Our Own Protection

»Chapter Eighteen«

                       »Paris's POV«

I wake up facing Eudora with the light coming in through the window, blinding me. I roll over onto my back and wince as a sharp pain shoots into my lower back. I figure getting thrown around yesterday helped it none.

The pain is throbbing and since Eudora is asleep, I don't bother hiding the grimace on my face.

After a few minutes of waiting for the pain to subside, I feel a set of eyes on me. I look over at Eudora to find her staring at me, concerned. "Are you ok?" She asks with her voice a bit horse from sleep. I nod and grit my teeth as another pain shoots me with the slightest move I make.

"It's just my back. I'm fine." I state after a minute. She doesn't look like she believes me. Which I probably wouldn't believe me either.

"I promise. It's probably just from getting thrown around yesterday." I say very convincingly. She nods before getting up slowly and walking to the bathroom. I sigh of relief. I don't want her to worry about me. Especially since we have so many other problems to worry about.

I hear a creak of a door and look over to see Ashton peaking in. My eyes widen as they make contact with his. I mouth at him, "What are you doing in here?"

He motions for me to follow him. I get up out of bed, trying not to wince at the pain in my back and follow him out the door to my room. I quickly shut the door of my room and lean against it.

"What is it?" I ask.

"I wanted to talk to you about what happened yesterday."

"Do we have to..?"

He chuckles a little before replying. "Yes, Paris. I like you a lot and I want to be with you."

Those words still make my stomach churn.

"But why?" I ask, confused. "You can have any girl in the world. Why do you want someone like me?"

He looks stunned and confused.

"Someone like you?" He asks. "What do you mean, someone like you?"

"Well, I'm obviously not that pretty. My parents are a wreck. I have. . ."

Powers that I can't even use. .

"Stop." Ashton says and I look up at him. "First of all, have you looked in the mirror?! You're flippin gorgeous. Girls would beg to look like you. Second of all, I can go knock some sence into your parents if you want me too." I laugh a little at his response.

"Thank you." I smile and say.

"But, I am also a little confused about something." He states.

"What?" I ask.

"I'm confused about how you feel about me." He replies.

"Well, I wouldn't have kissed you if I didn't like you." I say with a small laugh. "But, what about those other girls that thought you cared about them but it ended up just being a hit and run?" I ask, a bit of anger lacing my voice.

He sighs and looks down. "I truly regret doing that." He states then continues. "I really thought I would never find someone I had feelings for and I wasn't sure I wanted too, because it seemed like everyone I cared about besides Zane and Clarissa, would leave me."

I don't know how to respond, so I just hug him very tight. I feel him smile as he hugs me back.

Ashton and I have decided to keep our relationship a secret for a while. It's mostly me that wanted to, because I'm not sure how Eudora will handle it. I want to break it to her very gently because. .

My last relationship didn't end well. .

                      »Ashton's POV«

It's been a few days since Paris and I decided to have a relationship in secret. Paris doesn't know how Eudora will take it so she wants to wait a few days until she comes up with the words to break the news to her softly. Apparently, her last relationship didn't end well. When I found out more about that, I'm probably gonna knock a guy's teeth out.

It's been very tempting to tell Zane, because he's like a brother to me. Especially since I wanted her to be mine since the day I laid eyes on her. But, I've kept my mouth shut. I don't want to loose her. Wait. . where the heck is she?

I get up from my comfy spot on the couch and look for her. I walk into the kitchen and see her looking in the pantry. I smile a little and place my hands on her waist. She jumps a lil and looks behind me before smiling and slapping my arm. "Ow!" I exlaim, laughing.

"I'm looking for a snack." She says as she looks back into the pantry.

"I already see a nice snack." I say.

"Shut up." She says with a laugh.

"What? I'm just talking about these cheetos." I say innocently before reaching out and grabbing the bag of cheetos, trying not to laugh.

She rolls her eyes, "Mhm. That's totally what you meant." She says sarcastically.

"Well, I mean, those honey buns look nice too." I say.

We both laugh and she stands on her tiptoes and kisses my cheek. I smile and play with a strand of her hair. She's staring up at me, smiling. Making my heart melt.

I toss the bag of cheetos back into the pantry and slide my hands onto her waist. She laughs a little at my actions before wrapping her arms around my neck. I smile and start swaying slowly back and forth.

"Are we dancing now?" She asks with a little giggle escaping her lips.

"Yes." I say before gently pecking her lips, then adding. "You seem very giggly today."

She laughs a little softly before glancing at my lips then back to my eyes.

That little peck is still lingering on my lips and I'm dying for more. I look at her soft, kissable, lips, before leaning in and captivating her into a deep kiss.

She kisses back and I feel her hand play with the back of my hair and I grip onto her waist. I pull her close to me so no space is in-between us. She smiles into the kiss.

Then, I hear it. Footsteps. Getting closer. I quickly come to an abrupt stop. She looks at me confused with her eyebrows furrowed.

Footsteps are getting even closer. I quickly take her hands off of my shoulders and place them on her sides. She looks udderly confused. I can't help but laugh a little at the face she's giving me.

Then Eudora walks into the room. Oh crap, Paris and I are still standing pretty close to each other. I can smell the watermelon gum she was chewing earlier.

"Um, what's going on here?" Eudora asks, eyebrows raised, looking straight at Paris.

Paris looks over at her, "I was looking for a snack." She said. Technically, not a lie. But, Paris is a bit out of breath from our kiss and so am I.

"Why are you two so close?" She asks. Oh gawd, she's suspicious.

Paris looks at me and her face contorts to a disgusted one. "Ew, I don't want your diseases." She says before pushing me away. It takes everything in me to not laugh.

"I don't have diseases!" I exclaim.

"Yes, you do. No one knows where you've been." She states and I laugh a little and roll my eyes.

If I have diseases then she definitely has them now.

Eudora walks in-between us, making us separate farther apart, then she grabs the bag of cheetos and walks off. Paris and I look at each other.

"She took my cheetos." I whine and Paris laughs.