Kim's POV

To say that Cheryl and Ashley are in love would be lying.. They seem to kind of linger around each other, making awkward eye contact. From the outside looking in you would think they're happily married, and love each other unconditionally. They are making me reconsider my major and become a marriage counselor. I laughed to myself as we sat at the dinner table already dreading the awkwardness, although Cheryl bless her is trying. Its been 2 weeks since I have adjusted to my stay, Cheryl is a wonderful person she's so eager to make me welcome and is always checking on me to see if I am okay with everything

"What you laughing at?" Cheryl asked smiling already; She seems to do that a lot when she is speaking to me

"Just remembered something, this dinner is gorgeous Cheryl thank you" I said digging into the grilled steak and mash potatoes. Ashley began to chuckle shaking his head

"Something funny?" I asked smiling politely at him, although I wasn't all that comfortable around him. He usually came home in time for dinner, but barely said a word so it was just spent with me and Cheryl chatting away

"You actually think she made this?" He said continuing to laugh, although I didn't find the humor in it

"Um.." I coughed uncomfortably, I looked over at Cheryl not really knowing what to say but she gave me a weak smile in return going back to her dinner avoiding the topic

"Well, I still think its lovely" I shrugged winking at her getting a shy smile in return

"I want you to meet the girls later on this week" Cheryl said changing the subject. Thank god.

"When? Because I have exams already this week and I'll already begin my hardcore study sessions" I could almost see the disappointment in her eyes. Rejection? I didn't reject her. School does come first, although I was a bit keen to meet the friends she never seemed to shut up about.

"Oh, well I guess you can meet them after your exams" She said reassuring me with a smile, but I could see it in her eyes she was disappointed from another rejection, another person letting her down

"No I want to meet them this week" I said bringing back the sparkle in her eyes

"Really?" She asked almost not believing me

"Really."

"Don't get your hopes up they're not all that fun" Ashley said ruining the little moment we had

"Ashley, enough" She sighed

"Just giving her a warning" He said laughing while putting his hands up in protest

**

Kim's POV

"Kim I need a girls opinion, which dress? This one or this one?" Cheryl said barging into my room holding up two dresses. One thick strapped white knee length dress, and a strapless little black dress

"Well depends, what's the occasion?" I asked putting my pen down and giving her my full attention

"Ashley wants to take us out for dinner" She said full beam on display, she was genuinely happy and I wasn't sure why? Her husband should always be taking her out on dinner dates

"Well why don't you go try them on? And ill give you my opinion?" I asked

"I don't want to waste your time" She said looking at anything but me

"No don't worry, you won't be wasting my time! Go on try them on" I smiled encouraging her to go into my ensuite and put the first dress on. I couldn't help but smile to myself at how happy she looked in that moment. I guess its true when they say a smile can lighten up a whole room, and hers would be proof

"Ready?" She shouted from inside the bathroom bringing me out of my thoughts.

"Ready as ever!" I shouted back, the door swung open revealing Cheryl in the white knee length dress, she looked like an elegant goddess. She stood on her tippy toes doing a little twirl whilst giggling

"So what do you think?"

"It's beautiful, you look beautiful" I said making her blush

"Let us try on the other one and see what you think of that one" I guess she doesn't take complements easily. She came back out taking my breath away, the black dress extenuated her curves, her tanned skin popping out making it have a glow. I have never looked at a woman and thought 'Wow she is so beautiful, whoever has her around their arm is one lucky bastard' until now. Ashley was one lucky bastard

"Well?" she asked biting her lower lip anxiously smoothing down her dress

"Perfect" Was the first word that came to mind as I looked at her, and I had to voice my opinion

"You think?" She asked, I couldn't help but feel her insecurities. Always double checking if I was telling the truth, never taking compliments. I blame him, I blame him for everything.

"I know so, Ashley is one lucky man" I said making her smile with a slight blush

"Thank you.. Can you unzip us?" She asked turning around still standing on the ball of her feet. I stood up walking over to her; her scent was intoxicating, tropical, and romantic, almost like a summer breeze taking over my nostrils, my every thought. I swept her hair to one side of her shoulder as my hands slowly eased the zipper down; I couldn't help but notice the goose bumps that erupted as my fingers came in contact with her skin accidently

"There you go" I said after a few seconds of her just standing there

"Thank you Kimberley" It came out as a whisper as she held her dress against her chest and walked back into the bathroom to get changed. I snapped out of my thoughts going back over to my seat not wanting her to think I was some obsessive fan who just stares into space whenever she leaves the room. I wasn't obsessed with her, I was obsessed with her thoughts, her emotions, I wanted to make her happy and I don't know why. To others she seemed happy and over the moon.. but to me, well she was miserable, sad, lonely, and afraid.

