I've Got This Friend

I groan as the morning light shines through my window, and turn over in attempts to shut the sun out of my eyes, but all I end up doing is smothering myself so I let the sun win for today. With another groan, I roll back over and collide with another body. I flutter my eyes open and find Ash's body next to mine, a sight I don't mind at all seeing. The only thing is, is that I don't know where he came from.

"Ash." I nudge him. He shuffles, but doesn't move. "Ashton." I nudge him again, but still nothing. Without having to bother him again, I lay there for a moment and watch him. I watch his steady breathing, and eyes fluttering behind his eyelids, and remind myself that even though I've looked at him like this for two months, he's only sleeping. That's something I always have to do now because of everything.

I blink a few times to keep my eyes from going dry and I climb out of bed, careful not to wake him. As I troll downstairs, the smell of fresh breakfast hits me nose. Emmy, of course, was in the kitchen playing music softly from the television and humming along. "Morning." I rasp.

Emmy turns on her heels with a shocked expression. "Morning! Didn't know you were there. Here, have plate." She chirps, and slides a plate my way.

"Don't mind if I do." I mumble to myself, and immediately dig in. "What's all of this for?"

"Couldn't sleep. I'm not really used to laying around all day without a schedule anymore." She explains, and takes a spot at the table.

I nod whilst shoving some hash brown in my mouth. "When did Ashton get here?"

"Huh?" She tilts her head to the side, but the it clicks. "Oh, I heard a sound outside last night, and I didn't know what it was. I went outside on the porch and looked around, but I didn't see anyone but I could still here the noise. It sounded like ticking, but maybe a little harsher than that. Anyways, I took a flashlight and a bat, and searched around the house and there Ashton was throwing rocks at your window at midnight."

I giggle at him, trying to picture it. "Well thankfully you didn't kill him."

"But I was close to it. You should've seen how scared he was." Emmy laughs, her cheeks turning a bright red from laughing.

"I thought we agreed we wouldn't tell anyone." Ashton complains, trudging down the stairs.

"What were you going to do when I found you next to me?" I ponder.

He shrugs. "I don't know. I probably would've told you the story, but not the part where I got scared." He starts chuckling and sits down with us at the table.

"Oh Jessica, Mum and Travis are out of town for a while. I told them to go off and have fun for themselves while I'm here." Emmy decides to bring up.

"Why didn't they tell me bye?"

"Late notice. And I forgot to carry on the message."

I make and 'o' shape with my mouth and nod, finishing off the rest of my food. "Anyways," Emmy starts back up. "Since they're gone, and I have nothing better to do let's go out somewhere."

"Where?" Ash asks, and I look at her for an explanation-mainly wondering if she was initially inviting him to begin with.

"I don't know." She shrugs. "I was thinking maybe to like a pool or a lake or something. You know somewhere with water. It's hot out today."

"Sure." I nod.

Ash hesitates and swallows hard, which Emmy didn't notice. "I-I actually have to study for a test. If I don't pass it, I don't graduate. Which you know-it's-it's pretty important."

"Are you sure? We won't be gone too long, you'll have time. Trust me know what it's like to study for tests." Emmy suggests.

"No I'm sure. I'd just feel better if I get an early start on it."

"Well okay." Emmy nods, and I start making my way upstairs to get ready. "Do you want to invite any of your other friends, Jess?"

"Um.. I'll see if Michael is up I guess." I reply, not really knowing how loud my voice actually carried.

Once in the room, Ashton starts packing his things while I start putting on a swimsuit, not feeling ashamed at all in front of him. "You okay?" I casually drop the question.

"Why wouldn't I be?" He replies without even raising his head.

I shrug even though he can't see me. "You just seemed tense is all."

"I'm just stressing about this test." He sighs, and sits on the bed, looking me up and down. "Now I'm distracted by you."

I feel my cheeks blush, but I don't act upon it. I simply place myself between him in a loving manner. "You'll pass, Ashton. You're the smartest guy I know." I try to breath confidence into him, not believing that, that was the full truth.

