your lipstick stain is a work of art.

It was just an average day for Amalia. She'd had two classes earlier in the day and now she was working the afternoon/night shift at the diner. It wasn't an ideal job, but it did what it was supposed to do. The tips were decent, some of the customers were great, and she was able to pay her rent every month because of it. Of course, it wasn't what she was planning on doing for the rest of her life, but that was usually the case for most university students with part-time jobs. It was just a way to get by while they were in school, and hopefully it wouldn't be too hard to find a job in whatever field of study they were in afterwards. Amalia walked in through the back door, having just gone out for a cigarette that she had bummed off one of the cooks, when her friend Stevie, the other waitress on the floor, spoke to her. "That guy who asks you out every time he comes in is here. He doesn't give up, does he?" Amalia knew exactly who she was talking about. Calum Hood. He'd been trying to get her to go out on a date with him for the longest time now. "Not by a long shot." She said as she walked back in. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were stalking me." She said as she approached where he was seated at the counter.

---

As much as Ashton loved being out on tour, it was nothing in comparison to being home in Sydney. Really, there was no place like home. His family was here and so were a lot of his friends. So, while he did enjoy what he did for a living, it was nice to have some time off every once and a while, even if it was short-lived. The best part was definitely getting to see Emery though. They both had extremely busy schedules, though right now they both happened to be home at the same time. Pulling out his phone, he decided to text his girlfriend to see what she was up to. He'd spent some time with his family the day before, it was his third day back, the first day he'd just caught up on sleep, and now he was hoping to spend some much needed time with Emery. Baaaaaabbbbbeeeee.

Calum couldn't help the smile that found it's way to his face when he heard the familiar voice of Amalia, the absolutely gorgeous girl he'd been pining after for a while now. And he wasn't usually that kind of guy, the one who was relentless in trying to get a girls attention, but there was just something about this girl that made it to where he couldn't help it. Maybe it was the fact that every time he tried to get her to go out with him she turned him down, or maybe it was something totally different. Either way there was something about her. "Well then I guess I'm glad you know better." He said hoping she didn't think he was actually stalking her or anything. Because he wasn't, he was just here at the diner pretty much every day she worked. But That was totally different than being everywhere she was all the time and like knowing everything about her or anything.

---

Emery pulled her hair up into a high ponytail the grabbed her buzzing phone off the dresser smiling to herself when she saw who it was. Honestly it was hard being in a relationship with Ashton given both their busy schedules. And more often than not it felt like when one of them was home the other one wasn't. But that's just what happened when you both have demanding careers that require lots of traveling. She wasn't going to waste any time with him while they were both home though. yes love? She sent him back knowing he was asking to see what she was doing, probably because he'd already been home two days and they'd only seen each other all of like an hour when she'd picked him up from the airport and drove him home and all.

[I didn't get a notification for this or else I would've posted earlier ]

"You don't really seem like the stalked type." Amalia said simply, giving her shoulders a slight shrug. And that was the honest truth. Calum was overly persistent, sure, but he didn't seem like a stalker. She knew that he wasn't one. He was just someone who clearly didn't know how to take a hint. She'd lost count of how many times he'd asked her out, and that was definitely saying something seeing as he wasn't in Sydney very often to begin with. "Well, since you came all the way here, can I get you anything?" She was planning on trying to avoid the subject of dating all together. She was sort of hoping that, if she did, maybe, just maybe, he wouldn't try asking her out again. She felt kind of bad turning him down as many times as she had. It had to be hurting his ego at least a little bit.

---

Ashton was really glad that he and Emery both happened to be home at the same time. That was an extremely rare occurrence, they both had very busy schedules and lives, but it was nice knowing that every once in a blue moon they happened to be home around the same time, excluding holidays and all that. Needless to say, Ashton was planning on taking full advantage of this extremely rare occurrence. He was going to spend as much time with his girlfriend as he possibly could. Until she got sick of him of course, if that ended up happening. He hoped that it wouldn't though. Why is it that I've been home for over 48 hours now but I've hardly seen that gorgeous face of yours?

