𝚙𝚎𝚊𝚌𝚎 ~ 𝚛𝚎𝚍𝚕𝚢𝚗 𝚊𝚞

𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚜𝚒𝚡: 𝚑𝚊𝚝𝚎

Theoretically, being nominated for an award was amazing. And it was, really. But there were downsides, because not everyone though Ashlyn should be nominated. She had fans. She had haters. Usually she managed to avoid the hate, but now she couldn't find her way out of it.

Scrolling through various posts about herself, plenty negative, Ashlyn forced herself to hold it together.

"I'm home babe!" Big Red called, noticing where she was and joining her on the couch. She turned her phone off, not letting him see it, and hugged him.

"Hey."

"Hey, how are you?" He kissed her forehead.

"I'm fine." She shrugged weakly. "How 'bout you?"

"I'm good." He smiled at her, beginning to run his hands through her hair. She hid her face in his shoulder, trying to distract herself from thinking of the various comments she had read. "Did you eat yet?"

"No."

"Me neither. Hungry?"

"Not really. I'll go out if you want, but I don't really have an appetite."

"Mkay." He cuddled her closer. "I can wait, I'm not very hungry."

"Okay, yeah." She lost herself in thought.

"Gah, you're so beautiful." Big Red whispered, brushing her hair out of her face.

"Thank you." She forced a smile. Sure, he meant it, but there were people who didn't agree. People who thought she was ugly, untalented, weird—

"Of course. You sure you're okay?"

"Yeah. Of course." She nodded. She always had haters, she knew that, so why bother him with this?

"Good." He said, the first time in quite some time her lies managed to work.

They sat there for awhile, silently enjoying each other's presence. Eventually he left to get food— which Ashlyn still didn't have an appetite for— which left her alone. She broke down crying.

She managed to pull it together again when he showed back up, forcing smiles and laughter. She forced herself to eat a few bites of food before putting her leftovers away.

"Ash, you feeling okay?"

"I told you earlier, I'm fine."

"I know what you said. I'm just worried. You've barely eaten. And you just seem... off."

"Huh." She shrugged. "Well, I'm good."

"Okay."

"I'm gonna call it an early night, though. Just tired, babe."

"Mkay. I'll be there in a little while." He kissed her. "I love you."

"I love you more." She gave him one more kiss. She headed back to their room, where she immediately laid down. She let out a sigh, which turned into cries. She kept them quiet, determined not to let her boyfriend hear. He would be happy to help and he wouldn't judge her, but she found herself unable to talk about it. She slowly stopped.

Awhile later, she felt herself joined by Big Red. Keeping her eyes shut, she felt the hug her wrapped her in. She sunk into his arms. At least she had him.

"I love you." She whispered.

"I love you." He gently kissed her neck a few times, before stopping as he attempted to drift to sleep. She eventually managed sleep herself, but it didn't come easily.