Chapter 15: Hickeys From Hell

John woke up right where he passed out. On Richie's bedroom floor.

"Damn." He grabbed his head as the pounding inside got even louder. He got up and headed to the bathroom in search of Tylenol or something to relieve the pain.

Richie and Tico were in the kitchen downing coffee. They had already hit up the medicine cabinet.

"Damn you look like shit." Richie grinned looking at John.

"Damn I feel so much worse." John replied. Filling a cup with coffee. "I'm still buzzing a little and my head feels like it's exploding." He moaned as he plopped in a chair.

"At least you don't have a gig tonight. I've got to get it together. I'm playing with Message at the Fast Lane later." Richie massaged his temple hoping to relieve some pressure pounding his brain. 

"Sorry I got a little out of hand about Ashley, Johnny. I guess I was a little wasted and it just pissed me off that you acted like Ash was out of my league."

"I was a little loaded too, man. I'll admit I was  jealous you went out with her. I wanted to be with her so bad and it drove me crazy that she went to the wedding and out to the club with you."

"Good, I'm glad you two boneheads are clearing the air." Tico sat back holding his coffee. "So how the hell are you going to explain the shit all over you neck to her?" Tico grinned.

"Hell if I know. Maybe she'll believe the truth."

"Oh you'll get your balls bashed in with the truth, man." Richie laughed.

Tico grinned. Yeah ain't no self respecting chick believing hickeys like that came from innocent interaction. She'll kick you in the nuts for sure."

"Damn man what should I do?"

"Hide that shit, hold up." Richie went to his room digging in his drawer and came back holding a bandana. "Here let me tie this around your neck and pull your hair forward. Poof, hickeys from hell, instantly gone."

 "I don't know if it will work. If she finds it she'll be pissed." John pulled the bandana off and shoved it in his pocket.

"If you tell her she'll be really pissed." Richie laughed.

"But if I explain what really happened."

"She'll think your lying. Think if it was her, would you believe it?" Tico asked.

"Hell no, not with hickeys like this!" John blurted out.

"Then keep your trap shut. Hopefully they'll fade in a couple days. And maybe you can hide it later with some of your Mom's makeup. But not yet, that shit looks raw!" Tico laughed.

"I need to go home. I'm supposed to go see Ash later and  I've got to go look for that crazy bitch to get my damn jacket back somehow."

Good luck finding your jacket bro." Richie grinned finishing his coffee.

John went outside and cranked up the Harley and rode home.

His Mom met him at the door. "Who's motorcycle is that?"

"It's mine, I won it in a card game."

"A card game! You know I told you that I didn't want you having a motorcycle! You're going to kill your fool self on that damn thing! You just give it right back to who ever you got it from!"

"Ma you're crazy if you think I am giving back a Harley Davidson motorcycle that didn't cost me a dime!"

"You better watch that smart mouth of yours! Now the deal was you could have whatever kind of foolish motorcycle you want, when you move out and live on your own, but not under my roof!"

"Well I'm keeping it! So if I have to move out I will!"

He flung his head back and his hair moved off his neck and she saw the hickeys.

"Oh my lord, what happened to your neck?"

"It's a long story Ma."

"Did Dorothea do that to you? That is so trashy. You don't need to let girls do that to you son!"

"No Ma it wasn't Dot, we broke up."

"Finally, I have waited for this day for a while. Now please don't go back to her."

"Don't worry. Not this time. I caught her cheating on me with Bobby."

"You're kidding. Well I guess it's poetic justice. She cheated on him with you and now you with him. I warned you son, if."

He cut her off. "I know Ma, if she will cheat with you she'll cheat on you. I know you've told me a thousand times."

"I'm sorry son, but you can do a lot better than Dorothea Hurley."

"Now did the girl next door do that to your neck?"

"Ashley? Heck no Ma! Some girl that you don't even know."

"Are you seeing that girl now?"

"No way! I can't stand her!"

"Well then how did she do that, to you? Wait, nevermind. I don't even want to know. Lord, teenagers, you're driving me crazy!" She went in the kitchen to refill the coffee pot and John followed her.

"Look Ma I'm sorry. You know I love you, but I'm a grown man now. I'll be careful on the motorcycle, I promise."

Even though she hated it she knew he was right. He was old enough for a motorcycle if he wanted one. "Make sure you always wear that helmet. I don't want anything to happen to you."

