Chapter: 70 Party Like A Rockstar

John grabbed the pass out of her hand and looked it over. Angry that Van Halen had the nerve to send it out to her, and jealous as hell that she wanted to use it. He looked back at Ashley and handed it back to her. "So what are you going to do? Are you going back there with him are you leaving with me?"

"John I just want to meet him and maybe get his autograph!"

"Come on John! She will be fine, she will be with me!" Lacey looked over at him.

"No offense Lacey but you already showed them your damn tits and said you wanted to bang David Lee Roth! So no I don't get much comfort out of her being back there with you!"

"Ashley sighed. Okay just stop, I won't go."

Ashley looked down at the pass and shoved it in her back pocket.

Stacey grabbed a hold of John's arm. "You bring your ass over here, Johnny Bongiovi!" She pulled him over to the aisle.

"Look Stacey just save your breath! She ain't going back there without me!"

"You listen to me Johnny! That girl has stood by you through a lot of shit and she hasn't done one thing to make you not trust her! Now I have seen her happier tonight than she has been in a while and a dream of hers has been to meet Eddie Van Halen! So pull your head out of your ass and realize just because other girls cheated on you doesn't mean Ashley would!"

"Look you girls don't realize what goes on backstage! They are not asking girls back there to be your damn friend and hang out! They only have one thing on their minds and believe me it ain't talking!"

"Oh really? You know so much about it, do you? Mr. Wannabe Rockstar!"

"Sure I've seen it before. Young naive girls eager to please and the next thing you know their panties are hitting the floor."

"You've seen it or done it yourself? Because it sure seems to me like you're talking from experience!"

"Maybe but those guys that just left the stage are way worse than me! I'm just trying to look out for her! She's been drinking and I love her damn it!" John yelled, getting tired of defending the way he felt.

"She's fine John. Lacey is going to be with her. Think of her and not always your damn self! She would let you go back there and you damn well know it!"

"Maybe but a lot of shit goes on backstage. I'm just looking out for her."

"You are bossing her around, trying to control her just like Jake! She loves you dumbass and Ashley doesn't sleep around. Rock god or not, she is totally devoted to you. Now she deserves this chance to meet her idol. So are you going to man up and let her go back there or are you going to continue to pitch this little fit like a spoiled brat?"

"Why is your babbling starting to make sense to me?" John looked at her processing what she had said.

"Because you know I'm right." She smiled hoping he had changed his mind.

"Okay." He walked over to Ashley. "You can go back there, I trust you. But if he tries to fucking touch you I'll kill him!"

"Thanks John but I don't have to go."

"Yes you do. You really want to meet him and you deserve to. I'm sorry I shot off my big damn mouth."

Lacey walked over to her. "So are you going?"

"Yeah I guess I am." She looked back at John hoping it was really okay with him.

 They walked toward the big door next to the stage as John looked on wondering if he should let her go.

She looked back and smiled at him and disappeared through the door.

John sat back down in the chair.

"Come on man. Let's go wait outside." Richie bumped him on his shoulder.

"Not until they throw me out. I'm waiting right here for her."

Bret walked up to them. "Are you waiting for Ash?"

"Yeah of course." John replied looking over at the door Ashley had just walked through, a few minutes ago.

"Well I ain't waiting. Lacey can find her own damn way home." Bret huffed as he finished off the last of the beer he had bought. "This free pass stuff is just bullshit! I'm surprised you're so calm Johnny. Usually you are the most jealous motherfucker around." Bret laughed.

"Yeah I am. But it's Ash, she ain't going to do shit with any of those dudes. They'd have to work too hard for it!"

"Yeah she's great at putting guys off. She put me off for months and I heard she put Jake off for almost a year!"

"Yeah she told me." John grinned thinking about it.

"She told me a little about the Dorothea situation. She's worried about it. I don't think she blames you, since your memory was messed up. But I don't think she can handle you having a kid with another girl. But I'm sure Dot's just lying about it. Trying to get under your skin and piss Ash off."

John couldn't tell him Dot was really pregnant. He didn't want to face it himself. "Yeah that's probably what she's doing." He replied with a queasiness taking over in his stomach, just thinking about it.

Back stage Ashley and Lacey entered through the door and two big guys wanted to see their passes. "We have to pat you down they grinned to each other. Sorry but it's just part of the job." They patted the girls down. And seemed to be enjoying it a little too much.

"Hey watch it!" Ashley hollered as the guy's hand lingered just a little to long on her backside.

"Okay!" He laughed. "Just follow the arrows along the wall. The band went to shower and will meet up with you in the party room in a little bit."

"The girls started following the signs. "What was that?" Ashley asked walked down the hall turning back to give the guy that had just groped  her a dirty look.

"Hell I don't know. I've never been hand searched backstage before. Probably just a way for some ugly dudes to get their jollies!" Lacey laughed. "So are you going to do it with Eddie if he wants to?" She looked at Ashley with a sly grin.

"No that's not really my style. I've only been with one guy."

"Are you telling me Johnny Bongiovi popped your cherry?"

"Yeah he did. But it was very romantic and sweet. It's a wonderful memory, I will always cherish."

