i can't deny

Cecilia laughed against Luke's lips, grinning as she listened to him. "You're perfect," she murmured quietly in return as she relaxed, breathing out happily as she enjoyed the contact between them.

Michael grinned slightly, amused, and he kissed her lips for a long moment, just relishing in the feeling. "Can you blame me for wanting to tell you as much as possible?" he asked teasingly - especially when they'd be parting for a month.

"They're so gross," Ashton said, making a jokingly disgusted face.

Luke smiled, biting his lip with Cecilia's words, honoured that she thought so highly of him. He considered Cecilia to be the highest standard of perfect, and hearing those words leave her mouth made Luke feel so, so elated. "Have you seen yourself?" He murmured, pressing a kiss to her lips once more.

Arianna laughed and shook her head. "You're lame and I love you." She told him. "But I think Ashton and Calum are gonna flip the table if we carry on grossing them out." She teased, pressing another kiss to Michael's lips, not really caring.

Calum nodded. "Flipping table is definitely on the agenda."

Cecilia laughed quietly against his lips, grinning broadly as she nipped at his lower lip gently. "Shouldn't you be asking yourself that?" she asked quietly, pulling back to examine him for a few moments, though she smiled to herself, happy to be near him.

"They're lame," Michael complained with a small pout, though he smiled as he watched Arianna. "I'm enjoying grossing them out, though." He grinned, lifting a hand to cup her face gently as he returned her kiss, just wanting to enjoy his time with her.

Ashton made a face as he watched them. "We need some ice water to cool them off," he joked.

Luke grinned with the feeling, gently nipping Cecilia's lower lip in return. "Mm, no." He shook his head. "Because, see, I know you're perfect, and you deserve to know you're perfect, because you shine brighter than anything else could." He spoke his honest truth, and he meant every word. Cecilia was just so incredible, and he vowed that every day, every damn day, he would tell her.

Arianna smiled with Michael's pout, rolling her eyes playfully. "You're so cute." She exhaled happily, pressing another kiss to Michael's lips. "And so mean." She teased, their foreheads meeting once more as Arianna relaxed within Michael's personal space, knowing he didn't mind sharing, knowing she wouldn't feel as 'at home' anywhere else.

Calum smirked. "We should do that."

Cecilia laughed quietly to his words, grinning broadly as she examined him for a few long moments. “You’re way too perfect,” she murmured quietly in response as she examined him and she lifted her hands to cup his face, running her thumbs over his cheeks gently. “Perfect for me, perfect in general. I just… I can’t believe I’m so lucky to have you in my life.”

Michael snorted a laugh as he held her close, rubbing her back gently as he grinned at her. “I can take being mean,” he teased lightly, lifting a hand to run his fingers through her hair gently as he examined her, loving how gorgeous she was, how amazing she was. “And you’re gorgeous, so I think I win.” His grin broadening, he winked at her teasingly, but kissed her one more time.

“We should,” Ashton said with a grin, “Should I go get some?”

Luke smiled with Cecilia's words, just relaxing under her touch. "I love you so much." He exhaled happily, relaxed, so incredibly grateful to have Cecilia beside him. "But trust me when I say that I'm the lucky one here." Luke spoke softly. "I met my soulmate and within 24 hours, I got to call you mine. I really lucked out." Luke beamed.

Arianna laughed as Michael snorted with laughter. "Oh my god, I love you so much." She beamed, shaking her head in amusement. But still, Arianna relaxed with the feeling of Michael stroking through her hair, just relaxing under his touch completely. "You're such a dork." She murmured into his lips, smiling. "You're just as gorgeous, do you ever think about that?"

Calum grinned and nodded.

Cecilia grinned up at him, shifting to lean her forehead against his. “I love you so much, too,” she murmured quietly, “But that doesn’t take away from the fact that I’m lucky, too. After all, I’m right there in the same boat with you.” She grinned happily with the thought of it, absolutely loving it.

Michael laughed with the mention of it, his fingers still running through her hair gently. “I love you so much, too, you know,” he reminded her quietly as he examined her, though he arched an amused, teasing brow. “And, if I’m a dork, what does that make you?” Winking teasingly, just so grateful for her, he leaned to kiss her forehead. “You’re definitely far more gorgeous.”

Ashton grinned before he went to get a couple glasses of ice water before he brought them back, setting one in front of Calum. “Choose your victims,” he told his friend teasingly.

Luke’s smile softened as Cecilia’s forehead pressed to his, cupping her cheeks delicately in his hands, gently running his thumbs across her cheeks, loving being so close with Cecilia, loving the fact she was going to be his forever. “I can’t wait for you to come to the show tonight.”