He put his arm around her and smiled. "I'll wear it Ma, I promise. Am I still your favorite?" He smiled and she smiled back at him.

"Only when your not on that damn thing." She grinned.

John went to take a shower. When he got out, he stood in the mirror thirty minutes looking at his neck. He was trying to wish it away. He had scrubbed it hard in the shower hoping it would help it disappear.

He got dressed and looked over at Ashley's from his window. I need to call her. He mumbled. He picked up his phone and began dialing.

"Hello."

"Hey baby it's me."

"Are you okay John? You sound horrible."

"Yeah, I just had too much to drink last night at Richie's, I've got a bad hangover. Can I come over?"

"Yeah you can."

"Okay, I'll be over in a minute. Bye baby."

"Bye John."

He hung up and tied and retied the bandana. He couldn't get it just right. He bolted downstairs. "Can you tie this for me Ma? I'm trying to cover this crap up."

"I don't blame you son." She grabbed the bandana and tied it perfectly to hide all of the unsightly bruises."

He walked to the door. "I'm going to go see Ashley."

"Okay dear."

John nervously knocked on Ashley's door.

She pulled it open.

"Hello beautiful."

"Hey John." She smiled.

"Come in."

They walked over to the couch. John was nervous and kept rubbing his hands down his jeans to dry his sweaty palms. He didn't want to get too close to her. He didn't trust the bandana would stay put. He sat at the opposite end of the couch, which Ashley thought was very odd.

"So I have some good news baby."

"What is it?" She asked hesitantly.

"But first, did you miss me? I've been thinking about you baby." He smiled.

"Yes I missed you. Now please tell me your news!"

"Remember I told you the next time you saw me, I'd be single."

"Yes, oh God John, tell me what happened!"

"I went looking for Dot to tell her it wasn't working out and her boss said she hasn't worked nights in a couple of months."

"But she's always working nights? What's going on?" She questioned.

"He said she had gotten off hours ago but her car was still there. I went outside to check it out. She pulled up all smiles with my ex bestfriend and her ex boyfriend Bobby."

"Oh damn John, I am so sorry. I know what that feels like. What happened after that?"

"I confronted her and she told me she's been back with him and she's been screwing him for a while. That he was her first love and shit. The first guy she ever had sex with and she still loved him. That everything we ever had was a mistake." He was trying to hide it, but the pain was coming through.

"I'm so sorry John. I can't believe she said that to you! What a bitch! Are you okay?" She asked showing her concern on her face.

"Yeah, I'm good. I went there to end it. I just didn't know she had beaten me to the punch." He said kind of sadly.

Oh John, come here." She pulled him into her arms and she hugged him in a tight embrace. He loved it, she was warm and smelled so good. He could stay like this all afternoon. She pulled back.

"Is that why you got so drunk?"

"I guess.  It was hard to take that she was lying to me, you know?" He pushed  his sunglasses up on his head and looked at her.

"Oh believe me I know. I won't ever forget the feeling of being betrayed like that. You look so tired. Are you sure you're okay?"

"I am, I passed out on Richie's floor and slept like shit. I've got a damn cramp in my neck."

"Well let me massage it for you. Come here, take your bandana off."

"Oh fuck, the hickeys!" He thought and jumped up. "I can't stay, my Mom wants me to help her with something!"

"Are you sure?" She asked kind of surprised.

"Yeah, I've got to get back. I'll call you later."

"Okay." She stood up and walked him to the door. She couldn't believe he was leaving so soon. He didn't slow up. He didn't try to kiss her or touch her at all. He couldn't leave fast enough.

"Bye Ashley."

"Bye."

She stood in the door and watched him walk away, wondering why he was acting so strange and why he left so quickly.

Stacey walked up. "What's his hurry?"

"I have no idea. He was in here acting so weird. I don't know what's going on with him."

"Dot must have him on a short leash."

"He told me they broke up. He caught her cheating with her ex."

"Wow I guess the tables turned on him. I bet he didn't like that!" Stacey laughed.

"I felt sorry for him. I think he's hurting. He was acting strange for sure. Maybe he's having second thoughts about the break up."

"Well forget about him. Let's go to the Fast Lane tonight. It's ladies night. I saw on the sign out front, Richie's band is playing there tonight."

"Really? I'd love to watch him play."

