He had just been smiling at her, and talking to her, just a minute ago. Speaking right to her soul. Had John been a player all along? Had she been too damn stupid to see him for what he really was? These thoughts ran through her mind as tears began to fall down her face. Even though he didn't remember what they had together. She did, and watching him kiss another girl right in front of her, hurt like a dagger right through her heart.
She grabbed her purse and turned to leave. More confused than ever. Every man in her life had let her down in one way or another. But thinking that John had maybe been playing her the whole time, hurt her worse than anything. She felt like she was spiraling out of control.
She pushed through the big door and as soon as Stacey got a look at her face, she knew something was wrong.
"What happened Ash?"
"I shouldn't have come here!"
"Why? What did he say?"
"He's back there right now making out with his nurse!"
"Are you serious?"
"Yes! Let's go! Please take me home!"
"Okay. "
They pulled up at her house and Stacey used her key to open the door. They carried in the three bags of Ashley's clothes and threw them down in the living room.
"I've got to find my car keys! My Dad hid them in here somewhere!"
"Don't waste your time! I know where they are." Stacey replied.
"Where?"
"He gave them to my Dad and he put them in his safe."
"Do you know where the key to the safe is?"
"I think so, come on!"
They ran across the road and went in. Stacey ran over to the refrigerator and grabbed a little silver tin box, off of the top of it. She opened it up and it had a pile of keys in it. She found one for the safe and went to her Dad's closet. She opened the safe and grabbed her car keys out. Ashley kissed her on the side of her face. "Thank you so much!"
"You're welcome, I'm glad I found this stash of keys when I was cleaning."
"Do you want to go do something tonight?"
"Like what?" Ashley asked.
"Let's go to the Fast Lane. There's a new band playing there tonight."
"I don't think so. I just want to be alone."
"Come on let's go get a drink. You'll feel better."
"Maybe. I'll let you know later. I've got to go do something , but I'll be back."
"Do you want me to go with you?"
"No I'll be okay."
Ashley left Stacey's and got in her Trans Am and cranked it up. Their secret place called out to her. She pulled up to the secluded spot on the beach. Their spot. The place where John first kissed her. She got out and walked over to the very spot and sat down right in the sand.
She thought back on that night. How sweet he was. How he put her at ease. Could it have all been lies? If he repeatedly cheated on Dorothea, why not her? Had he been cheating the whole time and she didn't even know it?
All the memories she had with him came crashing in. She loved him and missed him so much. She wondered how he was doing?And if he had gotten out of the hospital yet? The questions were bogging her mind down.
As much as she hated to admit it. There were no answers to be had here. But she did know where she might could get some. She got back in her car and drove over to Richie's.
"Hello Ashley." Mrs. Sambora answered the door. "Are you looking for Richie?"
"Yes mam."
"He's out in the garage messing with some of his guitars."
"Thank you." She walked over to the door that led to the garage and walked in.
"Hey Richie."
"Ash did something happen? Did he remember something?"
"Something happened alright. Bret told me, it might be a good idea to go see him by myself. That it might jog his memory back. He was smiling at me and flirting with me. I left my purse and turned around to get it and he was already making out with a nurse."
"Damn Ashley, I'm sorry." He looked at her. With his big brown eyes full of sympathy for her.
"You know sometimes I wonder just how much shit he's going to put you through. I know he doesn't remember, but damn!"
"That's what I want to talk to you about. And Richie please be honest with me."
"Okay, shoot."
"Well he thinks he's with Dorothea and he's back to shamelessly cheating on her. And it just makes me wonder what he was doing behind my back?"
"And you want me to rat him out if I know something?"
"Yes I do." She answered without hesitation.
"Look it was just some weird kind of thing that went on with him and Dot. He cheated and she turned a blind eye to it. As long as it wasn't right in front of her. But sometimes it almost was."
"Huh, what do you mean?" She was very curious.
"Sometimes he cheated on her at the Fast Lane while she was in the building. You know that back dressing room with the couch. Nobody really uses it anymore and he would take girls back there after a show when she was up front with her friends."
"See it just seems more and more like I don't even know him."
