I LOVE YOU TOO (continued)
CHAPTER 9
It was about 4 when I got out of work and drove up to the concert. I had changed into tight jeans and a blue belly shirt with glitter stars. I put my brown, shoulder length hair in a loose bun, and put on sheer gold eye shadow to accent the gold in my hazel eyes. I put lip gloss on, and stuck it all in my bag. I pulled out the VIP pass the guys had given me, and showed it to the guard at the side entrance. He opened the door for me, and I walked in. The place was already packed with screaming girls, all under the age of 18 it seemed. They all had posters like, 'I love Ashley', 'O-Town rules!', and 'O-Town's #1 fan'. One girl even had a sign that had Shelli's name crossed out and a big 'Erica' in glitter. I sat down in the seat, glad I wasn't standing like all those other girls. The show started, and they were all amazing. I watched them intently, and didn't notice that Shelli had walked in and was sitting a few rows back and to the left. When it came time for "The Painter", I knew that they would pick some girl from the audience to sit in the chair. I had been to another one of their concerts, and knew this was coming, so I sat down deeper in my chair, knowing it would probably be the girl next to me, since she had an O-Town shirt on, her jeans were covered with glued on pictures of the band, her hair was braided with the beads spelling out "O-Town", and she had a hat that said "O-Town's #1 Fan". The guys all went backstage, and then Dan came out. "Will Juliet please come to the stage?" Omygod it was me! I was going to sit in for "The Painter"! I hurried down the stairs and to the side entrance for the stage. I passed the guys, and Erik kissed me on the cheek and Ashley squeezed my hand. I hurried on stage and sat down on the wooden stool. The music started, and I was just so happy. I looked out into the audience, into my section, and I could see Shelli clearly. She looked very angry. Well, I thought, she's gonna be even angrier after tomorrow… The song was over before I realized it, and I was being hugged and kissed on the cheek by the guys as the security rushed me off. I sat in the hall for the rest of the concert, not bothering to go back to my seat. I was just so happy I couldn't say anything.
CHAPTER 10
We were in the car after the concert. It was only like 8, 8:30, so we went to a crowded little pizza place right near Ashley's house. We ate there, and no one noticed us, partly because it was full of people over the age of like 35, and partly because it was so crowded. Before going to the club, we stopped off at Ashley's house. Paula (his mom) and Ron (his dad) seemed excited to see me. "Oh, I remember like it was yesterday when you and Ashley starred together in Grease. You made a great Sandy." "Thank you," I said, a little embarrassed. I felt bad. Ashley's dad seemed more excited to see me than to see his own son.
CHAPTER 11
We got to the club at around 10. We found a table not close to the floor, and as soon as I put my bag down Erik grabbed my hand and we started dancing. Dan, Trevor, and Jacob were out there almost just as fast and started dancing with random girls. Ashley just sat there, looking as pouty as I had when I was waiting for their plane. I could tell he was hurt that I was dancing with Erik, so after a few songs I got a break and sat down next to Ashley. I got my breath back and he said, "Julie, I thought you weren't going to date Erik." "I'm not, Ashley, its just that I feel bad saying no to him, but I really love you." I kissed him, and then all the guys joined us. They all seemed kind of winded, and even Erik had found someone and danced with them. Jacob could not stop talking about this girl Kiera, who was a great dancer. "She's really pretty, tall, and even though she's almost 2 years younger than me, I really like her." Two girls came over to our table. A blonde girl sat next to Dan, while a girl with brown hair pulled up a chair next to Erik. He seemed a little over me. He introduced us to this girl Abbey, and then they left and were dancing on the floor. Helen was the girl next to Dan, and the girl who Trevor danced with came and said goodbye. She was named Mickie, and was leaving. Ashley took my hand old-fashion style, and asked me to dance. I said yes, of course, and we walked right to the middle of the dance floor. We started dancing, and for the next 3 or 4 songs we were so close to each other that we could barely get any closer. I saw all the guys were sitting down again, and they had spotted us. I could tell by the looks on their faces that they could tell I would be replacing Shelli. Erik looked a little disappointed, and I felt kind of bad. Then I came back to my reality. The DJ had put on a slow song, and I was wrapped up in Ashley's arms. I felt like the luckiest girl in the world. We started kissing a little, and then I pulled him back to our seats. We sat back down at the table with the guys. Erik looked at me, and I could tell he was upset. I said I was sorry with my eyes. I didn't want to start any trouble between the guys. "Why don't we leave and go to a movie or something? This club is getting boring," I suggested. I knew that the guys knew I was just doing this as a cover. They suspected that Ash was cheating on Shelli, and that we didn't want them to know. "Ok, good idea Jules, let's go see "Save the Last Dance". Its been re-released into theaters, I heard its supposed to be great…" said Trevor. He knew there was something. He had walked in on Ashley and me kissing, but he seemed like a great friend, he hadn't told any of the other guys, and it didn't seem like he was about to, either.