[ you're fine. I almost feel like I might've forgotten to hit reply ]

"Probably because I'm not really." Calum said shrugged his shoulders a little and sending her a smile, he wasn't a stalker. Really what Calum was was a persistent guy who wanted a certain girl to give him a chance. Which was why yet again while he was home he was here at the diner where she worked. "Uh yea actually that'd be nice." He said thinking for a second about what he wanted, he felt like the menu had added a couple new items since last time he'd been in here. Of course given that'd been well a while it made sense. "Can I just have a cheeseburger with an order of fries and a large chocolate thickshake." He told her kind of excited actually to get a thickshake. Yea they had something similar over in the states but well honestly Calum didn't think they were nearly as good as the great thickshakes he could get right here at home.

---

most likely because I didn't wanna take you away from your family and you needed your sleep. Emery replied knowing neither him or his family would mind if she was around, after all they all got along pretty well and there were multiple times when she'd be home but Ashton wouldn't and Anne would ask her to watch Harry so could go out with the other mums, or get shopping done. And Emery didn't mind because they always had fun, they'd build forts and play with legos, she'd play video games with him, put them together and Emery would make sure that Harry had fun. But she also liked to give Ashton private time with his family for a bit when he was home too. Because they didn't get to see him any more than she did really when it came to seeing him in person, and well she knew it was hard on her mum all the traveling and work she did. I was actually going to see if you wanted to come over and go for a swim?

"I guess that makes sense." Amalia let out a quiet laugh. She didn't think that he was a stalker or anything like that. Persistent, yes, but definitely not a stalker. "What can I get you?" She asked, pulling her book and pen out of her apron and going to the next new ticket. She waited for him to give her his order, writing it down as he spoke. Of course, it probably didn't really look like what he'd said, not completely anyway. She had abbreviations for everything. Just made the whole process easier and a lot faster. "I'll have that for you in a few minutes." She sent a small smile his way before making her way back to the kitchen to put the order in.

---

Pshhhh, sleep is for the weak, and I most certainly am not weak. Ashton sent back rather quickly. He was only joking of course. He knew that he needed sleep, and spending time with his family was pretty important too, but so was spending time with his gorgeous girlfriend. Needless to say, while they both happened to be home at the same exact time, an occurrence that didn't happen very often, he planned on taking full advantage of all of the time that he had readily available to him. Mum wouldn't have minded you stopping by ya know....I actually thinks she might love you more than she loves me. He grinned slightly as he hit the send button once more, moments later receiving another text from Emery. I'll be over in five minutes.

Calum smiled at her, "sounds good." He told her totally fine with her putting in the order whenever. Honestly he had all day, and all night. Not that he wanted to stay all day or night, he could though because he didn't have anything else going on. Which was probably the best thing about about being home and on a break from touring. He didn't have anything else going on and he actually had all this free time to just do whatever he wanted for a while. And sure every day wasn't going to be like this, because well there'd be days even while they were on break when they'd have to practice and things, but it wasn't going to be an everyday thing and for the most part he actually could relax and enjoy just being home. It also meant that he could come by the diner pretty much every day and try his best to convince Amalia to give him a chance.

---

Ooook. You keep telling yourself that tough guy. Emery replied rolling her eyes at her boyfriend's text, he was such a weakling if sleeping was for the weak, but she loved him anyways. I know, I bet she does. I mean I'm there like all the time when I'm home and you're not. Harry and I are like bff's. jk. She totally loves us equally . Harry and I really are bff's though, so tell him I said hi before you come over. And well I'll be here waiting . She sent quickly afterwards. It was so nice that they were both home though and that they could actually send time together at home, neither of them had to buy a plane ticket to see the other. They didn't have to use skype, or count how many hours and minutes they had until they had to leave so they could be back to where they needed to be in time. They were both home and could just enjoy a bit of time off together.

Amalia put the ticket for Calum's order in before working on making his thick shake. Once she had finished making it, she made sure to top it off some whipped cream and chocolate syrup, before walking back out front. "I'm not trying to brag or anything, but I've been told that I make some of the best thick shakes on the planet." She said with a slight grin as she set her "masterpiece" down in front of him. "I guess I'll let you be the judge of that though." She let out a quiet laugh.