"Look Ash, I can promise you, I don't know of him cheating on you. Maybe when he got the hickeys from Lindsay at my party, but he thought she was you. So I don't think that even counts."
"Richie it just hurts so bad. I miss him. She started to cry. And even if he's cheating on her. She still has him and I don't have anything."
"I'm so sorry Ashley." He wrapped his big arms around her and she let it all out. Sobs flowed as her body shook from crying. He felt so sorry for her and all this pain John was putting her through whether he could remember her or not. He didn't understand how he could have forgotten the best thing he had ever had.
He thought back to the day they had met her and how fast John had laid claim to Ashley. He was with Dot then. Richie had regrets. He should have spoken up. He had just broken up with Erica and he was free to date. He should have been the one that got with Ashley, not John. He had a girlfriend. As he looked at her and thought, just how beautiful she really was. How she deserved better than the shit she was getting with John.
I mean really. He took her virginity in a house full of his friends and the whole damn thing was video taped. Ashley deserved better. And if he was with her, she would be treated so much better. He hated feeling this way. He didn't want to be jealous of John. But he had the one thing he would do anything for and she was right here, right now, in his arms. And how many chances was he really going to get like this?
"Ashley."
"Yeah."
"I need to tell you something."
"Okay."
"When we first met you. I really liked you. I thought you were the prettiest girl, I had ever seen. I wanted to tell you, but John was just so damn pushy and I just kind of didn't say anything. I thought when the two of you got together I could just sit back be happy for my best friend. That he had found the woman of his dreams. But as it turns out, he found the woman of mine. Ashley, I think I love you."
They were sitting face to face and he just went for it and leaned in slowly and started kissing her. She was hurt and vulnerable and sort of wanting to get back at John. She kissed him back. Richie was in heaven when she put her tongue in his mouth and started kissing him back. He put everything he had into that kiss. He had always wondered what it would be like to kiss her. He had dreamed about it so many damn times and here she was right now in his arms. And oh my God what a kisser she was.
He pulled back, a little to look at her.
"Richie I don't know what to say."
"Please say you feel the same way about me."
"You know my life would be so much easier if I could. But I love John. And I'm sorry Richie but, I just don't feel that way about you."
"Damn it!" He thought. All of his hopes were shattered." Johnny probably had sex with at least two other girls today and she still wants him! Fuck! That lucky fucking bastard." He couldn't help but think.
"I'm sorry Ash, I hope you don't hate me now."
"Of course not Richie. You are one of my best friends. I couldn't ever hate you."
"God I can't even look at you the same. That kiss, just really blew my mind." Richie ran his hands through his hair.
She smiled. "You are a great kisser too Richie and I'll tell you something. If I wasn't already in love with John. I'm sure I would be head over heels for you." She smiled and it only made Richie's heart ache more.
"Fuck! Not only does she love Johnny. He is the only damn thing standing in the way of her loving me! Fuck!" He thought to himself.
"He went to the fridge in the garage and grabbed a beer. "Do you want one?"
"No thanks. I guess I need to go."
"Stacey wants to take me to the Fast Lane tonight. I guess I need to get ready.
"Okay. I'm meeting David up there later, so I guess I'll see you up there."
"Okay bye Richie."
"Bye baby." She heard it and paused for a second. He had never called her baby before. She went out to her car and drove home.
John's parents sat in his hospital room getting the latest update on him from the doctor.
"There's not much change and no sign that he will ever get his memory back. But its such an insignificant amount of time. Four months over the course of a whole lifetime, probably won't matter that much. His gross motor skills seem unaffected. He keeps getting headaches, which are normal. Any forced memories could make this worse.
Remember it's better if he remembers on his own. Headaches and possibly seisures, can happen if his brain has trouble processing something. He has mild damage and tearing to his throat and voice box, that will have to heal on it's own. I've given him some steroid shots that will help with swelling. Absolutely no singing for a while, he has to give it time to heal. I am going to release him, but he needs lots of rest. No matter if he likes it or not."
Dorothea came up as he was being discharged. "Hey baby, get me the hell out of here!"
"John you need to come home with us!" His mother yelled. "The doctor said you have to rest!"
