As Elena sat gasping for breath, she heard the front door open and close.

"Hey, Elena!"

Ashton. Elena knew her brother's best friends so well she could recognise their voices a mile off.

"Luke sent me. You know how he is." Ashton chuckled. When Elena didn't answer, Ashton frowned. "Elena, where are you? You didn't go out and party did you? Because I will totally tell on you to Luke - I'm not Michael."

Ashton stuck his head into the living room, humming to himself when he didn't see Elena. Walking into the kitchen, his eyes widened when he saw Elena sat in the floor, her back leaning against the cupboard and her hands clutching at her chest. Tears steamed down her cheeks as short gasps escaped her lips, her blue eyes pleading with Ashton.

"Ah- Ashton, I can't-"

Ashton quickly silenced her, dropping to his knees on the floor next to her. He knew the drill - having experienced his own attacks and Michaels, he knew what to do. "Shhh, Lena. Put your head between your knees, alright?"

Elena did so, her chest still rising and falling rapidly. "It's not- working, Ash-ton."

"It's okay. Follow my breathing, Elena. You're fine." Ashton exaggerated his breathing pattern, making his chest movements more obvious and his breathing louder.

Elena copied him, stumbling over her breathing. As her breathing evened out, she lifted her head up from her knees, tears streaming down her face.

Ashton pulled her towards him, pulling her onto his knees. He wrapped his arms around her as sobs escaped Elena's lips.

"Shh, shhh. You're okay. I'm here now, Elena." He murmured, rubbing circles onto the small of her back. "You're okay now. We're gonna go see Luke, yeah? And we won't take the car if you don't want to. Or we can get Michael or Calum to come round because I know for a fact that they have fuck all to do today."

Elena's sobs subdued and she let out a shaky breath. Pulling away from Ashton, she gave him a shaky smile.

"Can Michael and Calum come round? I don't wanna pull Luke out of his meeting." She whispered.

"You know he wouldn't mind, Elena."

"I know." She said. "But I do. Anyways, I want Michael and Calum here."

Ashton grinned. "Alright, then, I'll go call 'em."

Ashton pushed Elena off his knees gently, before standing up and walking to the front door, so that he could retrieve his phone from his coat pocket.

"Oh, Ashton!" Elena called.

"Yeah?" Ashton called back.

"Can we get Maccas?"

Ashton laughed. "Sure, Elena." He said, before muttering to himself. "You deserve it."

~~~

"LITTLE HEMMINGS!"

Elena laughed as she ran to the front door. Michael opened his arms to hug the girl, but she ducked underneath them, heading straight for Calum.

"Hey!" Michael whined. "I'm supposed to be your favourite."

"But Calum's got the food."

Calum laughed, handing the bags of food to Ashton who was stood next to them laughing.

"Ha ha, she loves me more."