Betrayal

Chapter 12: Don't catch feelings Ashley...

Ashley yawned and stretched, she couldn't believe she'd now been living with Jessica for over a month now. The brunette slid out of bed and peeped her head in the other girl's room, smiling when she saw the blonde fast asleep, cuddled up with Bonnie. Ashley bit her lip and moved to the kitchen, starting to make waffles. She hummed and swayed slightly to the music on the radio.

"Morning. Something smells awesome." Jessica's voice made the brunette jump, looking up at the girl wearing a flannel and shorts, her hair pulled back into a messy bun.
"Thanks." the older woman felt a knot in her stomach. The wound there had healed almost completely, thanks to Jerrie. But this was different, an almost nervous feeling rather than pain.
"You good there Ash?" Jessica frowned, pulling her in for a hug. The brunette tensed, shocked that the blonde actually initiated a hug. The knot tightened.
"Yeah." Ashley breathed out, hugging back. "Just a bit tired."
"Well we can relax today." the younger woman shrugged.
"You can, I've got a meeting for work." Ashley served up the waffles and sat at the table.
"Oh yeah, I forget." Jessica sat down with her and started eating. "Well you can relax the rest of the day can't you? Just sleep and chill."

"You got any plans for today?" the brunette asked, sipping her orange juice.
"I was thinking of doing some writing." the younger woman shrugged.
"Oh, yeah, I have a keyboard you can use if you need." Ashley smiled, finishing up and washing the dirty dishes.
"You're the best." Jessica smiled, getting up and feeding Bonnie. The huge dog immediately gulped down her food, then ran to Ashley, jumping up and licking her face.

"Woah, hey, down." the brunette chuckled, patting the husky's head when she sat down.
"I told you she would like you after a while." Jessica chuckled, wrapping her arms around Bonnie's neck and burying her head into her fur. Ashley savoured the adorableness of the blonde after acting so tough for so long. She looked so much happier and smiled a lot more. The thoughts clouded the brunette's head.
"Why're you staring, creepo?" Jessica snickered, poking the older woman's nose.
"Got lost in thought." Ashley shrugged. She grabbed her bag and coat. "I'll be back around half 6."
"Yep." the blonde got up, taking Bonnie to her room. "See you later."
"You too." The door closed.

Hours later, a soft melody emanated from Jessica's room, accompanied by an equally soft and beautiful voice. Ashley made sure not to make much noise when she closed the door and started to cook some dinner.
Softly humming to the music as she began to stir the linguine in the saucepan, the brunette looked over the apartment. It almost looked like the place she imagined her and Jessica to live in the future, of course when they were back in college. Oh sweet young naive Ashley Ann Jones. Little did she know.

"Ashley? Is that you?" Jessica frowned, opening her door after a moment of silence. "Phew. I thought someone had broken in."
"Nope just me. What you're working on sounds amazing." the brunette smiled and divided the vegan alfredo into 2 plates. "And dinner is ready."
"Yay. And thanks. I think I'm gonna make an album, probably not a full one, just an EP I'm thinking." the blonde took down her messy bun, letting tight curls bounce slightly down her back.
"Tha-that would be awesome." Ashley stuttered slightly and bit her lip.
"But that means a lot of late night recording." Jessica looked at her. "And I don't want to bother your sleep."
"I literally can sleep through anything." the older woman shrugged, sitting at the dining table. "And I don't mind anyway, you used to sing to make me sleep in college when I was sick because I was too stubborn to try and relax." That earned a chuckle from the blonde.
"Oh I remember that." Jessica bit her lip and they both started eating, talking and laughing.

Jessica's phone started ringing and she jumped, grabbing it from her pocket.
"Kian... No." she groaned, putting her phone down on the table.
"Kian Moralez?" Ashley widened her eyes, seeing the contact.
"Shh.." the blonde answered the call and put it on speaker.
"Jessica Alice Smith where the fuck are you?" a thick spanish accent boomed through the phone. Jessica flinched but shook her head.
"Somewhere. We're over." she looked over at Ashley.
"No we're not. Get back home this instant." Kian growled.
"We are." Jessica let out a breath she didn't realise she was holding. "Goodbye and I wish you the best."
She hung up the phone and put her head in her hands.
"I should not have done that." a mutter came from behind a curtain of blonde curls.
"You were dating Kian Moralez?" Ashley sat there, her jaw dropped.
"Yeah and now he's probably going to track me down and quite possibly kill me or something."
"He'll have to get through me first." the brunette growled slightly.
"No offense but you're nothing compared to some people he's fought with."
"I don't care. You don't deserve to be treated that way." Ashley narrowed her eyes. Jessica sighed and stroked Bonnie's head, which rested on her legs, something the dog did when she noticed the blonde getting anxious. The two looked at each other and then down at their plates of half eaten food. The brunette shifted and took one more mouthful before deciding to dump the rest in the trash and retreat to her room.

After what felt like a million years but was actually around 3 hours, Ashley heard a knock on her bedroom door.
"You can come in." she called out, sitting up. The door opened to reveal Jessica in a tank top and shorts. Her hair was slightly messy and her new-found smile had disappeared once again.
"Hi, um, could I have a hug?" the blonde looked impossibly innocent. "I didn't want to bother you and Bonnie seems to be mad at me for some reason. I just need a hug. "
"Of course." the older woman pulled her blankets aside and beckoned her over. Jessica slowly got in the bed beside her and laid her head on the brunette's shoulder, draping an arm over her stomach. Ashley felt her breath hitch as the girl's intoxicating scent wafted into her nose.
"Are you comfortable? You seem a little tense." the blonde whispered.
"Ye-Yeah I'm comfortable. I just kinda missed this."
"Me too."
Ashley smiled and within moments she felt Jessica's breathing even out and soon joined her in a deep sleep.