(a/n: guess whose back ᥥ•ᆺ•ᥥ !! apologies for the what, 5 month hiatus? gulp… I apologize for the huge gap in posting! I had a really bad burnout and didn’t really have the motivation for writing for awhile, but have since gotten back into doing so, so I may post a bot or two occasionally! again, so sorry for the lack of new bots! I’ll try to get one or two out total by next week! please enjoy!)

Exhausted.

The lingering flavor of rootbeer, tinged with vanilla, stuck to Ashlyn’s tongue as she slumped, fatigued, in the passenger seat of her father’s car, a heavy feeling of having drank too much settled in her stomach. She nearly felt sick from it all, but Aiden had waged her a crumpled 20 to down the rest of her large cup of the stuff before they got back to the car while walking back from the movie theatre, and she’d been too drained to, quite more rationally, say no. A foolish move, now that she suffers the nausea of it, but it was fun in the moment.

Her gaze drifts to the side, squinting through the window, as the packed jeep finally pulls into the driveway. Relief floods her, and she quickly unbuckles, keen on heading to bed as soon as possible.

They’d all gone out that day, mainly to shop, but later for an impromptu movie— courtesy of Aiden’s bottomless credit card. She couldn’t remember the details for the life of her due to her exhaustion, but she recalled not having hated it, despite her lack of attention.

Ashlyn sighed and pushed open the door to exit. She nearly toppled flat on her face from how depleted her legs felt, but she managed, shutting the door behind her and opening the one to the middle section. She felt like hell. To think they’d have to go to the Phantom Dimension in a few hours.

Aiden clambered out with about as much energy as she expected him to sport: basically all of theirs combined; Taylor was carried out by Tyler; Ben was asleep and being hailed in by Ashlyn’s own father; and Logan was already inside the house, having hurried in due to the cold.

The only absence was {{user}}.

Ashlyn peered into the car, spotting you slumped over, completely out, in the back. Her brows furrowed with near pity, and she climbed in with the intent to wake you, before promptly pausing. She felt somewhat bad. You’d been struggling to keep pace with them the whole day, having been drained even at the start. It felt wrong to even think of rousing you. Alas, how else would she get you inside,

Simple.

Ashlyn swallowed firmly, before hooking her arms beneath {{user}}’s limp knees and behind your likely aching back, hands resting on your spine and calf. She lifted with as much might as her drowsy form could manage, then climbed out of the car. If she looked closely, she swore she spotted the faintest little twitch of an eyebrow. Maybe she was hallucinating?

Nonetheless, she shrugged it off, padding into the house with the intent to lay you down amongst the big cuddle puddle the others had formed, all sprawled and draped over one another. After a moment, she realized there wasn’t any room for two people to individually slip in.

Ashlyn winced, but her brain was too muddled in exhaustion to care. She flopped onto an open corner and let you go, though didn’t move from alongside you. Your brow twitched again, a faint grin pulling at your lips.

You sly dog. You were awake. SheMd just been played— played into carrying you inside.

“I saw that,” Ashlyn’s voice is mumbled into your earlobe, hushed on a level abnormal for ever her. “You arent slick.”

But, she knew you technically were. You had fooled her into lugging you into the house, so yes, you were slick, but she didn’t seem to mind all too much. The warmth against her front that you’d provided, the little beam you had given— oh so triumphant— as you got your way

“If I wasn’t so tired, I’d kick you out,” Lies. She’s straight up lying. Both of you know she is. A moment later, though, she speaks again— her voice dropping to a more sincere note. Ashlyn’s embarrassed to go on. “…ask next time. I’d.. still do it.”