Walking through the front door of Ashlyns apartment. It's already past 12. I sit on the couch after taking my jacket and shoes off. We haven't spoken the whole way home, but it felt comfortable. Her just holding my hand was enough to make me feel safe. I see her coming back from the kitchen with a plate in her hand and a glass in her other hand. "Here." she says smiling. I look at what she brought me, a glass of water and pancakes. I smile, remembering the first time she made me pancakes. "I still had some pancakes, I hope you like it." she says insecure of what she gave me. "Ash I love them, you know it. Thank you." I smile at her.

I finished half of the pancakes, but I just can't eat more. I'm really full. "Ash." I say to get her attention. "Yes." "I'm really full." I say softly, a bit embarrassed. "That's okay Tory!! I'm happy you ate something." she smiles at me. She stands up to take the leftovers to the kitchen.

Ashlyn and I are cuddled up against each other on the couch, just enjoying each others company. "You still don't wanna talk about it baby?" she softly whispers against my skin. I take a second to think about it. "I don't know." I tell her honestly. "That's okay, whenever you're ready." she traces patterns on my leg. Taking a deep breath, smelling her familiar scent. I trust her. "He did terrible things." I whisper. She looks at me. "Your father?" I nod. "H-he pushed me.." I start. "off the stairs." I look down, remembering the moment. I can feel Ashlyn tense up. "He hit me. A-and threw a bottle towards m-me, but I was fast enough to not get hit by it. He said hurtful things." Tears falling down from my sore cheeks from all the crying. "It's okay Tory. You're safe now, I'm here." she says before cleaning my cheeks from all the tears with her thumbs. She looks down to both my arms covered in bandages. "And you did this." she states more as a fact than a question. I softly nod my head. She takes a deep breath and takes my hand in hers. Squeezing my hand tight she tells me, "I'm here now Tory." I smile.

"What about you have some rest in bed?" she says still holding me in her arms. I hum, thinking it's a good idea.

Laying in her bed, she gives me a kiss before walking to the door. "Sleep well Tory. I'll come to bed soon." she softly says before walking out the door. I stop her, "Could you leave the door open?" I softly ask. She hums before leaving the door open as I requested and walking out.

Taking a deep breath, I shut my eyes. Her bed smells like her. Just laying here makes me feel better. I'm in a place where I know I'm safe and protected.

Ashlyn walks in after about an hour. She looks at me and sighs, "You didn't sleep, did you?" I giggle guilty and shake my head. She smiles at my reaction, "You know how late it is right?" I shrug my shoulders, not really caring. "You should really get some rest baby." she tells me softly. "I will now that you're here." I say in a whisper. She makes a noise of disbelief and smiles.

She changed into her sleeping clothes and is now laying in the bed with me. I'm laying in her arms as she traces patterns on my skin again. I feel so relaxed whenever she does that. "You have no idea how much I missed you." she whispers in my ear. "I missed you too Ash." "Can we please skip school tomorrow?" she asks me desperately. I hum, which makes her look at me shocked. "We are gonna skip school?" she asks in disbelief. I hum again, smiling at her cuteness. She squeals in happiness. I laugh at her reaction.

I trace some of the tattoos on her arms. "Remember you asked me if I wanted to go with you to get a tattoo." I ask her. "Yeah." "Let's do it." I tell her. "Really?!" she excitedly screams. I laugh, "Yeah." "Where do you want it?" she asks me. "I would love to get on my ribs. Or on my collarbone, just like yours." I tell her. "What would you like to get?" "Something magical like yours." I smile. She smiles, "What about mine but the opposite." I look at her interested in the idea, "The opposite?" "Yeah like instead of a dragon with a little moon, a moon with a little dragon." My eyes lit up at her idea. "I would love that." I tell her honestly. "On my collarbone, just like yours." I tell her confidently. She hums agreeing with my idea.

Waking up in her arms, I feel Ashlyn already looking at me. I look up at her. "Goodmorning." she tells me. God I love her morning voice. I tell her the same. "Wanna see if they have a spot for you at my tattooshop today?" I look up at her excitedly, "Hell yes!" She laughs at my happy reaction to her idea. "I'll call them." she says before reaching for her phone.

"Today at 3:30 pm? Yeah okay. Great, thank you! See you then!" she hangs up. I giggle excitedly. My first tattoo, I'm so excited. "Let's have a smoke." she says. I hum. We both stumble out of bed, still tired. She grabs her cigarettes and lighter and opens the door to her balcony. I look at her. She's only in her panties and an oversized shirt. Getting lost in my thoughts, she snaps me out of them. She smirks at me, probably knowing what was going on in my head. She turns around still smirking, walking through the open door to the balcony. Clearing my mind, I follow her. She's leaning against the balcony railing, pulling two cigarettes out of the package in her hand. She hands one to me before lighting it and then lighting her own.

I see her smirk again. I look at her confused, "What's that face for huh?" I say teasing her. "Nothing. Just thinking." she says still smirking. I laugh and shake my head.