"Damn I lost mine in a car behind the bowling alley. Nothing romantic about it. We were really young and he fumbled around and it was over in about 30 seconds." She giggled.

"God that's horrible." Ashley replied shocked.

"Oh it was okay, my tampons fit a little better afterwards." She giggled. "We've hooked up a few times since then. He's gotten a little better at it." She laughed. "I thought for sure you and Bret did it the way he talks about you all the time."

"Nope. We came close, but I always stopped him. It just never seemed right. I'll always have feelings for him, but we are better off as friends."

"I like Bret a lot, but I don't think he was really okay with me coming back here. He seemed a little pissed off."

"Well if he is, he'll let you know." Ashley spoke from experience.

"I think this room is it." Stacey pointed to the sign. They walked in the room to find a bunch of blondes and a handful of brunettes and only a few guys.

"Hey ladies you two are smoking hot! Dang I bet you are dancers or something." Some guy walked up to them.

"I am, she's not." Lacey quickly corrected him.

"Oh my boss would really like you two. You two are Aerosmith fans aren't you?"

"I am." Lacey smiled.

"Yeah. Ashley replied looking around for Eddie.

"Well I can introduce you to Steven Tyler if you want. My name is Greg by the way."

"Steven Tyler is here?" Lacey asked getting excited.

"Yeah he'll show up in a little bit. So are you both down to party?" He grinned.

"That's what we're here for." Lacey smiled.

"So who do we have here?"

Ashley looked up and it was Eddie Van Halen talking.

"Oh my God you're Eddie Van Halen!" Ashley exclaimed trying to stay calm.

"That's what people tell me. And you are the pretty girl that was standing with the crazy dude that flipped me off. I thought that fucker was going to jump the stage and try to rip my head off!" He laughed and she nervously joined in with him.

"I'm sorry about that, he's my boyfriend and I guess you can tell he's a little bit jealous." She smiled noticing just how gorgeous he was in person. "I'm Ashley Covington."

"Well hello Ashley. I don't blame him. If you were my chick, I'd be jealous as hell if a guitar player was trying to impress you."

"You were trying to impress me?" She smiled looking into his gorgeous eyes.

"Well yeah, I scanned the audience and you were the prettiest girl I saw."

"Thanks but quit lying! You have tons of beautiful girls out there dying to get back here. I'm sure you sent out a bunch of passes."

"No I only sent out the one. He smiled. "Do you want me to sign your poster?"

"Oh God I forgot I was holding it." She laughed. "Yes please if you don't mind."

Eddie grabbed a pen off of the table and started signing her poster. He took it around and got the rest of the band to sign it and introduced her to all of them.

"Well here you go. Put this in a safe place it might be worth something someday." He laughed.

"Thank you so much. I am such a big fan of y'all but you haven't made it to Biloxi yet, so this is my first time to see y'all." She smiled looking at their signatures, in shock that she just got all the members of Van Halen to sign her poster.

"Oh you're from Mississippi?" Eddie asked.

"Yes I moved out here a few months ago."

"Yeah I wanted to add Biloxi and New Orleans to the tour but the final decision wasn't up to me. But if I had known what beautiful girls I was missing out on, I would have pushed a little harder." He grinned. "We've got plenty of booze. What's your poison?" He pointed over to a well stocked bar in the corner.

"Do you have champagne?" She asked looking up at him.

"No but whatever you want I can make it happen." He walked over to the bartender and talked to him for a minute.

"It's on it's way." He announced walking back over to her.

"You didn't have to do that."

"I've got to keep my southern belle happy." He smiled.

"Oh Lord." She laughed a little.

A guy walked in with two bottles of chilled champagne. "Thanks man." Eddie called out standing with Ashley.

They walked over to the bar and she got her champagne and he got a beer. Ashley started drinking it quickly. The champagne adding to the good buzz she already had going. "Let's sit down he pointed to an empty sofa. "We are having a little party at our hotel later if you and your friend want to join us."

"I would love to, but my boyfriend is waiting outside for me."

"You can't slip away just for a little bit. It will be a good time. I promise." He smiled at her gazing into her beautiful blue eyes.

"No, there's no way he would go for that. He's a musician himself and he warned me about how y'all operate." She grinned.

"Y'all huh? Say it again. I love to hear hot girls with a southern accent."

"No and don't make fun of me!" She looked directly at him and made an unhappy face.

"I'm definitely not. I really love the way you talk. I think it's hot."

"Sure you do." She laughed.

Greg walked over. "Where's Stevie? What's his hang up?"

"He was here during the gig not sure where he got off to." Eddie replied trying to get rid of this guy.

The door opened. Steven Tyler walked in.

"There you are Stevie where have you been?" Greg asked a little annoyed with him.

"Taking care of a little business. Chill the hell out!" He instructed grabbing a beer off the bar.

He walked over to Eddie. "Hi Ed. Well hello beautiful." He looked at Ashley. You're not taking up with this bum are you?"

"Steven Tyler! Oh my God I can't believe it's really you! My boyfriend is such a huge fan of yours!" She nervously replied.