---

What're you trying to say, babe? You don't think I'm tough? Ashton grinned slightly as he replied to his girlfriend's text. He loved joking around with her like this. She definitely does! She actually told me once before that she loved you more than she loves me... I told her to just adopt you or something, but then it would be weird because you'd be like my sister or something...I'll tell Harry you said hi though, and I'll be over in a little bit. He hit send one last time before getting up and grabbing a pair of swim trunks and his sunglasses before heading downstairs. "Mum, I'm going over Emery's!" He called as he walked past the kitchen, grabbing his car keys along the way.

"I suppose you will." Calum said having no doubts that her thickshake would be fantastic. And when it was finally set down in front of him and he took a sip he had to admit it was indeed fantastic. "I have to say whoever tells you that is right." He told her wishing he could have something this amazing when he was over in the states on tour. "This is so much better than the milkshakes they have over in the states." He told her knowing one thing that made this one better was it was thicker, had a more chocolaty taste, and well Amalia had made it for him. Which that was just something that would always be a win in his mind given anything that kept her talking to him and not ignoring him was a win in his mind though.

---

I love you! . And no she did not. Emery said knowing that Ashton's mum loved her, probably as much as she loved her son. It would totally be weird if she adopted me so I'm okay with that not happening. And sounds good, I'll be here waiting She added after the first text before finally setting her phone down on her dresser and searching her room for her bathing suit. Honestly it'd been so long since she'd been home long enough to really enjoy it that she wasn't even sure she knew where she'd put it last. Of course she had more than one, but there was just that one special one she liked to wear while she was home that she didn't really take anywhere because she loved it to much to risk possibly leaving it somewhere during all the traveling she did. Not that she even had that much time to just relax and go swimming while she was off working, but still.

@ zima.

Amalia smiled. "I'm glad you think so." She said. She hadn't been lying when she said that she made some of the best thick shakes, maybe not on the planet, but it certainly was close. "Is it? I wouldn't know." She'd never been to the States before. She didn't really get to travel or go on vacation much at all. It was usually work and school, that was it. She had no time to leave the country for extended periods of time. Sure, there was the occasional weekend trip, but it was just that, a weekend trip. Nothing too special.

---

She did! You can ask her yourself when you see her. My mum loves you more than she loves me. It's quite unfortunate. There was a slight grin on Ashton's face as he texted his girlfriend. It was one that made it apparent to pretty much anyone who knew him well enough that he was texting Emery. I am too...that would make things really weird and awkward, haha. I'll see you soon, babe He walked out the door and over to his car. He couldn't wait to spend time with his girlfriend today.

@ Sirius Black..

[ Sorry I didn't reply sooner! ]

"Well trust me it's totally better," Calum told Amalia, "and I wouldn't lie about something like that," he added taking another sip of the thickshake in front of him just glad to be home. Yea he loved getting to travel with the lads but well this was home and he'd really missed it. "I take it you've never been to the states?" He asked figuring that was why she'd never had a milkshake. "They're pretty great, and I really like visiting and stuff when I get to go. However, I prefer it here."

---

I will, and eh you'll be okay. I mean I still love you! Emery sent back before picking up her book off the end table on her way out to the pool. Until Ashton got there she figured she wouldn't get in the water, and instead she'd lay next to it and read a little. After all it wasn't every day that she got the chance to just enjoy even five minutes to herself. Especially five minutes alone at her house. Which she didn't mind spending time with Ashton, actually she preferred to spend time with him if she could given she didn't get to see him that often. She just liked her alone time also and did want to catch up on some reading she didn't get nearly enough time for anymore.

[No worries! ]

"I suppose I'll just have to take your word for it." Amalia said, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. She wasn't going to lie, she did find him rather attractive, but she wasn't looking for a relationship right now. She wasn't even looking to go on dates right now either, so she was kind of forced to turn him down every time he asked her out. Clearly it didn't hurt his self-esteem because he still showed up here, quite frequently actually. "You would be correct. Is that because the waitresses here are better? Well, one waitress in particular?" She grinned slightly.

---

Well, as long as you still love me, I suppose I can handle my mum loving you more. Ashton sent back, a slight grin tugging at the corners of his lips. He put his phone into one of the cupholders in the car before driving off. Emery didn't live very far from him, so it didn't take him long at all to get to her house. He was looking forward to spending a great deal of time with her while he was home. It would be nice to relax and do some more laid back things. Their schedules were both normally pretty chaotic, so this was something they didn't normally have the opportunity to do. Incoming He sent one last text before heading into her backyard, smiling when he saw her lounging out by the pool with her nose in a book. "Is that book more interesting than your boyfriend?" He feigned a pout.

