I dedicate each chapter to one specific writer who either inspires my writing and/or has written incredible books. This goes to prettyhemmings because I'm in love with you as a writer, and I really am just infatuated with your work.
-Emilie-
"Baby," A voice cooed, gently shaking me awake, "get up."
My eyes peeled open, my face scrunching up in annoyance as I was awoken. My sight immediately flickered to the clock on my nightstand, groaning lowly when I read that it was just a little after three in the morning.
"What?" I mumbled, throwing my head back into my pillow, not bothering to let Ashton answer, "Just go back to sleep."
He mumbled something and then kissed my cheek, throwing the covers off of me before I could protest, and swiftly picked me up. I let out a surprised shriek, my eyes straining to stay open when I looked at the light in the kitchen streaming through my doorway.
"You have to leave in six hours," Ashton whispered, smiling down at me, "and I still have things I need to do with you before you get on that plane."
"I've told you twenty times in the past three days that I'm coming back, you goof," I rolled my eyes up at him but grinned back nonetheless. He set me down when we reached the threshold of my front door, but quickly grabbed my hand as soon as I closed the door behind us.
"We have a lot to do," He excitedly said, and we walked towards the direction of the woods. Upon reaching our tree, he helped me up into it even though I clearly didn't need it. Ashton then proceeded to slide down the tree, and I cringed at the sight of the bark scraping his exposed skin at the bottom of his back, "Alright."
He looked up at me expectedly, beaming at me as I sat on a branch above him. He continued to stare at me, nodding.
"Well, come on. Fall on me," Ashton spoke, as if it were obvious. I laughed at him, shaking my head, thinking he was joking. But he still sat there, waiting, "Ashton, no. That's so weird."
I climbed down the tree despite his protests, and lightly jumped on his lap instead.
"I prefer this instead," I smiled down at him, leaning in and slowly kissing him. His hands found my waist, sliding my shirt up slightly and gently rubbed circles on the skin. He pulled back suddenly, however, lifting me up with him as he stood.
"As much as I'd love to make out with you, really, we have way too much to do," Ashton apologetically said, tugging me along as we started towards the exit of the woods.
And he was right. Five minutes later we were seated at the diner we'd eaten at the first night we met. Lilly wasn't there, given the fact it was half past three in the morning. Instead, our waitress was a grumpy older lady that had a strange tendency to complement every last bit of Ashton.
After assuring me that she meant well - an old family friend - Ashton ordered the exact same meal we'd got the first time. As we waited for the food, I expected Ashton to explain why we were doing this, but he didn't. He acted as if it were a completely normal day.
"Why are you doing this?" I asked, narrowing my eyes. It was getting clearer to me as the time progressed that he was reenacting the first night we'd met, and I couldn't think of why exactly.
"Doing what?"
"This. You're obviously recreating when we met."
"Em," He sighed, resting his chin on his hands lazily as he looked to me, "I realize that you say you're going to come back. But so much could change. So much. And I want so desperately to trust that you'll be on the flight back to Australia in four days from now. But life is so unpredictable, and I just can't afford to expect too much."
