Broken Lungs

"Will you make me even more happier than you already do, by being my girlfriend?" He asked hopeful taking a hold of my hand and lacing his fingers with mine. I froze feeling my heart stop and my stomach practically jump up into my throat.

'Ashley fucking Purdy's actually asking me to be his girlfriend?' I thought as I tried to find my own voice again. I saw his face starting to sadden and the look in his beautiful big brown eyes turn to panic as I sat there holding my breath and internally screaming with complete happiness.

"Mel? Oh god, that was too pushy, wasn't it? Shit!" he said worriedly and I noticed his breathing became rapid. I shook my head rapidly and pressed my lips to his again smiling into the kiss as he kissed back. I pulled away smiling at him and nodded, "yes, of course I will, Ashes."

I saw him grow the biggest smile on his face that had the corners of his mouth going practically from ear to ear. He pulled me into another kiss, this time I kissed back harder grabbing a fist full of his hair and tugging on it which caused him to press my body against his roughly. I couldn't contain the small moan that slipped and caused Ashley to break the kiss looking at me grinning like a cheshire cat.

'Fuck, why did I have to do that? Damn you hormones' I thought to myself as I shamefully tried to figure out what to say to him and felt my cheeks burning like a set of hot skillets off the oven.

'You're obviously attracted to him sweetie. Emotionally and physically. Don't be so shy, he seems to like it. You're driving him crazy right now' voiced Ashley thought back.

'Yeah and why is that? Oh right, because he's a fucking man whore for crying out loud. Just wait and see, that's all he'll end up using you for' the evil voice intervened.

'If you would kindly fuck off and leave her alone already, that'd be fantastic, thanks. Honey don't listen to him, this dumbass doesn't know what he's talking about, he's just trying to ruin things between you and Ashley' voiced Ashley spoke. As encouraging as he was, I honestly for just one day wanted nothing but silence in my thoughts. Nothing but the sound of my own. Looks like that wasn't happening anytime soon though.

I sighed internally and stole a glance at Ashley who held a proud smirk and a raised eyebrow.

"Why, what on earth was that, Melly?" He asked sarcastically trying to look as innocent as possible holding back his smirk. I shook my head quickly and spoke barely above a whisper, "nothing." I went to move from his lap but was pulled back by a strong set of tan arms.

"Noo, stay," he said nuzzling his face in my neck and holding me close. I smiled wrapping my arms around his neck and ran my fingers through his long hair. I felt so at ease just us sitting here in silence hearing nothing but the rippling water of the koi pond and the faint sound of cars far out in the distance. This was probably the calmest and surprisingly happiest I'd ever been.

I looked up into the sky seeing it was starting to grow dark. Although it wasn't fully dark outside yet, I was still capable of seeing a few stars show. I felt Ashley leaving a small trail of light tender kisses on my neck up to my jawline.

"Whatcha lookin' at, baby?" Ashley spoke softly leaving another gentle kiss on my neck. I smiled looking back down into his big brown happy eyes.

"Just at the sky, I can see a few stars now. I've always had a thing for them," I said shyly and shrugging. He looked up squinting his eyes causing me to chuckle.

"But they're so hard to see with the sun still setting," he said sadly looking back at me.

"How about we go outside and watch it get darker? Then we'll really be able to see the stars then," he suggested smiling as I brushed his bangs away from his eyes.

"Would we even be allowed to?" I asked somewhat doubtful. He shrugged before saying, "lets see," he said excitedly standing up holding me bridal style and walking us back inside where officer Hopkins sat patiently.

"Heyy officer, we were wondering if we could go outside for a while?" Ashley asked nervously seeing officer hopkins think for a while before standing up and holding up his finger.

"Give me a minute?" He asked taking out his phone and walking a few feet away after we nodded. I watched as he spoke on the phone for a while seeing if it was alright.

'Maybe they'll let us go further out away from the city lights' I thought to myself getting an idea and remembered Ashley was still carrying me.

"Ash you know you don't have to keep holding me, I can walk," I said looking at him and he pouted.

"But I want to, Melly," he whined in a childs tone pouting his lip. I giggled and gave him a peck on the lips which caused him to instantly smile.

"Ashes, I actually need to go ask my momma something real quick cause I just got an idea," I said kicking my feet lightly. He slowly set me down on my feet and I started to run towards the elevator before quickly turning back around and running to Ashley kissing him deeply.

"I'll be back," I yelled as I ran into the elevator. I pressed the button to go up to the 6th floor and waiting patiently as it went up and dinged. I got out running down the hall passing the nurses desk where Hannah sat typing on the computer.

"Hi Hannah!" I yelled as I dashed past her hearing her laugh and yell back, "Hi Melissa!"

I got into my moms room panting trying to catch my breath as I tried to talk.

