"Ouch." I groaned. "My headache is killing me." I pulled the covers over my head, shielding myself from the bright lights lit in my room.

A week had passed after spending a night away at the beach house with Ava. I had been back home for a few days when I suddenly got very sick to the point where I couldn't take care off myself. Ava took a few days off to take care of me. Everytime I thought I couldn't fall in love with her more, she proved me wrong.

Ava turned off the lights and put on the small light next to her.

"Come here baby." She crawled up against me and softly started stroking my hair. "I'll make you some soup and I'll bring you some painkillers." She gave me a kiss on my forehead.

"Don't come too close to me, I don't want you to get sick."

She giggled. "I don't care."

"But—"

"Shhh." She put her finger on my lips. "Don't worry about me sweet girl. You need to rest, I'll take care of you."

I smiled and let her be. I watched her as she walked out of my room.

Things were really good between us. I tried not to think about James too much and she always made sure not to remind me of him. She was a fresh breath of air, reminding me of all good things in life.

Ava entered the room with a cup of soup in one hand and a cup of tea in the other. I looked as she graciously put the cups on my nightstand. I took her in. Her beautiful wavy hair flowing over her shoulders, her big green eyes sparkling as always. I looked at her and saw a future. I could never imagine myself being with anyone but her. I was so in love with this woman, it even confused me.

"Thank you babe." I said as I slowly moved my body to take a sip from my tea.

She sat down next to me. "Is there anything I can do for you?"

I chuckled. "Just sit here and be pretty."

She laughed and softly nudged my arm. "Still cracking jokes I see, young lady."

"What can I say, I'm a comedian."

"Sure you are, you've got the whole crew laughing."

"Oh shut up." I laughed.

"I've got something for you." Ava said.

"What? Are you gonna let me eat you out?"

Ava bursted out laughing. "Oh please shut up, you little pervert."

I grinned. "What is it?"

"Here." She handed me a box wrapped in shiny red paper. "Open it."

I carefully opened the present, not knowing what to expect.

I opened the box to see a big dreamcatcher, covered in beautiful feathers. It was black with little beads in my favorite colors.

"I—"

She put her hand on mine. "My aunt is very spiritual and she makes dreamcatcher. I know how much trouble you have with sleeping and your nightmares, so I thought maybe this will help you. She told me she put extra effort in this one, for you."

Tears filled my eyes.

"It's so beautiful, thank you so much, this means a lot to me."

"Why are you crying baby? Is it that ugly?" She asked.

I chuckled. "No, not at all. It's truly so beautiful. It just makes me emotional to see how much you care for me and how much you pay attention to what I say, and now you got me this gift i'm just so thankful for you."

I looked at her with my watery eyes. A smile appeared on her face.

"That's what you deserve, Rach."

"I'm just not used to someone caring for me, or at least showing me that they care."

"I know you're not, and that's why I'm gonna make sure you feel cared for at all times."

I put my hands around her neck and pulled her in for a hug. "I'm never letting you go." I placed a kiss on her neck.

"Never, ever let me go." She replied, stroking the back of my head.

I bursted out coughing. "God, way to ruin the moment." Ava giggled.

"I'm sorry." I tried to spurt out in between coughing.

"Lay down baby, drink your tea, eat your soup and get some rest okay? I'll get you some groceries."

"Okay boss."

She rolled her eyes. "What do you need from the store?"

I took another sip of my tea. "Nothing really, I can't think of anything."

"Luckily I can think for the both of us." She winked.

"I love you as a housewife. I work and you take care of me and the kids."

She laughed. "First of all, you don't work, I do. We don't live together and we don't have kids, but it's a nice picture for the future."

"Poor kids, they'd have you as their mom." I said.

"And you as their other mom, they don't stand a chance in life."

I threw a pillow to hear face. "Please leave, the store is waiting for you."

She laughed and got up. "See you later, brat." She blew a kiss at me and left the room.

I laid my head back on the pillow and closed my eyes. My mind slowly drifted off to a million other things.

I had missed a shit load of school due to everything that has happened in the past few months. Exams were starting next week and I still hadn't done anything and getting sick wasn't doing me any favors at all.

I sighed at the thought of school. It was draining to think about the fact that I might not even pass my exams this year, meaning I'd have to re-do this whole school year. I really didn't want to think about it. I was so looking forward to the end of high school and the start of a real relationship with Ava, I had to make sure to pass.

