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Once again I woke up pressed up against Ash's bedroom wall with him spooning me and his morning glory standing tall, digging into the bottom of my back. Manoeuvring myself to face him I couldn't help but smile, he looked adorable when he slept. I lifted my hand to stroke the side of his face and move his hair back, looking at him now just made my heart flutter out of control. I still couldn't believe this was happening; that I was currently lay naked with my best friend. The one boy who had held my heart unknowingly for so long, finally had some feelings for me.
Needing the bathroom I try and move out of Ash's grip but once again I fail, this boy's grip could rival a pythons. Once he had hold of you, you weren't getting out. "I thought you learnt your lesson last time from trying to get away from me in the morning Lou." Ash suddenly spoke scaring me half to death. Of course I remembered; I ended up with a broken wrist last time; I'm still sporting the cast. I couldn't wait for Tuesday when I was getting it off.
"Jesus Ash, I didn't realise that you were awake." I say laughing.
"Have been for about ten minutes, but I closed my eyes when you started to turn around."
"Well let me out a minute, I need to pee."
"You've got two minutes then come back here."
"Yea yea." I grin moving my body slowly over his.
"You keep doing this and you won't make it to the bathroom." He says huskily to me.
Moving away from him I look over my shoulder and send him a wink before walking towards his en-suit in my birthday suit. After relieving myself and washing my hands I head back to Ash's bed where he was sat up against his pillows.
"Good god Lou." He says to me, his eyes raking all over my body as I walked over to him. "You're gorgeous."
"Oh shut up I'm not." I reply getting back into his bed.
"You are, and you're all mine." He grins pulling me underneath him and kissing me.
"I wish I could spend all day doing this, but I need to carry on working on my designs and I need to see the girls later." I say pulling away from him slightly.
"Well we can do this for a little longer right?" He asks raising his eyebrow at me and I nod before his lips descend back to mine. I loop my arms around his neck as our kiss becomes deeper.
"What you doing after college tomorrow?" Ash asks whilst kissing down my neck.
"My project,"
"Don't make any plans for after seven." He says grinning down at me.
"Why?"
"Because I want to take you on our first proper date...girlfriend."
Oh my fucking god...
He just called me his girlfriend...
My insides were freaking out right now...
As was my smile which was stretching right across my face.
"Okay...boyfriend." I reply "It's a date." before kissing him again.
I love the way that sounded on my tongue.
Boyfriend...
*~*~*~*
An hour later we were pulling up outside my house and my hangover was starting to kick in. All I wanted to do was get underneath my quilt with Ash and spend the afternoon watching Gossip Girl or One Tree Hill, but I needed to get my designs finished. I had just over five weeks until the fashion show and I still had five to complete.
"You coming in?" I ask Ash as I step out of his car.
"Of course." He smiles turning off his engine and following up to my front door.
"You just can't distract me; I need to finish my date dress design in the next day or two."
"I'll try not to." He grinned pulling me in for a brief kiss. "I love that I can just kiss you now."
"Me too." I smile up at him before pecking his lips. "Come on, I'm hoping my dad with make us a fry up if I use my best pout on him."
"And if he won't, I'll make us something."
"You can't make anything." I giggle unlocking the door, "You burnt the pasta for our spaghetti bolognaise last time."
"I didn't realise the water had dried up and the pasta burnt the bottom of the pan." He grinned following me inside.
"I'll cook us something; you'll burn the house down."
"Whatever; just give me food."
Downstairs was quiet as we made our way up to my room. Don't think anyone's home, looks like I'd be making our food. My mannequin was stood in the corner of my room with half a dress attached to it.
I dumped my bag on the floor and began picking up my needle and thread.
"Louuuuu." I heard Ash say from my bed.
"What?" I say looking over my shoulder at him.
"Come here a second."
"I can't"
"Pleaseeee."
I walk over to his side of my bed only to be pulled onto it. "What are you doing?" I grin as he moves to lie on top of me.
"This." He grins leaning down and kissing me.
"Ash I need to work on my dress." I sigh smiling up at him.
"I know and you can in ten minutes."
