Young Folks (Ross Lynch AU)

twenty-four.

"Shit," I muttered, clutching my stomach. I attempted to get up from my fetal position on the bed, but a moan of pain escaped my lips at the first slight movement.

"Aspen?" Ross asked sleepily, shifting so he was facing me. I tried to stay quiet, hoping I could silently convince home everything was fine.

My heavy breathing and slight groan said otherwise.

"Aspen," Ross whispered as he sat up, "what's wrong, baby?"

"Nothing," I replied, turning away to hide my grimace of pain.

"Don't lie to me," he stated, a subtle amount of hurt laced in his words.

"My stomach kills, and I have a splitting headache," I sighed, knowing it was no use to hide it at this point.

"Are you okay?" Ross asked, laying his hand on my back and rubbing it gently.

My only response was a turn of the head and an annoyed glare.

However, Ross didn't snap or comment about my rude behavior. He just laid next to me and rubbed my back soothingly.

"I wish there was something more I could do," he whispered after a few minutes of silence.

"Ditto," I groaned. "I just wish this pain would end."

"Pain," Ross muttered, the rhythmic feeling of his hand on my back slowing. He suddenly gasped and nearly jumped out of the bed, grabbing the flashlight and then ransacking my backpack.

"Ross," I moaned, the loud noise making my head pound, "can you kept it down?"

"Sorry," he murmured, his rummaging becoming quieter instantly. "Eureka!" He exclaimed, pulling a bottle of painkillers out of my first aid kit.

"Did you just say eureka?" I laughed, which quickly turned into a groan.

"Of course!" He replied as if it were totally normal.

"Dork," I teased, winking for good measure.

"Dork that just saved you from a hell of a lot of pain," Ross grinned proudly. He grabbed my water bottle and handed it to me along with the bottle of painkillers.

"Thanks," I smiled weakly.

"No problem, love," he replied, kissing my forehead gently. "You're burning up!" He exclaimed as soon as he pulled away.

"Shocker," I rolled my eyes, 150% done with whatever this was that was making me sick.

"Aspen, what have you eaten in the past two days?" Ross asked, sitting down on the bed next to me.

"Um, some of the caribou meat, those wild raspberries we found, blackberries, -"

"Wait, blackberries? Where did we find those?" he questioned.

"In the woods, on our little adventure the other day. You were gathering the raspberries and I found a few blackberries so I ate them and-"

"Are you sure they were blackberries?" Ross asked.

"I'm pretty sure. I mean, they looked like blackberries and tasted like them, too," I shrugged.

"Aspen, those could've been poisonous! That's probably why you're sick!" He exclaimed, shaking his head slightly.

"I'm sorry! They just looked like them and I was almost positive they were and-"

"It's fine. Just, don't do that again, okay? I don't want you getting sick on me or anything," Ross said quietly, his voice becoming quieter as he spoke until it was only a whisper.

I opened the bottle of painkillers and took three out, then swallowed them along with my water, hoping they would ease the pain.

"About an hour or two after the sun rises, I'm going to try to see if I can find anyone on the trail coming here," Ross stated suddenly.

"What?! No! Why?" I exclaimed.

"Because we need to get you out of here and treat you properly. You can survive on painkillers, and who knows how long these berries are going to stay in your system for. I don't want you getting even more sick," he explained.

"And I don't want you going out there all by yourself! Ross, you can't go. It's too dangerous, especially right after sunrise. Please, stay."

"Aspen, I-"

"Please," I whispered, meeting his gaze. "I can't lose you, not now."

"Alright," he replied.

"Promise?" I asked.

"Promise," he nodded his head, kissing my cheek as reassurance.

"Okay," I smiled weakly.

"Go to sleep. You need all the rest you can get," Ross whispered. I laid down as he did the same right next to me, pulling me towards him and holding me in his arms.

I was constantly drifting in and out of consciousness, waking up and falling back asleep in a moment's notice.

But the last thing I remember before going out cold is the feeling of a warm pair of lips coming in contact with my forehead and the sound of a door closing shut.

Sorry this is a bit late and a lame chapter. I tried to make it interesting and not the fluffy shit you've had to deal with for the past few chapters.

Anywhore thanks again for everything

I love you all :)