"What about you?" He smiled.

"Oh yes definitely! I'm a big fan too!"

"Good I love to hear that from beautiful girls. Well we will soon be taking this little party back to the hotel. I hope you can join us."

"I'm sorry, I just told Eddie my boyfriend's waiting outside and I guess I really need to be getting back to him."

"Listen, don't go. What can I do to get you to stay?" Steven asked sipping his beer.

"Can my boyfriend come back here too?"

Steven looked at Eddie and they grinned at each other.

"We don't really like to tolerate boyfriends, they tend to be a little jealous and cause us some trouble." He laughed.

"Oh this dude flipped me off when I was on stage and winked at her!" Eddie laughed.

"Well it was nice to meet y'all but I've got to go." She started walking to the door.

"Hold up! I like you, maybe we can make an exception just for you."

"Really? John can come backstage? Give me a pass for him and I will go get him!"

"I can do better than that, come on!" He started walking to the door with her following him. He walked out into the hall and everybody treated him like royalty, stepping aside as they saw him coming down the corridor. They made their way to the stage door and when it opened she saw John, Bret, and Richie gathered around talking.

"That's him there." She pointed so Steven could see where he was. He walked over to them. Hi guys. He smiled knowing they were just about to lose their shit.

"Steven Tyler! John exclaimed. You're really here. I heard you were going to be!"

"Yeah I was in the city and heard the guys had a gig here tonight."

"Wow I can't believe I'm meeting you!"

"Hey man! Richie exclaimed nervously meeting one of his hereos, "I'm a big fan."

"Me too!" John exclaimed, still not believing he was standing here with Steven Tyler.

"Hi Steven I don't know if you remember me?"

"Bret right. You're in that band, ahh, sorry I can't remember."

"Poison." He spoke up quickly.

"Yeah right Poison."

"We opened up for you one night last minute at the Palace in L.A.

"Yeah I remember, it was a cool night. I watched most of your set it was good man!"

"Thanks, I appreciate it. You guys blew us away on stage though."

"Thanks. Sorry to hear your deal fell through. I was suprised as shit when your label folded. "

"Us to, we were on the road when we heard the news and we were dropped just like that. We had to find our own damn way home."

"Damn that's tough. This business can be shitty sometimes. Steven replied and looked at John. "We are going back to the Plaza for a little shindig and we asked Ashley to go, but she refused without bringing you along. So if you're down with it, we're heading out in some limos in a little while if all of you want to join us."

"Are you serious? Party with Steven Tyler and Van Halen at the Plaza Hotel? Hell yes I'm in!" John exclaimed smiling.

"Cool let's go backstage we've got an open bar back there." Steven grinned.

"Okay let's go."

They all followed Steven to the back. John was smiling at Ashley. "Thank you so much for this. I can't believe you weren't going unless I could go."

"Of course John. I couldn't have fun without you."

Everybody followed Steven through the big backstage door. Nobody questioned them without backstage passes. The people scurrying around the halls parted like the Red Sea as they all walked by with him.

They walked up in the the party room and Steven headed right for David Lee Roth.

"I got some people I want you to meet." Steven spoke while downing two shots from the bar. Introductions were made.

"We are big fans man. We're trying to break into the music scene ourselves."

"That's cool, everybody has to start somewhere." David replied and took a swig of his Jack daniels, directly from the bottle.

Then he walked over to a scantily clad Sayreville rocker chick that John had bedded down once after a show at the Fast Lane.

"Hi Johnny." She smiled checking him out.

"Cassie." John replied and quickly looked by over to David, wanting to give Mr. Roth his full attention and hoping Ashley wouldn't be full of questions as to who she was and how her knew her.

Cassie had always had a thing for Richie but  she ended up sleeping with John after a long night of tequila shots. She had hoped it would turn into more, but she soon found out he was with Dot and a really big jerk when he didn't even speak to her the next night he saw her at the club. She was a little bit on the trashy side and John just sort of chose to act like she didn't give him a night to remember in the backroom.

She did get a little bit of payback though, when she broke the news to Dot in the restroom the following weekend. What followed was John and Dot's 5th time breaking up and almost not getting back together. She was very surprised to see him hanging on to Ashley. She had seen her around the club with Bret and assumed they were an item."

Cassie walked over a couple of steps to the bar and looked at Ashley. "Hi I'm Cassie, I've seen you around the club with Bret. You guys make an awesome couple with your matching blonde hair I thought you were together."

"I'm Ashley. Nope Bret is just a friend, I'm with John."

"Really well don't get your hopes up with that one. He's so hung up on Dot Hurley. I learned my lesson quickly. He's hot, but he's a user and a lier." She snapped out dredging up old feelings of hurt, she had tried to bury.

Ashley had so many questions but she saw John walking over to break the two of them up.

"Hey baby,  come on I want to meet Eddie and the other guys." He gestured over to them and totally ignored Cassie.

"Excuse us Cassie." Ashley smiled, walking away with John.

Alex and Michael were huddled up in a circle of girls gushing over them as John approached and introduced himself. He was explaining he had been a fan for a while and really like the new album, as Eddie walked up smoking a cigarette and drinking a bottle of Budweiser.