"You've got five." I reply before kissing him back.
Those five minutes turn into half an hour before I know it. Ash's top was lay at the bottom of my bed along with mine. I could feel how excited Ash was but neither of us were pushing to go any further, it was nice to just lay here and kiss each other. Just then I hear the front door close and my mum shout out.
"Lydia you here?"
"Yea, I'm with Ash." I reply pulling myself away from Ash much to his disappointment.
"Come here a minute please." She shouts back.
Sighing at Ash who was pouting at me, I push him off and grab my top, slipping it back on. Heading downstairs and into the kitchen I see mum rushing around the room before pushing past me and heading into the living room.
"Mum's what's wrong?" I ask, she was panicking I could see it all over her face.
"Your dad and I are going to up to see my parents for a few days; your granddad's...well he's had a stroke sweetie." Mum says coming to a standstill in front of me.
"What? Oh my god." I whisper feeling my eyes well up with tears. I felt Ash come behind me and wrap his arms around my waist, pulling me protectively towards him. "Is he okay?"
"We're not sure at the moment; I only know a few details from what Nan has told me. All I know is that he was taken in last night with a pain in his leg and was saying he couldn't feel his arm. They found a blood clot in his leg after a scan and then they operated on him this morning." She says; her voice thick with emotion. "But when he was talking to the doctor after he'd come around from his anaesthesia, he suffered a stroke, they say it's a fifty fifty chance of him surviving right now."
"What? Okay...Well then I want to come with you." I say moving towards the stairs to pack a bag.
"No baby, I need you here right now for your brother and sister to get here. Your dad and I are going to drive up now to the hospital and I'll ring you when I know more. I need you to fill them in, they'll be home soon but I need to leave now."
"You'll let me know right away?" I whisper as tears dripped down my face. We were a really close family, especially to my mum's side as they lived closer.
"Of course I will." She says pressing a kiss on my forehead.
"Is there anything I can do to help Ruth?" Ash asks from behind me.
"Just keep looking after my baby." She says smiling at him.
"Always." He replies strongly.
"I'm so glad you two are finally together, we all saw it happening at some point." She smiles before kissing Ash's forehead then mine again.
A beep from outside made my mum snap out of her happy bubble for us and back into worried mother/ daughter mode. "That's your dad, he went to get petrol. I'll ring you when I know anything okay and I think Charlie's coming down with the kids for a few days as well so keep an eye out for him."
"I will." I say hugging her tightly before she headed out the front door.
As soon as it shut I collapsed into tears in Ash's arms. "He's going to be okay Lou." He says soothing me.
"But..."
"No buts, he's going to be fine. Like this is going to stop your granddad, you know he's a fighter. This little stroke isn't going to take him away from his family."
"I know, I'm just scared. I'm so glad you're here." I whisper, wrapping my arms tighter around him.
"No other place I'd rather be." He replies placing a kiss on the top of my head.
Funnily enough my hangover had vanished and I no longer wanted to eat anything. Although Ash insisted on cooking, saying we needed to eat something, so I ended up taking over from him. We'd just cleaned everything up when Fin and Christina came rushing through the front door.
"Lydia what is going on?" Fin says walking into the kitchen. "I just got a message from mum saying to come home immediately, to grab Chris and that you'd explain why she and dad have gone to Nan and Granddads."
I glance at Ash who grips my hand before turning to my brother and sister. "Granddad's had a stroke." I say to them and I see the colour drain from their faces.
I fill them in as best as I can from what information mum had told me but we couldn't go anywhere without waiting for Charlie. Fin rang Mason to let him know what had happened, and he was getting the first train he could back and we'd pick him up from the station.
For the next hour and a half we all stayed downstairs ready to leave as soon as Charlie arrived. We all had bags packed including Ash who I knew would come with us. Ash had brought down my mannequin for me to work on my designs while we waited but I couldn't concentrate. My work needed my full attention but right now I couldn't focus, I was too distracted to worry about my project.
Charlie came barging through the front door not long later. "Grace is with the kids in the car, let's go." He says to us before hugging Christina. "He's going to be fine; this is granddad we're talking about." He whispers to her and she nods weakly in his arms, before he moves her with him out towards the car.
