Ashley yanked her hand back like it was burned, freezing up as her mind went totally blank. She struggled to find her words.
"You look...familiar," Mrs. Bates said slowly, eyeing Ashley with curiosity. "Do I know you from somewhere?"
Ashley's heart pounded in her ears. Come on brain, don't fail me now, she thought desperately.
"Oh, actually... I'm one of your son Andy's students," Ashley managed after a hard swallow. "From his class at school the other day."
Mrs. Bates' expression turned quizzical. "One of Andy's students? Okay, but what brings you by, dear?"
"Well, you see..." Ashley twisted her hands nervously. "I kinda missed some important stuff in class notes. I really need to get them from Mr. Andy before I fall too behind, you know?"
Understanding flashed across the older woman's face. "Ahh, I see now! Yes, of course, dear. Please, come on in." She ushered Ashley inside with a warm smile. "Poor Andy's been down with a nasty bug all day, confined to his bed."
"He's sick?" Ashley's stomach dropped.
"Oh no, I had no clue! Is he gonna be okay?"
"He's come down with a fever, but thankfully it seems like just a passing thing."
Relief washed over Ashley. "If it's not too much trouble, could I maybe see him for just a sec?" she pressed eagerly. "I promise, I'll be super quiet so he can rest."
Mrs. Bates melted at Ashley's tender, concerned expression.
She studied her curiously for a moment before smiling again. "You know what? I think Andy will be happy to see you, dear. Just be careful not to wake him if he's sleeping, alright?"
"R-Really? Thank you so much!" Ashley practically squeaked as Mrs. Bates pointed down the hall. "His room's right through there."
Ashley nodded, trying to contain her excitement as she headed for Andy's bedroom.
There he was - her beloved Mr. Andy, sleeping so peacefully on clean white sheets. The soft, fading rays of sunlight caressed his handsome face through the window.
She stood frozen in the doorway for what felt like forever, hungrily drinking in every last detail of the man she adored. Andy's chest rose and fell with each gentle breath. He suddenly flickered his eyelids, disturbed by the sun's glare hitting his eyes.
Ashley snapped out of her daze. Slowly, she crept closer and knelt by his bedside. Andy really was insanely handsome up close. Before she could stop herself, she reached out and gently placed her hand on his warm cheek.
Andy's hand lay palm-up beside him on the mattress. Unable to resist, Ashley tenderly took it in both of hers. She brought his palm to her face, caressing her cheek with it. She was leaning in, about to finally press her lips to his hand when Mrs. Bates' voice made her jump.
"Ashley? Everything alright in here, dear?"
Mrs. Bates stood in the doorway, eyeing the scene before her with obvious confusion. Ashley jerked upright, face flushing bright red.
"Y-Yeah! Everything's f-fine, Mrs. Bates," she stammered quickly. "I was just...uh...checking if his fever went down at all!"
Mrs. Bates fell silent for a beat. "It seems like it might be, um, improving a little," Ashley added lamely.
Mrs. Bates noticed how anxious and flustered Ashley had suddenly become. "Did you get those notes you needed from Andy?" she asked.
"N-Notes? Oh! No, uh, not yet. I couldn't ask him since he's resting up..." Ashley's eyes darted anywhere but the older woman's probing gaze. "Actually, I should prob'ly get going anyway!"
She turned and started for the exit, desperate to escape the awkward situation. "Thanks again for being so nice, Mrs. Bates! I'll just see myself--"
Out of the corner of her eye, Ashley noticed the woman sway unsteadily on her feet, gripping the doorframe. "Mrs. Bates? You okay?"
"Just feeling a bit light-headed is all, dear," Mrs. Bates assured her. "All this stress from taking care of Andy must be catching up."
Instantly, Ashley looped an arm around the woman's waist to steady her. "Here, let me give you a hand," she said, guiding her to the couch. "Why don't you put your feet up for a bit? I can hang out and keep you company."
A tired but grateful smile crossed Mrs. Bates' lips. "Aren't you just the sweetest? I'd appreciate that, Ashley."
The two sat chatting and laughing together like old friends, with Ashley tending to the woman's needs. They were so engrossed, neither noticed when Andy finally woke and emerged from his room.
He stood watching them from across the room, an amused yet oddly tender smile playing at his lips as he observed Ashley's caring interactions with his mother. He let out a quiet chuckle at something they said, giving himself away. His mother glanced over in surprise.
"Andy! Why'd you get out of bed? You should've called for me if you needed anything," she fretted, rising to fuss over him.
But Andy's eyes were locked on Ashley, who stared back at him, equally transfixed. A heavy tension hung in the air as his mother scolded him for being up. Finally, she went to fetch him a glass of water, leaving the pair alone.
There was so much Ashley wanted to say in that stillness, her emotions burning in the depths of Andy's intense gaze. But words failed her as their eyes smoldered with unspoken truths and longing.
Mrs. Bates returned with the water, shattering the spell. Flustered, Ashley rose abruptly. "You know, I really should get going," she mumbled, unable to meet Andy's eyes.
"Already?" he asked, clearly confused.
Ashley stammered out some lame excuse about having chores to take care of at home. She managed a tight smile, then hurried out before either could protest further.
She made it home just before her parents arrived, as usual slipping unseen into her room. No sooner had she collapsed on her bed than she heard her mother's frantic voice in the hallway, coming to check on her "deathly ill" daughter yet again.
Ashley called out that she was fine, just a little dehydrated earlier. It took some more reassuring before her parents finally left her alone. The second her door was closed, she leapt up and started buzzing around her room, a jittery bundle of giddy energy.
She flopped back on her bed, squealing into her pillow as she relived every heart-pounding moment with Andy over and over in her mind. She was going to do it, she resolved with a dreamy smile. Tomorrow, she was finally going to confess her feelings for him. She could feel it in her soul - he felt the same way about her too.
A sudden pounding at her door shattered her reverie. Assuming it was her mother checking on her again, Ashley ignored it stubbornly. But the knocking persisted until a familiar voice finally rang out.
"Ashley? It's Hannah. Open up, would you?"
Deflating with a sigh, Ashley went and pulled the door open, bracing herself for her friend's judgmental nagging.
Hannah wasted no time tearing into her, laying it on thick about skipping school, lying about being sick, and this reckless infatuation she had with their teacher. Ashley tried to interject, to defend herself, but Hannah's rant just steamrolled on about the serious consequences this could bring.
When Hannah finally wound down, Ashley spoke up firmly.
"Look, I know you mean well, and you're just worried about me. But I've made up my mind." She squared her shoulders with resolve. "Tomorrow, first thing, I'm telling Mr. Andy exactly how I feel about him. No matter what."
Hannah's eyes went wide with disbelief. "Are you insane? You'll get expelled for sure! This is madness, Ash - please, just stop before it's too late."
"It's not madness, Han," Ashley insisted, shaking her head. "I saw it with my own eyes today. He loves me just as much as I love him. When I tell him, I just know he'll say it back too."
They went back and forth, arguments spinning in circles, but Ashley had made up her mind.
By the time an exasperated Hannah finally gave up and stormed out, Ashley was already back on her bed, hugging her pillow with a dreamy-eyed gaze.
"Tomorrow," she whispered giddily to herself, hugging the pillow tighter. "Tomorrow, everything changes."