A/N: Yes, I was listening to the song by Jesse McCartney when I wrote this. Kinda fluff-ish in the beginning. Yeah...not much else to say about this chapter. Just uh, read, review, and enjoy.
Chapter 13: How Do You Sleep?
(Griffin POV)
He sighed as he leaned against the sink in the bathroom, staring at his reflection in the mirror. 'You're going soft Griffin. You'd better pull yourself together. Might end up gettin' this one killed.' The voice in his head cackled at him and he pounded on the sink. 'Just get her back to David's, and you won't have any problems.' "Right," he said quietly to himself as he stood upright and ran a hand through his hair. Griffin turned back to the door and opened it, walking out and setting eyes on Ashley. She was asleep, her head turned to its side slightly and her hands up by her face. He smirked and walked over to her. "If you're fakin' just so you can stay, it won't work," he said in a low tone as he walked over to the couch. Griffin leaned down and saw her face. It was peaceful with gently shut eyes and mouth opened a bit. He grumbled softly and squeezed his eyes shut as he bobbed his head side to side, trying to figure out what he should do. 'Wake her up? No… Jump her back to the couch at David's? She could wake… Just move her to the bedroom? It'll have to do…' Griffin picked her up carefully. He had an arm under her knees and the other under her neck. 'She's light,' he thought as he turned and started walking slowly over to his room. Once he walked in the room, he maneuvered around a few of his junk piles to the left side of the bed, closest to the wall and farthest from the entryway. Griffin put her down and he heard her mumble something. "What the hell are you saying?" he whispered, shaking his head and walking around to the other side of the bed.
"Gri…ffin…" This time the words were a bit clearer. He looked at her, pondering about why she would be saying his name. A few thoughts came to mind, but he hoped it wasn't those. With a shake of his head, he pulled off his shoes and crawled into his side of the bed comfortably. Griffin stared at the yellow-ish stone ceiling for a while, taking glances at Ashley every once and a while. Minutes later, he rolled onto his side as his eyes drooped. The alcohol was starting to kick and make him tired. Griffin stared at the wall and a few pieces of scenery artwork he had hanging near his bed.
'Goddamn. Go to sleep already!' He carefully rolled onto his opposite side, now facing Ashley. Ashley's lips curved into a small smile and his sight began to blur. 'Finally.' Griffin watched curiously and ran a hand across her cheek. 'This is what helps me sleep?...' He was asleep before he could answer his own question.
---
(Ashley POV)
Ashley's eyes cracked open as she began to wake. She rubbed a hand over her face and looked around with wide eyes. She saw a dull rocky ceiling over head. 'Wait a minute… Didn't I…?' Ashley looked to her left and saw a cabinet. When she looked to her right, she found Griffin huddled against her with a hand on her hair. Ashley yawned and blinked a few times, trying to see if she was still dreaming. 'Guess not.' She picked up his hand gently and put it at his side. She slowly began to slide out of bed when a hand pulled at her jeans. "Fuck," she mumbled as she looked over and found Griffin watching her sleepily.
He had a grip on a belt loop and a smile playing on his lips. "G'morning sunshine," he said with a wink.
Ashley pulled away from him and bolted up. "Why am I still here? I thought I went back to David's place."
"You'd rather sleep with ol' Rice boy rather than me?" he asked in a sort of laugh.
She mocked a laugh. "Very funny. Oh, and he has an extra room." Ashley put her hands on her hips, staring at him as she waited for a response to her questions.
Griffin pushed himself up into a sitting position against the wall. "Look, yeh fell asleep and I didn't wanna wake ya. Consider it payment towards the last twelve or so hours." He smirked at her. "Oh, and you said my name in your sleep." He started to laugh a little at her.
Ashley's jaw fell a little. "N-no I didn't." 'Ha ha. You're a funny liar. Wanna bet he can see through it?'
"I'm pretty sure yeh did," he said with a shrug.
Ashley pinched the bridge of her nose. 'Don't you remember that dream? You and him, the candles, David's place, and the music. I'm sure we remember that.' She sighed and gave her head a small shake, pushing away her thoughts. "I don't know why I would," Ashley said with a scoff. She rolled her eyes and smoothed her black shirt as she began towards the entry way. Griffin jumped in front of her and Ashley sighed. "What now?"
He smirked at her. "Going back already?"
"Yes I am," she said sounding a bit angry. "My bag is there, not here." Ashley gave a small wave. "Bye then," she said as she jumped into the spare room. She saw the bed was empty and her bag was still in the same spot on the floor near the closet.