"Well if it isn't one of my unhappy customers. You know it isn't very often somebody gives me the finger at my own damn show!" He laughed.

"Sorry about that, but you were flirting with my girl and I went a little crazy. I'm sure you know how it is."

"I guess I do." Eddie glanced at Ashley. "I'm sure I would had done the very same thing. He smiled at her.

Eddie and John talked for a while about music and guitars and how long his band had been trying to get a record deal themselves.

A guy came in and announced the limos were there.

"Are you guys coming back to the Plaza with us?" Eddie looked at John, who grinned ear to ear. "Hell yes, I"ve always wanted to go party there!" He replied quickly.

"Okay let me find that chick." Eddie replied looking around for the hot girl he had met backstage when he realized Ashley wasn't interested. "There she is!" He walked right over her and put his arm around her and John's jaw almost hit the floor when he recognized his ex on Eddie Van Halen's arm.

Chapter 69: Keeping Secrets

John and Ashley walked back to the apartment to get ready for the concert. He wanted to tell her several times what happened with Dot's Dad but he chickened out. "It's better she doesn't know she would just worry." He thought to himself.

He showered and got dressed. She took a bath and did her hair and makeup and put her clothes on. She helped John finish up his hair. John couldn't find his keys and they were looking around for them. She found them under his jacket. "Here they are!" She smiled and handed them to him.

"Thanks you're a lifesaver baby." He looked at her, so very happy she found them.

"Are you okay?" Ashley asked. "You seem like you have something on your mind."

"Nah I'm just a little tired. I'll be okay once we get there."

They locked up and walked out to his car.
They got in and drove to the Meadowlands in Rutherford New Jersey. John parked and they got out and walked toward the building. They ran into Tico and Alec along the way. They had planned to meet with their friends on the side of the building.

"Hey man. Damn this place is already getting packed!" I thought we were getting here too early, but I guess not." Tico laughed looking around.

"Yep it's going to be a great show for sure." John replied noticing all the hot girls showing up and how little some of them seem to be wearing. "Damn." He mumbled when a really hot blonde came by. Ashley turned aound to see what had prompted his comment.

"What are you looking at John?" She asked suspiciously.

He looked at her with a smirk. "Nothing. I didn't notice a damn thing." He grinned.

"And you sure better keep it that way!" She smiled at him.

Richie walked up. "Hey did this show sell out? It's going to be a huge crowd."

"I don't think so. They usually put it on the sign." John answered him.

Richie lit up a cigarette. "Let me bum one of those man." Alec held out his hand.

"Here give me back my lighter."

John snatched it. "That ain't yours, that's my damn Giant's lighter!  See I scratched Ash and my initials at the top, because all of you damn bums are always stealing my shit!"

John shoved it in his pocket and went and sat down over to the side.

Bret and Lacey walked up and stood with all of them.

"Hey Lacey! You look so pretty!" Ashley exclaimed checking out her high heels. "I love your shoes!" She smiled.

"Thanks but I love your boots more! Where did you get them?"

"I don't know John bought them for me. I love them so much!" Ashley smiled looking down at her feet.

They walked over to him sitting down. "Where did you get my boots?"

"That kind of information is going to cost you." He smiled looking up at her.

"Lacey wants to know."

"Oh the same place I bought mine, Kinney's shoe store in the mall."


"Well I love them." Lacey smiled looking at the boots.

"Well your heels are very hot girl!" Ashley grinned glancing  at them again.


"Well I had to doll myself up. I told Bret, David Lee Roth is my free pass." Lacey laughed.

"Your what?" Ashley questioned never hearing this before.

"He's my free pass. If I get back stage, I'm free to fuck David if he wants to."

"Oh my God! David Lee Roth! Ashley started laughing!"

"Hey you don't get any damn ideas!" John pointed at Ashley smiling.

She laughed. "Oh so I can't sleep with Eddie Van Halen? I've had a thing for him for a while now!" She smiled at him.

"No the only damn person getting lucky tonight with you, is me!" He grinned.

"Well who would you want your free pass to be with John." She asked, very curious to know who he would choose.

"Nobody, I don't want anybody else just you."

"Yeah right! No I mean a celebrity and you have to pick one!"

"I know who mine would be. Richie spoke up, walking up beside John with a couple of the guys.

"Who?" Ashley asked."

"Heather Locklear from Dynasty."

They all laughed. "Well you can hang that up because you ain't ever going get her!" John laughed.

"Well who would yours be?" Richie asked laughing.

"Well if I had to pick, somebody cool and in the rock scene. I guess I'd have to say, Lita Ford."

"Aww Johnny! Really? Lita Ford?" Lacey laughed. She's so sleazy! Ashley you are way hotter than her."

"Thanks."

"Yep that's how I like my women! Hot and a little bit on the sleazy side!" John laughed.

"You better not!" Ashley swatted at his head. He moved a little and she missed him.

Ashley didn't like his choice very much. "What would you pick her for? I've never thought she was that pretty." Ashley looked at him and wrinkled her forehead up a little.

