Ashley knew she had to be very strategic if she was going to pull off sneaking out that night. She decided to appease AJ and drop her attitude for the day, and she had to admit she had fun. They stayed in and watched a few movies and ordered pizza for dinner. She had forgot how much fun he was when they weren’t arguing. By the time 8:30 came around she almost felt bad about attempting to sneak out, but she wanted to go to the party and knew it was the only way.
“I’m starting to get sleepy.” Ashley yawned and stretched from her place on the couch. “Too much junk food.”
“I told you to lighten up on the candy.” AJ joked.
“I think I’m going to take a shower and get ready for bed.” She said as she got up.
“Ok. I’m gonna hang out here for a little, I’ll come check in on you before I head upstairs.” He said.
“Alex we’ve had a good day don’t ruin it by treating me like a kid. Why do you have to check in on me?” she said frustrated that he was making this harder on her.
“I just wanna say goodnight. I’m not trying to tuck you in or anything.” He laughed. ”I have some paperwork to look over so I’ll be in to say good night in about an hour or so.”
“Fine.” Ashley faked a smile and made her way back to her room.
She turned on the water and quickly took a shower. She had picked out her clothes earlier and knew her outfit wouldn’t be hard to hide under a sweatshirt. When she was finished with her shower she got dressed and pulled on sweats over her clothes. She pulled her hair back knowing she would just let it have to dry naturally and put her makeup in her bag so she could do it on the way there.
When she had everything set up she glanced at the clock, it was already 9:20. She quickly sent Jared a text message letting him know she might be a little late meeting him, but their plan was still a go. Now all she had to do was wait for AJ to come say good night.
She pulled back the covers on her bed and switched on the TV in attempts to look ready for bed when she heard a knock on the door.
“Come in.” she said as the door opened and AJ walked in.
“I’m heading upstairs to do some work, just wanted to say good night.” He said.
“Good night.” She smiled hoping that would be all. Ashley sighed as he took a seat on the edge of the bed, facing her.
“I had fun today.” He smiled. “I’ve missed just hanging out with you. I hope you don’t think I’m going overboard with all this, but I’m just trying to look out for you.”
“I know.” She sighed faking a yawn. “I had fun too.”
“Ok well get some rest, I’ll see you in the morning.” He stood from the bed and leaned in to hug her. “Good night kiddo.”
“Good night.” She smiled and hugged him back. She watched as he walked out, closing the door behind him. She waited a few moments and saw the lights darker from under her door and heard his footsteps moving upstairs.
Once the coast was clear Ashley pulled the covers down and took off her sweats. She grabbed her shoes and her purse and set them on the table next to her window. She opened the window and grabbed her things again before climbing out it. Once outside she straightened out her clothes and slipped on her shoes. When she arrived at the gate she saw Jared’s van parked across the street.
“Hey guys!” she said jumping in. “Ready to go get crazy?”
“No curfew tonight I suppose?” Tina said laughing.
“Nope, the night is ours.”
“Sure you’re not gonna get in trouble?” Jared asked as he pulled onto the highway.
“He thinks I’m asleep and he’s looking over papers or something, he’ll be too busy to notice I’m gone.” She said pulling out her makeup bag. “Let’s just have fun tonight and not worry about the little things.”
“How late do you wanna be out here?” Jared asked.
“That’s up to you hun, you’re driving. I guess let’s see how good the party is then we can really decide. Just remember to give yourself two hours to sober up before we leave.”
“Sounds good.” Jared said then turned up the radio for the rest of the drive.
Ashley looked around as they walked threw the front door of the house. There were a few people scattered around the front rooms, but most were out by the beach. She spotted Angel by the bar and waved as they walked over.
“Hey bitch.” She smiled hugging her and then greeted Tina and Jared. “I knew you couldn’t stay away.”
“I feel bad lying to Alex cuz we had fun today but I haven’t been to a good party all summer. Huntington Beach is dead.”
“Well Devon knows how to throw a party. Grab a drink and come outside, there are plenty of hotties here tonight.” She took her hand leading her outside after handing her a drink.
“Girl, you were so right. This party was fricken awesome.” Ashley said loudly, slurring slightly as she leaned on Angel for support several hours and several drinks later.
“I wish that life was one big party that just never ended.” Angel said in an attempt to be philosophical.
“It isn’t?” Ashley laughed.
“Well it’s a boring, sober party. Why can’t we just be drunk all the time…life is so much better that way.”
“Because then you’d be an alcoholic.” Ashley shook her head laughing at her friend’s obliviousness.
“Oh, that’s what that’s called?” she laughed taking a sip of her beer. “They have big words for everything these days.”
“Ok it’s time to hit the road Ash.” Jared said pulling her up off the couch. “Do you have a ride home Angel?”
“I’m staying here with Jessica, she’s gonna drive home in the morning.” Angel said laying on the couch now since Ashley wasn’t helping to keep her up.
“Call me when you can think again.” Ashley laughed as they made their way to the door. “Did you guys have fun?”
“Tina’s already knocked out in the car, so I’m guessing that’s a yes and I had a not so drunken but good time.” He said as he helped her into the van.
“I’ll try and stay up with you on the drive back.” She said yawning as she buckled her seatbelt.
“It shouldn’t take us long, there’s no traffic right now.” Jared said as he began to drive.
“Shit! It’s already 4:00 am? Ashley said noticing the time. “I’m gonna be so tired tomorrow.”
“And so hung over.” Jared teased. “You and Angel should really try and learn another game then beer pong because you got mutilated every time.”
“Whatever, I did better this time.” She laughed struggling to keep her eyes open. Before she knew it Jared was shaking her awake.
