With Love Always, Alice | A.F.I.

12. Eggs & Bacon

[How I imagine Ashton's house and kitchen to look here ENJOY]

I wake in the morning to the sound of Ashton's soft breaths in my ear, the sunlight shining through the living room windows.

It was warm, being held in his arms. His grip was firm, it made me feel safe, secure. I didn't want to wake up, I didn't want to get up or move. I didn't really want to do anything but lay here forever.

Beside me, Ashton groans in his sleep. His hair was a mop, his curls falling loosely over his forehead as he slept peacefully. For the first time, I find him looking absolutely adorable instead of sexy or hot.

As I stare at him, he finally opens his eyes slowly, squinting as the sun shines in his them, causing them to glow a honey color. He smirks at me.

"Take a picture it'll last longer, babe." His voice rasps and I roll my eyes. I get out of the bed and go to put my shoes on. "You hungry at all?" I shake my head. That was a lie, my stomach was practically screaming for food.

"No, I'm fine." He makes his way over to me and wraps his arms around my waist.

"Why are you in such a hurry to leave?" He rests his chin on my shoulder. I can't help but smile.

"I should just get home. Bet my mum's worried about me." That was obviously an excuse, the last person I wanted to see was my mum.

"She isn't going anywhere is she?" I turn around to look at him. He moves his arms from my waist and I shake my head.

"No, I guess not."

"Well, then stay," He bites his lip. "For just a bit longer." I smirk at him and cross my arms.

"Why are you so adamant on getting me to stay hm?" I move closer to him. "Got a little crush on me now?" He rolls his eyes and moves away from me and toward the kitchen.

"I'm making eggs and bacon. If you want some you come in here." I frown a bit. Why'd his mood change so suddenly? I make my way to the kitchen.

"Why so moody? I was only joking." He looks over at me as he heats up a pan.

"Not at all," He speaks monotone. "Just hungry, don't think so much." Well okay...

I sit at the kitchen table. I don't like his sudden change in mood, it was throwing me off. As much as it bothers me, I don't question it.

"Sleep well then?" He looks over at me, then back to the fridge, where he pulls out bacon and eggs.

"It was alright I guess, I'm sure you did though," He moves back to the stove. "You talk an awful lot in your sleep."

I could already feel my cheeks burning.

"I don't." He nods and laughs.

"Oh, but you do. Don't worry it's kinda cute." I don't have to look in a mirror to know my cheeks are flushed red. Before I can say a word to respond, Ashton speaks again.

"So, what happened with you and Luke?"

"What do you mean?"

"I saw the messages, Alice. I'm sorry I'm nosy but that wasn't nothing." He cracks the eggs onto the pan. "So what was it?" I stay silent for a while. I didn't know if I should even talk to him about it. I haven't known Ashton long. Maybe about three weeks?

Or maybe less...

I speak up anyways, going against my gut.

"Before you came to pick me up, Luke had told me he was in love with me. We were arguing and it just... came up I guess." He nods and looks at me, twirling a spatula in his hand.

"What were you two arguing about?"

"Ashton."

"I'm sorry. Look, if you don't feel comfortable then you don't have to talk to me about this, it's okay Alice." His moods are constantly changing sometimes I can't read him. He's deciding to be kind for now so I'll just soak that in while I can.

"It's fine. I did something and he didn't much like it. Which no one really would, it's my fault." Ashton nods.

"You cut." He speaks, confirming that he saw the message. I nod slowly.

"Yeah." He frowns.

"Where?" I sigh, taking off the jacket I still had on from last night. I hold my forearm out, revealing the bandages on my arm. "I'm sorry, Allie." He doesn't call me that much, and the fact that he did makes me smile.

"It's fine."

"But it isn't," He flips the eggs and bacon before coming over to me. I watch him as he kneels down in front of me. He gently takes hold of my arm and looks at it. I feel as though my breath's caught in my throat. He was being so caring. "What's the reason for it?" I try to find words to speak.

"I... my mum. Blaming me for her and my dad's divorce. It was my fault I told my dad that mum cheated it slipped in conversation it was a mistake." I sigh, stopping before I start to cry like a little bitch. Ashton frowns and he sighs.

"It gets better, Alice. Some day you won't have to live with your mum. You'll be out of there and you won't have to worry about a thing," He kisses my wrist, where old scars lay and when he does, I almost forget I once cut there.

"I don't think it will, Ashton." He looks up at me.

"It will, Allie," He shakes his head and sighs. "I swear to you it will."

"But how do you know that, Ashton?" Without another word, he pulls up the sleeve of his button up and to my surprise, there's a number of old scars trailing up his arm. I don't even know what to say to him, I just can't believe he went through the same shit I did.

"I know, Allie," He looks so sad and I can't help but feel bad. I didn't mean to bring up his past. I had no idea. "I know it hurts you right now but it'll fucking get better. And I know I've only known you a short amount of time, but I'm here for you. I want you to know that I'm here for you as a friend, whatever. Okay?" After a bit of thinking, I nod to him and he pulls me into a tight hug. I keep my face buried in his shoulder and sigh deeply.

"Thank you so much, Ashton." He holds me for a bit longer and then pulls back, coming in to kiss me. I don't push him away. Once his lips meet mine I wrap my arms around his neck and oblige. His arms wrap around my waist tightly, until we're as close to each other as we can get and I've never felt this way with someone before.

I've never wanted to be this close with someone.

Our lips move together, his bottom lip catches my top lip as our actions get messier. His lips move lazily as he pulls away to leave a small peck on mine. He kisses my nose and then pulls his head back to look at me. A small smirk forms on his face.

"Can't let the eggs burn now can we?"