"Yeah and some other band but I doubt you've ever heard of them."

"Who?"

"Poison!" She laughed.

Ashley smiled. "Oh God well that settles it, I've got to go see C.C. he's my buddy."

"Damn, well your buddy is freaking fine."

Ashley giggled. "Yeah he kinda is."

"Be ready at seven."

"Okay, we can take my car." Ashley replied.

"Sure if you want to."

John was sitting in his room when Richie called.

"Hello."

"Hey man. I talked to Erica about your jacket she asked Lindsey about it. She said she didn't take it."

"Yeah, that bitch is lying."

"Well she said they are going to the Fast Lane tonight to watch our show if you want to confront her."

"Yeah I do. Thanks man."

"Did you go see Ashley yet."

"Yeah, I had to get the hell out of there she offered to massage my damn neck, to get the cramp out from sleeping on the floor last night. I couldn't let her find the hickeys. I bolted out of there. She probably thinks I'm fucking crazy. I just need to avoid her a couple of days I guess, to let them fade."

"Yeah probably. Okay well I'll see you up there tonight."

"Yeah I'll be there."

"Okay later."

"Later, man." John hung the phone and went downstairs looking for food.

Ashley had stayed around the house all day and John didn't call like he said he would.

"Oh well, I will just go out with Stacey tonight and have a good time." She thought while putting on her makeup and fixing her hair. She had on a dress she was a little nervous to wear. She knew Bret's new girl would probably be there and she wanted to make sure she  looked really good.

Stacey knocked on her door. "Wow! You are gonna turn some heads tonight in that get up!"

"What do you mean, is it too much?"

"No not nearly enough, but you've got the body to pull it off! So go for it."

They walked outside and got in Ashley's car.

As soon as they pulled up at the Fast Lane Ashley saw the sign out front listing the bands.

She thought back on how much she loved watching Poison play, especially Bret. She loved his voice, the way he would sing the songs right to her. Sometimes she missed it. Sometimes she missed being Bret's girl.

They walked inside and headed straight for the bar. Ashley had already been spotted.

She looked up and there Bret was, standing right beside her.

"Damn Ashley you are looking smoking hot tonight, you really shouldn't be wearing that dress baby. You might start a riot in here or something." He grinned.

"Thanks." She smiled.

"I was beginning to wonder if you were avoiding me on purpose." Bret chuckled as he lit a cigarette.

"I've been busy. I had a few things I had to do. I hear you have been busy yourself." She looked at him more like it was a question than a statement.

"I guess you mean Nikki?"

"Maybe, pretty blonde."

"Well now, when I hear pretty blonde, I am always reminded of somebody but it ain't Nikki."

He grinned. "Where's your boyfriend tonight?"

"You know good and well I don't have a boyfriend, Bret."

"Well I guess Johnny can't really be your boyfriend, now can he? Seeing that he's Dorothea's boyfriend. So what would you call him then? I like to call him an asshole, but that's just me." He chuckled.

"Honestly, the way John acted today, I don't know what to make of him. He told me he broke up with Dorothea. But he acted so strange like he couldn't get away from me fast enough. So I'm not sure what I would call him. I guess a friend."

"Is that what you call me now? A friend?You know I wanted to be so much more than that, Ash."

"Who is Nikki, Bret? Is she your new girlfriend?"

"Maybe, what's it to you? I thought you aren't interested in me anymore? Can't get in a relationship right now and all that shit?"

"I am just curious. Can't a girl ask a question?"

"A girl can when she hasn't stomped all over my damn heart."

"I didn't do that to you. But even if you think so, it sure hasn't slowed you down any. You aren't ever hurting for companions."

"Let me get you a drink. Mike, this is Ashley and her money isn't any good here.  Her drink of choice is champagne so keep it flowing."

"Bret you didn't have to do that."

"I know, but I wanted to. Now I'm going back to my office, I want to give you something. Come with me."

"Okay she got up. She looked at Stacey. "I'll be right back."

She followed Bret to his office and he dug in his drawer and pulled out a little red card.

"Here you go. This is a V.I.P. Red unlimited Pass. Hold on to this and use it for anything in the club. You won't ever have to pay for another thing when you're here."

"No Bret, I can't take that."

