"Welcome to Sayreville." Ashley read aloud, entering the new town she would be living in.
She was exactly 1217 miles from her hometown of Ocean Springs, Mississippi. A small little beach town right on the Gulf of Mexico and next to Biloxi.
Ashley was eighteen, she had just graduated four months before. Her parents had divorced a year ago and she tried living with her Mom, but that wasn't working out very well. She had her heart broken a couple of months ago, by her longtime boyfriend, Jake Miller.
So when she heard her Dad had gotten an offer from her uncle to come to New Jersey to be a foreman at one of the factories here she jumped at the chance to go.
She packed all her bags and threw them in the back of her Dad's truck and set off on their new adventure. Leaving family, friends, and heartache behind.
Her Uncle Jack and cousin Stacey had moved from Ocean Springs to New Jersey two summers ago. It was really hard on Ashley they were closer than sisters, same age born two days apart, and she hated for her to leave.
They bought a house that had come up for sale, right across the street from her uncle and cousin. She couldn't wait to begin her new life and try to forget the heartache and pain in her old one.
As they pulled on to Robinhood Drive the big blue two story house came into view. She had seen pictures of it and she loved it already.
Stacey had been waiting for her on her own front porch for hours. She couldn't wait for Ashley to finally get here. When she saw her Uncle's black Ford F150 she jumped up and ran across the street to greet her family.
"Oh Ashley I'm so glad to see you!" She squealed and hugged her cousin. "That's a long drive isn't it?"
"It's the longest car ride I have ever been on. God I've missed you Stacey."
"Well hey Uncle Randy." Stacey smiled and gave her uncle a hug. "Dad's still at work but he should be home soon."
"Come on Dad let's go look at the house!" Ashley exclaimed.
They opened the door and walked into this big beautiful home that now belonged to them.
"Oh I love the fireplace!" Ashley exclaimed with a huge grin on her face.
"And you'll use it a lot, believe me. The last two winters here have been horrible! God I miss the South and wearing flip flops and shorts on Christmas day!" She giggled.
They looked through the rest of the house and Ashley loved everything she saw.
"How do you like living here Stacey?"
"Its a lot different than back home. At first I hated it, but it's starting to grow on me."
There's some clubs here and a lot of cute guys hang out at them."
"Are you seeing anybody here?"
"I've dated a few guys, but nothing serious."
"I still can't believe you and Jake are over Ashley! I know he hurt you so much, but I really thought y'all were going to get married one day."
"He's the main reason I had to get out of there. He wouldn't quit calling and coming by my Mom's. Dad wants to kill him!"
"Did you ever talk to him?"
"God no, I can't talk to him. I'll never be able to forgive him. He hurt me more than I could have ever imagined. I don't think I will be able to trust anybody ever again."
"I'm so sorry Ash. Guys are dogs. But on the upside there are a lot of fine guys roaming around here. Take your next door neighbor for example. John Bongiovi, oh my lord he is so damn gorgeous! And his best friend Richie Sambora, he is tall, dark, and so handsome he makes my mouth water!" Stacey giggled.
"Sounds like you have it bad girl. Why haven't you dated either of them?"
"They both have girlfriends, but chase anything in a skirt."
"Oh damn sounds like drama and I dont need any of that right now!" Ashley giggled.
"Hey let's go out tonight. We can go to the Fast Lane. It's something like the Fiesta in Biloxi. You'll love it. I bet every guy there hits on you. Ash you have turned out so freaking gorgeous!"
"Thanks. Maybe another night, I'm pretty tired."
"Oh come on Ashley Michelle you need some fun in your life, and it's a good thing you are here now so I can help you with that!"
"Okay I guess I can go for a little while."
"Good I'll pick you up about seven thirty. And wear something sexy I want all these fine New Jersey guys to notice us."
"Oh my God you are so crazy! I have missed you so much."
"I've missed you too girly. Now where's your clothes? We've got to find you something to wear tonight."
"Dad have you got my bags out yet?"
"I'm working on it Ash. I'm getting the boxes right now the bags are in the backseat."
"Come on Stace, you can help me get them."
They went outside digging all in the backseat of the truck looking for Ashley's bags.
John and Richie were out on the front porch smoking cigarettes.