"Hey sweetie, what's going on?" my mom asked looking at me with a mixture of confusion and concern on her face. I sighed finally catching my breath and went up to her bed sitting next to her.

"Well, me and Ashley were talking and he came up with the idea of going outside to watch it grow dark so we can see the stars. We asked officer hopkins and he's on the phone right now asking to see if it's okay but I was thinking if they okay it, if they could take me and Ash to the Galaxy Drive-In out in Ennis?" I asked unsure if I should have.

I saw her look over at Daniel, "What time is it?" she asked seeing him take out his phone and check.

"5:30 p.m, momma," he said locking his phone and putting it back in his pocket. She looked over at me and smiled while nodding.

"Of course you can sweetie, it's actually perfect timing since the movies all start at 7 and it takes about a good 45 minutes to an hour to get there," she said kissing my forehead.

"Thank you momma!" I said excitedly hugging her. "I'll go ask hopkins and get his okay first then I'll come back and let you know before we leave," I said standing up and walking towards the door.

"Alright sweetie, when you come back, me and dandan have something to give you," she spoke causing me to nod and run back out down the hall again.

"Bye hannah!" I yelled as I sped past her again. I heard her laugh again and quickly pressed the down button for the elevator rapidly. Once I got to the first floor I ran out and made my way back to Ashley wrapping my arms around his waist from behind. He put his hands on mine lacing his fingers with mine and I rested my head against his back.

I leaned up and gave a gentle kiss under his ear when he turned his head to the side to look back at me. He pursed his lips and I giggled before tiptoeing up and kissing him on the lips.

I smiled into the kiss as I felt him hum and kiss back, "I love being able to finally do this now" he said against my lips before kissing me again.

I giggled before asking, "finally?" feeling myself blush as I looked up at him before he untangled my arms from around him and brought me around to where I was in front of him this time with my back against his chest.

"Yes, finally. I've been looking forward to it ever since I had my dreams about you. Even before I found out you were real, I would look forward to going to bed so I could dream about you again so I could kiss you and love you because it all felt so real. I just wanted it to come true, to finally call you my own and it looks like it finally did, thanks to Jess" he said smiling down at me kissing my temple.

"Yeah, thanks to Jess, if it weren't for her finding me that night and taking me under her wing, I probably would've been the one lying in that hospital bed instead of my mom. Or under a plastic sheet in a morgue," I spoke feeling guilty how I reminded myself that if it weren't for me, my mom would've never gotten hurt.

"Mel, please don't say that, I don't want to think of anything like that ever happening to you," he said sadly as I heard the heartbreak in his voice and saw his eyes turn glossy. I sighed before turning around in his arms wrapping mine around his waist again holding him tightly and kissing him on his jawline.

"I'm sorry, Ashes," I said looking up into his sad eyes. "It's okay, baby, I just don't want to put any images in my mind of you being hurt," he spoke as he wrapped his arms protectively around me.

"Pardon me, miss?" I heard Hopkins speak up finally causing me to face him.

"I don't mean to interrupt things between you two but Officer Burroughs wants to speak with you" he said handing me his phone.

I took it and walked a few feet away before speaking into the phone, "hello?" I asked hearing the sound of phones ringing in the background.

"Hello Melissa, I understand you and your friend asked if you could go out of the hospital?" he questioned.

"Oh, uhm yeah, we wanted to go outside to watch the sun set and then gaze at the stars for a while," I said nervously. There was a pause for a bit before he finally spoke again.

"Alright, here's what I'll do; I'll have Officers Hopkins and Harp remain there at the hospital to keep an eye out for your mother still and I'll have two guards go with you and mister.." he trailed off awkwardly. "Ashley, Ashley Purdy," I said nicely.

"Okay, well I'll have two guards take you and Ashley to; I'm sorry, where exactly did you want to go?" he asked kindly. "Well, that's why I'm actually glad you asked to speak with me before it was too late. I wanted to see if it was alright if me and him could go to the Galaxy Drive-In out in Ennis? I know it's pretty far but out there we would actually be safe. I never spoke to Alex about going out there, just to my mom since her and my grandmother were the only ones I'd go with. I had even asked if she was okay with it if you gave us permission and she said yes," I said fidgeting with my fingers nervously.

"Hmm, actually that does sound like a good idea," he said encouragingly.

"Alright, you can go. I'll have Gretzky and Donovan come pick you two up. They should be there within the next, hmm, say 10 minutes. They'll be in a Black Chevy Suburban. I'll fill them in on a few details about your situation before heading them off to get you" he said and I nodded smiling to myself.

"Thank you so much officer burroughs!" I said excitedly hearing him chuckle.

"No problem, ma'am. If you wouldn't mind handing the phone back to Hopkins, I'll let him know what's happening," he said nicely. I simply said okay before walking back over to them and handing the phone back to Hopkins before taking a hold of Ashleys hand. "Come on Ashes, I need to go let my momma know that they're okay with us leaving," I said leading him quickly to the elevator.

