Hot Chocolate

Nightmare

The door creaked open and light poured in through the opening. Bears head pops up in curiosity.

A small silhouette breaks the light's path.

"Miles?" It's Ashton

"Yeah?" I call out groggily and confused. Why was she in my room at 4:00 am.

"I had a really bad nightmare and I don't feel safe in Eleanor's room and I'm to scare to sleep in the living room. Can I sleep in your bed with you?" She asks getting closer

"Uh... yeah come on." I scoot over for her and she shuts the door and crawls in next to me.

"Sorry, it's just that I.. uh just feel safe around you." She whispers making my stomach fill with butterflies.

"Thanks, I'm glad I make you feel that way." I say. I roll over so we aren't facing each other so it's not awkward.

"My dream was about Ben if you were wondering."she whispers to me.

I roll over and prop my head up with my arm. "You wanna talk about it?" I ask softly.

"Not really, but it's better I don't keep it in." She says back. I put my arm on her upper arm to try and comfort her. She jumps back startled, not prepared for my action.

"I'm sorry.. I uh didn't mean to uh scared you" I say scooting away from her not wanting to scare her again.

"No it's fine it's just the dream really fucked me up. I'm still a bit on edge." She says getting closer to me. I lay on my back and huff out a breath.

She slowly moves closer to me. She gently lays her head on my chest and lays her arm in my stomach. I wrap my arm around her.

"So.." She starts out. "Whenever your ready" I say

"I was in a alley I guess, it was very dark and I couldn't see much. And I got spun around somehow and his face popped up. I scream and try to run from him. I look at my feet and they are melted into the ground and I was stuck there. And he pulled my pants down and raped me over and over again. I finally woke up crying, of course. It felt so real." She started crying towards the end. I hug her and whisper words into her ear.

"You're okay, it will never happen again. I promise. It was just a dream and he can't hurt you again. He's locked up and can't touch you anymore." I say wiping her tears away.

"Thank you for doing this and dealing with my problems." She huffs out

"Your welcome I just want you to feel safe." I say as we drift to sleep.

                            ~next morning~

I roll over to find Ashton gone, which is understandable. A small part of me wanted her to be there by my side. I get up and go to the kitchen with Ashton sitting at the table drinking hot chocolate, typical.

I get a thermos cup and fill it with coffee and take Bear out for her daily morning walk, to go pee. She pees on phone poles and trees and takes a shit, which is good for me so I don't have to pick it in the house later.

I take sips of my coffee waiting to wake up a little more. The brisk coldness of the wind hits my face, making me shiver. We walk around the block and head back up to the loft.

*ding*

We walk out of the doors and go to my apartment. I feed Bear and give her water. Ashton is still at the table with her head down.

"Hey, are you good." I ask putting my hand on her back. She jumps up.

"Shit you scared me. Yeah I'm just still a little tired." She says

"I don't want last night to make things awkward between us, are we good?" I ask

"Yeah I guess." She says getting up and taking her cup to the sink.

I go to the couch and turn on some random show to fill the empty silence. Ashton comes over and sits next to me and lays her head on my shoulder.

"Is this ok?" She asks.

"Yeah you comfy?" She nods and I rest my head on hers and just stay there for what seems like hours. Then I hear Eleanor's door open.

Note: I love leaving on cliffhangers sorry. Also sorry it's short I'm working on another book that takes a shit ton of effort and if you wanna go check that out I have it up it's called numb but the chapters aren't up yet it's explained why.