Pretty Girls Lie

- What the hell are you two doing? - Calum asked walking into the kitchen in nothing but his boxers, still half asleep.

- Just talking. - Ashton said. - What time is it?

- It's a little past eight... - Calum could barely keep his eyes open.

- Eight? - Hope asked, not believing. - We've been here for four hours.

Well, it's not like I have any chance of going back to sleep... I'm gonna go get some coffee. - He said. - You two want some?

They both said yes and with that Ashton left.

- Good morning, by the way. - Calum said to Hope while trying to wake himself up with some cold water.

- 'Morning. - She returned the smile he gave her, and started cleaning up the mess her and Ashton made not too long ago.

- You don't have to do that.

- That's alright, there's not much anyway.

- 'Morning Calum, morning lo...What happened here, you lovebirds? - Michael said looking at Calum in boxers, Hope in male clothes and beer bottles everywhere. - I hope you used protection.

Hope just looked at him while Calum answered. - Nothing happened. Her and Ashton were up all night.

- Sure, whatever you say, Calum. - Michael said jokingly.

- How are you always so perky? - Hope asked him.

- Medication, my dear. - Michael answered with a straight face, but he didn't keep it long. - I'm gonna go, you two have fun until I get back.

- Goodbye Michael. - Calum told him, a little pissed of.

- Alright, alright, I won't tease anymore. - He raised one hand and put the other one on his heart. - Bye.

- Bye. - Hope said trough small laughter.

Michael left, but soon returned with his eyes covered.

- Are you decent? - He asked.

- Mikey! - It was to early to Calum for this.

- Oh come on, that was funny. - Michael told him. - Anyway, I'll go get something to eat, what are you in the mood for?

- Anything. - Calum said.

- You Hope? - Michael asked her.

- Uh, same.

- Wow, you two are perfect for each other. - Michael smiled and left.

- I'm sorry about him. - Calum said and smiled apologeticaly.

- It's alright. - She returned the smile.

- I'm gonna go get dressed. - Calum said and hurriedly left the room.

Not long after, the member least fond of Hope walked into the kitchen.

Noticing him, Hope smiled and greeted him politely. - Good morning.

- Good morning. - He asnwered equaly politely and also with a smile. - Have you seen the guys?

- Ashton went to get coffee, Michael went to get some breakfast and Calum is getting dressed.

They talked as if none of yesterday happened.

- Look, I'm sorry about yesterday. I didn't mean to be so rude. - Luke suddendly apologized.

- You weren't rude, you just didn't really acknowledge my presence. - Hope said and half smiled.

- Well, I'm sorry about that. - He apologized again.

- It's alright, I understand where you were coming from. - Hope said. - You're a good friend to him.

- You know you too are really alike, not just looks, which is pretty unbelievable how much you look alike, but you're also really good people.

- I appreciate that, but aren't you exaggerating a little? You barely know me. - She said humbly.

- I know enough. - He said and smiled. - So, when did Michael leave?

- Not more than five minutes ago.

- He better bring his ass home soon, I'm starving. - Calum, who just walked trough the door, said.

Almost an hour later Michael came back and him, Calum, Luke and Hope were sitting at the kithen counter and finally having breakfast, in silence.

They stayed silent utill Ashton returned.

- Honey, I'm home! - He yelled from the apartment entrance and everyone chuckled to his greeting.

Hope was the first one to finish eating and leave the kitchen.

- Oh hey, I want to show you something. - Ashton told her.

- What? - Hope was confused.

- Come on. - Ashton said and motioned for her to follow him. - Ta-da!

In front of the door were, literally, more than two dozen shopping bags.

- Ashton, I told you...

He cut her off. - I know, but come on, it's just clothes, and it's non refundable, so you have to wear them.

- You're insane, you know that, right? - She asked with a small smile on her face.

- Yeah, I know. - He said. - But I also know I'm the best brother in the world.

He smiled from ear to ear.

- Come on, I'll take these to your room and you can see if you like it and if everything fits. - He was surprisingly able to take all the bags at once and carry them to her room all by himself.

He placed all the bags on the floor next to her bed.

