Snapback

"Fine I'm up"

Michael

"What was that?" Jason asked. His head snapped towards the stair case as we heard screaming coming from upstairs.

"Ashley" Tyler said as he pushed himself from the couch.

Nick and Jason stood up and followed us as we rushed up the stairs.

When we reached the room I rushed inside and over to the bed, taking Ashley in my arms. "Hey hey wake up baby girl, you're only dreaming" I assured.

Moments later Ashley shot up in my lap, her breathing labored and her arms wrapped around herself.

"Ashley" I said softly as I pried her arms away. I held her wrists in one of my hands as I cupped her cheek in my hand. She turned her eyes towards me, letting me see all the pain in her eyes. The other guys has crowded around her as we waited for her next move.

"Are you okay?" Nick asked first.

"My lungs are burning" Ashley whispered, breathing heavily.

"I have some pain medication you can take" Tyler stated.

He stood up and left the room while I continued to rub her back.

"Why don't we all go downstairs and watch some movies" Jason suggested.

"I'm in" Nick said, "Ashley?"

"Sure" she croaked.

I smiled reassuringly at her before I pushed myself off the bed. Ashley trailed behind as we all headed downstairs. Tyler met us all in the living room with the medication. Once Ashely took a pill she took a seat between Nick and I.

The movie was halfway over when Ashely's head fell onto my shoulder. I wrapped my arm around her waist and absentmindedly drew circles on her arm. An hour later everyone had fallen asleep on top of each other.

-

"That's my side" I heard Tyler groan.

"Then move your side" Nick replied.

"How about you move your foot?"

"How about you both shut up?" Ashley said to both of them.

I chuckled as I brought her closer to me. Ashley slid from my grip and rolled onto the floor.

"Ash" Jason groaned. Ashley shushed him before the room fell silent again.

"Is anyone else hungry?" Tyler asked.

"I am" I said.

"Fine I'm up" Ashley huffed. She stood up and shot a glare at me before heading to the kitchen.

I stood up moments later and followed her. She was reaching up for a bowl when I walked in. Shaking my head, I pressed myself against her and reached up, easily grabbing the bowl.

"I get it I'm short" Ashley rolled her eyes.

I smiled and left a kiss on her forehead before she stepped to the side. I watched her pull out some ingredients and start measuring them out. She mixed them together and poured them into pancake shapes in the frying pan.

"You're amazing babe, you know that?" I questioned.

"I don't feel amazing" she replied.

I pushed myself off the counter and placed my hands on her side when I stood behind her. Ashley winced and dropped the spoon in her hand. It clattered to the floor.

"Ash it's okay, it's okay" I said as I sank to the floor next to her. "What's wrong?"

Instead of answering, she pulled her shirt up just enough for me to see the black and blue bruises that were there. I moved her hand to the side and gently glided my fingers over them. At the lightest touch she flinched away, causing her shirt to fall back into place.

"Who did that to you?" I asked.

"Who do you think?" She spat.

"Come here, let me get you some ice" I said softly.

"I don't want ice" Ashley said, halting my actions. "I want everything to go away"

"What do you mean babe?" I asked, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear.

"I hate thinking about my parents all the time. I love them and I miss them, but I hate the memories that come with them. Michael those guys who took me yesterday are the same ones who killed my parents" Ashley said.

"Are you sure it's them?" I questioned.

"It's a face I can never forget" Ashley said.

"What the hell is going on in here?" Jason yelled as he rushed over to the stove. He turned it off and threw the burning pancakes into the garbage.

"Whoops" Ashley laughed quietly into my chest.

"Whoops is right" Jason said. "Are you trying to burn the house down? Did I teach you nothing about cooking?"

"It was Michael's fault" Ashley responded.

"Dude I went nowhere near that stove" I quickly said.

"I know" Jason said.

"This has Ashley written all over it" Tyler laughed.

"Blame me cause I'm short right?" Ashley huffed.

Jason started to make another batch of pancakes as Tyler grabbed an apple from the basket on the counter.