"Well it's just for one night,  right?  She's hot, but mostly she's easy!" He laughed. "I don't want to have to put a lot of work into it!" He grinned.

"Oh God! Ashley groaned at him shaking her head.

A few of Lacey's friends walked up.

"Hey Johnny." Candy smiled glad she had worn her shortest skirt and  low cut top since she bumped into John.

Ashley saw her checking out John and she did not like this one bit.

"Hey Candy. John turned back to Ashley.
 "I sure hope they play, "Everybody Wants Some." I love that damn song."

"I'm sure they will. Is that David over there?" She pointed at him walking with a girl. "Whose the blonde, he's holding hands with?"

"Oh that's April, that's Lemma's main squeeze." John replied laughing. "They broke up for a little while and just got back together."

"So what have you been up to Johnny?" Candy asked lighting a cigarette.

"Not much, playing a few gigs here and there. Right now I'm trying to get my damn voice healed up."

"I hear it. It sounds rough."

"I tried to call you a few days ago, to ask you if you were coming tonight. Your Mom said you moved out."

"Yeah I did. I'm living in Bradley Beach now."

"My sister lives over there. I got a new phone number if you want it." She smiled looking at him and Ashley perked up to see if he was going to ask her for it.

"I have a girlfriend so I don't need it."

Ashley was a little offended he didn't tell her who his girlfriend was. "Me right here! I'm his girlfriend!" Ashley spoke up and pointed at herself.

"Okay sorry, I didn't know." Candy looked kind of disappointed.

The parking lot was filling up quickly. They walked toward the building and Sebastian appeared with a tall blonde girl out of the parking lot followed by Jack carrying a big backpack.

"What in the hell do you need that for?" John laughed looking a Jack's huge  backpack.

"It's everything I need! I've got some good shit in here."

"They'll probably do a bag search and you'll get your ass busted if you have weed in there! John laughed followed by Richie. "Just give all the weed to me! Richie grinned. "I will get rid of it for you."

They plopped down on the ground getting tired of standing.

Sebastian walked over to John and sat down in front of him. "Hope you're okay with me filling in for you. I wasn't trying to steal your gig or nothing."

"It's all good, I mean I helped write most of the songs so it's not like you really could take my place permanently." John looked still kind of miffed about it. Have you ever written any songs Bas?"

"No but that don't mean I couldn't!" He snapped back flipping him off.

John laughed. "Whatever man you better get to writing then!"


Sebastian got up and walked off with his date.

"What an asshole man! He's not trying to steal my gig! Like he fucking could!" John ranted.

"Don't worry about him John, just let it go." Ashley grabbed his face and gave him a quick kiss on the lips. Then she started looking around the parking lot.

"I wonder where Stacey is?" Ashley asked.

"Oh your hot little cousin? She's over there by her car talking to a guy." Jack pointed and Ashley glanced over and started waving. Stacey didn't see her, so John put two fingers in his mouth and started whistling, which caught her attention quickly.

"How do you do that? I have tried to learn  my whole damn life and I can't do it!" Ashley poked him in his ribs.

"It's all in the tongue action baby. If your good tonight, you might get a little tongue action later!" He laughed.

"You only have a one track mine!" She laughed. Don't forget operation Richie and Stacey." She whispered smiling at him.

"I was never a fan of that plan!" John replied as Stacey walked up.

"Hey. What plan?" Stacey asked.

"Oh nothing just some plans I have for Ash later." He chuckled and pinched Ashley on her ass.

"Oh Lord. Y'all can't keep your hands off of each other and I can't even get a date!" She faked a sad face.

"Oh you can get a date girl you are just too damn picky!" Ashley quickly spoke up.

"Well coming from you I take that as a compliment. You'd still be single if Johnny hadn't broken through all the damn walls you put up!" She laughed.

"She was tough, but I had to have her." He smiled at Ashley. "I knew the first time I saw her, she couldn't resist my charm though, it was only a matter of time."

"Oh how you lie boy!" Ashley grinned. "God I wish they would open the door! I've got to pee!"

"They've got the portable ones over there." John pointed at them.

"Oh God no! There disgusting! I'm not going in there!" Ashley scrunched up her face.

John laughed. "Well I hope you make it then! It might be a while! Don't piss on yourself!" He chuckled.

"Oh shut up! I can hold it!"

"Johnny! Hey Johnny!" Richie tried to get his attention.

"Yeah what?" He snapped turning to Richie.

"Dot's coming!" Richie exclaimed. All eyes turned toward Dorothea walking up to John with Erica.

"Hello John! My Daddy said he had a good talk with you this afternoon!" She smile with a big shit eating grin on her face, like she knew a whole lot of information that nobody else did.

"I'm not interested in anything he had to say! And I sure don't give a fuck about what spews out of your mouth!" John grinned standing with his arm around Ashley.

"Dot looked at Ashley. "Don't get too comfortable with him! You're only temporary!" She winked her eye at Ashley.

"Just shut up and go the fuck on!" John yelled getting pissed as Dorothea started laughing.

"Come on Dot." Erica tried to pull her away.