- I took everything in the same size, so you can just change into one outfit you'll wear today and if it fits everything else will too. - He said. - Also see if I got the right makeup and all those products, and if you need anything else let me know.

- You are unbelievable. - She said with a smile showing her dimples.

- You'll get used to me. - He also showed his dimples, and headed for the door.

- Thank you. - Her low husky voice reaching his ears just as he was about to close the door.

- Do I have to repeat myself again? Ah, alright. - He said, acting annoyed, but with a big smile on his face. - You don't have to thank me, we...

- Are family, I know. - She finished his sentance.

He gave her one last smile and left.

Not long after Hope came downstairs in denim high waisted jeans, sleeveless black crop top and low black boots with a high heel and cut outs, her curly hair falling over her shoulders and her back.

Ashton and Michael were in the living room watching TV.

- Hey, you look great. - Ashton said once he saw Hope come down the stairs and into the living room. - So, do you like everything?

- Everything is great, thank you... - Hope said. - But you still shouldn't have done that.

- Would you relax, it's just clothes. - Ashton said.

Hope didn't want to agrue with her newly found brother so she stayed quiet.

A few hours later Hope and the guys were in the living room watching a movie together, when Ashton's cell phone rang.

- Pause the movie. - He said and went into the kitchen to asnwer the phone.

A few minutes later he returned with a wierd expresion.

- Who was it? - Luke asked him.

- My mom. - He said and looked at Hope.

At first she didn't say anything, she just looked at him, but then she finally spoke. - Did you tell her about me?

There was no emotion in her voice.

- No, I acted as usual. It's not up to me to tell anyone, altough I did tell Calum and Michael.. - He told her. - Anyway, she wants to see me tomorrow, if you want you can come with me. She deserves to know...

Hope didn't know what to say so once again she didn't say anything.

- Think about it, at least. - He said and she simply nodded.

At the end of the movie, when the credits rolled, Michael spoke.

- Is anyone hungry? - He asked, Luke, Ashton and Calum said yes, while Hope didn't even hear him.

Hope's been distant ever since Ashton asked if she wants to go with him to meet his mother. How could she confront the woman to whom her father was married to when he slept with her mother and made her, was just one of the things running trough her mind.

- I'll go order some pizza. - Michael said and left and not long after Luke and Calum followed after him, leaving Ashton and Hope alone, they needed to talk.

- Are you alright? - Ashton asked and took a seat closer to Hope.

- Yeah, I just... Why do you want me to meet your mother? - She asked him.

- I don't know... She deserves to know that her ex-husband has a daughter and that I have a sister.

- And you think that she's gonna take meeting the product of her ex-husbands affair lightly?

- I... - Why did you come here, to me, and not to out father?

- I...I wanted to find out what he's like first. - She told him, almost whispered, but not showing any emotions. - You know when we were talking earlier and I told you I didn't have an opinion on him, well I lied. My mom would always tell me how great he is, and I always thought that was true, I know they barely knew each other but I always thought that someday he would come back into her life, that he was a good guy, but now meeting you I can see that he's not.

- So you don't wanna meet him anymore?

- No, I wasn't even sure I wanted to meet him before I got here, but now I'm positive. I survived eighteen years without him and I can sure as hell survive the rest without him. - She said, almost pissed off.

Ashton half smiled at his warrior sister.

- You know, you don't have to mee... - Once again Hope cut Ashton off.

- I'll think about it. - She said and half smiled.

After a few moments of silence Ashton spoke again.

- Hey, did I give you a tour of the apartment yesterday? - He asked her.

- No.

- How could I forget that, come on, get up. - He told her and they both got up.

The apartment was even more luxurious than Hope thought. On the first floor in the middle are the kitchen and the living room which are separated by a glass wall. On the left side of the apartment there's a bathroom, music room and a library, and on the right side of the apartment is also a bathroom, a game room and a gym, each of those rooms having huge windows with an amazing view of the city. On the second floor, there's a lounge which is pretty similar to the living room, two bathrooms and everyones bedroom, including two guest bedrooms. The walls outside of the both bathrooms are completely covered in mirrors and one wall in both of those bathrooms has a huge window overlooking the city. Two out of the six rooms have one floor to celling window covering the entire wall and one room, Hope's, has those windows covering two of her walls. Michael's, Ashton's and Hope's rooms, which are next to each other, share a gorgeous and spacious balcony with a lot of sitting places and an infinity pool on it. Everything in the apartment is in dark and clean pastel colours and dark wood, including a little bit of white very now and then.

