Ashley's POV: By the time we reach the house, Katie's already half asleep again, so Jayy says, "Would you mind taking her to her room?"
I agree, then pick her up, bridal style, and take her up the stairs, to her bedroom. I gently lay her on the soft bed, then get in next to her, and pull the covers over us. I wrap my arms around her, as she sleepily curls into my side, resting her head on my chest.
I sigh happily, then wonder how I got so lucky to have a beautiful young woman, like Katie, fall in love with me, and change my dirty ways.
When I know she's asleep, I grab the small velvet box from my pocket, and look at the ring inside. It has the infinity symbol on a simple silver band, that reads "Now and Forever" which I had engraved in the ring.
With any luck, she'll accept this promise ring, and later on, maybe even the engagement ring I want to get her.
I then silently wonder how one woman could change me so much. It's not what I expected. When we first got together, I knew I was crushing hard on her. I knew she was broken, and needed someone to help her fix herself. I knew all of this, but I never imagined I'd be one of the people actually helping her. I never imagined I'd fall so madly in love with her.
"Ashley?" I hear her murmur sleepily, and I quickly hide the ring in my jacket again, then turn to face her.
"Yeah, I'm here, baby," I gently say, brushing some hair from her face.
She smiles as she slowly looks up at me. She then asked, "What were you doing?"
"Nothing. Just keeping an eye on the only woman I've ever truly loved," I reply, kissing her forehead, then she smiles a little more, and rests her head on my chest.
I wrap my arms around her, and stroke her long, colorful hair gently. She sighs happily, then asked something that took me by surprise.
"Ashley, would you stay with me tonight? I don't want to be alone," she says softly, playing with the collar of my jacket.
I quickly recover from my shock, then say, "Of course. Whatever you want, baby."
"Thank you, Ash," she says, then I hear my phone vibrate. I quickly check it, and see it's a text from Jayy, letting me know to get Katie and come down for dinner, since it's almost ready.
I tell her what's going on, and she goes to stand up, but quickly loses her balance, and falls back onto the bed. I make sure she's okay, then pick her up, and carry her down the stairs.
Katie's POV: I'm still really tired, but it's dinner time, so I try to get up off my bed, and quickly fall back as a wave of dizziness takes me off guard. Ashley panics, making sure I'm alright, and after I assure him for the 100th time I am, he picks me up, and carries me down stairs.
When we get to the dinning room/kitchen area, I hear Jayy ask, "Still?"
Ashley nods, and says, "Yeah," then sets me on my feet, and helps me into one of the chairs at the table. He then sits next to me, closer than normal, and keeps an arm around my shoulders as he and Jayy talk about something I can't seem to focus on.
He seems to realize this, and asked Jayy or Dahvie something. A moment passes, and Dahvie's setting a glass of orange juice in front of me. He tells me to drink it, and I notice my hands shaking when I try to pick the juice up.
"Let me," Ashley says, picking the glass up, and holds it to my lips. I drink deeply, not realizing how thirsty I really was, and when I finish the glass, I lean my head against Ashley's shoulder.
Ashley and Jayy pick up their conversation again, and this time, I can tell what they're saying.
"So, how is she going to combat this shit at school?" Ashley asked.
"How I did," Jayy says, "In most schools, you're allowed to carry iron pills on you if you need them like she and I do. As far as her low blood sugar goes, she'll have to take a bottle of juice or get sodas throughout the day to keep it up."
"And if she passes out?" Ashley questions.
"I took her phone so I could call that Rocket guy she hangs out with at school, and told him. He told me they're in most classes together, and promised to keep an eye on her," Jayy says, "I think he said the only class that's different is the period right before lunch."
"Alright," Ashley says, seemingly satisfied by this little insight. He then turns his attention to me, and asked, "How are you feeling?"
"Alright, I guess," I murmur.
"You guess?" he asked, concern clearly laced in his tone.
I nod, then say, "Yep. No worries though. Just a bad headache."
"You need something for it?" he asked, but I shake my head, signaling I don't.
A few moments later Jayy sets a plate of 4-cheese ziti in front of me, then brings out Ashley's, Dahvie's, and his own, then we all sit down and eat.