Breathless // lp

Chapter 8.

When Ash woke up the next morning, bright sunlight is already peeking through the blue curtains hung over the windows. Someone gripped her shoulder and shook her lightly, whispering her name over and over until finally Ash sighed and let her sleepy eyes crack open. She's met with a beautiful face. 

"Good morning, Ash!" Liam said, his voice bright and cheerful. Ash cracked a small smile but nothing more as she reached up to rub the sleep from her eyes. 

"Morning," She mumbled sleepily, scrambling up into a sitting posistion. Pain shot through her body, but Ash kept quiet by biting her lip. 

Liam's smile faded and reached up to brush his thumb against Ash's cheek. "You okay?" He asks, his voice softening.  Ash winced at his touch, making him recoil in realisation. 

"Oh baby I'm so sorry," He apologized quickly. 

"S' fine," Ash reassured him. She gave him a weak smile and stepped up from the bed, loving the feeling of the plush carpet under her toes. She looked up from her feet to watch Liam as he tossed a grey t-shirt over head and some sweatpants over his boxers. 

Frowning, she looked around. This wasn't her room. 

"Did I...sleep with you last night?" Ash asked in a soft murmur. Liam looked back at her and smiled. 

"Yeah. You were so badly shaken up from last night. Plus I wouldn't let you go back to sleep in your room, not with the fear of knowing he might come back." 

Ash shuddered just at the thought. She shook off the creepy feeling and cautiously shuffled from the room with Liam following close behind.

As she reached the living room, her eyes widened at the sight of Harry sprawled out over the couch, his small phone held tightly in his hands as he rapidly pressed his fingers over the buttons. 

"Harry!" Liam shouted, making Harry jump and snap his head up from the illuminated screen of his phone. "Move!" 

Muttering under his breath, Harry sat up from his posistion and sat normally on the couch. Ash smiled at Liam, snickering quietly to herself as she slumped down into the couch. 

"So rude!" Ash noted. 

"He deserves it," Liam grumbled, a small smile on his lips. Harry scowled and made a rude gesture towards Liam with his hand. Ash gasped and covered her mouth to hide a sudden burst of giggles. 

"I correct myself, that was ruder," Ash laughed. Harry glared at her from his phone, raising an eyebrow. 

"Ruder isn't a word, idiot," Harry scoffed before rolling his eyes and looking back to the small device so tightly held in his grasp.  

"Geez what crawled into your trousers," Ash grumbled, settling down into the couch grumpily. She crossed her arms over her chest and turned so she would no longer have to look at the curly haired boy who sat next to her. 

She couldn't help but let her mind to wander. Why did Harry hate her so much? He'd never expressed how much, but the scatter of hurtful words that he said to her still made Ash uneasy around him. To be honest, Ash was starting to grow scared of him. 

The stares he shot her way have gotten more hurtful. There's something else that glares in his eyes and Ash is sure of it, but she has no clue what it is. 

"Breakfast!" Liam interrupted her thoughts with a plate of breakfast, some waffles drizzled with maple syrup and butter. Ash's eyes widened at the sight of it, licking her lips hungrily.  

She gripped the fork and hungrily devoured one of the waffles in three bites. Harry watched her carefully, a critical look on his face. 

"You eat so fast," He noted.