"I supposed you will," Calum said smiling back at her. He really did wish that she'd give him a chance but well he'd been down this road before. He knew if he asked that she'd say no, but he'd still be back. Because he wasn't going to give up, sure she hadn't accepted his invitation yet but that didn't mean she wouldn't in the future. "Well, hopefully, one day you get the chance to visit. It's really great. And yes there is one waitress in particular here I like more than all others. But overall I meant that I like it here in the Down Under more than the states. Partly because of that one waitress, but also because I don't think I could live without a thickshake." He said laughing a little. Honestly, Australia was his home, he'd lived there his whole life and loved every second of it. Thinking about leaving the country, living somewhere else permanently or having a life somewhere else sounded like a terrible idea.

---

Once Emery got started reading a good book, it wasn't uncommon that she'd get sucked in and that usually meant the world around her didn't exist until she was pulled back into reality. And while her phone buzzing might not've been enough to pull her back into reality, hearing Ashton speak was. She was quickly stuffing her bookmark in her book and dropping in her chair and running over to Ashton and jumping on him. "Ah! I've missed you so much!!" She said super glad they were both actually there. Honestly, it had been way too long since they'd both been together and had time to spend with one another with nothing standing in the way. It was just them.

"Yeah, I'm hoping to have the opportunity at some point in the future." Amalia told him, leaning against the counter a bit. Thankfully, there was hardly anyone in the restaurant at the moment, so she wasn't going to get in trouble for standing there and talking to him for an extended period of time or anything like that. "Well, that one waitress happens to make some of the best thickshakes around, so I'm pretty sure it goes hand in hand." She joked, letting out a quiet laugh of her own. She had to admit, when he did come in, she did enjoy talking to him. She just wished that he wouldn't keep asking her out. It wasn't that she didn't think that he was a nice guy or anything like that, she just wasn't looking for anything serious right now, and he didn't seem like the no-strings-attached kind of guy at all.

---

Ashton chuckled softly, staggering back a bit as he caught his girlfriend. wrapping his arms around her waist as he drew her closer to him and buried his face into her hair. "I missed you too, babe." He said, pressing a kiss to the side of her head as he pulled away slightly to get a better look at her. She was still just as beautiful as he remembered her being, if not more beautiful, and he was reminded rather consistently just how lucky he was to have her. Sometimes he even felt like she was way out of his league. He was so happy to be home at the same time that she was now though. He hated being away from her for extended periods of time.

"Well, I hope that works out for you," Calum told her sticking with the whole visiting the states was an amazing opportunity thing. It was an amazing opportunity when it was presented to a person, he was sure though that American's thought the same thing about getting a chance to travel to the outback. Honestly though, traveling was just something that Calum felt everyone should get the chance to take part in because it was a great experience. Though he might've felt so strongly about it because he was in a band and got to travel and loved it and felt like everyone should experience traveling and how amazing it could be. "You might be right about that one," he said laughing himself then taking another sip from his thickshake. Calum knew that she wouldn't agree to go on a date with him in her asked, mostly because well she'd made it pretty clear the last few times he'd asked her out. However, he had something a little differently in mind for this time around.

---

Emery smiled to herself so happy to be with Ashton right now, and she really was going to take full advantage of her time with him. "So how about we take that swim?" She said biting her lip and leaning back a little to look at him with a smile. "Oh and my parents are visiting the grandparents this week so we also have the whole place to ourselves." She told him. Sure if she had her own place then they'd have the place to themselves all the time, but well she still crashed at her parents house when she was home. And she didn't do it because she couldn't afford a place of her own, because well she could, but she did it because most of her time was spent traveling and there was no point at her getting a place of her own at this point in her life when she'd hardly even get to use the place. She'd just end up paying the bills to have a place that didn't get used which would be a waste of her money. So until the day came that she actually wanted her own place to share with well Ashton most likely, she was just planning to crash at her parents place while she was home.

