Hi guys I just wanted to put a quick note at the start of this chapter to tell you that I'm feeling kinda stressed right now because form Friday my college will be closed and I've been stressing over my course work as I take to heavy coursework courses (textiles and photography) and so updates could be all over the place (this was pre written like a week ago) as I try my hardest to get all the work done. I'm also worried that all the work I've done so far could lead to nothing (which honestly upsets me the most). Anyway I just wanted to kinda get this off my chest.
I love you guys so much and please stay safe
Jess💕 (name reveal lol)

Marshall sat twiddling his thumbs as he watched the teen lying still in the hospital bed. He had to lie and say he was her brother so that he could stay with her. If anybody asked him why he'd stayed, he'd say he had no proper explanation; apart from the fact that she was young and if she woke up she'd probably be scared.

''Vending machines, man why are they so expensive?'' Deshaun strolled into the room, two KitKat's in hand; he threw one at Marshall before taking a seat next to him in the empty chair.

''Thanks, man,'' Marshall mumbled as he took the chocolate out of the wrapper and bit into it. He, however, paused mid-bite as a low groan came from the body laying on the bed next to them.

''Where am I?'' Ashley sounded rather dazed as she stirred, struggling to pull herself into a seated position.

''Whoa go, careful girl, here I gotcha,'' Marshal heard her mumble in thanks as Proof helped her sit up properly in the bed.

''Is there anyone you want us to ring, or do you want one of us to go over to your moms and bring her here?'' Marshall asked once Deshaun had filled her in on what exactly had happened.

''You mean Sarah right? I don't call her mum,'' Ashley responded, shrugging her shoulders as Marshall gave her a questioning look, ''didn't call my carer in England mum either it was always Miss Charles.''

''Why?'' Both Deshaun and Marshall posed the question at the same time.

''Never really felt right you know. I mean before I was with Miss Charles I had no one so the concept of calling people mum and dad completely passed me by you know.''

''Yeah. I'll tell ya what I've gotta go to work how about I just tell Sarah what happened and then she can decide whether to come or not,'' Marshall suggested finishing off his bar of chocolate before standing up, looking as if he was going to leave.

''Ok. I guess I'll see you guys around,'' she muttered in response not exactly liking that she was going to be left alone.

''Don't sound so down, you still got me,'' Deshaun remarked and there was no mistaking the flicker of a smile that flew across her features.

''Oh that's fine then,'' she replied waving Marshall off in a motion that told him he could leave for work. He nodded at her placing his hand on her shoulder in an act of kindness (well that's what Ashley saw it as) ''thank you,'' she whispered behind his back just as he was about to leave. Ashley was sure he hadn't heard it, but the way he stopped and slowly turned around told her otherwise.

''For what?'' Marshall questioned a frown settling across his features as he looked over at the teen in the bed in front of him.

''For staying with me, you didn't have too,'' she responded, shrugging her shoulders.

''Yeah well, ya had no one else so it was no sweat,'' with that he turned around and walked out leaving Ashley in the room with Deshaun.

''So, he always so moody?'' Ashley asked turning over to look a Proof, who was nibbling away at his chocolate bar.

''Yeah, but that's nothing. He's never happy, it's this bitch Kims fault most of the time, me and rest of the guys keep telling him it ain't worth it, but he don't listen,'' Deshaun explained, letting out a sigh in exhaustion as if he was done with all the drama between Marshall and whoever Kim was.

''Yo anyway so how you finding Detroit so far, good? Well apart from being shot in the leg that it,'' he added gesturing towards her inability to move from the bed at that moment.

''Erm yeah, it's been good. I guess I've made friends with Blaze, but it's kinda hard since most teens are in school or have their own groups to hang with,'' Ashley muttered, wringing her hands together, ''I never thought I'd miss going to school, but I kinda do. Is that weird?'' She questioned finally bringing herself to look up and back over at Proof.

''Nah, you miss home that's what it is, it's not the school you miss. Trust me nobody misses school,'' Ashley giggled, wincing slightly when a spike of pain flew up her leg.

"I guess,'' she muttered. They sat in silence for a while, it was difficult to talk to someone you didn't know that well, especially since they were older and you didn't have much in common.

''Hey, I know this may be a fucking weird question, but do you sing?'' Proofs question had caught her off guard.

''Er yeah, a little why?'' she questioned, making eye contact with him as she turned to answer him.

''I went to the shop the other day and heard someone singing in the back, wondered if it was you, ya know since you work there and all,'' Ashley nodded turning a bright shade of red. She hadn't realised that people had been able to hear her all the way from the stock room to the main floor.

''God I didn't think anyone could hear.''

''Hey, ya sounded good ya know, different too. I'd never heard someone sing like you,'' Ashley blushed a little not sure how to take the compliment.

''Well thank you,'' she replied smiling over at him. Deshaun had opened his mouth to speak again but snapped it closed when a nurse suddenly entered the room.

''Well, Miss Jackson. Unforutanly your parents are unable to come to get you as they have made plans to visit family for the holidays. So they request that you either stay here or find someone to stay with. I believe a Marshall Mathers was an option,'' the nurse looked over at Ashley, her glasses perched on the end of her nose as she held a clipboard of notes in her hand.

''Marshalls at work at the moment, but I could take her. Erm, Deshaun Holton if ya needed a reference,'' Proof added as the nurse stared him down as if he was, but insignificant in the conversation.

''Yes your name was mentioned therefore I see no harm in it, but her parents did prefer the Mathers boy instead,'' the nurse replied sighing as she shuffled through the notes on her clipboard, ''right I have some medicine to give you that will help with the pain and some crutches for you to use. All your care and bills have been paid for courtesy of a Derek.

Ashley had to keep her jaw from dropping and her eyes from rolling out of her head. She couldn't quite believe what she was hearing, there was no way a drug dealer just paid her hospital bills for her. Deshaun looked over her clocking her disbelief, all he did was shrug, seemingly just as in awe as she was.