"I'll be fine!" He grabbed his bottle of headache medicine and hurried out of the hospital with Dot. They made it to her car. I wish we had a place to go." He smiled.
"We do."
"What do you mean?"
"You have an apartment at Bradley Beach."
"What? How?"
"You started working for Harold at Galaxy and you moved out.
"You begged me to move in with you, but I haven't done it yet."
"Why not, I thought you loved me?" He smiled at her.
"I do but we can't just live together! My Dad would freak! I told you, we need to be at least engaged or he would never go for it!"
"Wait we talked about getting engaged?"
"Of course, a short engagement would be the best. It's time, we have been together off and on for a while now. I love you John. I want to marry you and have a bunch of babies with you. You told me you want all that too!"
"I just can't remember! But I don't think I'm ready for that! I'm so young and I don't know what kind of husband or father I would be."
"A great one! You seemed ready when we talked about it last weekend. Now let's go to your apartment. I don't know where your keys are. Just go in the office and tell them you need another key."
She pulled up out front. John went inside and there was a young girl sitting at the desk. I have misplaced my key and I need to get a new one."
"Okay sure, Bongiovi 212 right?"
"Yeah I think so."
"Here you go. Have a nice day." She placed the keys in his hand.
"Thanks." John walked outside and looked at the apartments. He assumed it was upstairs since it was 212. Dot parked and got out. They walked up the stairs and he shook his keys. "Almost home." He smiled.
He found his apartment and unlocked it and walked inside. He looked around and recognized his stuff everywhere. This must be it. He sat down on the couch next to her. "I wish I could remember. I feel like there is so much I'm forgetting." He smiled. "At least I still have you Dot. Thanks for being here for me."
"I love you Johnny. My favorite place to be is with you." She smiled.
He looked around trying his best to remember anything he could.
"Still nothing?" She asked. Hoping like hell he wasn't going to remember anything at all. Especially that bitch Ashley.
"No damn and the headache is back."
She grabbed a bottle of medicine, he had sat down on the counter, and handed him a couple of pills. He took them and laid back on the couch.
Ashley went home and got dressed and touched up her makeup. Thoughts of what happened at Richie's, bouncing around in her head. The kiss was awesome. Richie was a great guy. But he would never be John. Oh how she longed for John. His touch, his caress, and his long wonderful kisses. Would he ever come back to her? She wondered.
The thought of her losing him forever made her terribly upset. She was tired of thinking, for one day. She just wanted to get lost in a bottle of anything and retreat to her memories of her and John.
She pulled her car up at Stacey's and blew the horn. She ran out and they were on their way. She kept everything that happened at Richie's to herself. She wasn't sure what she thought about it, so she wasn't ready to get opinions on it either.
They went inside the club and she pulled out her little red card and ordered two tequila shots. She hated tequila put she loved how fast it messed with her brain. She downed one and then the other. "Oh it's disgusting! Can I get some champagne please." She hadn't eaten anything today, so she was instantly getting smashed.
Bret walked up smiling. "Maybe giving you that card wasn't a good idea!" He smiled sipping on a beer.
She threw it at him. "Well take it and shove it up your ass!"
"Such a filthy mouth on such a pretty girl!" He laughed and handed her back the card. "Here keep it. I was just kidding. Who are you here with?"
"Stacey why?"
"Just wondering. He put his arm around her. "You are trying to get a special kind of sick mixing tequila with champagne."
"I don't care! Whatever gets me loaded faster. Being sober hasn't done me any favors!"
"Give me your keys."
"Nope." She violently shook her head no.
"Ashley you can drink all you want! You just can't drive home!" He let her go.
"Fine! Here, but I want them back!" She shook her finger in his face. Stacey can drive me.
"Good, thank you!" He snatched them from her and put them in his pocket. "I'll give them to her."
"You want another beer Bret?" The bartender asked.
"No I'm good for now thanks." He sat back watching her. She took the clip out of her hair and shook her hair to let it fall on her shoulders. He knew by way she was drinking, she came her for the soul purpose to get hammered. Sometimes she was her own worst enemy. He was going to do his best to look out for her. Even though she would fight him like hell if she realized it.
Richie walked in with David. "I need two beers please. Richie told the bartender.
