"No don't wake her up yet," Ash whispered.
"Why not? You have to go," Payton said.
"She looks cute I want a picture," Ash's said.
"No flash photography," I grumbled.
"Too late," Ash chirped.
"Ugh you know I don't like pictures," I said finally opening my eyes.
"I know but you looked adorable I couldn't resist," Ash said.
"Eww you guys are so gross," Anthony said.
"We get that way too much," I said with a chuckle.
"Come on sunflower. We have to go," Ash said holding her hand out for me.
"Ash? Baby? I love you," I said sucking up.
"I love you too but it sounds like you want something," she said.
"Will you carry me," I pleaded.
"Really," she groaned.
"Please," I begged.
"You're lucky I love you," she said hoisting me up by my thighs.
"I know I am," I whispered in her ear.
She gave me a smirk and put a soft kiss on my neck. I wrapped my arms around her torso and rested my chin on my shoulder. I was sure I looked like a baby or a child I felt comfortable and safe with Ash holding me.
"Those vocals turned out amazing I'll send you the files later," Anthony said as we were walking out.
"That's tight! I'll catch you guys later," Ash said as we walked out the door and towards her car.
"You're such baby," she laughed.
"No I'm a sunflower you're my baby," I said stroking her cheek.
"That's was cheesy," she said.
"Yep but still true," I pointed out.
"Maybe," she said setting me down in the car.
"Do you wanna go home or do something," Ash asked.
"Surprise me," I said.
"Okay," she said as the corners of her mouth tipped upwards.
I soon realized that we weren't going back to her house when she passed the street. We drove past all the beaches and eventually reached a small shopping plaza. Ash parked the car and got out and I followed close behind.
"What are we doing here," I asked.
"We're going shopping duh," she said.
"Oh okay but I don't have that much money," I said.
"That's okay I'm paying," she said.
"Um no I can't let you do that," I said.
"Yes you can," she said pulling me into her.
"No baby I don't want you spending money on me," I said.
"Come on let me spoil my girlfriend," she said.
"Do I have a choice," I said.
"Nope I'm just gonna find a way to pay anyways," she said kissing the top of my head.
"Ugh fine," I said.
"Okay let's go," she said intertwining our fingers.
We found our way into a small handmade jewelry store. Ash unwrapped her fingers from mine and went over to look at the different earrings they had while I went to look at the rings. I was scanning the display case when two rings caught my eye. They were both very simple and dainty. They were gold bands with no gem stones or anything in them and that's what caught my eye.
"What are you looking at," Ash asked sliding her hands around my waist and resting her head on my shoulder.
"Look at those rings," I pointed.
"The gold ones?," she questioned.
"Yes. Do you like them," I asked.
"Yeah they're pretty," she said.
"We do engravings too," the old man at the counter said.
"Can we see those," I asked pointing them out.
"Sure. These are on sale too," he said.
"Here try it on," I said sliding the ring on Ash's finger.
It slipped on perfectly then she tried mine. It fit like a glove and I fell in love. I liked the idea of Ash and I having something matching that I could wear all the time. Then an idea struck me.
"Ash we should get these engraved. Mine can say sunflower and yours can say baby. What do you think," I said.
"I think that's a great idea," she said kissing my cheek.
"Can you do that for us sir," I asked.
"Yes just come back in about an hour and they'll be done," he said to us with a smile.
"Thank you so much," I said.
Ash pulled me into her side as we walked out of the store. We walked around in a couple more stores laughing and talking before we realized that the hour was up. Ash took my hand and we both walked back to the jewelry store.
"Hello we're here to pick up the rings," Ash said as we reached the counter.
"Perfect timing I just finished," he said handing us two little black boxes.
I opened one and on the inside of the ring was "sunflower" in tiny cursive writing. I smiled to myself as I slipped it on my middle finger. Ash put hers on too before lifting up her finger and showing me. I quickly pressed my lips to hers and I could feel her smile grow under my lips.
"How much," Ash asked the man.
"You two seem very in love. On the house," he said with a warm grin.
"Oh no you have to let us pay something," Ash said.
"Nonsense," he said waving us away.
"Thank you so much," Ash said.
"My pleasure. Have a good day," he said.
"Do you like yours," Ash asked turning to me.
"I love it. Thank you," I said.
"I'll admit I like having something to match you," she said with a smile.
"Me too. Just promise me we won't be one of those couples that wears matching outfits and like dyes out hair to match," I said.
"Promise. I want you to be you not for us to become one person," she said.
"Good cause I don't want that either," I said.
"You ready to go now," she asked.
"Yeah," I said.
Ash drove the short drive back to her apartment and we walked inside and plopped down on the couch. Ash layer her head on my lap and I stroked her hair.
"When do you think the albums gonna be done,"I asked.
"I don't know I still have to write a couple more songs. Why," she asked.