Chris got in the back of Charlie's car with the twins, whilst Fin got in his with me and Ash getting in the back. Mason would get in the front once we reached the station.
I sat down in the middle seat so I could curl up next to Ash. He wraps his arm around me and pulls me in close. "Everything is going to be okay Lou." He whispers and I nod pulling my phone out to text the girls, letting them know I wouldn't be round later to catch up on the gossip and what was going on with my granddad. They all replied almost immediately with apologies and for me to let them know what was happening as soon as I knew.
*~*~*~*
I woke up to the car stopping, "You awake Lou?" I heard Ash whisper and I nodded moving away from him.
"We here?" I ask and he sighs nodding.
I move off him as he opens up the car door before helping me out after him.
I'm almost immediately pulled into a hug from Mason.
"I've missed you so much." I whisper, clinging onto him so tightly. He'd only been gone two weeks but I still missed him, I loved how close our family is.
"I've missed you too squirt." He replied hugging me tighter than I knew possible. "Now come on, let's go see Granddad."
I nod my head moving out of his grip before linking my fingers with Ash. Mason and Fin walk ahead to see where Charlie was, I however was glued to the spot. "Come on Lou, you can do this." Ash whispered pulling my body to his.
I shake my head and burry it into the front of his jacket. "I can't, I can't go in there and see him like this."
"Yes you can, he needs you. Your mum says he's stable right now but it's still touch and go. Heaven forbid anything happens to him, but you'll regret not going to see him if not."
"I know you're right, but I'm just scared."
I felt Ash move and bend down so that he was level with me. "I know you are, but there's no need to be. He's in the best place right now and you've always got me. I'm always going to be here for you Lou. I'm your best friend and that's not going to change now that we're together."
"Thank you."
"No problem." He smiles pecking my lips lightly. "Now come on, I bet your brothers are panicking about your whereabouts."
"That's true, let's go."
We made it to the main entrance where Mason and Fin were sat waiting, I was about to ask where Charlie and Chris were when I saw them running in behind me.
"Sorry, Grace didn't want the kids here just in case, so she's just dropped us off before going to Nan's house while we're here."
"It's fine. I've got instructions from mum for where we need to go." Mason says walking ahead with us following behind.
I felt Ash's hand tighten on mine and I grab hold of Chris with my other hand as we walk behind the boys. I just had to keep chanting in my head... 'He's going to be okay...he's going to be okay...'
*~*~*~*
We reached the floor we needed to be on, and I could see Charlie speaking to a nurse who pointed him towards a room. I guess this is where we needed to go. Taking a deep breathe I followed the boys, squeezing Chris's hand we entered the room. The curtain around the bed was closed but I saw Charlie poke his head around it and went in. I knew there wouldn't be a lot of room around the bed, and with the size of my family not all of us would be able to fit. Mum steps out into view, her eyes red rimmed, letting go of Ash and Chris I wrapped my arms around her tightly.
"Any changes?" I whisper and she shakes her head.
"It's not looking good baby but he's holding on. We're waiting on the doctor to tell us more. He's awake at the minute you should go say hi."
"Okay." I whisper feeling my throat clogging up.
"We're going to go wait in the family room with everyone else whilst you visit Gramps okay." My dad says coming to stand next to mum.
"Anyone else here?" I ask and mum nods.
"Everyone is." She says chuckling lightly. Our family is massive. "The nurses said earlier that they might move Gramps into a single room so that we'd all be able to fit."
"I still don't think there would be enough room for all of us." Chris smiled up at dad who was hugging her.
"Girls you coming?" I hear Fin say popping his head around the curtain. I nod my head pulling away from mum and grabbing Ash's hand.
I glanced up at him and smiled, I'm so glad that he's here; I wouldn't know what to do without him.
Moving closer to the curtain I try to prepare myself but nothing would ready me for seeing my granddad in the state he was. With all the machines around him, oxygen mask on his face, wires and tubes sticking out from everywhere. His eyes kept closing every few seconds; it was like it was so much effort to even blink. His face looked different, he looked different. Glancing around the bed I saw my brothers holding back tears, and two of my cousins, Chelsea and Harry were here as well.