When they returned to the living room only Calum was there, on his phone.

- Where are Mike and Luke? - Ashton asked.

- They're in the game room, surprisingly. - He said sarcasticaly and continued looking at his phone.

- I'm gonna go work out a bit, and you seriously relax a little and make yourself at home. - Ashton said to Hope.

Hope just smiled and nodded.

- Call me when pizza gets here. And don't eat everything before I get there. - Ashton shouted while on his way to the gym.

Hope took a seat on the couch.

- You know you two are so alike in pretty much everything except in one thing. - Calum said and put his phone next to him.

- And what's that? - She asked curiously.

- He could not talk more than he already does and I've barely heard you speak since you got here.

- Well I only got here yesterday evening so there's still time to here me speak before I leave. - She said and half smiled, that seemed to be her trade mark.

- You really think Ashton will let you leave? - He said after returning the smile.

- I can't stay here, you've all aready been too kind to me.

- Oh come on, is that why you don't wanna stay, because we're too kind? - Calum asked raising his eyebrows.

- I can't impose that much too you. - She said.

- You're not imposing. Have you seen Ash, he's as happy as a little kid on Christmas. - He said and caused her to chuckle.

- Maybe, but what about you, Luke and Michael?

- Okay Luke may not have been too thriled with you staying here yesterday but he is now, trust me, and so are Mikey and I.

She didn't say anything.

- Oh, for fucks sake, why are you and your brother so stubborn? - He asked, more rethorically, and Hope laughed. - Okay, you may not want to impose or whatever, but I'm telling you Ashton's not gonna let you leave.

She didn't know what to tell him. Just then someone rang the doorbell. Hope was saved by the bell, literally.

- Pizza! - Calum exclaimed and went towards the door. - Can you go get Ashton?

- Sure. - Hope got up as well and to the gym.

Ashton was runing on the treadmill, a few drops of sweat on his forehead.

- Hey. - Hope said. - Pizza's here.

- Ah, finally. - He stopped the treadmill, whiped the sweat from his forehead with a towel and together with Hope went to the living room.

Calum, Michael and Luke were sitting on the floor in front of the coffee table, with three pizza boxes in front of them. Ashton and Hope joined them.

They were mostly eating in silence, apart from the ocassional fighting over who gets the slice.

- Hope, what are you gonna wear tonight? - Luke asked her.

- For what? - Hope asked in confusion.

- You forgot to tell her? - Luke asked, this time Ashton.

- Shit, right. - Ashton remembered. - We're going to a nightclub opening tonight.

- Why do I have to come?

- Because you're my sister and I'm not leaving you alone.

- Oh come on. I hate going out. - She complained quietly.

- It'll be fun. I promise. - He told her.

- You have to come with us, kiddo. - Michael added.

It didn't seem like she had a choice.

So, what are you gonna wear? You can't wear Calum's clothes again. - Michael said.

- Excuse me? - Ashton was very confused, so was Luke.

- Calm down mate, I'm kidding. - Michael said.

Not wanting to get into it Ashton stayed quiet.

- Do I really have to go? - Hope asked again.

The guys all said yes.

- Ash, did you get her some dresses? - Luke asked and Ashton nodded.

- I have to wear a dress? - Hope asked, sounding a little annoyed.

The guys all said yes once again.

- Fine. - Hope said, acting mad, and the guys all laughed.

- It's ubelievable how similar you two are. - Michael commented, Luke and Calum nodded in agreement.

Notes

Excuse my poor chapter titles, I hope this one didn't make you think something steamy was going to happen...

But I assure you that the next one will not be completely steamless like this one.

Thank you for reading, I hope you like it, if you do please comment, it means a lot!