"Johnny looks like you've got new neighbors moving in." Richie pointed to the girls.
"I think that one is Stacey from across the street." John replied.
"Oh the cute blonde that drives the red jeep, I've had my eye on her for a while man." Richie smiled.
"Well now that you broke up with Erica I guess you can finally make a move on her then."
Ashley turned around and John got his first glimpse of her.
He started grinning. "Damn look at that. I think I'm in love man. She is a perfect ten if I've ever saw one Richie."
"Well be sure to let Dot know so she can kick your ass with some of her karate." Richie chuckled.
"Don't even mention her. She was bitching my ass out last night about the all the damn girls hanging around after the show. I can't control what those damn chicks do. She's so damn jealous I get sick of hearing the shit."
"Erica too, she was always accusing me of everybody. I mean I'm twenty years old, if I want to go to a club, drink a beer, and have a good time, I should be able to. I can't help it if chicks come up to me. That's why we broke up.
Stacey noticed the guys. "Oh my God there they are!"
"They're watching us." Ashley giggled.
"Hey man, they're looking over here. Come on." Richie announced and started walking over there.
"Well hello ladies. Richie smiled. You're Stacey right?"
"Yeah I am I live over there." She pointed to her house.
Ashley was standing there and her eyes met John's and they were just staring at each other.
He thought, "Damn she's way more beautiful up close. She has the prettiest ocean blue eyes I have ever seen."
Ashley felt a million butterflies fluttering in her belly. "This guy is so gorgeous, I love his hair, I just want to run my fingers through it." She thought.
She smiled. "Hey I'm Ashley."
John smiled back. "I'm John."
Everybody always called him Johnny but he was eighteen now and thought it sounded a little childish.
They were standing there just lost in each others gaze like nothing else existed but the two of them.
"Ash, Ashley." Stacey waved her hand in front of Ashley's face and it broke her trance with John.
"Yeah what?" She looked away from John.
"This is Richie."
"Nice to meet you Richie."
"He asked if you need help with the boxes."
"Oh I'm sorry Richie. Yes please that would help us so much." She smiled.
Randy came out to get more boxes and saw the guys.
"I live next door sir and we thought you might could use a hand unloading your truck." John smiled his brilliant smile.
"Oh, that would be great. I'm Randy." He shook their hands.
"I'm John and this is Richie."
They helped Randy move all the boxes and luggage and the girls just sat back and watched them.
Ashley kept catching John looking at her. And she couldn't help but to smile at him.
"God she's beautiful and she keeps smiling at me." John thought.
"What are you two doing tonight?" Richie asked.
"I'm taking Ash to the Fast Lane. Won't you be busy doing something with your girlfriend, Richie?"
"Nope I'm not with Erica anymore, we broke up last week."
"Sorry to hear that."
"Will you be playing there tonight?" "I've watched you play before, you're really good."
"Oh thanks." He grinned.
"I'm playing there tonight with my band, The Rest." John announced.
"What do you play John?" Ashley asked.
"I play guitar and sing and write my own songs."
"He's really good Ash. You'll like the music."
John looked at Ashley with a shy smile. "Once I know you better, maybe I'll write a song for you."
"Oh thanks I would love that." She smiled back at him.
Stacey always looking out for her favorite cousin and seeing where this is heading, asked John. "Is your girlfriend going to be at the club tonight, Johnny?"
"Damn why did she have to bring Dot up now?" He thought.
"I don't know, Dorothea might have to work."
Ashley remembering what Stacey had told her. "Oh shit, she did say he has a girlfriend. Damn." She thought.
"What about you two any boyfriends or husbands hiding somewhere. Richie chuckled."
"No, I'm not seeing anybody right now." Stacey replied.
"Nope, I am one hundred percent single." Ashley answered but was looking at John.
John glanced at her with a half smile and looked away.
"I've never wanted to be so single before in my whole life." John heard echoing in his head.
Walking toward the door Richie spoke. "Okay I guess we better be going."
"Thanks again we really appreciate your help." Ashley smiled at them.
"Okay if you need anything else let us know." John replied.
As they were walking away John turned to look at Ashley once more.
"Man Richie how can one girl be so damn perfect?"
"I don't know man, perfect and single. That's a great combo." He chuckled. "Let's go get ready."
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