Ch 6:

I woke up in an unfamiliar room on an unfamiliar couch. I brushed the sleep out of my eyes wincing as a felt a sharp pain in my eye. I looked around trying to remember what had happened and where exactly I was. I swung my legs over the couch and I stand up, walking around the room looking at the photos. I see pictures of her all across the mantle. She was with a younger looking girl in most of her photos but there was one other one that stood out to me. It was Ashley with a enormous grin on her face and she was standing with a man with white hair that she bared some resemblance to.

As I was standing there I started to feel woozy. The room started to spin and I quickly sat back down resuming the position from earlier. I heard footsteps coming down the stairs and I sat up to see who it was.

"Hey there sleepyhead, how are you feeling?" Ashley said in a hushed tone sitting on the couch with me.

"Better but I'm still a little light-headed though" I said looking into her eyes. She gave me a smile conveying that she knew I was probably feeling a lot worse than I was letting on. I smiled back trying to let her know how thankful I was of her.

I looked at the clock noticing that it was only 12:15. Subconsciously I chuckle to myself thinking about how much had happened in the matter of only a few hours today. I think about what my life has come too. I started to cry realizing that I was royally screwed once I went home.

She slid over on the couch and tentatively placed her arm around my shoulders trying to comfort me. I stiffened at the movement unable to remember the last time some one comforted me in a way that I actually felt safe. I looked over at her and made eye contact with her. I could see unshed tears in her eyes and I realized that it was because she saw how bad I was taking everything.

I turned to face her and I nuzzled my face into the crook of her neck. I began to sob harder when I felt her other hand massaging my scalp trying to calm my sobs. She was whispering in my ear telling me that everything was going to be alright and that she wasn't going to let anyone hurt me. After I was finally able calm down I realized that Ashley was intensely staring into my eyes trying to make sure I am okay.

Ashley lent down and kissed me on the head and then she got up to walk away. I smiled thinking about the kiss she just gave me as I watched her walk back into the kitchen. I figured that she was going to get me a tissue or something but when she came back a few minutes later, she was carrying a full tray of soup, crackers, a grilled cheese, and a mug of hot cocoa.

She set the food on the table in front of me and we resumed our positions with my head in the crook of her neck and her arm around my shoulders. Her other hand was placed on my knee trying to relax me and make me feel safer.

I look at her giving her a look of disbelief on how she was able to get all of this done in a matter of minutes. She smiled able to understand what I was asking her non-vocally.

"When I came down the stairs, I asked our cook to make some of my favorite foods for when I'm not feeling great" I smiled at her for thinking how thoughtful she was for doing all of this for me.

"How about we watch a movie? Then I could drive you home or back to the school which ever you prefer" I frowned momentarily thinking about how I would have to leave the comfort of Ashley's arms and go back to the hell that was my life.

Ashley picked up the remote and turned on the TV. She turned on Bridesmaids hoping that it would make me laugh. Luckily she was correct and I can't remember the last time I have actually enjoyed myself this much.

By the end of the movie she was laying along the couch and I was laying in between her legs. She had her chin resting on my shoulder and and our hands were linked together. I was shaking with laughter as I watched the scene where they were on the airplane. I could feel Ashley place her lips to my neck and smile. She then placed a feather light kiss and began to whisper into my ear.

"I'm here now baby everything is going to be okay" I sighed and relaxed further into her as she said this.

For that moment in time I could not be any happier and I could not imagine having my life be any better.