"Hold up! I'm not done."

John got really damn nervous. He hoped like hell she wasn't going to announce in front of everybody, especially Ashley that she was pregnant.

"I need to talk to you in private Johnny!" She had a very serious look on her face.

"Nope we don't have a damn thing to talk about and you need to move the hell on!" John studied her face trying to figure her out.

"Please John. It's very important." She pleaded with her eyes.

"Go talk to her John." Ashley took his arm off her shoulder and tried to push him a little toward her."

"No baby!" John braced himself. Standing in the same spot.

"Yeah go on, so she will leave us alone." Ashley glared over at Dorothea.

John looked over a Dot. "Only for a minute and then you have to leave us the fuck alone!"

John hesitantly walked with Dot over to the side of the building. He looked back at Ashley and gave her a polite smile.

"What the fuck do you want?" He asked with his face turning a little red because he was starting to get angry.

"I just wanted to congratulate you. I went to the doctor yesterday morning and based on when I had my last period you are going to be a proud new Daddy in June!"

John was so stunned he just about fell over. All the color drained out of his face and he felt light headed.

"They can pinpoint when you got pregnant."

"Sure the doctor said the pills I was on sort of made me really fertile and when I went off of them I just about instantly got pregnant!"

"How the hell am I supposed to really know this is my kid? Just take your damn word for it? You've been off screwing Bobby for months and I damn well know you banged Jake too!"

"John I swear you were the only guy I slept with with no condom. I always wanted us to have a baby together. I feel like it will link us together for life.  I think they can do a blood test or something to prove it. We need to do that as soon as we can. I don't want you to doubt this is your child. A wonderful reminder of  how great it was when we made love together. It was the best sex we ever had and we made a baby together." She went to touch him.

"Don't fucking touch me! I was out of my mind when I woke up in the hospital or I would have never got back with you! But ever time we had sex in my mind I thought I was with Ashley! She is the only girl I love and the only one I want!"

She smiled. "And yet I am the one carrying your child, not that bitch! So do you want to tell your little blonde tramp or do you want me to give her the great news!" Dorothea smiled ear to ear loving she had the upper hand over him.


"Dot I'm begging you, please don't do this here not like this. I have already hurt Ashley so much. I just can't let her find out like this."

"Okay I guess I can wait a little while. But we can't keep this secret forever. I feel like I'm already gaining weight." She put her hand on her belly. You know you have to breakup with her sooner or later, if we are going to raise this baby together. When are you going to tell your folks?"

John was shocked and his face showed it. "What the fuck! I'm not breaking up with her! And I ain't telling my parents shit! You may be pregnant and it may be mine, but get this straight under no fucking circumstances are we getting back together, now or ever!" He yelled waving his hands around.

She laughed. "Well I just can't wait for you to explain to Grandma Carol how you knocked me up and refuse to step up and take care of the little Bongiovi that's growing in my belly."

John was so pissed. He pointed at her. "Dorothea, I am not kidding! You stay the fuck away from my Mother and I mean it! I fucking know you tried to call her!"

"I just thought she would want to help me plan a baby shower. I am going to need a lot of stuff for our baby. I just know it's going to be a pretty blue eyed little boy. I already have a name picked out, John Francis Bongiovi III and we are going to call him Johnny Jr." She smiled and her eyes sparkled as she was planning her future with John in her mind. Then she looked over at Ashley with all her happiness showing on her face. Knowing the little secret she was keeping for now.

Ashley wondered what the hell she was up to and looked at John and could tell how uncomfortable he was standing there with her.

John felt his blood running cold not wanting anything to do with Dot or a baby, he wasn't ready for. "What the fuck did I get myself into?" He wondered as he noticed Dot's belly seemed to look a little bigger already. "Fuck!" He heard in his head as he wanted to wake up from this fucking nightmare.

"I've got to go." He walked away pissed off at the world.

"What did she want?" Ashley asked looking over at Dot still smiling at her.

"Same old shit. Just forget about her. I am here with you and I love you."

She smiled. "I love you too."

"I think I'm going to try the portable thingy, I really have to pee." She looked at Stacey. "Come on and you're going inside there with me!"

"Okay she laughed." They walked over to the line at the portable toilets.

John was visibly shaken and Richie came over to him. "What happened?" They walked over to the side out of earshot of everybody else.

"That fucking bitch went to the doctor and she's really fucking pregnant and they can just about pinpoint it back to my fucking dick!"

"Are you serious?"

"Yes, the doctor told her the damn pills made her really fertile so when she stopped taking them and we were fucking like rabbits she got pregnant."

"But she slept with other guys too. What about them?"

"She swears they used condoms and she said there's some sort of blood test to find out for sure. And she wants to get it as soon as possible, she must really fucking know it's mine."

"Oh fuck! So you are really going to be a Daddy!"

"She wants me to tell Ashley and go tell my damn parents! I am just fucked all the way around! I'm going to lose her." He glanced over at Ashley in line with Stacey for the toilet. "She's not going to want to be around a kid that's a constant fucking reminder that I slept with another girl!"