"So what are your plans for tonight?" She asked as soon as she stepped out of the bathroom holding the dresses in hand

"You're looking at it," I said pointing to the pile of books, and papers that still needed to be done

"I'm treating you this week for your hard work, but I have to go now! Ill see you later" She said giving me a quick kiss on the head before exiting my bedroom. Treat me? She's the one that needs to be treated, she welcomed me into her home, and she treated me like a good friend not a stranger.

**

Kim's POV

I guess no matter where you go, or what you do you will never escape from school. I thought this exchange program would ease the work but no sleep for the wicked! Its now two o'clock in the morning and the Cole's are still out and I am working fast and hard on my papers and homework. Living in London is an eye opener; I can see myself living in this beautiful country. The people are all so friendly, anything is better than home really.

"I can't believe you embarrassed us like that!" I heard Cheryl shout as the front door slammed shut

"Grow up Cheryl! All I did was speak to her, you make it out like I was sticking my tongue down her throat!" Ashley shouted back with a higher more stern tone

"You had your fcking hand's all over her!! You made us look like a fool!" She screamed. I wasn't sure if I should have gone out and stopped them.. It's not your place Kim. Their voices were now muffled as they went into a room closing the door shut

"I'm not fcking sleeping in this room!!" She shouted closing a door that I'm guessing is their bedroom. I heard sobs coming closer and closer she went to the guest bedroom across the hall from me closing the door quietly, bless her she must think I'm sleeping. Do I do something? I should probably see if she's okay? Maybe some comfort would be nice for her. I waited a few minutes before taking a deep breath and standing up pulling my hair up into a bun and slowly creeping out of my bedroom checking if anyone was in the hallway before tiptoeing across the corridor knocking a few times before letting myself in finding Cheryl curled up into a ball crying her eyes out.

"K-Kim?" she hiccupped, I made my way over to the bed slowly dipping my knees into the feather like mattress cautiously removing the hair out of her damp, sticky face from all the tears she had consumed

"Hey.. You okay?" I whispered stroking her cheek. She shook her head letting more tears glide down her soft tanned skin

"Let me get you a change of clothes" I said getting up off the bed but she quickly grabbed my wrist

"Don't leave us" She whispered begging

"I'm just going to get you a change of clothes, you can't sleep in that dress" I said trying to be gentle with her, she slowly let go of my wrist nodding it was okay. I quickly made my way across to my bedroom grabbing a t-shirt and shorts for her to change in.

"Here let me help you" I said helping her stand up and walking her into the bathroom allowing her to change privately. She needed someone to hold her, tell her everything was going to be okay. Was everything going to be okay? She needed to be okay.. Better than okay. She came out of the bathroom makeup free, hair scrapped back and looking beautiful as ever wearing a t-shirt too big for her and shorts that seemed to disappear hiding under the shirt. I patted the space beside me pulling over the duvet for her to climb in, she happily obligated. I tucked her into bed, fluffing her pillow making sure she was comfortable

"Do you want to talk about it?" I asked tucking a piece of hair behind her ear

"He made us feel so cheap tonight" She said sniffing whilst her chin began to tremble as she tried to keep her emotions together. I instantly climbed into bed beside her pulling her into my arms allowing her to rest her head on my chest

"It's okay to cry Chez, don't be ashamed to show your emotions" That's all it took for her to break down in my arms, clenching onto my vest top as if I was going to leave her.

"Y-You should have seen him, he had his hands all over her" She sobbed, I didn't know what to do in a situation like this. It wasn't my place to tell her that her husband was a cheating bastard and didn't know how to keep it in his pants.

"You're a beautiful woman Cheryl, I guess he doesn't know what he has. You looked beautiful tonight, I guess everyone looks at beauty differently.. He doesn't see it, but I do and I'm sure everyone else agrees with me... He probably didn't mean it" I don't know why I defended him, I just wanted to make her feel better but I didn't quite know how.

"You think I looked beautiful?" She said taking her head off my chest to get a better look at me; I smiled at her whilst wiping away her fresh tears

"You looked beautiful, and you still look beautiful even right now with your bloodshot eyes, and your face makeup-less, hair scrapped into a messy bun and all" I said making her giggle hiding her face into the crock of my neck

"You talk some nonsense" She said yawning

"Lets get some sleep" I said pulling the duvet closer to us, covering her shoulders

"Good night Kimba" She sighed

"Good night Chez" I couldn't help but smile at the pet name she just chose, it was cute.. just like her.