Arianna’s cheeks heat up into a blush, her eyes closing over as Michael’s fingers ran through her hair. “Hey!” She debated, hearing his dork comments with a laugh. “I’m a nerd. Not as bad.” She teased. “Us nerdy, dorky types gotta stick together.” She teased, smiling as he kissed her forehead.

Calum grinned, accepting his glass, throwing it over Michael and Arianna without a qualm, still laughing loudly, his head falling back.

Arianna gasped, laughing, throwing a pancake at Calum. “Dickhead!” She squeaked. “That was cold!”

Cecilia grinned with Luke's delicate touch, her eyes closing over as she relaxed under his touch, just so happy, so comfortable, being near him. “I can't wait, either,” she murmured quietly before grinning slightly, “My first concert ever and it's gonna be my boyfriend's band playing, I just know it's gonna be great.”

Michael chuckled quietly in response, grinning broadly with the mention of it. “Alright, alright, nerd,” he teased her, kissing her forehead again, “And a very cute nerd at that.” He winked teasingly, just adoring her so much, so glad she was his, though he gave a noise of surprise when he felt the water get thrown at him. “Cal!” he complained before he quickly looked to Arianna, hoping that he had taken the brunt of the attack so that Arianna didn’t.

“Oi, that’s enough out of all of you,” Ashton chimed as he threw the glass he held at Luke and Cecilia, grinning before he laughed.

Cecilia gasped with surprise but shot Ashton a playful look. “Not cool!” she complained, pouting, but not really upset by it.

Luke pressed a sweet kiss to Cecilia's forehead as he saw her relax, but his own grin grew when he caught sight of hers. Her smile, god damn, Luke couldn't even begin to describe it. She was incredible, and Luke almost hated the fact that he hadn't known her all of his life, feeling like he'd missed out on so much. At least he was here now. "I'm gonna make sure it's the best show you ever see." He promised quietly, although he laughed with surprise as Ashton threw water at them, wrapping his arms around Cecilia's middle. "Oi!" He debated at Ashton. "You idiot," although he looked to Cecilia, relieved, almost, to see she wasn't angry. "Told you he was a douche." He winked, but shrugged off his jacket. "Here, baby, take this."

Arianna laughed harder when she heard Michael's noise of surprise, burying her face into his shoulder as she laughed, not upset by the gesture at all, finding it more amusing than annoying. "Oh, if this is how it's gonna be, consider this a war." She warned Calum and Ashton. "We work in a hotel, you think we don't have a few tricks of our own?" She raised her eyebrows to the other two boys. "Game on, assholes."

Calum high fived Ashton with a grin as he sat back down, but his grin broadened with Arianna's words. "Alright, you two, you're on. May the best pranksters win."

Cecilia couldn’t help but to laugh, pushing a few strands of hair that had gotten wet out of her face before she made a playful face at Luke. “It could have been worse. They could have thrown syrup at us,” she joked lightly, but she blinked. “Are you sure? It’ll get wet.” She pouted but she made a face at Calum and Ashton. “Oh, you two are gonna wish you hadn’t agreed to that.”

Michael grinned down at Arianna, loving the sound of her laugh, and he held her close to himself, not caring that they were both wet from the attack from his friends. “You okay, babe?” he asked, grinning with amusement, glad that she at least didn’t seem too bothered by it, but he rolled his eyes at Calum and Ashton. “Don’t forget you two are gonna have to deal with us on the tour bus, too - you’ll never get rest from the pranks.” Shrugging off his jacket, he gently placed it around Arianna’s shoulders carefully. “There, maybe that’ll help a bit.”

Ashton couldn’t help but to laugh as he returned Calum’s high five and he grinned at the others. “Cal and I are just getting started,” he chimed happily, “You have no idea how great our minds work together when we’re on the same page.”

Luke smiled at Cecilia with adoration, reaching to tuck the damp strands of hair behind her ear, ensuring his touch was gentle. "Don't give them ideas." Luke murmured into her ear with a grin. "Syrup is most definitely something they'd throw on us." He promised, knowing that when Ashton and Calum put their heads together, they worked brilliantly, coming up with the most evil schemes. "I'm sure, you need to keep warm after these assholes," he shot a playful glare to his friends; "decided to soak you." But hearing her promise of getting Calum and Ashton back, Luke couldn't help but to feel excited, because he only had to wait one month before the woman he fell in love with so quickly would join him on the open road, and they could raise hell together.

