Creek Blues (Jalsey)

21. Princess

***Trigger warnings for vomit, manipulation, abuse, and symptoms of PTSD.***

Start the song. It's Lavender Blood by Fox Academy.

They bought enough junk food to last them for at least a week before checking into a seedy motel in Coosa County that night. Josh texted his dad that he'd be home in the morning, but didn't provide his dad with any additional details. Ashley didn't text anyone, just yawning and watching Josh gather their stuff out of the truck from the passenger seat.

"Lemme help," she offered sleepily, reaching her hands out for some of the grocery bags in Josh's grasp.

"I got it. Sit tight for a second," he told her simply, making her look a bit confused as he left the truck and went to the room with the number 14 on it.

He unlocked the door and deposited their stuff on the table before coming back out to the truck, opening Ashley's door. She made a little noise of surprise when he lifted her off of her seat, kicking the truck door closed before carrying her inside. She yawned again, resting her head on his shoulder. He didn't blame her for being exhausted. It was nearly midnight, and she'd had a long day.

What Josh didn't understand was why he wanted to take care of her so badly. He didn't know why he set her down gently on top of the bed before closing the door to the room. He didn't know why he helped her undress until she was in just a pale blue thong before tucking her in beneath the covers. She didn't seem to know why either, watching him as if she was waiting for him to suddenly strike at her like a snake, but he didn't.

He just kissed her forehead and asked, "Do you need anything?"

She hesitated before asking timidly, "Can I wear your shirt?"

"Yeah," Josh agreed easily, shrugging his flannel off before pulling his shirt over his head. He helped her to sit up and pull the shirt on before laying her back down. "Better?" He asked, not really sure how else to address the situation.

"Yeah. Thanks," she replied quietly.

Although he wasn't sure why he did this either, he brushed her hair off of her face with a touch much softer than he was used to. She flinched at first, making him still. He continued when she relaxed again though.

"If I am pregnant, and we get married, is this how you're gonna act from now on?" Ashley asked in a small voice. When Josh kept his mouth shut and avoided looking at her, she added, "I like this. I like this side of you a lot. I just don't understand where it's coming from."

"I don't either," Josh admitted, standing and going across the room to their grocery bags full of rations. He dug through them until he found the toothbrushes and toothpaste they'd bought as well. "Did you want-"

He stopped talking when Ashley suddenly rushed past him and into the bathroom, not even having time to close the door before she was collapsing in front of the toilet and vomiting into it. Josh stood completely still just outside the door, unsure of what to do as he watched her empty out her stomach. When there was nothing left, she wiped her mouth on a square of toilet paper and flushed it away with the vomit.

When she looked at Josh with a strange expression on her face, he just cracked open the package of toothbrushes and handed one to her. She sniffled quietly, and for some reason, that was all it took for him to step into the bathroom and help her put toothpaste on her toothbrush for her. He didn't brush his teeth while she did. He just stood beside her, staring at her stomach in the mirror and willing it to grow. He wanted her vomit to have contained the pill he'd bought her. He wanted her to be pregnant. He wanted her to leave Brendon. He wanted to start over-to force Ashley to be a better mom that the ones they'd had.