flipping him off.

"Be nice", I smacked Ashton's arm.

Everyone calmed down for the rest of the movie and Ender eventually dozed off. When the movie was over I was able to wake him up enough to get him to bed before he flopped down on the comforter and went back to sleep.

I went back out to the living room to find the guys standing around the kitchen talking.

Taking a seat at one of the bar stools, I just listened to their conversation as they talked about people they knew and things happening in their life.

I leaned my head against my hand and closed my eyes to take a very long blink.

Something brushing against my back caused me to stir and I kept my eyes closed as my ears adjusted to decipher the hushed whispers that were being said around me.

"I'll see you guys tomorrow." I heard Ashton say quietly.

"I'll bring over the drinks." Michael replied just as quietly.

"Ive got a ball in my car already but I'll bring my old shoes for Ender just in case. Oh and cones, I can't forget that." Calum said next but I was too out of it to understand what he was taking about.

"See ya' mate." Luke said last and then I heard the soft click of the door as it closed. I still couldn't bring myself to open my eyes but I felt and heard Ashton's presence as he walked back in the room, shuffling a few things around before I felt his arms wind around my back and under my legs and he swooped me off the stool.

The swaying motion didn't wake me up more but instead lulled me back into a peaceful and happy slumber.

I woke up the next morning with Ashton already up and gone before me and noise from the hallway.

I had planned on taking a shower last night but since I had fallen asleep at the table that didn't happen.

I grabbed some clothes and my bag of toiletries and headed off to the bathroom, noting that the voices came from the kitchen and I could hear dishes clanging and the television playing.

I let the water get hot before I stepped under its stream and let the soap and water scrub away my drowsiness.

I stood under the water for a few more minutes, just enjoying the feeling before getting out and drying off.

I was reaching for my bra to put on when suddenly the bathroom door opened, startling me and the person on the other side when I screamed. And that person just so happened to be Ashton.

"I'm so sorry!" He yelled at the same time I yanked my towel to cover my body. He flung the door closed and a peek at myself in the mirror revealed a red blush of embarrassment covering my entire body. Oh my god.

Did he see me? Of course he saw me, who am I kidding. Oh my god this is so embarrassing. I can't believe Ashton just saw me naked.

I hurried to get dressed and dry my hair. I took a deep breath as I opened the door so I could take my clothes to my bag and was relieved when Ashton wasn't in the hallway. How was I even going to look at him?

He wasn't in his room either which alleviated my worry but made me even more incredibly nervous to face him later.

"Carter you can't hide in his room forever", I told my self and mustered up all of the courage I had left and walked out to the living room.

I didn't see him right away which made my emotions conflict between relieved and concerned.

Out the window I could see Ender, Calum, and Ann in the backyard setting up a football (soccer) goal.

I was about to join them when I passed the entrance of the living room and saw Ashton kneeling at the base of the TV.

He must have heard my sharp intake of breath because he turned around and immediately blushed when his eyes met mine. I had no doubt that my cheeks did the same.

"Car, I am so sorry. I didn't hear the shower earlier and I didn't know you were in there and that door doesn't lock sometimes and I'm so so sorry." His words were flying from his mouth so fast he was stumbling over them.

"It's okay." I finally interrupted his many apologies. "It just startled me that's all. You weren't supposed to see me like that, or at least not yet anyway."

The moments the words left my lips I instantly knew that I had crossed a bridge I couldn't go back from. Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no.

I slapped my hand over my mouth before daringly making eye contact with a wide eyed Ashton.

"Carter..." He prodded me to keep going but I just shook my head no. "Carter please...we have to talk about this."

I was practically gnawing on the inside of my cheek out of anxiety.

"Carter, have you thought about us together like that? I need to know." Ashton was coaxing the words from me.

Adverting my eyes I nodded and heard a sigh come from his direction.

"That's okay, Car. Everyone thinks about those kind of things when they are in a relationship, it just happens." He said gently.

"Have you thought about...those things...with me I mean?" I swallowed nervously.

"Honestly? Yes. But, I haven't acted on them because I know we're not ready to take that step yet."

"But it's going to happen?" I looked down when I spoke.

"What do you mean? Do I know it's going to happen?" He cocked his head to the side in confusion.

I nodded.

"No I don't know it's going to happen. But I like to think that it could. I want to get to know you that way but we won't do anything until you are absolutely ready and sure of what you want, okay?"

"Okay." I nodded and I could visibly see him relax.

"You had me scared for a moment." He finally let out a sound that was between a laugh and a sigh.

"I'm sorry." I mumbled.

"Come here." He stood up from where he was still sitting by the TV and brought me into his embrace.

"I thought I had totally screwed this up." He admitted into my ear as he hugged me.

"You could never do that." I smiled up at him and let my eyes flicker to his lips before kissing them.

He didn't respond but instead held me tighter against him for a minute longer.

"We should go outside." I decided after a while and he nodded, kissing me one more time before taking my hand in his and leading me out the back door.

--
I know I know this took forever I'm sorry. I know it's short but hey at least I'm posting right haha. anyways, I know the story is getting kind of slow but that's for a strategic reason you will all find out soon enough *wink wink*
I'm not sure if any of you have figured out the little hints I've dropped along the way of what's going to happen but bravo to you if you did and let me know your theories on Carter and Ashton(;

Much love and I'll try to update soon! xx -m