CHAPTER 12
We left the club soon after. We piled in the car, and Dan drove us to the theater. It was a new one, very big, with stadium seating in the theaters. Ashley and I bought everyone's ticket, but Erik insisted on paying for mine. We sat down in the theater, with Ashley, me, and Erik in a row and Dan, Jacob, and Trevor in the row in front of us. We bought the biggest popcorn there was, and Ashley and I shared a drink. The movie started, and anyone who has seen "Save the Last Dance" knows why I cried at the beginning. Ashley put his arm around me then, and comforted me. The movie went on, and Ashley still kept his arm around me. I felt like it was our first date at the movies, not knowing when and if he would kiss me. It got to the part when they are about to kiss for the first time. Ashley looked into my eyes. He pulled me closer, and put his hands on the sides of my face. He lifted my head up, and we started kissing. It was the most romantic kiss I had ever had. I could tell he was enjoying it, and so was I. I never wanted that moment to end. We kept kissing through most of the movie. No one noticed until Jacob turned around to ask me for the popcorn. "Julie… uh, Juliet… can I have the popcorn?" I quickly pulled away. "Omygod, I'm so sorry Jake. He you go." I was bright red, since all the guys had turned around and saw us. "You guys, I have something to tell you. I've decided to break up with Shelli. She's trying to get me to quit the band, and she's controlling my life. I just don't feel the same way about her anymore. I love my Jules now. Juliet Catherine, will you be my girlfriend?" "Oh Angel, yes, I love you." We started making out, not the slow, gentle kissing from before. "Awww…" all the guys were making that corny sound. The movie was over, so we all left. Erik pulled me aside. "Juliet, if you liked Ashley instead of me, you could have just told me." "Erik, I like you, but only as a friend. I'm really sorry. I didn't want to hurt you, and didn't want to not have you as a friend anymore." "I still want to be your friend," he said. I could see little tears in his eyes. I hugged him, I felt so bad I could feel the tears coming on, too. "We gotta go," I said, taking him by the hand and pulling him towards the car.
CHAPTER 13
The car ride home was silent. The guys now knew, and they couldn't have been more shocked. Ashley seemed in love with Shelli, despite all their fighting over the band. And his next girlfriend, being little old Juliet, the best friend that Ashley never stopped talking about. Erik seemed hurt, but I knew he would get over it. There were so many girls all over the country and even all over the world that would kill to be the object of his affection. I was happy, myself. I had the guy I was in love with, and he was going to break up with his girlfriend the next day.
CHAPTER 14
We got back to the house around midnight, and all went straight to bed. We were all very tired, after a full day. I personally couldn't believe that the guys could give a concert, and then go out for dinner, clubbing, and to the movies. Ashley seemed tired, too. I climbed into bed, about to fall asleep as soon as I hit the pillow, when I noticed that Ashley wasn't coming. "Ashley come on, get in bed its late." "Not until I get my good night kiss, thank you very much," he said playfully. I dragged myself up and out of the bed and over to Ashley. I kissed him quickly. "Was that good?" I asked, ready to fall asleep on my feet. "No, it has to be more like THIS." He scooped me off my feet and we started making out. There was a fire in it, so much passion. We stopped kissing and practically fell into the bed. "I know I don't love Shelli anymore. I don't feel that when I kiss her." I snuggled up closer to him, smiling. He put his arms around me, and we fell asleep like that.