"Damn Johnny. I really am sorry. It just doesn't seem fair that Ashley might have to go through this."

"Don't you think I know that! She doesn't deserve any of this! It's all my fucking fault and I really don't blame her when she comes to her senses and leaves my dumb ass."

"She loves you John. She will stay with you no matter what."

"I sure hope so." He reached down in his back pocket and pulled out a small bottle of liquor that barely fit and pulled the cap off and took a few sips.

Ashley walked up. "You're getting started early."

"Yeah I just want to cut loose tonight."

"You want a sip?"

"I'm not much for straight liquor."

"Come on, you've got to keep up with me."

She smelled it and the strong smell instantly made her nauseous. " oh Lord that smells awful. You can have it all." She laughed pushing it away.

"Ashley here I've got something for you." Jack called out from behind them. "Here you girls drink this!" He smiled and handed them two little bottles of blue liquid.

"What the hell is this?" Ashley asked looking at it like it was poison."

"Smell it!" He laughed.

"Oh it smells good, like.......God I don't know, something sweet. What it it?"

"You ever had moonshine?"

"Yeah my Granddaddy made it all the time!"

"Well that is cotton candy moonshine."

"Oh cool!" She opened the top and drank it down. Damn that is awesome but it burns a little bit."

"Yeah but be careful it's some potent shit! It will put you on your ass quick!"

"Give me another one! Ashley smiled."

Stacey drank hers. "Oh that's smooth, except for the little burn after."

"Yeah that part is the alcohol."
"You want one Johnny?"

"Yeah sure I'll take a couple. Damn that's good. Where did you score this shit from?" John asked licking the sticky concoction off his lips.

"My Gramps made a whole bunch of this shit. Several different flavors."

"Well it's fucking awesome man."

Stacey bumped Ashley's arm. "Look that guy looks just like Bo Thomas."

"Where?" Ashley asked looking around.

"Right over there." She pointed.

"Oh it does kinda look like him!"

John watched how she was acting. "Is he an old boyfriend or something?" He asked.

"No!" Ashley quickly answered and started denying. "We were never together."

"But he was crazy in love with her. He is the guy you should of been with instead of Jake."

"No he wasn't in love with me!"

"Heck yes he was. Hold up I think I still have your cheer photo in my wallet!" Stacey started digging out her purse.

"Stacey don't you show him that ratty old thing. I hate my hair in that photo! It's a bad pic of me!"

"You have never taken a bad photo in your life! And here it is!"

"Oh God! I'm gonna die of embarrassment!" Ashley announced and started trying to hide her face with her hands.

"Let me see that!" John grabbed it out of Stacey's hand. "Oh what do we have here?" John chuckled.

Ashley grabbed for it. "Give it to me John."

"Oh no, back off! I've waited a long time to see you in this damn cheerleading outfit. You are just as hot in it, as I thought you would be." He smiled looking at the photo.

"So did you have a thing for this punk or what?" He asked checking this dude out. "Was he a cheerleader or something?" John laughed.

"And what's wrong with that?" She asked getting a little attitude.

"Nothing it just sounds a little girly to me. You sure he even likes girls?" John chuckled.

"Well he dated some of the hottest girls at our school." Ashley replied looking at him.

"But you didn't date him?" John asked trying to get a little more information out of her.

"No I was with Jake. But I knew he liked me.  He always volunteered to be my partner and flirted with me a lot."

John got a slightly jealous look on his face. "Partner for what?"

"The lifts, he lifted me in the air during the cheer routines.

John blew his breath. "Are you serious? He was looking up your fucking skirt Ashley!" John snapped and threw the photo back at her.

"John are you really mad? We were just friends and I didn't even know you then." She handed it back to Stacey.

"I don't know. Do you wish you would have been free to get with this dude?" He looked into her eyes waiting for her reply.

"No I just wish I would have seen through Jake sooner. But other than that, I'm happy something led me right here to you."

"Me too. Damn you were hot in that uniform. I never dated a cheerleader in high school."

"Why what did you have against the cheer squad?" She asked with a puzzled grin.

"They were all a bunch of stuck up bitches that acted like their shit didn't stink. None of them would give me the time of day." He stared back at her.

She laughed. "Well don't hold back John tell me how you really feel."

"I had long hair and wore leather jackets and stayed out all night in clubs playing and they were all chasing after the damn football players! Just like you. You were with a football player." He looked at her.

"That's not fair John. If you had been at my school, I swear I would have fell for you and your beautiful blue eyes, long hair, and your cute ass, right at first sight."

"Maybe or overlooked me just like the rest of them."

"No way!" She smiled.

The door opened and the line started moving a little. "Great it's about time!" John exclaimed looking at some of the crowd going in.

They finally made it up to the door and showed their tickets and were hurried into the building. Jack was nervous about his backpack of moonshine but made it through with no problems.

John and Richie and the girls went to find their seats. Luckily they were in the 3rd row so they were really good seats. Tico and David and his girlfriend were in the same row.

Ashley hung back a little and grabbed Stacey's arm. "Doesn't Richie look good today?" She smiled at her.