"Why not? I only get a few a year to hand out to pissed off customers. They usually have an expiration date on them, but this one is special. Just for you. It never expires. I haven't given out any this year, so take it. You know you love champagne and the good shit ain't cheap baby." He grinned.

"Well I don't know what to say. Thank you, I really appreciate it."

"No problem. The whole band will be here later tonight. We are going on stage about ten and I sure would like to see you up front, like the old days ." He smiled.

"If you want me to, I'll be up there." She smiled back.

Richie was setting up equipment when Jack Ponti from John's band, The Rest, jumped on stage.

"Richie, where the fuck has Johnny been? I can't get a hold of that asshole."

"He's got a lot of shit going on man, but he's supposed to come up here tonight."

"Well we have a gig here tomorrow and we all had a practice today and he blew it off."

"What's up with him?"

"He broke up with Dorothea for one thing."

"Well that's great news, she was only holding him back."

"Maybe but he caught her messing around so, he's a little bitter about it."

"Well damn. He just needs to get laid, that's the easiest way to get over it." He laughed.

Jack looked over and saw Bret with Ashley. "Damn that Bret is really rolling tonight. He has been with not one but two hot blondes since I got here a few mintues ago."

Richie didn't even look up. "I hadn't noticed, I've been busy setting this shit up."

"Here let me help you. Hand me that guitar. Where are the other guys anyway? Jack asked checking the guitar was working properly with the amp.

"Fuck if I know? They are always pissing me off, running late."

The other band members of Message finally showed up and helped to get things ready and Jack walked up to the bar to get a beer.

John arrived and walked up to the stage.

"Hey man, Jack was just up here looking for you." Richie informed him as he was tinkering with his amp.

"Damn, is he pissed?"

"A little, he said you blew off practice."

"Yeah you know I've got a lot of shit going on right now."

"I told him, but he's still pissed."

"Screw him, he's the least of my worries."

He looked around for Lindsey. Hoping she might be there and be dumb enough to be wearing his jacket tonight.

He glanced and saw Stacey at the bar. "Shit, I hope she don't see me and tell Ashley she saw me here. I never called her back, I didn't know what the hell to say. She's probably pissed at me. It's so damn hard avoiding her because of these damn hickeys on my neck." He thought to himself."

Lindsey came in the side door and she was wearing John's jacket. She couldn't resist, it looked freaking hot on her and she wanted everybody to see it. Hell she figured she deserved it, after he had treated her so shitty. She figured if he caught her she could break down in a little tear or two and he would let her keep it. She had no intention of ever giving it back. It smelled like John and his favorite Polo cologne and she was absolutely in love with it.

Bret reached inside the fridge in his office and poured Ashley a big glass of her favorite champagne. She was a little nervous to be alone with him. He looked so damn hot. Her mind was flashing back to nights with him back in Biloxi on the beach.
 

"Here you go baby, you look so beautiful tonight."

"Thanks Bret." She nervously drank as the bubbles tickled her nose and felt like they went straight to her brain.

"I've missed you so much. Everything about you and your body is burnt into my brain." He grinned, refilling her glass as she slipped her shoes off and leaned back on the sofa in his office.

She drank some more as she took in every curve of his tanned muscular arms. "Oh Lord, this guy knows just how fine he is. With and without his clothes on." She smiled to herself, remembering some great times they shared and how much she still cared for him."

Mike knocked on the door. "Bret, Nikki is up front looking for you."

"Okay thanks." He looked at Ashley. "Come on I'll introduce you."

Ashley quickley downed the champagne and grabbed the bottle to refill it. "Okay let's go."

They walked up to the bar. Stacey was there giggling with Dalton, who had showed up.

Nikki was standing up front by herself.

Bret kissed her cheek. Which shocked Ashley that he would do that right infront of her. "Hey baby here's somebody, I want you to meet. Nikki this is Ashley."

"Hello, nice to meet you." Nikki politely greeted her and looked her up and down and wondered just how close she was with Bret."

"Hey, thanks you too." Ashley lightly smiled checking Nikki out. "Stacey was right, she is pretty." She thought to herself.

"So what are you up to? Did you come to watch me sing tonight? Bret grinned looking at Nikki.

"Yeah I'm excited. I hope you are as good as you say you are."

"Oh I'm much better, baby." He grinned and looked over at Ashley, hoping she was jealous and the red flush around her face as she was looking back at him said that she was."

She pulled out that new card and ordered another glass of her favorite beverage.