My mind switched to James. I wasn't sure if he was out of the hospital yet. Max told me he was doing better and could get released any day soon. James was badly beaten up by some strange guy he claimed not to know. I thought it was weird. Why would some stranger just beat someone up? I guess it happens I just thought it was weird. I heard James was pissed off and was out to get revenge on whoever did this to him. I couldn't really care too much, I was just happy that his mind was on something other than me.

All the thinking hurt my head and I could slowly feel myself drift off to sleep.

I got woken up by someone ringing the bell. I groaned as I quickly got out of bed to see who it was.

I opened the door to see two smiling faces looking at me. A grin appeared on my face.

"Hi guys." I smiled.

"Hello poor sick woman." Sam said.

"Hi walking infection." David said.

I couldn't help but laugh. "Come in, if you dare."

I stepped aside to make space for Sam and David to enter. I closed the door behind them and followed them to the living room.

I grabbed a blanket from the sofa and put it around me. "Does anyone want something to drink?" I asked.

"Don't be silly. Go sit or lay down, we'll get it."

I smiled and sat down next to David while Sam got us something to drink.

"So how are you feeling?" David asked.

"Oh I'm great, I've never been better." I chuckled. "No kidding, but I'm doing better, i'm being taken care of."

"Oh, is miss sexy here?" Sam yelled from the kitchen.

I laughed. "I would be quiet, she's in the bedroom."

Sam's face turned red as she entered the living room. "I-is she r-really?" Sam quietly asked, sounding more nervous than ever.

I chuckled. "Ofcourse not, she's out doing groceries."

I could see Sam relax again. "I hate you."

David laughed. "I've never seen you that nervous before."

Sam laughed. "Imagine if she was here and heard me say that, I'd be so embarrassed."

"How are things between you and Ms Lopez?" David wiggled with his eyebrows. "They seem to be good."

I blushed. "They are, she's amazing. She really cares for me and never makes me feel unloved you know? She is a dream come true, it feels so unreal sometimes."

"She sounds like a dream." Sam replied. "I might steal her from you."

I grinned. "Hands off my girl, Sammie."

"I wouldn't dare, I bet she bites."

"I still can't believe you're dating our teacher, you're living the life girl." David said.

"I know right, I sometimes can't believe it either."

We continued to talk a bit about school, our lives, our plans for after school and Davids relationship. After a hour I sent them away, not wanting them to be there when Ava came back. I hadn't told Ava that they knew about us and I wanted to avoid awkward situations.

I felt much better after Sam and David stopped by. It recharged me so I finally had some energy to clean my room.

"Hey hey hey, why aren't you in bed?" Ava said standing in the doorway with the grocery bags still in her arms, watching how I was dusting off the books in the corner of my room.

"Oh I feel much better, David and Sam stopped by and now I figured I'd do some cleaning."

"Oh you're crazy. You need to rest so you can properly get better."

I pouted. "Okay."

"Come grab your blanket and let's watch a movie in the living room."

"That sounds good."

We walked up to the living room. "I don't want to be needy, but can you make us some food? I'm so hungry."

"Sure baby, you sit down and I'll make you some dinner."

"Are you sure? I can help if you want." I said.

"No, no, you sit down."

"I'll just watch you be a sexy housewife."

Ava giggled. "Perfect."

About an hour went by and I couldn't remember much. I had fallen asleep again. Ava woke me up to eat some dinner. She made us pasta, my favorite. Creamy salmon pasta with spinach, god I loved that so much. After dinner we cuddled up on the sofa and put on Shrek.

"I can't believe you're making me watch this." Ava said. "I'm way too old for this, and so are you."

I stuck out my tongue. "I'll watch Shrek till the day I die."

"Child." She said.

"Grandma." I replied.

She laughed and pulled me closer to her. Her warm breath tickling the back of my neck and her sweet perfume filling the room.

I looked up to her, admiring her beautiful face.

"You're so beautiful." I said.

Ava smiled. "Never as beautiful as you, my love."

"Not to be all sappy, but I'm so happy with you. You make me feel like the most beautiful person on the earth."

She gave me a kiss on my forehead. "I love you."

I froze a little at the simple yet powerful words Ava just said out loud. I loved her but I had never dared to see it out loud. I could feel my face turn red.

"Do you mean that?"

"I've never been more sure of anything."

A wave of euphoria surged through me.

"I love you too."

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hiyaaaa, i'm sorry it's been so long. i catched covid and i've been feeling super sick for the past two weeks. i'm sorry if it's a bit shit i'm still not feeling my best.