Arianna smiled up at Michael, snuggling into his embrace, unable to stop herself. In such a short time, he'd become so familiar, and just his existence was enough to make Arianna realise that he was her whole world. "I'm okay," Arianna promised with a smile, reaching up to wipe a droplet of water from Michael's cheek with a giggle. "Are you okay?" She asked. When Michael placed his jacket around her shoulders, Arianna buried her face into Michael's neck, still smiling as she wrapped an arm around his middle. "Thank you." She murmured happily, not looking forward to the month she had to spend apart from the man she loved, but curious to what sort of pranks Michael had in mind.

Calum nodded in agreement to Ashton's words. "We've got a whole list of pranks we can play," He pointed his fork in warning to the couples. "Don't test us."

Cecilia grinned slightly with hearing Luke giving advice. “I’ll keep that in mind,” she promised quietly, amused, and she let herself snuggle into the jacket, enjoying the remnants of warmth from Luke. “I still think Arianna and I can beat them at their own game, though.” She grinned with the thought and leaned into Luke as she ate. She knew she’d have to leave soon so she could go home to get ready, but she wasn’t looking forward to parting from Luke at all, honestly. All she wanted was to be near him, to be with him.

Michael felt his heart ease when Arianna assured that she was okay, and he held her closer to himself, rubbing her shoulder gently, and kissed the top of her head as he relished in the way she felt in his hold. “I’m glad,” he told her quietly, breathing out with content, glad to have her there with him, and he couldn’t wait until this next month passed so he could spend every day with her. “I’m okay.” Grinning, he let himself relax with her. “You don’t have to thank me, love.” He took her in, enjoying the sight of her, enjoying having her there with him. “I love you, you know?”

Ashton grinned, nodding in agreement with Calum. “A fact you two,” he motioned to Luke and Michael, “Know quite well, I’d think. You might want to warn your girls not to even bother trying.”

Luke looked to Cecilia with amusement, certain that adoration lay behind his blue eyes. "That's my girl." Luke grinned, pressing a sweet kiss to her forehead, and he couldn't help but admire how Cecilia looked in his jacket, and he couldn't help but feel so excited that the scent of her perfume would linger for him to find comfort in. As she leaned into him, Luke pressed his face into Cecilia's hair, unable to stop himself. Eating his breakfast, Luke listened to Ashton and Calum with a shake of his head. "You two are terrible," he teased. "And Ashton and Calum aren't much better." He teased, looking to his girlfriend once more.

Arianna felt the warmth that spread through her when Michael held her closer to himself, and she exhaled happily, because loving Michael was the easiest thing Arianna could do. She was surprised, just how quickly love could happen, but she was so happy that she fell in love with Michael, and parting from him would be a difficult choice, but one that would be worth it to spend a lifetime with him. Looking up, Arianna pressed a kiss to his jaw as Michael told her that he loved her. "Oh?" Arianna murmured into his skin. "I love you too, baby."

Calum smirked as he leaned back in his chair, folding his arms over his chest. "Or, let them try and let them lose," he suggested easily, looking to Ashton. "A competition sounds fun."

Cecilia felt her heart swell in ways she wasn't familiar with when she heard Luke call her his girl, and she peered up at him, surprised with how something so simple could make her feel so happy. Still, she grinned and shrugged slightly. "At least they're not beating us when it comes to being terrible," she joked lightly, though she nudged Luke gently.

Michael grinned slightly down at Arianna, certain his face would end up sore from how much Arianna made him smile and grin. "Good," he murmured happily, glad to hear it, happy to know that they shared in the feeling, and it made him all the more determined to ensure she remained a part of his life. "That just makes all of this all the more perfect, then, just like you."

Ashton laughed and nodded. "It does sound fun," he agreed, though he looked amused, "But I don't think they're focused on the competition anymore, mate."

Luke grinned with Cecilia's words, his hold on her tightening as he listened the sound of her voice, relishing in it. He was certain he'd never find love, and yet love found him in the form of the most beautiful, sweet woman he'd ever met, and burying his face into Cecilia's hair with the thought, Luke exhaled happily. "I guess so," he teased, laughing when Cecilia nudged him, and he nuzzled into her sweetly. "Hey, Ce, what's good to do around here? You and I can breakaway from these boneheads for a little, what do you say?"

Arianna's cheeks turned a sweet shade of pink as she blushed, Michael's gaze on her almost flustering her a little bit - she loved him so much already, but God, he had the most beautiful affect on her, one that she never wanted to lose, or let go of. She always wanted Michael to be hers. Hearing his words about her being perfect, Arianna's blush deepened, and she buried her face into his neck, her arm around his middle. "Mike... you wanna get out of here?" She murmured into his skin.

Calum smirked. "Good, let's have a little wager between us, Ash. First one to get knocked up?" Calum lifted his eyebrows.