Bret put his arm around Nikki and Ashley watched as he whispered in her ear and she giggled like a silly school girl. He ignored Ashley on purpose.

This was the most attention she had given him in a while and if her jealousy brought it out, then jealous he was going to make sure she was.

"I've had enough of this shit."  Ashley thought to her self as she stood and felt all the glasses of champagne hit her at once and her feet buckled just a little.

"Where are you going Ashley?" Bret asked with his arm still around Nikki.

"I thought I would give you two a little privacy. Three's a crowd, you know."

Lindsey was standing next to Ashley with her fake i.d. trying to order a daiquiri.

When she heard Bret say Ashley's name.

She turned toward her and tapped her on the arm. "You must be Johnny's friend Ashley?"

She turned beside her and saw this young blonde girl and the first thing she noticed, it looked like she was wearing John's favorite black leather jacket.

"Yeah, I am." Ashley answered surprised the girl had asked.

"Hi, I'm Lindsey. I feel like I know you, Johnny talked so much about you last night."

"You were with John last night?"

"Yeah at Richie's party, his parents were out of town. He said you were his neighbor and you had went out with Richie."

Ashley thought to herself. "Is that all he said about me?"

"Is that John's jacket you're wearing?" Ashley looked at her with a hint of disapproval showing on her face.

"Yeah he gave it to me this morning, when we woke up. We had such a wild night in Richie's guestroom, I couldn't find my top and I needed something to wear. She locked her green eyes with Ashley's blue eyes.

 Bret dropped his arm off of Nikki and tuned in to their conversation because this interaction between these two girls was about to get really good.

"You slept with John last night?" Ashley sort of yelled, with jealousy flaming in her eyes and a dagger ripping through her heart.

"Yeah, I did. She smiled as she watched a mix of hurt and rage build on Ashley's face."

"Damn. Bongiovi just fucked up his chance with her. Ashley ain't going to sit on the back burner while he screws around with this other chick." Bret thought to himself.

"We go way back. He told me he broke up with Dorothea and needed a little comforting. I felt a little sorry for him. But now I feel sorry for me, I could barely walk this morning!" She laughed. "I think I got a little rough with him too, I think he has a neck full of hickeys today."

Ashley saw red as she flashed back to that damn bandana around his neck earlier and the way he bolted out of her house when she told him to take it off.

"That was the reason he was acting so damn strange today. He slept with this girl and didn't want me to see his neck, because he knew I would know. Damn, what a  big ass fool I have been!" She thought as a tear entered her eye and she wiped at it with her finger before anyone could notice.

Nikki noticed Bret's fascination with Ashley and this conversation. She blew her breath at him ignoring her and stood up and walked off. She wondered how damn long it would take him to even notice she was gone.

Lindsey picked up her drink and looked at Ashley. "See you around."  She got up and walked off. Satisfied that she had put some real doubt in Ashley's mind about John.
"Hopefully she will move on and leave Johnny for me." She thought as she walked over to the pool table.

Ashley just sat there stunned. She really thought John cared about her. How did she fall for his lies? She realized now, he really was just a liar and a cheater. He just wasn't the type to be faithful after all. "Damn, I am such a fool."

"Are you okay?" Bret asked laying his hand on top of hers.

"How could I have been so stupid? Everybody warned me and I didn't listen. You must think I am a real dumbass." She looked at him with her eyes full of tears.

He handed her a napkin off of the bar. "Wipe those beautiful eyes baby. Bongiovi ain't worth your tears."

"Thanks." She accepted it and dabbed at the corner of her eyes.

Bret noticed that Nikki had walked away and truth was he really didn't give a shit.

"Do you want to go back to my office. It's quieter back there. You can hear yourself think and I've got plenty of champagne in the fridge." He smiled.

"Okay, thanks Bret."

They stood up and Bret put his arm around Ashley to steady her a little as they started walking to the back of the club.

John was looking around to see if Lindsey was there with his jacket when he caught a glimpse of Ashley in the hottest dress he had ever seen her wear. Bret had his arm around her and they were heading to the back. 

"What the fuck!" He shouted and it caught Richie's attention. He looked up and saw Bret with Ashley . "Did you know she was  here?" Richie asked.

"No, she didn't tell me shit! What the fuck is she doing here with him?" John yelled watching them walk away together.