Thank you to the people who pointed out I accidentally had Ratliff say Ross instead of Austin, cuz otherwise I wouldn't have found out.

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italicized- Lyrics/Thoughts


Three Days Later

"I can't believe I'm going to get to meet the boy you never shut up about!"

Ross had to block his ears as Rydel continued to flip out over the fact that at Trevor's party, Rydel's going to meet the boy that brought Ross out of his depression after being raped. She hasn't had to console her sobbing brother at 2 AM in almost three weeks because Ratliff filled his brain.

"I'd like to be able to hear, so if you don't mind, can you please keep your squealing to a minimum?" Ross asked as he slowly took his fingers out of his ears. "Fine.." Rydel sighed sadly.

Ross looked at himself in the mirror as he adjusted his hair. He was interrupted by his phone ringing.

"Hello?" Ross answered. "Austin.. I'm really nervous.. I don't know if I'll be able to dance with her tonight," Ratliff panicked. "Ratliff.. Relax," Ross soothed. "Look. You caught on to ballroom dancing faster than anyone I know. It took me two weeks to learn it and perfect it. Once I showed you the basics, you were fine. There's nothing to be nervous about," Ross explained.

"You sure I'm okay?" Ratliff asked. "Positive," Ross smiled. "Thanks. Have fun in Colarado," Ratliff said. "Thanks.. Bye," Ross said before hanging up.

"Awww!" Rydel squealed. Ross sighed annoyed. "You're not going to be squealing when you see him, are you?" Ross asked. Rydel shook her head no. Ross sighed of relief. Rydel playfully rolled her eyes. "C'mon, the van is running," Rydel said as she grabbed her younger brother's hand and left the bathroom.


The band pulled up to the large mansion where the party was going to be at. To help keep the family gronded, they live in a normal sized house. So, a mansion seems unreal to the Lynch family.

"Whoa.." they gaped in awe as they climbed out of the van.

"Hey guys. Thanks for agreeing to play at my party tonight," Trevor greeted as he walked out of his home and toward the band. "No problem. Thanks for having us play," Ryland smiled as he did a handshake with Trevor. "Anytime. My entire school, including myself, love your music," Trevor responded.

Trevor wasn't lying, either. Every day at school, at least five times a day, Ross walks through the halls and hears people going on about a new R5 song or how a band member is so sexy. Ross also finds it ironic that ninety-nine percent of the girls who find him the most attractive member of R5 rash on him at school for being unattractive as Austin Moon.

"The party is going to start in about a half hour," Trevor informed. "Okay, we're going to go and set up," Rocky said as the rest of the band opened the back of the van and began to unload stuff.


As the band finished their mic check, the first thirty people had already shown up. Ross looked over and saw Ratliff and Kelly walking in with their hands intertwined. Ross sighed softly to himself. Ratliff looked amazing. His white button down shirt and blue jeans fit him perfectly.

Rydel caught Ross's stare and went over to him. "Is that Ratliff?" she asked in a hushed tone as she subtly moved her head in Ratliff's direction. Ross nodded.

"Damn Ross, he's a hottie. No wonder you dream of him almost every night," she responded. "Rydel!" Ross whisper-shouted as his face turned a deep shade of red.

"Sorry, but it's true," Rydel retorted. Ross rolled his eyes playfully as they went into Trevor's garage to wait for their announcement.


"Alright, guys. I have a special treat for you. All the way from Littleton, Colorado... May I present, R5!" Trevor introduced before opening his garage door. The girls in the crowd screamed as the door revealed the band while the boys in the crowd applauded.

The band ran out and high fived some people as they made their way to the stage.

"What's up, everyone?!" Ross yelled into the mic before everyone cheered loudly. They were all screaming "I love you Ross!" or "Ross you're so sexy!" Ross even heard someone yell "Ross make my babies!" Ross laughed in his head as he pictured all of these girls' reactions if he told his secret right then and there. They would never say any of those things to Austin Moon.

"Alright, let's get this party started!" Riker said as the band began to play the intro to "Ain't No Way We're Going Home".


"Okay. For our last song, we're going to slow it down for all the couples here," Ross said. "And for those single people out there, maybe this will help you find a partner to dance with and if you're really lucky, get laid before dawn," Rocky winked, earning laughter from the crowd and the other band members.

"Grab a partner and spread out," Rydel said into the microphone. The people did as tod and spread out. Ross planned this so he could get a view of Ratliff dancing with Kelly.

"Now here's a 5 Seconds of Summer cover!" Ryland said as the band got ready.

[Rocky:]

Within a minute I was all packed up

I've got a ticket to another world

I don't wanna go

I don't wanna go

The silent words are hard to speak

When your thoughts are all I see

"Don't ever leave," she said to me

[Ross:]

When we both fall asleep underneath the same sky.

To the beat of our hearts at the same time.

So close but so far away.

(Can you hear me?)

[All:]

She sleeps alone.

My heart wants to come home.

I wish I was, I wish I was beside you.

She lies awake.

I'm trying to find the words to say.

I wish I was, I wish I was beside you.

[Riker:]

Another day and I'm somewhere new.

I made a promise that I'll come home soon.

Bring me back, bring me back to you.

[Ross:]

When we both wake up underneath the same sun.

Time stops, I wish that I could rewind.

So close but so far away.

[All:]

She sleeps alone.

My heart wants to come home.

I wish I was, I wish I was beside you.

She lies awake.

I'm trying to find the words to say.

I wish I was, I wish I was beside you.

[Ross:]

The pieces of us both

Under every city light

And they're shining as we fade into the night

[Rocky:]

She sleeps alone.

My heart wants to come home.

I wish I was, I wish I was...

