We're Getting There // A.I

Chapter 1 // Gummy Worms

March 20 : 236 days till due

"I got here as quick as I could. I brought gummy worms, ramen noodles, a carton of strawberry milk, and an iced fudge ripple from the coffee bean"

Ashton stands in front of me in a big jacket, his nose pink from the cold night air outside and a shopping bag held tight in his left hand.

He's been surprisingly great; darting around in the middle of night because of my cravings, picking me up movies, meeting up with me when I'm lonely, the works. He's been running himself raw, and I wonder if he has anything else on that he should be doing instead of flitting around town for me. We're not together - that hasn't seemed to be on the table - but I'm just grateful that he's doing all of this for me.

"Do you know how hard it is to find a coffee shop open at eleven pm? Hard." Ashton says, collapsing on the couch behind me and blowing out a big breath.

I'm seated on the floor behind my coffee table watching reruns of Golden Girls on TV, unable to sleep. I pick up the plastic bag that he put on the table in front of me and sift through its contents. He's also put in a pack of Hubba Bubba gum, but I think that's for him.

"I'll pay you back for all of this, you know" I mumble.

"What?" Ashton scoffs, making a face. "Charlie, that's not necessary. I couldn't sleep anyway."

I turn and raise an eyebrow at him. He's been making excuses for helping me almost every night now. I couldn't sleep or I was driving this way anyway being some of the things he says to brush off when I thank him for helping me.

"What! I couldn't! I promise!" He laughs, shrugging off his jacket and sinking back further into the couch. He looks tired, bags under his drooping eyes.

"Sure, sure" I say, shoving a hand full of gummy worms in my mouth and turning back to the TV.

I watch until the next commercial break, and when I turn around Ashton's gone to sleep, snoring lightly with his whole body sprawled out on my couch.

I sigh. He's very pretty, and I hope our baby looks more like him than me. He looks really peaceful when he's asleep, all the lines on his face smoothed out and all the creases beside his mouth gone. He's like a child and as I switch the TV off I decide to let him sleep where he is.

When I lay down in bed I twist and turn, but can't sleep. Normally, at this point, I'd probably call Ashton, when I remember he's passed out in the lounge room.

I hold a big pillow to my chest but it just doesn't feel right. I know exactly what I need to get to sleep, but I don't have the heart of ask for it.

I roll over and stare at the ceiling, my arms and legs spread out so I almost take up the whole bed. I want so badly to have someone to cuddle up to. I know it would make everything better.

After ten minutes of uncomfortable debating with myself I trudge out to the lounge room and see him laying in a surely uncomfy position with his shoulders hunched up and his chin on his chest. I put his jacket on the rack at the front door and put away the things he bought me, procrastinating waking him up.

It's the last thing I want to do, but finally I poke his arm and shove him a little bit.

"Ashton" I whisper, touching his cheek. "Ashton, wake up."

It takes a few more tries before he makes a tiny groaning noise and his eyes flutter open sleepily, only half wide.

"Hmm? Yeah?" He mumbles, rubbing his eyes and pulling off his beanie.