"Richie, my new best friend!" She smiled at him.
"Ashley, looks like your party has started early!" David laughed
"I have a lot to be miserable about, okay! So leave me alone David!"
She looked back at Richie. "Talk to me Richie! Make me feel better!"
"What do you want me to say?"
"Just tell me everything's going to be okay! Or some shit like that!" She giggled.
"Okay Ash, everything is going to be okay. How many of those have you had?"
"A few." She smiled. I'm trying to forget the pain!"
"Don't you work tomorrow?"
"Yes or no maybe." She giggled.
"Stay here I'll be back." He walked over to Bret. "Does Ash have to work tomorrow?"
"I told her to take it off. But she said she wanted to come in before she started getting shitfaced!"
"Okay thanks man. I'll keep an eye on her."
"Richie, she aint ready to be somebody's one nighter!" Bret looked at him seriously.
"What kind of asshole do you take me for? I'm just looking out for her, that's all!"
"Keep it that way!" Bret replied but it was more like a warning.
"Dance with me Richie!" She ran up to him.
"Right now?"
"Yes right here, right now!" She started dancing by herself, and she was starting to attract a lot of attention.
"I'll dance with you baby!" Some drunk guy approached her.
"No thanks." She replied.
He grabbed her and she screamed and started hitting him. Richie and Bret grabbed the guy off of her. Bret called a bouncer over and had him thrown out.
Stacey walked up. She had been at a table with Dalton.
"She's already smashed." Bret informed her. "I took her keys, please don't let her get them back!" He pulled them out of his pocket and handed them to her.
"Okay I won't. She's hurting, she's going to make herself sick. She hasn't eaten anything all day."
"I hate to see her like this. I still love her. Hell I would still do anything for her."
He stood there watching her. "I just don't get her being so damn crazy for Bongiovi, though!"
"I know! I warned her when she first got here about how he was. I told her about all the cheating he did on Dorothea and she still waltzed right out and fell for him any damn way! She almost lost it at the hospital today."
"What happened?"
"She caught him kissing a nurse in his hospital bed. He's back with Dot and didn't skip a beat going back to his old ways!"
"Damn! How much pain is she going to put up with from this prick?"
"I don't know, I hate to say it, but if he never remembers her. It might be the best thing for her."
"Yeah I think so too." Bret agreed.
"Look at Richie." Stacey nodded over toward him.
"Yeah so what is it?" Bret looked and didn't see anything.
"The way he is looking at Ash, like he loves her or something."
"I already warned his ass, she ain't going to be one of his damn one night stands!" Bret snapped watching him looking at Ashley.
"Aww you did that! That's so sweet Bret Michaels. You know if he doesn't remember her soon. She's going to need somebody. And that somebody might as well be you. I know she still loves you Bret. But don't you have that pretty stripper girlfriend now."
"I do, but I'd drop her in a heartbeat, for just a chance with Ash."
"Well you just might get that chance." Stacey grinned.
John's headache was just about gone. He stood up and noticed the rose petal trail leading to the bedroom.
He grabbed Dot's hand and walked in there with her. "Oh wow Dot you did an awesome job on this! Champagne and everything. We must of had a great time in here. I wish I could remember it."
"Well let's make a new memory." She started kissing him. They laid back on the bed, he was so turned on. They made love for a few hours until they were too exhausted to do it anymore. He knew he had feelings for her, but something didn't feel right, he wasn't sure what it was. Just a feeling he couldn't shake. Something was missing.
John drifted off to sleep. He was exhausted. As Dorothea sat there planning a wedding in her mind. She got up and went into the kitchen to get some water. She opened her purse and tossed her birth control pills in the trash. "I don't need these anymore." She thought. She rubbed her hands across her belly and wished she was already pregnant with John's baby. "I don't think it will take Johnny long to get me pregnant now. Not the way we have sex like rabbits." She mumbled to herself and giggled. "Then he will have to marry me." She smiled as she thought, "Dorothea Bongiovi, it has a nice ring to it."
She continued to smile and went and climbed back in the bed and snuggled up to John. Hoping her missed birth control pill and the couple of hours they had spent making love was going to result in a baby Bongiovi and hopefully wedding bells.
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