"I just miss you," I said with a shrug.
"I mean it's my job I can't just drop everything," she said.
"Yeah I understand that It's just you're gone so much. Then what happens when you go on tour," I asked.
"Where's all this coming from," she asked sitting up.
"I just feel like I'm not gonna be good enough for you once you go around the world and meet all these new people," I said.
"I can't quit my job," she said.
"God I don't want you to Ash! Are you even listening to what I'm saying," I snapped.
"I don't understand why you're doing this! We just had a great day and now you're trying to ruin it," she said.
"I'm not! I just want some confirmation that everything's going to be okay between us and you avoiding that makes me feel like it's not," I said.
"What did I do to make you think I'm going to leave you," she said.
"Nothing it's just everything is changing. I don't want us to change," I said.
"Listen sunflower I'm going to be honest with you. I can't promise that things will never change between us. People grow apart sometimes. What I can promise you is that I love you and I'm not leaving you anytime soon. Not when I tour, not when I'm making my album, not anytime. I love you," she said.
"I love you too. I'm sorry," I said.
"It's okay. I understand that this is hard and I'm sorry that I can't make you as happy as you should be," she said quietly.
"Don't say that! You make me so happy Ash. Just because you live a bit further away than what's ideal doesn't mean you don't make me the happiest person ever," I said.
"I just don't feel like it sometimes," she sighed.
"Just because I miss you doesn't mean I'm not happy," I said putting my head under her arm.
"I'm sorry," she said.
"Me too. I don't want to fight with you," I said.
"Me either," she said.
"I've been meaning to talk to you. Halloween is coming up soon," she said.
"Baby Halloween is not for 3 more months," I laughed
"I know but it's my favorite holiday and now that I have the freedom to do it I want to have the biggest Halloween party possible," she smirked.
"That sounds like fun. What are you dressing up as," I asked.
"That's for me to know and you to wonder," she laughed.
She pulled out her phone as it chimed and I caught a glimpse of her wallpaper. It looked like the picture she had taken earlier and I smiled to myself. I took my phone out and snuck a quick picture of Ash staring at her phone in concentration. I forgot to turn the flash off and the sound of the camera echoed through the house.
"That better be a selfie," she joked.
"It could be or it could not be," I shrugged.
"Come on," she groaned.
"I had to get you back," I said setting it as my lock screen.
"Don't post that anywhere," she said.
"Don't worry it's just for me," I said.
Ash's phone chimed again and she sighed before typing a quick response.
"Sev wants to know if we wanna go out with him," Ash said.
"Do you wanna go," I asked.
"Not really do you," she asked.
"I don't know kinda," I shrugged trying to make it seem like I didn't really want to.
"Okay then we're going," she said.
"It's alright we don't have to," I said.
"Sunflower, obviously you wanna go," she said.
"But you don't," i pointed out.
"We'll just go for a little while," she said.
"Okay I'm gonna go get dressed," I said.
I walked back into her room and slipped on the dress that I brought for occasions like this. It was short and black with a bit of a sparkle to it. The dress hit just above me knees and I put on some makeup. I assumed we were going to a bar since that's all Sev had been talking about lately.
I quickly fixed my hair and put my black heels on before walking out of the bedroom. Ash was sitting on the couch in the same clothes she had when she looked up. She gave me a mischievous smile and got up walking towards me.
"You look beautiful," she said.
"Thank you baby," I said.
"Don't need to thank me for telling the truth," she quipped.
I pressed my lips to hers softly as she ran her hands up my sides. The dress slipped up a bit from her touch but I didn't bother to pull it down. Her tongue tangled with mine as I let my lips part. My hands found their way up into her hair and I lightly tugged on it causing her to let out a soft moan. We both broke apart and she rested her forehead on mine breathing heavily.
"We should go," I said.
"Yeah," she said grabbing my hand.
After a little drive we reached a small bar tucked away in a corner. It was made of bricks and had lights strung across the front. There were some people mulling around outside as Ash and I hopped out of the car.
"Thank you for taking me," I said as Ash slid her arm around my waist.
"Anything for you," she said.
When we walked in Sev, his girlfriend, Payton and Anthony were all occupying a table towards the back. They all had drinks in their hands and were laughing hysterically. Ash and I walked back to the table and everyone greeted us.
"Hey guys," Sev called handing us both some sort of beer.
"Hey," I replied.
"Thena you look great," Anthony commented from the table.
"Mine," Ash said wrapping her arms around my torso and putting her head in the crook in my neck.
"Wow someone's a little possessive tonight," Anthony joked.
Ash just shrugged and everybody laughed. I placed my hands over Ash's and she kissed my cheek. Sev made fake gagging sound doubling over and pretending to throw up dramatically. Everybody at the table chuckled and I could tell it was going to be a fun night.
