All Hidden Away

After finishing my breakfast of toast and jam and getting changed into jogging shorts, my running shoes and a loose-ish fitting t-shirt Ashton and I were ready to go for a jog. As I grabbed the spare keys, tie my hair into a quick pony tail, and as I am about to open the door for us Luke comes running down the stairs.
“Sorry to crash your run… but Claire would kill me if the first time you were seen in public was with Ashton and not me…” he mutters still pulling on his shoes. I smile and nod in understanding. Ashton nods but mumbles something about ridiculous already which made my smile falter slightly.
After Luke has pulled on his shoes, his long legs are sticking out of his running shorts. It was strange, normally I never considered myself short at my height of 5'9" - especially considering I was slightly taller than Lou and Ni, yet not much shorter than Liam or Harry – but next to the Aussie guys I felt midget like. I grab the keys off the coffee table shout a quick goodbye to everyone else still in the kitchen and head outside. I am really pleased to see that there are no fans standing outside the gate.
“You guys won’t tell Hazza if I run ahead? I really need to just sprint full out…” I say starting at a slow jogging pace. Previously having really bad shin splints teaches one to warm up properly. I turn to see Luke and Ashton giving each other a quick glance before Ashton looks at me and back at his best friend.
“Luke? How the legs feeling buddy?” he asks before looking back at me.
“Like there is no chance in hell I can keep up with this energy bunny, but I can try.” he says with a smile in my direction. I smile and kick it up a notch, starting to feel a slight tingling in my muscles that I have been craving. I smile and lengthen my stride and try to ignore the two boys running either side of me. I see Ashton in my peripheral vision also lengthen his stride to match mine and Luke does the same.
“Any idea where we are going?” asks Luke still staying next to me. I laugh and shake my head as we pass what looks like a small park. Green grass and trees… I cannot run on school fields or on roads for too long. I get bored. I point ahead.
“Through there.” I say and pick up the pace again until my calves start to burn and a warm feeling of endorphins full my blood stream. I grab my phone and the keys out my pocket before they fall and run with them in my hand for about five minutes before I start getting edgy. The trees provide nice cover for us and the slightly wild looking flowers that blossom on the side of the path are pretty, but I need to move faster. I turn to face both Ash and Luke who are running in single file behind me.
“Still okay?” I ask smiling. They both smile back. “can I please push ahead? I need to sprint….” I say practically begging.
“You mean this isn’t sprinting? Shit… maybe you should be our fitness coach.” Says Luke but smiling at the end to indicate it’s fine. I smile and turn around, and slowly build up more and more speed until there is a slight burn in the back of my throat, I can feel my feet pounding with my heart beat and a warm feeling in my legs. I smile and take longer and longer strides till it feels like I’m flying.

Luke’s POV.

It was so stunning to watch her run in such an easy and effortless style. She just seemed to float. Ash and I tried to keep up with her but she just smiled and soon disappeared.
“You do realise Harry and Louis will kill us…” says Ash, a small amount of perspiration evident on his forehead.
“Getting tired already, Irwin?” I tease as I lengthen my stride to try catch up to the running girl who is now quite far ahead of us.
“Your legs are the same size of a normal human being! It’s not fair…” he protests before giggling at something and suddenly pulling ahead of me. I smile at the challenge and soon the two of us are also sprinting and running at the same pace as Tasha but still about two hundred meters behind her.