"You forgot to thank me," a voice from behind her said. Ashley turned and saw Griffin, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. She picked up her bag and slung it over her shoulder, giving him an uninterested look. Ashley turned and walked out of the room. "Damn it," she heard Griffin groan. "Will you just stop already?"
Ashley whipped around, coming face to face with him. "What?" she hissed. "You want a thank you? Fine, thanks Griffin," she said in a very sarcastic tone. "Now stop followin' me." She turned and began into the living room but stopped. Griffin bumped into her and uttered a low apology.
The duo set eyes on the couch, which had David and Tori sleeping on it. They were huddled together and David was holding her against him. Ashley started to snicker and Griffin murmured, "Manwhore."
Ashley slapped Griffin in the chest with her bag, causing him to stumble back. "David's nice. Don't talk about him like that."
Griffin just shrugged. "He is. David had like 2 hook ups after Millie, now her? Best tell 'er to watch out," he whispered.
Ashley sighed. "Whatever." She turned towards the bathroom door and started in. She heard Griffin still following her. 'The hell is he still following me for?' Dropping her bag by the sink, Ashley spun around and said, "I'm getting a shower so stay out." She pushed him as he started to set foot in the bathroom.
He smirked. "Really? You don't want company in there?" he said in a serious tone with a fake frown.
"That's quite alright, I'm good. Now go," she gave him a final shove and slammed the door in his face. 'Hope it leaves a mark.' Ashley smirked and turned on the water.
---
(David POV)
He heard a door slam and the water turn on. David tried to sit up but found Tori lying up against him. He shook her gently and said, "Tori wake up."
Tori moaned and her hands flew to her face. "Did we fall asleep?" David nodded and Tori sat up. He pushed himself up and jumped, now standing in front of the couch. He held out a hand to help Tori up.
She reluctantly took his hand and they heard a voice say, "Well how cute." David looked over his shoulder and saw Griffin walk out into the living room. He had his hands in his jean pockets and he sat down on the armchair by the couch.
"What are you doing here Griffin?" David asked as Tori shuffled off into the hallway.
Griffin shrugged. "Followed Ashley. She's in the shower. I would've brought her back last night, but she was out."
David nodded with a suspicious look. "So you two, huh?" he asked very nonchalantly. Griffin rolled his eyes. "I'm just asking," David chuckled.
Griffin growled at him and said, "Look, I'm just waiting here for her. When she's done we're going to the Empty Quarter for training. Bring Tori, yeah?"
"Alright," David said before he jumped into his bedroom.
---
(Tori POV)
Tori got into the spare room and went into her bag for a set of clothes. She sensed a jump from the living room into David's room. Tori changed quickly into a pair of black jeans and a vintage looking Nintendo shirt. As she pulled the shirt over her head, Ashley walked in the room wearing the purple long sleeved shirt which David must've washed last night along with the other clothing. She also had on her favorite pair of dark jeans. Ashley grabbed a pair of black boots with a heel and sat on the floor. "How's it goin'?" Ashley casually asked.
Tori smiled. "Good. You didn't come home last night?"
She shrugged with a blank expression. "Fell asleep at Griffin's. Bar hopping knocked me on my ass." She ran a hair through her damp dark hair.
Tori pulled a brush from her bag and tossed it to Ashley. "Is that all?"
Ashley nodded as she brushed her hair. "Promise. What about you and Rice boy?"
Tori blushed a little. "Well we sorta fell asleep on the couch. How we ended up so close, I don't know."
Ashley gave a nod and said, "Right. Did Griffin leave?"
Tori shrugged. "Dunno."
Ashley picked her self off the floor and left her bag by the closet. "I'm gunna go check." She left the room, leaving Tori alone with her thoughts.
'How did we end up so close last night? I'm blank on that answer.' Tori tried to remember but nothing came to mind. 'Oh well.' She pulled on her shoes and walked out to the living room. Ashley and Griffin were discussing something in loud tones. 'Shouting. Ouch.' Tori put a hand to her head as she felt a headache coming on. "Stop shouting you two. Damn, I like it better when you two are nice to each other," she said as she made her way over to the couch.
"Then tell her to go change!" Griffin yelled.
"No," Ashley said. "I'll wear what I want." She stuck her tongue out at Griffin. David was shaking his head as he sat on the couch.
"Can we go to the Empty Quarter now?" David asked, sounding very impatient. Tori nodded and watched as both Griffin and Ashley jumped away. She felt a hand in hers and felt herself being pulled. David had jumped them to the Empty Quarter; or the training ground, as she knew it. Tori found herself standing in front of the familiar punching bag. She looked over her shoulder when she heard a few shouts once more. Griffin and Ashley were at it again. She saw him jump away and return with his jacket in hand. Tori snickered at the two before turning to face the punching bag.