CHAPTER 15
I woke up still in his arms. He was still asleep, but we needed to get up. I wanted as much time as it was possible with him, because their flight was leaving again at 3 in the afternoon. I kissed his lips, and he stirred. I kissed his face all over, and he woke up completely. "Baby, your flight leaves in like, not so long, so you have to get up." "Sure, whatever. Just let me shower, eat breakfast, and then I need a phone to call Shelli." "Sure Angel, whatever you need." We got up and he showered. I changed, and Ash and I walked down together. We got to my living room, and found Shelli sitting on my couch, about to scream when she saw us walking down the stairs with his arm around me. "Ashley, I hate you," she said, exactly in the same tone that she had said in Cancun, Mexico. I sort of giggled to myself, but stopped when I saw that he didn't know what to do. He had envisioned their breakup on the phone, where he wouldn't have to look at her. But now the real Shelli was here, and he didn't know what to do. "Shelli, uh… we can't be together anymore. I don't love you anymore, and you're trying to control my life. I love Juliet, and I know she would never ask me to quit the band." Shelli looked stunned. "You like HER?" she shrieked. "I don't believe it Ashley, I was just about to come over to HER house to propose to you. I WANTED TO MARRY YOU, ASHLEY! Ash, baby, you have a choice. Your girlfriend for over 3 years, who has loved you and stood by you through everything, who you have a quality relationship with that can last, who wants to marry you and settle down, or that little b*tch over there who has taken my place in a day. She doesn't love you, she loves you celebrity. She'll leave you or cheat on you while you're gone, and you'll be left with nothing because you left me." I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Shelli was the one accusing me of only loving his celebrity, of cheating on him while Ash was gone. "Ashley, I would never do that to you," I said, "and I would never ask you to leave your band to settle down with me right at the beginning of your career if you weren't ready." Shelli stormed out of my house, and I was confident that she and Ashley were completely broken up. But I looked at Ashley and I wasn't so sure anymore. He looked crushed. I hadn't thought this breakup would be so hard on him. The guys, like true friends, came over and tried to comfort him. I felt so bad, even worse than when I had told Erik I didn't love him, because I was causing Ashley so much pain. I didn't know what to do. I started crying and ran up to my room. The guys probably thought I was a baby for doing that, but Erik ran up after me. I ran into my room and slammed the door after me, then collapsed into my bed and started crying harder. Erik walked in slowly, and sat down next to me. He put his arm around me, but instead of telling me to stop, he told me to let the tears flow. "Ashley loves you. I can see it in his eyes. And you're so lucky for that. And Ashley is lucky to have a girl like you, Juliet." I didn't know what to say. I hugged him, and kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you, Erik. I needed that. I'm so sorry that we had to turn out like this, but I still really want you as a friend." I hugged him again. He helped me up, and we walked downstairs. It was already 1 in the afternoon, and we had to leave for the Redding airport. Dan drove us, and for the first time, the car was completely silent. Jacob tried to make conversation, and it worked for a little. It was small talk, a shallow thing. Ashley was being distant, and when I tried to make some kind of contact with him, he just turned away. I didn't know what to do. I loved this man so much but he didn't seem to love me.
CHAPTER 16
We got to the airport just in time for their flight to leave. They started boarding, and I was silently crying. I didn't know what to say. There was no goodbye kiss, no anything. Tears streamed down my face. "Ashley, I love you, and I always will forever." He didn't make any sign of recognition, no hint that he had heard. I turned around and left. My drive home was depressing. The first guy I had truly loved didn't love me anymore, I had caused him so much pain. I drove around before I went home, to get the feeling off. It wouldn't go, so I just went home. I swear I saw Shelli in the car next to me at a traffic light, smirking. I speeded all the way home, and when I got there, I sat down on the couch and started to cry. Then I noticed that there was a message on my machine. Who would be calling me now, on a Sunday? I pressed play. "Juliet Catherine, I love you. I love you so much you have no idea. I am so sorry for the way I treated you today. Shelli and I had to break up no matter what. I'm glad we got it over with. I know you would never hurt me like she did. I promise to always stay true to you, no matter what. Please, forgive me and be my girlfriend again. Love, forever and always, Ashley Parker Angel." I was so happy. I cried still, but now they were tears of happiness, not of sadness. I whispered to myself. "Ashley Parker Angel, I love you, too."