breathe// 5SOS

2

Ashton

I got into my bed, gently placing my hand on Viola's hip. Her breathing was slow, but she wasn't asleep.

"Is that okay?"

"I don't know," she said, immediately making me taking my hand off.

"That's not a yes then, we will wait for a yes,"

She held my hand instead, turning to face me.

"Thankyou," she said quietly.

"Don't thank me," I chuckled, "that's just what any respectful person would do,"

"Well other than your friends, and our work colleagues, I've never found people so respectful about boundaries,"

I placed a soft kiss on her cheek, but she cupped my cheek and kissed my lips. My hand found its way to the back of her neck as we got more passionate, her breathing hitching.

"I love you,"

My hand slowly traced patterns down her back, hers running through my hair whilst we kissed as if we were to disappear any moment.

We heard a shuffle, stopping immediately, but it was just Ava going to the bathroom.

"Close," I laughed, pecking her cheek one last time, feeling her pull away.

"I can't get to sleep,"

"You need cuddles,"

"No, Ash," she said firmly.

"Oh,"

"Sorry, I'm just confused, tired and tetchy... I need space,"

"It's okay, I can sleep on the sofa,"

"No, I just don't want cuddles,"

I bit my lip and turned over, closing my eyes. Truthfully, my eyes burned a little, but I couldn't cry. That was selfish.

It just sucked when you devoted so much time and love into someone, but couldn't even make them feel better when they were down. Every work day I made someone feel better, but I never seemed to do it in be real world.

The next day, Ava and I cooked breakfast, and Viola seemed to be in a better mood. She sat next to Ava at the table, the two of them giggling away.

Once I'd got Ava to settle with art work, Viola and I set to unpacking her boxes. We set out some items, like fake plants and all the dogs things, but kept photo albums stored in the cupboard.

We unpacked all her clothes, and chucked all our scrubs into the wash.

It was halfway through November, but I was working all the way up to Christmas Eve. That's when I had another week off, and that's when I was taking everyone on holiday.

Ava seemed to have read my mind, drawing a tropical picture.

"That is looking awesome,"

"It's a beach,"

"I can see. Tell me when it's done so I can send a picture to grandma,"

"Does she want to see?"

"I am sure she would love it. Can you help unpack a little after?"