I neared his head and placed a kiss on granddads forehead. "Hey Gramps." I smile slightly at him before taking a seat in the chair, taking his hand in mine.
Chelsea and Harry left soon after just leaving me and my siblings with granddad. We all slowly began talking to him, filling him in on what's been going on in our lives. He always was the one telling us to go out and live it before it was too late. Embrace every moment as you never know what's round the corner.
About an hour later we were all collared into the family room so that granddad's doctor could speak to us all. He wanted to let us know the medical side of how he was doing and what was next for his recovery. He told us that the next thirty six hours were crucial and that granddad was stable, things were looking better than they were this morning. He was fighting.
"Lyd what time are you going home?" My dad asked me passing me a hot chocolate as we sat in the family room. My mum's brother and his kids were in with granddad at the moment.
"I'm not; we're going to stay here with everyone else." I say looking at Ash who nodded his head at me.
"You can't sweetheart."
"What? Why not?" I say choking up. I wanted to stay incase anything happened.
"You need to go to college tomorrow."
"College can wait."
"You know you need to have one hundred percent attendance to be able to be in the fashion show. You need to go back."
"I'm sure Mrs Tudor will understand why I'm missing a day or two."
"Probably, but I don't want you missing the chance of showing off your designs and achieving your dream of getting one of those summer internships."
"He's right Lou, we should head back. We're only an hour away so we can come back after college tomorrow."
"But what if..."
"No what if's Lou...I told you everything is going to be okay." Ash says wrapping his arm around me.
"Ash is right, now if anything changes with your granddad you'll be the first to know."
"Promise." I whisper and he nods.
"Take Chris back with you she needs to be in school tomorrow as well." Dad says getting up to put his drink in the bin.
I nod getting up, "I'll go see granddad before we go."
Ash and I quickly say bye to my granddad before letting Chris have her turn. "I'll drive you back in Fin's car. Grace is taking the twins back now to get them settled for bed; we'll come back up tomorrow." Charlie says walking out of the family room.
I quickly hug everyone saying goodbye before following Charlie back down to Fin's car. I sat in the back again with Ash, with Chris up from with Charlie. The journey home seemed to last only minutes as before I knew it we were pulling up into the driveway. We'd just dropped Chris off at her boyfriend's for the night, she wanted to be close to him and be cuddled; didn't blame her there.
"I text my mum to let her know what was going on and that I was staying here tonight. Apparently your mum had text her already letting her know of the news and that I'd probably be staying wherever you would be." Ash smiled as we entered my bedroom.
"Thank you for staying with me Ash. I don't know what I'd do without you here."
I was pulled into a hug before I could blink, "I told you Lou, I'll always be here for you. You're my number one girl."
"I know, and I'm so glad that you are." I felt him press a kiss on the top of my head.
"Come on let's get ready for bed, it's been a long day." He says and I nod in agreement.
Ash strips down to his boxes as I take off my clothes and grab his top he was wearing earlier.
"My clothes definitely look better on you than they do me." He grins watching me from my bathroom doorway with a toothbrush hanging out his mouth.
"I know." I smile before grabbing my own and cleaning my teeth. I wash my face before climbing into my bed beside Ash.
He curls himself up behind me, pulling my body as close to his as possible before wrapping his arms around my waist. "Go to sleep Lou, everything is going to be okay, I promise."
"Okay." I say turning my head to look at him and press my lips against his. "Goodnight."
"Night Lou"
*~*~*~*~*
So here's the new part, it's mainly a filler but with a little something sad. My thoughts go out to anyone who's had a family member stuffer a stroke. My nan had one last year and what I wrote in this part was pretty much a re-tell of what we went through...so I know how much of a horrible time it is...luckily for us she pulled through and is right as rain again.
Please vote and leave me your feedback. I always appreciate your comments.
From the last 'Secret POV' a couple of you have guessed correctly...there's another one coming in the next chapter to give you more clues haha
As always, thanks for reading...x