“You’re home.” He said quietly as he unbuckled her seatbelt for her. “There are no lights on so as long as you get back inside you’re in the clear.”
“That window is not looking very appealing right now. Do you think I could make it threw the front door quietly?” she asked.
“Your lock is super loud and don’t you have an alarm?” he raised an eyebrow in question.
“Shit. Thank god you’re here.” She shook her head. “Can you help me? I can’t pull myself up there right now.”
“Sure.” He laughed a little and they quietly got out of the car.
He lifted her up just enough to get half her body inside the window as she tried to get her bearings. She attempted to hold onto the edge of her desk to pull herself the rest of the way in but lost her grip, midway and fell to the floor.
“Shit.” She mumbled rubbing her head as she heard Jared outside trying to maintain his laughter.
“Are you ok?” he whispered and couldn’t help but laugh out when he saw a thumbs up appear in the window. “I’ll call you tomorrow, be careful and sleep well.” He said and was off.
Ashley quietly shut her window and changed her clothes, not sure how she was even still functioning. It was now 5:00 am and she was beyond tired. She took two Tylonol to calm her headache from falling and climbed in bed, falling asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A loud horn noise sounded throughout her room the next morning as Ashley cringed from her spot under the covers, her hangover ever growing. She pulled a pillow over her head, as the loud noise got closer. Next the blinds in her room were flipped open letting the bright light shine through and right at her.
“Get up.” AJ commanded.
“Who in their right mind gave you a blow horn?” she groaned trying to shade her eyes from the sun. “Must you let every drop of light in here?”
“It wouldn’t bother you so much if you weren’t hung over, now get up or this goes off again.” He said threatening to sound the blow horn.
Ashley ignored him turning over in bed but regretted it a second later when the persistent horn sounded loudly throughout her room.
“Fine! I’m up.” She said sitting up in bed and glaring at him, ready to kill.
“Someone looks like they got hit by a truck.” AJ shook his head crossing his arms. “Have a fun night?”
Ashley didn’t answer so AJ continued. “Did you really think you would get away with it? Don’t you think I knew something was up with your sudden change in attitude yesterday and going to bed at 8:30? I think I know you a little better then that.”
“So why didn’t you just stop me.” She glared at him.
“I wanted to see just how far you’d push your luck. Let’s see what we can add to the list now…” he said as he paced slightly trying to retain his anger. “We have lying, sneaking out, underage drinking, coming home well past your curfew…anything else I should know about before we see just how worth it this little escapade of yours was?”
“Let me guess, you’re gonna tell mom?”
“Nope. You are.” He said and pointed towards the door. “Living room, now.”
Ashley sighed and made her way out of the room with AJ in toe. Just as she reached the door the loud sound of the blow horn filled her ears again and she cringed, grabbing her head in attempts to control the pain. She turned and glared at AJ.
“Woops, my finger slipped.” He smirked as she practically murdered him with her stare.
Ashley winced at the bright light shining through the living room. Looking around she saw that AJ had opened every curtain and made sure all the blinds were up to make the room as bright and unbearable as possible.
“What’s wrong? The sun a little to much for you?” he said with fake sympathy as she rubbed her temples and took a seat on the couch.
Ashley just rolled her eyes ignoring him as he picked up the phone.
“Hi mom.” AJ said cheerily. “Oh things are just splendid here, actually Ashley has a little story to tell you.”
He handed her the phone and she took a deep breath, letting it out slowly, as she held the phone up to her ear.
“Hi mom.” She bit her lip nervously as she retold Denise of her endeavors the previous night and early morning. She pulled the phone away from her ear slightly as Denise raised her voice in anger. Sighing she listened as Denise dictated her punishment. “Ok mom…I’m really sorry…I know, I’ll tell him.”
“Uh I hate you. Why can’t you just let me live my life? I’m not doing anything wrong.” She yelled tossing the phone down as she hung up. “Now thanks to you my life consists of sitting in my room in silence with no contact to the outside world for six weeks!”
“You’re really going to try and blame this on me?” he couldn’t help but laugh. “You would only be grounded until mom got home if you would have listened to me in the first place. Now you have to deal with the consequences. I’m sick of making up lies for you.”
“Why? I lied for you all those times when people asked me what was wrong with you. I knew I could have said something and I didn’t. Why can’t you just butt out of things?”
“Why does it always have to come back to what happened in the past. This has absolutely nothing to do with that.” AJ tried to maintain his anger.
“It always comes back to it because that’s what this is all about! You think that I’m going to fuck up like you did, but guess what Alex? I’m not like you. I’m not a loser who’s going to throw everything away for a cheap thrill.”
“Is that what you think of me? That I’m a loser?” she could hear the sadness in his voice.
“I didn’t mean that.” She said immediately regretting what had come out of her mouth.
“I can’t deal with you right now.” He ran a hand threw his hair in frustration. “Do what you want, I’m threw trying to help you.” He said as he walked out of the house.
Author's Chapter Notes:
just wanted 2 thank you all who have been leaving feedback and continue to read hope you had a marvelous new year
Special thanks to Lenni for the feedback on what you would like to see happen because it sparked a great idea.
I'm still taking ideas from people of things you haven't seen happen yet that you would like to so please leave feedback if there is something you want to see becuase I will make it happen :-)
Special thanks to Lenni for the feedback on what you would like to see happen because it sparked a great idea.
I'm still taking ideas from people of things you haven't seen happen yet that you would like to so please leave feedback if there is something you want to see becuase I will make it happen :-)
Chapter End Notes:
this is 1 of my fav. chapters so far. please leave feedback and let me know what you think