"Thank you."

"Anytime. I love you, my dear." I kiss his cheek softly.

"More than yesterday?"

"More than yesterday."

***

Emmy and I met Michael by the beach since he thought that the pool water is dirty.
"Jessica!" I hear Michael scream, and wave his arms in the air grabbing the attention of passersby as well.

"Michael!" I scream back copying his movements.

"I've missed you! Even though we just saw each other yesterday!"

"Michael you're yelling. Calm down." I giggle patting his back and laying down a towel on the sand.

"Who cares if I'm being loud? It's the-" He takes a huge gulp of air and screams, "OUTSIDE!"

"Michael!" Emmy and I both shout at him, and he slumps his shoulder like a toddler and pounces down on the ground.

"When do you want to go in the water?" He wonders, dragging his hands through the sand.

"I'm going to enjoy the sun for a while." I inform him. "You should too, you're really pale Mike."

Michael sighs and lays on his back on the sand and silent falls between all of us for a short few minutes. Then I hear him squirming. I peep at him in the corner of my eye, and watch him struggle getting comfortable in the sand. "Would you like to call Calum?" I ask him.
He gasps, "Yes! Luke?"

I raise up and look at him. "Ashton?" He then suggests.

"No, Ashton is busy. I guess you can invite Luke. Let's just try not let situations get too far out of hand okay?" Michael sheepishly nods, and stands up to make calls.

Moments later he comes back with the verdict. "So Calum couldn't come, but Luke agreed."

"Alright." I mumble, feeling very anxious about his presence being here when I'll have my eyes closed.

"Jessica?" Luke's sweet sincere voice sounds, and a shadow blocks my sunlight.

I raise up an look to my left, seeing Emmy probably passed out. "Hey Luke." I give him a small smile.

"Thanks for inviting me. I don't know why you would since all I've been is mean to you, but thanks."

I sigh, and stand up this time, already feeling my sunburn. "Luke you're my best friend whether you like it or not. I'm not letting you go that easily. You guys are all I've ever known."

"It's just-as you know I'm not balanced in here." He taps on his head, "Sorry."

I decide to bite my tongue and save my questions for another time. "Let's get in the water shall we?"

***

After the beach, Luke took Michael home and we all three hugged fairly hard and made a promise to stay friends. We also found out that Luke doesn't know if he's stable to go on a trip himself, but we'll see what we can do.

As for me, I'm so sunburnt I can hardly move. I can't really say that for Emmy. She fell asleep and we all forgot to wake her. Now I'm laying-well sitting very stiffly, to not hurt my tender skin-on Ashton's floor as we study for that test.

"Jess?"

"Hm?" I hum.

"How come you didn't press question when I didn't want to come with you today to the beach?"

"What do you mean?"

"C'mon. You know that there was more to it. I could tell you knew by the look in your eye." Ashton claims.

"I don't want to be that girlfriend. The type to press questions when you clearly don't want to talk about it. I know that sooner or later you'll have to tell me." I shyly explain.

"I'm scared of water now." He simply puts it out there, looking relieved to have it off his chest. Or better yet like he was admitting it to himself as well.

"Oh... Well how'd that come along?"

"When I was in the hospital, I kept having dreams about me drowning and everyone would watch me, but no one would help. They've been more graphic, but I don't think I want to say."

"Baby.. I will always be here to save you. Always."

"I need to take a shower right now actually, and that's something I haven't really been able to do much. Surprised you haven't smelled me." Ash slightly chuckles.

"I get used to it." I joke, but soon become serious. "I'll help you." I hold out my hand for him and we walk into the bathroom that still haunts my dreams.

Notes

So sorry I haven't updated for so long! I got a bit of writers block and decided not to update because I don't want to give you a bad choppy chapter. That being said, I was on break from school for the holidays but I'm now back so updates may not come during the week anymore, which may delay the times for my other stories to be updated.
If I can I will update on weekdays, but I'm promising anything.
Love you all, and let me know what you think of this. Feel free to vote, subscribe, and comment if you wish! xoxox~