breathe// 5SOS

6

Ashton

"Dad, I'm really worried," Ava said, running over immediately. Luke smiled sadly, closing the door behind him. Her hair was falling out of the bobble, having just done some jogging round the lake, and she looked exhausted.

"What about?"

"Owen,"

"Sit down," I said, making room on the sofa, "What do you mean?"

"He told me he was gay, and then said he hasn't told anyone else because his parents wouldn't be happy, and he wouldn't have a home,"

She started crying, Luke rubbing her back. He was sat behind her, her cheeks still hot from the jog.

"He sounds really strong," I soothed, "and if he needs a place to stay then he can come to our home,"

"And neither of us have told Amber and Sapphire,"

"You haven't told them?" I frowned, "you and Julie are a secret to... everyone?"

"No, I'm too scared. Everything is stressing me out,"

"Well Calum and I have had a talk, and we had a long, long phone call with the chief where Lucy works. You're seeing her on Tuesdays again,"

"Thankyou,"

I held her body in my arms, kissing her cheek. This side of reaction from parents was what she expected when she came out, and was an awful thing to go through, so she was being really mature. However, Ava was dealing with her own problems too and did that her own way, so learning how to help others was a struggle for her.

"You can't change how his parents will react, but you can be there for him after,"

"I'm sorry about yesterday,"

"Let's move past that. I am so, so sorry I brought these memories back,"

Luke let her fall back into him, taking her hand.

"I told him he can come in the summer because you sometimes do makeup and paint your nails,"

"That's a good idea," he smiled, "You are the best friend he could ask for,"

"We could take him to pride!"

"Go and ask him, because you're already taking Julie," I chuckled, "I'm going to cook tea,"

"Wait, will that matter?"

"It doesn't matter to me, and all four of them have come round, haven't they?"

"Oh yeah, they're friends," she hummed, "I'll ask,"

"So they're all friends, and you have managed to keep it a secret?"

"Is that bad?" she panicked, "I want them to like me still, and Julie listened and understood, but now I think it is bad,"

"I think you should tell them soon, but when you're ready,"

I got up and went to the kitchen, Luke following.

"She did really well today, although she had to use her inhaler, then panicked, and had to use it more,"