AN: Based on "Is there a reason you're gnawing on me?" and on a prompt by casket4mytears.It takes place one year after Until Dawn, where our two favorite nerds remember the horrible trauma as well as them admitting their feelings for each other.
And it's inspired by the song "Goodbye" by EarlyRise.
They've been together for almost a year now. Throughout their entire relationship, they were nothing but happy and comfortable with each other. But the few days that are leading up to the anniversary are simply stressful and irritating. Chris wants to organize a dinner with all their friends in memory of Josh, but Ashley has not been able to forgive Josh, he betrayed them and he let them all down. At least that's how she saw it. They would argue about it for hours, shouting and screaming at each other until they just went to bed.
It was the day right before their anniversary, Chris got home late, as usual, but tonight Ashley wasn't home, typing at her computer while sipping her tea. Something was off.
"Ash?" ,Chris called out as he checked the rooms.
"Nothing…" ,he whispered to himself. He quickly pulled out his phone and dialed her number. The line rang for what felt like hours until it simply disconnected. Chris was getting worried, he sent his girlfriend a few texts, mostly in the form of "Hey where r u?" "Text me back, I'm worried" "If this is about the dinner let's just talk it out, I love you" ,but received no response.
Chris checked his watch and it read 10:24 p.m. "Alright, I'll just wait 'til midnight, if she's not back by then, I'm going to the police."
He tried to talk himself down, whispering "She's okay" over and over. And before he could drive himself insane, Chris decided to watch TV in order to distract himself. He lasted about 15 minutes with his eyes glued to the screen, before they started closing slowly. And the flashing images were the last thing he remembered.
Chris heard a little noise, it sounded like keys hitting the ground, and someone tripping with some occasional cussing, he tried to open his eyes but his body was so exhausted that he couldn't really move.
After a while, Chris felt something soft on his neck and cheeks, then the softness disappeared and it was replaced by small bites and gnaws, which caused him to wake up instantly. Once his eyes adjusted to the dim light of the TV, he saw the source of the unexpected actions, and it was Ashley, right there on his lap, with her legs on either side of his waist, smiling, her eyes barely open and her hair somewhat disheveled under her beanie. Chris tugged a strand of her hair behind her ear and smiled back.
"Is there a reason you're gnawing on me?" ,he simply asked not expecting an answer.
"Happy- Anni-versary" ,Ashley managed to say in between hiccups. Only then did Chris smell the alcohol coming from her breath.
He scrunched up his nose and attempted to put away the smell by waving his hand in between their faces.
"Ugh Ash! How much did you drink? I texted you a bunch of times, I was seriously worried about you! Are you okay?" Chris hammered her with questions, to which Ashley simply rolled her eyes and cupped his face while she planted a passionate kiss on his lips and slipped her tongue in his mouth.
Chris was taken aback at first, but he quickly mimicked her gestures.
After a few moments, they separated but Ashley still held his face and placed her forehead to his, repeating her statement. "I said Happy Anniversary, you dip." She repeated without the hiccups.
He finally registered her words as he looked at the watch on his wrist, baffled. It was a minute past midnight and Chris couldn't help but smile.
"Happy anniversary, Ash." ,he replied and kissed her lips softly. "Now, come on. Let's get you sobered up." He continued as he lifted her small body off the couch, bridal style.
Ashley drunkenly giggled and kept planting kisses all over his neck, jaw and cheeks as they made their way to the kitchen.
After a few hours, Ashley was sobered up and curled under a blanket, cuddling close to her boyfriend while watching a documentary about mummies.
"We should have a dinner in his memory. He made a mistake and paid the price for it. I was in the same situation a year prior and I would want to be remembered for all the good I've done and not the one bad thing I did." Ashley blurted out as the credits were rolling, with her eyes still glued to the TV, avoiding Chris'.
Chris was a little bit shocked at first, but he smiled and kissed the top of her head whispering a small "Thank you" in return.
