//aftermath// a. i.

III. a nickname and fantastic coffee

So now picture like 22 Jump Street walk of shame kinda deal, only no Channing Tatum

        Grace felt incredibly warm. Too warm. She could feel the sweat forming on her skin and she squirmed slightly to try to get some air moving under the heavy blankets. Then she realized why she was so hot. Grace's eyes flew open and she glanced around Ashton's bedroom, only to be greeted by a pair of massive, muscular arms. They were bound around her so tightly that it was becoming harder and harder to breathe. Grace tried reaching up and poking one of the arms, to nudge him awake. It didn't work. So she moved to plan B.

        "Ashton? Ashton! ASH!" Grace said loudly. The jolt that ensued as she startled Ashton awake nearly threw her off the bed, his arms flinging open and his body flying forward in a tizzy. Grace flew toward the edge of the bed, only stopping as Ashton grabbed the back of her shirt and tugged her safely away from the edge. It wasn't like she would have been hurt by the fall, the bed wasn't that far off the ground. Ashton was just embarrassed that he'd thrown her so far in his fright.

        "Hey, sorry." Ashton said, rubbing one eye groggily. Grace sighed in relief. Her heart was still pounding from the adrenaline, but she composed herself and leaned back against Ashton's chest once more. 

        "It's fine, I shouldn't have yelled." Grace responded. She stretched her toes, a yawn overcoming her.

        "I'll try not to throw you across the room next time." Ashton said, chuckling. Grace froze.

        "Next time?" Grace questioned. She liked him, sure, but Grace thought this was a one time thing. 

        "Ah, yeah, I mean, if you ever have another mental breakdown and stay at my house past a reasonable hour." Ashton said weakly, running a hand through his hair. Grace studied his eyes carefully. He seemed like he wanted to say more, but thought better of it. "Anyway, so do you want some breakfast? I have cereal, toast, and frozen waffles." Ashton asked, once again effectively changing the subject. Grace sighed. She was hungry, but she really didn't like it that Ashton changed the subject when he felt uncomfortable.

        "Sure, I'll have some cereal." Grace gave in. Ashton grinned and nodded, getting out of bed and tossing a nearby shirt over his head. Grace watched as he went about his morning routine ,fascinated by his efficiency. Ashton stuck both of his arms in the shirt simultaneously and walked out of the room. Moments later he popped his head back in, his hair still disheveled, but a toothbrush now sticking out of his mouth.

        "You comin', Princess?" He asked, winking at Grace. 

        Grace rolled her eyes. "Yes." She swung her legs around to the side of the bed and hopped down. Her feet hit the soft carpet and she paused, letting the feeling squish into her toes. She followed Ashton back into his bathroom, where he handed her an extra toothbrush and his toothpaste. Grace thanked him and squeezed some of the toothpaste into the brush so she could start brushing her teeth. As she put the toothbrush in her mouth she glanced up at the mirror. 

        The two of them stood side by side, seemingly doing a routine thing, together. Grace let herself imagine for a moment what it would be like to be with Ashton, like this, all the time. To be his girlfriend. To share the same space. To do the same things. 

        "Are you planning on using that toothbrush, Princess? Or are you just going to look at it for the next ten minutes?" Ashton teased, wiping his mouth on a nearby towel. Grace blinked, returning from the elaborate fantasy she'd been crafting in her mind. Instead of answering him, Grace shoved the toothbrush in her mouth and began furiously scrubbing at her teeth.  She heard Ashton chuckle and she fought to hide the blush that was once again finding its way onto her cheeks.