Oh Calamity!

“Hey stop sleeping down here when I look after you, go to bed”
“I’m fine, I’m awake!” I yawned sitting up,
“You can stay in my bed if you want, I don’t mind if you aren’t comfortable sleeping on your own or something”
“I am not sleeping in your bed” I laughed, that just sounded weird
“Ok, but if you need me during the night come find me, I will have pjs on” he assured me,
“O…k” I said feeling even weirder, I got comfortable with his arm around me, and started to fall asleep again
“ok I’m not waking you up to send you to bed, go to bed now, get your stuff and go get changed” he said trying to sound authoritive like Alex would if I was being awkward
I went up the stairs and sat on my bed, I didn’t feel tired anymore but didn’t want to go down after he had sent me up, I got in bed and lay distracted for a while but I couldn’t fall asleep, I lay with my back to the wall, I didn’t realise Jack was coming in until he was standing right in front of me, he was good at sneaking around,
“You still awake?” Jack said sitting on my bed looking concerned,
“What you doing in here?” I complained,
“me and Alex always check on you when we are worried, you are always asleep, but Alex likes to check, I told you to come find me if you couldn’t sleep”
“I didn’t want to worry you”
“What did I say about me being the adult and you the kid, I’m allowed to worry, and you need to talk to us more” he smiled,
“Hmm go away and let me sleep” I said hoping it would trick him into going,
“Ok, wait no you have been alone and not sleeping, don’t try and get rid of me” he laughed
“I will be fine, I will fall asleep soon, honestly, just let me relax” I smiled, he nodded and walked out, I got comfortable again, and soon fell asleep. I woke up late the next morning, Jack was already up, he made me a cup of tea and I knew he was about to bring it up
“So why couldn’t you sleep” he said watching me
“I don’t know” I said looking at my cup,
“Why didn’t you come find me?” he frowned, he looked older when he did that, I thought absentmindedly,
“Because getting up won’t help me get to sleep” I said honestly
“fine but lying there didn’t work either, if this happens next time come back down ok, don’t sit up there alone feeling like you have to” he smiled I nodded,
“Do you think decorating it and making it feel like your own room might help?” he asked looking hopeful
“Maybe” I said realising it didn’t really feel like my own at times, but I knew that wasn’t why I couldn’t sleep, I was thinking too much but I didn’t want to get into that, it wouldn’t help anyway,
“Ok we will get ready and wake Alex earlier this time and if he isn’t hung over he can come help pick stuff for your room”
“You don’t need to do that you know” I smiled feeling embarrassed
“I want to make you more comfortable at home” he smiled
“Thanks” I said knowing he meant it, we still hung around not moving for about 2 hours, before Jack made me move
“Ok you are lazier than me today, get your but to your room and go get changed” he laughed, I didn’t move, he laughed “move it” he said kicking me
“Hey” I complained so he stood in front of the TV, I sighed and got up.
“Shouldn’t Alex be up now?”
“Probably, wake him or he will just sleep all day”
“Alex?” I shouted
“Wait down here” he said running up shouting his name as loud as he could, I shook my head
“He’s not in” Jack said hiding a smirk, I didn’t get why,
“His car is here”
“He wouldn’t have taken his car last night” he said shaking his head,
“Wait there’s someone pulling in” I said looking through the window.
Alex POV
So I stayed at Tays last night, I was trying to take our time but last night we did it, it wasn’t like it used to be, it wasn’t a quickie or whatever it was great, we really connected, and I was sure I wanted us to stay together now,
“Hey I better get going, I’ve got to get back for ash”
“What time do you need to be back for?”
“Any really but I want to spend some time with her, shit is that the time?” I said looking at her clock it was almost 12
“They will probably be looking for me by now”
“Hey calm down I can drop you off” she smiled kissing me, I relaxed and kissed her back, then pulled away and grabbed my stuff
“Sorry but I don’t want her to know I was out all night if I can help it, I always spend my weekend with her” I explained not wanting to think I was blowing her off now
“It’s ok, and she lets you spend that much time with her, at her age?” she said confused
“yeah, she doesn’t have too many friends, she actually seems to enjoy it, and me and Jack like keep her close, it seems to work well” I shrugged, I guess it was weird for her to spend so much time with us, but it never felt that way.
“Cool” she smiled we got into her car and drove to mine, it wasn’t too far, only like 5 minutes, I kissed Tay when she stopped
“Hey Jacks car is here, let’s go say hi” she said excited she hadn’t seen Jack in a while.
“No wait!” I said as she got out of the car
“What?” she said, I stood at the car with her
“Ash will be in there, he was looking after her remember?”
“Oh right, and you don’t want her to meet me?” she said looking hurt
“Not like that, I just wanted to make sure we were serious before she met you” I said realising that we were about to have that conversation with ash and Jack near by
“And you don’t think we are yet?” she crossed her arms,
“I do, I just, she just lost her mum Tay, I don’t want her to get attached to anyone I know might not stick around”
“And you don’t think I will?”