Tasha’s POV

After running flat out for about ten minutes, my legs started to stiffen and my breaths were ragged and harsh. I slow down and keel over to stop the burning stitch in my side, smiling like a crazy person. I stand and see two very finished boys running towards me. I start laughing at the sight of a very red faced, sweaty haired and panting Luke and Ashton.
“Wh- water.” Manages Luke. I smile and walk over to the small water fountain on the side of the path. I make a big wave of my hands and Luke practically falls onto it for a drink while Ashton comes over and leans on my shoulder.
“That. Was. Fucking. Ridiculous…” he says panting and waiting for Luke to finish drinking. When he lifts his head he looks at me and shakes his head.
“how are you barely dead?” he asks frowning and moving away so Ashton can get something to drink. He comes over and rests his head on my shoulder and looks like he could be sleeping.
“I run to clear my head…” I say before I look up to see two men on the other side of the road. I tense as I see a flash. “Uhh… Luke.” I say standing completely still and suddenly feeling self-conscious. Hearing the tone of my voice both he and Ashton look up and see them. They automatically relax and smile before turning round.
“Tasha… you need to act natural okay?” says Ash gently with a smile. “Drink some water, wash your face and breathe…” he says nodding once. I listen and try to ignore the urge to pull down my shorts and fix my… everything. I rejoice as the cool water hits my mouth.
“Tasha?” says Luke placing a hand between my shoulder blades. “I think… uhm… can I hold your hand?” I look up at him and frown before shaking my head at myself and wiping away at the slight perspiration on my forehead with my figure before turning back to the fountain.
“Yeah… sorry. I’m just-”
“Panicked… it’s okay. Hey, look at me.” Says Luke gently as I turn to look up at him. He smiles gently as I stare into his blue eyes. He takes a step closer and gently closes his fingers around mine. He smiles and I smile half-heartedly back at him. “Just smile, be yourself, and we’ll be fine. Okay?” he says as we begin to walk away. I turn to Ashton.
“Third wheeling much?” I joke, causing him and Luke to laugh as I see more flashes going off in my peripheral vision.
“Not like I had much of a choice, now is it? But don’t worry, you’ll have enough alone time on your date tonight.” He jokes making kissing faces at me as I shove him away rolling my eyes. I feel Luke gently playing with my fingers like a boyfriend or loved one would and surprisingly it feels nice. I look down and carry on walking till I get to a crossroad.
“Uhhhh…” says Ashton looking at the road names. I pry my hand away from Luke and grab my phone and open the maps app. Quickly locating us and then the house I see the way which we need to go.
“Right.” I say before moving my hand back down to my side while still holding my phone in my right hand. Before I can think twice, Luke takes it back into his and I smile at the small comfort considering I still feel like I’m being watched. I hear Ashton giggle as we make our way up the road. I turn to look at him. “What?” I ask smiling. He giggles harder and Luke looks at him.
“Don’t worry, he’s just a little bit crazy…” he says to me swinging our hands back and forth slightly.
“It’s just… you two actually really make a cute couple…” he says smiling at the two of us. I frown and shake my head but do blush slightly at his words. “is that, Natasha! Is that a blush I see on your face?” he asks making a joke out of it. I smile.
“As if you wouldn’t blush if there was a girl holding your hand, Irwin.” Says Luke, subtly squeezing my hand. I return the kind gesture and lead the way back to the house. As we are about to cross the road to get back, I hear a man’s voice ring out.
“LUKE! ASHTON! Who is this? How are you guys?” says some sleazy looking guy holding a camera and running to reach us.
“Hey, Mate, can we have some space please?” asks Luke politely smiling at the guy before gently pulling me closer to his side and I notice Ashton also takes a step or two closer to us. I tense. They know he can be trouble.
“Are you guys on holiday here? Is this your girlfriend, Luke?” he pesters but Ashton and Luke just keep walking. “Oh come on guys! Don’t be like that.” Says the guy still following us.
“Please, maybe next time.” offers Ashton still smiling. Muttering some choice words, the guy slowly moves off but not before a group of girls squeal at seeing Luke and Ash.
“Fuck… sorry, Tasha.” Says Luke as Ash waves at the girls and smiles. “How much further?” he asks looking down at my phone.
“Just around the corner, it’s okay. Don’t worry about it. I need to get used to it I guess…” I say we carry on walking in silence until we get to the gate. I punch in the code and quickly walk inside. Luke seems to reluctantly pull his hand away as he does it slowly and soon there are cold spaces between my fingers as I open the door. Harry half jogs down the stairs before smiling.
“Did you die?” he asks Luke and Ashton who walk into the kitchen to get some more water. We follow them in.
“Nearly, but we also saw some guys with camera’s but they mostly gave us space.” Says Luke before gulping down half a bottle of water.
“You okay?” asks Haz looking at me. I nod and smile. I’m okay as long as it doesn’t make too big a story.
“Yeah, just a bit disappointed the first time I’m being acknowledged is in tiny shorts and all sweaty like.” I say honestly.
“Don’t worry about it. You look kinda cute actually.”
“Irwin… watch it.”
“Sorry...”

Notes

Hey all, please let me know what you think? xx L