"Yeah, I hope so too." Amalia wasn't about to get her hopes up or anything though. As much as she would love to go and see the States, she was a university student surviving off of a waitress' salary. It wasn't much, though it was enough for her to get by, but it certainly wasn't enough for her to become some world traveler in the near future or anything like that. "Oh, I know I'm right." She said, letting out a quiet laugh of her own. She liked talking to Calum when he wasn't asking her out constantly, though she did wonder why he had yet to ask her out this time around. Had he really given up? Something told her that that wasn't the case at all.

---

"That's actually the only reason why I'm here. I'm only with you because I like swimming in your pool." Ashton teased lightly as he set her down. His face lit up when she said that she had the house to herself for the week. "I think this is going to be one of the best breaks from tour yet." He told her. He understood why she still lived with her parents. It was the same for him as well. Neither of them were really home enough to get a place of their own just yet. Yes, they could both clearly afford it, but when they weren't home to actually appreciate it, well, what was the point then?

"Well, I see someone's confident in their thickshake making skills," Calum said taking another sip of the thing. Though she was rightfully so confident in those special skills. He knew he wouldn't be able to make one like this, usually every time he tried to make one himself it didn't turn out even half as good as when he just came here and got one. Which he never understood why that was, especially when he did everything right, and as far as he knew he used the same things the diner did, but whatever. He didn't have an issue dishing out a couple bucks a day or so for a thickshake, it wasn't like it was going to break him or anything. "So I know that if I were to ask you out right now you'd say no, because well that's what you've said every other time I've asked. And it's become pretty clear that you're not dating right now which it totally cool. But I was thinking maybe we could just hang out, like as friends. And I know that we don't really know each other that well or anything. But I mean for a friendship to grow the friends should hang out some outside of the work area to get to know one another. And it wouldn't have to be today or anything, I mean my bands on a break from touring right now so I'll be in town for a while so if you're up for it then whenever works for you works for me." He told her knowing she wouldn't agree to a date with him, but maybe she'd agree to just hang out with him as a friend. And maybe in the future once they knew one another better she'd agree to date him or at least think about dating him but right now he was more concerned about just getting to see her outside of this diner at least once.

---

"You mean my mum was right about you? You're only with me for my things." Emery teased right back. Her parents loved Ashton probably as much as Ashton's parents loved her. She felt like it wasn't unusual for one person to feel like the other's parents didn't like them for whatever reason, but well her and Ashton didn't have to worry about that. Though Emery did love Ashton, and she'd never lied to his mum about anything so it wasn't like the woman had anything to fret about. Plus Emery believed in being true to herself even if meant people didn't like her so she hadn't tried to make his mum like her, she'd just been herself the first time she'd met her and everything had worked out. And she was pretty sure it was the same for Ashton and her parents. "I have to agree, this is going to be one of the best breaks from work I've ever had." She replied before stepping back from him a little and taking her clothes off leaving just her bathing suit. "I'm going to get in the water now," she said still walking towards the pool. "And you're more than welcome to join me," she added pulling down her hair and smiling at him.

"I have no reason not to be." Amalia said, a slight grin tugging at the corners of her lips. "I'm pretty sure it's a known fact around here that I make the best thickshakes out of all the other waitresses here. Not that I'm trying to brag or anything." She punctuated her words with a slight shrug of her shoulders. A lot of the other girls she worked with often asked her to make the thickshakes for them whenever they received an order for one simply because they knew that hers were the best. The customers knew so as well. "You want to hang out?" She repeated slowly. She'd honestly expected him to ask her out yet again and, for whatever reason, she was almost disappointed that he hadn't. Maybe she was just so used to him doing so that it was strange not having him ask her. Or maybe she was actually considering saying yes for once.

---

"Oh yeah, that's totally the only reason why I'm with you, Emmy. I can't believe you're only realizing this now, I figured it was pretty obvious." Ashton teased right back, smirking slightly. He knew that her parents hadn't said anything like that about him. He got on rather well with both of them, something he was extremely thankful for, and they knew that he truly loved their daughter. He wasn't using her or anything like that at all. Not even a little bit. He was always 100% honest with her family and he knew that she was with his mum as well. "Well, seeing as I did come over here partially to go swimming..." He pulled his shirt off over his head, setting it on one of the chairs before following her over to the pool.