“I do” I closed my eyes running my hands through my hair
“I get you are protecting her, but doesn’t she know already, isn’t she asking questions? Do you not think it would help to treat her more like an adult, I don’t have to be around all the time for her to get attached like that but meeting her and stuff might help, plus wouldn’t it be good for her to have a girl around, you guys are not good at dealing with girl stuff AT ALL” she laughed
“Maybe” I said doubting everything
“look we can do this another time if you want, think about it” she smiled, she was being great but I knew she was right, ash wanted to know what was going on, Jack told me the same thing,
“Wait” I said as she went to get in the car
“come meet her, we will see how it goes from then” I smiled, she looked so happy, I took her hand and walked in, I opened the door and Jack was already there, he was watching,
“Hey Alex, Tay” he said with a smirk
“Hey Jack” I said glaring at him
“hey Jack you 2 girls gossip later?” she laughed walking away, I ran after her, I could hear Jack laughing a little, he knew I was so nervous right now, Tay walked in not realising Ash was right there
“Oh hey, erm you must be ash, I’m Tay” she smiled awkwardly
“Oh hey”
“Hey Alex” she said hugging me,
“Where were you” she said confused, Jack burst out laughing,
“Ash” Jack said shaking his head, then she pieced it together
“Oh, ooh eww” she said looking away, I was so embarrassed, Jack just laughed more, and Tay didn’t know what to do either,
“I’m erm going to get a drink anyone want anything” ash said wanting to get away
“Me please” Jack smiled
“Me too” I smiled
“Tay?”
“Yeah, I’ll help you” she smiled, I wanted to get up but Jack stopped me
“Let them talk alone, she is going to be better at this” he said I sighed and sat down.
Ash pov
Tay said she would help, I wanted to be alone for a second but not in this house,
“So you ok with this?” she asked, I grabbed the cans, I could not talk to her right now,
“Yeah, Alex has been happier, well when Jack isn’t winding him up about it”
“In front of you?”
“A little but they talked in code” I laughed
“They are such dorks” she laughed
“tell me about it, I live with them!” I smiled,
“So me being with your uncle doesn’t bother you?”
“No, I want him to be happy” I smiled,
“good, he’s worried a million things will go wrong, I just want to not have this thing where he has to hide us from each other, I mean I’m not going to invade everything, I know you Alex and Jack are close and have your own routine, but it would be nice to be able to say hi every now and then”
“You don’t have to avoid us either, I mean I like being able to talk to them alone sometimes but having a girl in the house might help”
“yeah I get that, let Alex know that and it will be more likely to happen, he won’t listen unless you say it, but come on” she smiled I followed her and we handed the guys there drinks, I sat drinking
“So what were you 2 talking about?” Alex said looking paranoid and nervous
“Nothing” I smiled winding him up,
“You” Tay said joining in making Jack laugh, Alex looked huffed
“Guys” Alex complained
“Just making sure we are both comfortable” Tay smiled, Alex relaxed a little,
“yeah, and I told Tay she didn’t have to avoid us all together just because I normally spend all my time with you guys having a girl around could help” I shrugged,
“Really?” Alex said shocked
“Yeah” I said feeling awkward, Tay smiled happy
“I told you she would feel like that!” Jack said laughing
“Jack shut up”
“I’m always right!” Jack grinned, I shook my head
“You know it’s true” Jack grinned poking me in the side
“Jack go away” I moaned
“Nope you loooovvvvvve me” he grinned in my face.
“Jack shut up!”
“Ashleigh!” Alex warned
“Hey you just said it”
“You did” Tay laughed
“Fine Jack stop being so annoying” Alex laughed
“I don’t like this 2 girls to gang up on us” Jack laughed
“I don’t mind” Alex smiled putting his arm around us. It was weird but felt nice,
“Anyway Alex we were going to go shopping ash needs to decorate her room”
“Oh right cool, I will leave you to it” Tay smiled, clearly feeling awkward
“You could come, if you like, I mean I have no idea what to get and don’t trust their decorating skills, a girls opinion might be nice” I said awkwardly, Jack smiled at me, Alex looked weird I couldn’t work out what he was feeling, he looked happy but really worried.
“Oh I wouldn’t want to intrude” she smiled
“Oh ok” I said trying not to sound disappointed,
“You can come” Alex smiled,
“Why don’t you 2 go talk this out, me and ash will go play guitar upstairs” Jack smiled and pulled me up
“What is going on with them?”
“You are being nicer to Tay faster than Alex expected he expected some rebellion or just awkwardness”
“I’m trying to avoid the awkwardness!” I complained
“I know I can see and its working but Alex didn’t expect it and he doesn’t know if he wants you to bond with her too much in case they break up, but he doesn’t want to stop you in case they don’t and he stops you when you were most willing” Jack explained
“That’s stupid, I’m not a baby I know they might break up!” Alex came up the stairs
“Look ash its sweet you inviting Tay along, but I don’t think she’s ready to join in with us so much”
“She?” I asked raising an eyebrow
“Yes she, don’t use that tone with me”
“Sorry but it’s you who isn’t ready, you are scared of letting her spend time with me because letting her is committing to the relationship and your scared!” I said making Jack laugh
“Excuse me?” Alex said
“She is right, and you are going to mess it up if you keep them both a part, let them be friends, and if you break up she can handle it” Alex glared at Jack,
“Stop looking at us like that”
“Yeah I want you to be happy, you have been in a much better mood the past week”
“And would be in a better mood if he wasn’t so stressed I’m guessing!”
“Jack that’s enough!” Alex said annoyed
“Fine, don’t let her come, but I’m not listening to you 2 for decorating advice” I said walking down the stairs
“Ash” Tay started
“Don’t worry Alex already told me, its him not you, and don’t worry about him he’s just over protective of me, give him a chance he will calm down” I smiled making her laugh
“Ashleigh that’s enough” Alex shouted annoyed
“Fine go shopping on your own” I said sick of him, I stormed to my room and slammed my door, I wasn’t talking to anyone if he was just going to shout at me for nothing.

Notes