[All:]

She sleeps alone.

My heart wants to come home.

I wish I was, I wish I was beside you.

She lies awake.

I'm trying to find the words to say.

I wish I was, I wish I was beside you.

[Riker:]

She lies awake.

[All but Riker:]

Beside you.

[Riker:]

I wish I was, I wish I was...

[Ross:]

She sleeps alone.

My heart wants to come home.

I wish I was, I wish I was... (1)

Ross looked around the entire somg for Ratliff and Kelly and never saw them. Suddenly, his attention was caught when he saw Ratliff approach a couple kiss and his smile deflated almost immediately. Ratliff dropped a cup of punch on the ground before walking away sadly.

Ross subtly furrowed his brows in confusion. Then he realized..

The girl was Kelly.

It took every ounce inside of Ross not to go scream at that girl. Not only would that make bad publicity for Ross and R5, but it would reveal his secret identity.


Ross walked around the party and saw Ratliff sat alone at a table with a tall glass of whiskey.

"Hey, you look upset," Ross said as he sat in the seat next to Ratliff's. "Oh, I'm fine," Ratliff lied unconvincingly. "I know we just met, but I know you're lying," Ross responded.

"I don't feel like bothering you with my problems," Ratliff frowned. "It's not bothering if I offer you to tell me," Ross reminded.

"You sure you don't mind hearing my problems?" Ratliff asked. Ross nodded. "Spill to your heart's content," Ross assured.

"Well there is this really pretty girl a grade below me at school. I really liked her and asked her out here. She said yes. I even had my friend Austin teach me how to slow dance to impress her. But I left to get drinks and I come back to see her kissing some other guy," Ratliff explained sadly.

"I'm sorry, dude. Hey, there are plenty of other fish in the sea," Ross reminded. "I know. But when I walked away, I realized that there was someone I'd rather have taken here tonight," Ratliff admitted.

Ross had to force a sincere smile. Great. Another person who doesn't deserve to feel his soft kiss.. Ross thought to himself.

"Well, she's a really lucky gal. You seem like you'd make a girl really happy," Ross smiled.

"Yeah.. Girl.." Ratliff mumbled softly. "Umm.. Do you think I should ask her out? Or should I wait?" Ratliff asked. "I think you should ask her," Ross said truthfully. As much as he wanted Ratliff, he knew Ratliff was straight and he cares more about Ratliff's happiness than his own. "Thanks for the advice, man," Ratliff smiled. "No problem," Ross grinned. Suddenly, Ross's phone climbed. He looked at the text and it was from Rydel.

Sorry to interrupt you and Ratliff, but I was told by Riker that it's time to leave..

Ross sighed at the text.

K. Be there in a minute.

Ross put his phone away. "Sorry to end the conversation, but I really have to go," Ross frowned. "Okay. Oh, where are my manners? I'm Ellington," he said as he held out his hand. "Ross," Ross smiled as he shook his hand. "Now I gotta go, bye," Ross waved before going over to his family.


Ross laid down in his bed and decided he was going to tweet his fans. As he unlocked his phone, his phone began to ring.

It was Ratliff.

Ross smiled as he answered. "Hi," Ross smiled. "Hi," Ratliff responded nervously. "B-Ell, you okay?" Ross asked concerned. That was close. He almost called Ratliff baby.

"Yeah, umm.. I never danced with Kelly," Ratliff said. "Why not?" Ross asked, pretending not to know. "She was too busy making out with Warner Adams," Ratliff frowned a bit.

"Wow what a slut," Ross said, causing the both of them to laugh.

"So.. I talked to someone at the party and he gave me some really good advice," Ratliff said. "What was it?" Ross asked.

"Well I always liked someone else and he convinced me to ask that person out," Ratliff explained. "Ohh.." Ross nodded. Was the cruel world trying to remind him that Ratliff would never like him?

"Austin?" Ratliff asked. "Yeah?" Ross asked a little confused.

"Will you go out with me?"

Ross nearly choked on his own saliva. He sat up in his bed. "Wh-What?" Ross asked in shock.

"Never mind, that was really stupid of course you only like g-" "Ratliff!" Ross cut off. "What?" Ratliff asked.

"Yes."

"Yes, what?" Ratliff asked confused.

"Yes, I'll go out with you," Ross smiled. "You will?" Ratliff asked. "Yes," Ross nodded.

"I can't wait to see you on Monday when you come back from Colorado," Ratliff smiled. "Actually, my grandma who I was visiting is in the hospital and we had to come home early," Ross half lied. Yes his grandma was sadly in the hospital, but he never went to Colorado. "When?" Ratliff asked. "Three hours," Ross responded. "Can I take you out in the afternoon?" Ratliff asked. "Yes," Ross smiled.

The boys ended up talking for an extra hour. Ross was trying his best not to fall asleep and Ratliff was starting to notice he was mumbling.

"Austin, are you tired?" Ratliff asked. "No," Ross mumbled sleepily. "Austin, I know you're lying," Ratliff chuckled. "I just want to talk to you. I love hearing your voice," Ross mumbled as a dopey smile spread across his face. Ratliff chuckled. "Okay. I'll stay here until you fall asleep," Ratliff said softly.

Ratliff softly began to hum the same song he and Ross danced to during the dance lesson. Ross found his eyes droop shut and he couldn't manage to open them again. He was mesmerized to sleep.

"Austin?" Ratliff asked softly. There was no response. "Night," Ratliff smiled before hanging up.


I wanted to stop when Ratliff asked him out but I didn't have a lot to write afterward so I just kept going..

(1)- Beside You by 5SOS

And you all thought Ratliff was going to find out about Ross's secret. Good guess though :)

Please review!