On the way up I told him where we were going and he said we could see whatever I wanted to. I told him we didn't have to but he said he wouldn't argue with me or take no for an answer.

We walked to my moms room hand in hand with our fingers intertwined seeing my mom and Daniel smile at us as we walked in.

"Sooo?" My mom asked trailing off looking between me and Ashley.

"Me and Ashes get to go to the drive-in!" I said excitedly and she chuckled.

"That's great honey," she said smiling then looked over to Ashley raising her eyebrows. I saw him smile widely and blush before saying, "and it looks like we're officially together now," he said before giving me a quick peck on the lips. Both my mom and Daniel awed causing me to blush furiously.

"Finally!" Daniel exclaimed excitedly and Ashley chuckled.

"Yes, it's about time. When are you two supposed to be leaving?" my mom wondered before whispering something to Daniel.

"Umm probably within the next 5 minutes or so. Officer Burroughs said Hopkins and Harp are staying here to continue watching over you guys and he's gonna send two guards to pick us up and take us," I said looking up at a gorgeous smiling Ashley that sent my heart racing.

"Okay, great" she said smiling widely once Daniel placed a gift bag on the bed in between them. I looked at them confused but saw them flash huge smiles at me.

"What's that?" I asked curiously before my mom waved me over to the other side of her. Ashley led me over to the side of her bed sitting down and pulling me into his lap wrapping a strong set of arms around my waist.

"It's your birthday present, from us," she said looking over at a smiling Daniel. "But my birthday's not for another week and a half" I said still confused.

"I know sweetie but we wanted to give it to you now. Daniel couldn't wait anymore because he knew you'd love it and that you've been wanting it" she said somewhat thrilled. She handed the bag to me and I looked at it for a while till I turned to Ashley after I felt him kiss my shoulder.

"Go ahead, open it baby" he encouraged and smiled at me. I hesitated for a second but grabbed the bag and took the tissue paper out before taking out the gifts as my eyes grew wide. "Is- this- but how-?" I asked losing my words. They both nodded and I saw Ashley reach for it holding it in his hands. "Awww it's so cute Melly, it's perfect for you" he said kissing my cheek. "Put it on," he said nudging me. "You can wear it at the drive-in so you'll be comfy" he suggested grinning at me. I looked at the black cat onesie I had been eyeing for the longest time in Ashleys' hand before getting up and grabbing it. I quickly made my way to the bathroom closing the door behind me and as fast as possible getting out of my current clothes.

Once I stripped down to my underwear I slipped into the onesie pulling up the hood with the cat face and ears on it and grabbed my clothes folding them. I opened the door slightly peeking out and saw they were all looking at me waiting anxiously.

"Well, does it fit?" My mom asked curiously before I fully stepped out.

"Awh look at my adorable little kitty cat. Come here sweetie" Ashley said holding his arms out. I blushed walking over setting my clothes on top of my duffel before going back into Ashleys' arms and lap.

"That's not your only present, mouse. Look in the bag again" Daniel encouraged before I looked in the bag again. I pulled out a set of plugs with Marie on them from the aristocats. A zombie Ariel little mermaid phone case and a few other small things. I smiled at them before giving them both hugs.

"Thank you guys so much," I said happily before checking the time seeing it was already 5:43. I put the case on my phone as I stood up going to my duffel taking out my marceline ankle socks and slipping them on then putting my black vans back on.

"Are you sure you want to be seen with me like this, Ashes?" I said spreading my limbs out like I was about to make a snow angel. He chuckled and nodded and stood up walking over to me placing his hands in mine.

"Absolutely, kitten" he said kissing my nose causing me to giggle.

"I'm so happy you guys are finally together. It was starting to drive me crazy seeing all the love tension between you two and how you wanted to be together" my mom said causing me and Ashley to blush.

"I mean Mel was already practically head over heels for you when she just listened to you guys-"

"Okay gotta go now, we'll be back later, love you bye!" I said quickly cutting her off before she decided to embarrass me more and pushing Ashley out the door as I glared at my mom.

Notes

Hello my little duckies! Okay so I was actually writing a WHOLE lot more for this chapter but since I've already held off long enough on another update, I'm deciding to split it in half. I'm working on the next one right now but probably won't have it up for the next few days because things at work are driving me down the pissed off stressed road thanks to asshole vp visiting us this Wednesday, I'm getting a lot of stress weighed down on my shoulders to make everything perfect. Ugh.
Anyways, I hope this one's alright. Prepare for more lovey dovey shtuff between mel and ash now c:
@BVBgirl355 your character will be in the next chapter, promise!
I'm so happy that this story has been read over 10k times now and has over 60 subscribers, you guys are fucking amazing! I love every single one of you beautiful babies!
I'll see you all on the next update!
Boob squeeze!♥

-MellyJelly