The Girl

TWELVE: HAUNTING

"And you've got your own mistakes in a bed at home. I'm hoping you could save me now but you break and fold. You've got a fire inside but your heart's so cold..."

SONG: HAUNTING

ARTIST: HALSEY

Ashton had his little girl at four in the morning. Bryanna had been sleeping when he invited us into the room and I could barely keep my eyes open, but when I saw my little goddaughter in her little bed with her eyes staring right at me I found myself unable to breathe. She was so little and her hazel eyes just poured into my soul.

"Holy shit," I exhaled and took a step closer. "Thank God she might not look like you."

Ashton huffed at my comment, but realized I had been kidding. I managed a little smile and reached for her, taking her into my arms and found myself terrified that I might hurt someone as small as her.

"Support her head," Brianna told me, standing beside me as she brushed the little bit of hair the baby had. "What'd you decide to name her?"

"Billy Joe," Ashton smiled. "Bryanna loves Green Day and I just fucking love the dude."

Brianna quirked a smile. "I'm going to name my kid after a flower. Totally weird, but I don't know, I feel like I'd name her after one."

"You and Luke would make a pretty cute kid," Ashton teased and watched me place his little girl back in her bed. Brianna placed her hand on the inside of my upper arm and rested her head on my shoulder.

"I am pretty hot, aren't I?" Brianna whispered as we walked out of the room and toward the hospital's cafeteria to get Bryanna some food. "Our kid would have the smoothest skin ever."

"I think I'd have to marry you first," I told her and felt her hand moving down my arm, intertwining our fingers. "My mum would kill me if I had a baby out of wedlock."

"Even up there she'll kick your ass," Brianna laughed and then frowned. "Sorry. It isn't my place to say anything like that."

I shook my head and stopped us in the middle of the hallway. My hands cupped her face, lips finding hers tenderly as she placed her hands on my hips. I could feel the pads of her thumbs pressing to my lower stomach, fingers gripping the material of my shirt.

"I'm okay with you going along with stuff like that, Bree," I exhaled and left soft kisses on her lower lip. Brianna exhaled and left her eyes closed, even as I pulled away. "If it were anyone else I'd probably punch them in the face."

"So, I have a get out of jail free?"

"Nah, it's more like 'you're the girl I really fucking like and I'm perfectly okay with you saying shit like that'," I explained and then kissed her forehead. "I really do like you a lot, Bree."

She smiled and bit down on her lip. "I like you just as much."

*

Brianna jumped on top of me, waking me from my nap with a big smile on her face. Her hair was shorter and her bangs now fell in front of her face, touching her eyebrows. I smiled at the sight, her glasses falling down her nose because of the sweat.

"You look nice, baby,"

She frowned.

"You don't like it," She bit down on her lip and groaned softly. "I knew I shouldn't have gotten the bangs--"

"Babe, you look good. I promise," I laughed and brought myself to sit up on the couch. She lifted her hips slightly so I could scoot up and then she was back on my lap once more. "Who did it for you?"