"Oh no Ash! What are you trying to pull?"

"Nothing!" She smiled. "He's here and you're here. He's single and you're single, I just wish you would get to know him a little better. He's a great guy just give him a chance."

"I'm just not ready to get involved with anybody. Especially Richie! No offense Ash, but I've seen what you've been through with Johnny and I'm just not ready for anything like that!"

"Just sit by him. That's all I'm asking."

"Okay but he better keep his damn hands to himself. I'm going to get a  beer!" Stacey walked off headed to the bar.

"Okay." Ashley smiled. She walked over to Richie and John talking. She looked ar Richie. "I am doing you a favor! You are sitting by Stacey tonight and you better impress her."

John laughed. "Oh yeah little miss matchmaker here is fixing you two desperate bums up." He chuckled as Richie's eyes got big.

"Wait a minute what makes you think I need your help? Look around there are plenty of single ladies that have have been eyeing me just hoping to get a chance at this!" Richie slid on his shades and spun around trying to do some kind of cool move but everybody just started laughing at him.

"You better take the help where you can get it son!" Tico patted him on the back and started laughing.

"Look I'll tell you just what I told Stacey. Just sit with her and get to know her a little better. Y'all have a lot in common and I think y'all could make a sweet couple together." She smiled at him.

"I haven't ever been a part of a sweet couple in my life!" Sexy or hot,  maybe a good couple, but sweet! Hell no!" He laughed.

"Okay then I think y'all would make a good couple."

"Okay that's better and I guess I can be nice! But she better be nice to me! Your cousin is pretty feisty."

"Must run in that damn family!" John grabbed her and pulled her down on his lap and started kissing her infront of everybody."

When their lips broke free they both had big grins across their faces.

"Richie let's go get some beer." John spoke wiping his mouth with his hand.

"Okay I'll go."

"We'll be right back." John kissed Ashley on her cheek and walked away with Richie.

The band had really brought out the wildest girls in the least amount of clothes. Some of them seem to be so revealing there wasn't much left to the imagination.

A girl wearing next to nothing with long legs and fish net stockings smiled at Richie and John when they were standing in line for beer. Her shirt was really low cut and her boobs were about to pop out as they were both getting an eyeful.

"Hi." She spoke and smiled as she turned back around holding two beers to see them smiling at her.

"Hey baby." Richie replied as they both just stood there gawking at her.

"Well bye." She grinned and walked away."

"Damn is it just me or when you're in a relationship the damn girls seem to get even hotter!" John asked turning to watch the pretty girl walk away.

"No they get hotter! And I saw you looking at that!" Richie chuckled.

"Damn I have a girlfriend but I ain't dead man!" He laughed.

"Well if she catches you, you will wish you were!" Richie grinned.

"Come on we're next." They  made it to the counter and ordered four beers.

They were walking  back and John noticed the merchandise for sale. Hold up. I want to but a shirt. He picked out a t-shirt and got Ashley a poster. He grabbed his stuff and tucked it under his arm and walked back to the seats and sat down. Ashley and Stacey had blue stained tongues and appeared to have been sampling the moonshine.

"It took you long enough." Ashley turned to John pointing her finger at him. "Did you stop and talk to any of these loose whores?" She drunkenly asked with a smirk.

"Nope I can truthfully say, I didn't talk to any loose whores." He laughed. "Hold these beers. I bought you a poster." He pulled it out from under his arm.

"Oh thanks." She smiled.

"Check out my shirt!" He put it on over his other shirt.

"Oh that's cool! I'll be wearing that to bed later."

He laughed. "You won't have it on long."

"Oh John. So are you sure you didn't talk to any girls?"

"Nope not a one."

"Good I'm proud of you." She smiled and hiccuped a little.

 Hand me my beer. The other one is for you, but maybe you don't need it!" He chuckled.

"I need it!" She grabbed it and drank it down quickly. "Did I tell you how much I love my new boots?" She looked down at them.

"I think you mentioned it, but If you want to tell me again, I'm all ears."

"No you're mostly hands." She laughed.

"Oh I'll be all hands when I get you back home for sure. You can show me how grateful you are for the boots then." He looked into her eyes and smiled.

"Have I ever told you how bad you are?"

"Once or twice but all I remember is you saying what a good lover I am. Let's do it again Johnny. You're so big Johnny! You are the best lover in the world Johnny!" He laughed.

"Well I know for a fact I didn't say any of that because I don't call you Johnny!" She laughed.

"Oh but you were thinking it!" He smiled.

The lights went down and and an opening band from Germany took the stage. Nobody had ever heard of them or their songs. Richie fired up a joint  and passed it around.

 John took a drag and tried to hand it to Ashley. "No thanks." She looked at him.

"You don't smoke pot." He questioned.

"I have before. It gets me kinda crazy."

"Well here you go. The crazier I can get you, the better I like it." He handed it to her and she reluctantly took a couple of little drags."

She smiled. "Are you happy now? My brain is all mush."

"Come here." He pulled her closer and started kissing her soft and slow holding both sides of her face. She felt him slip his tongue in. The lights got brighter and they pulled their lips apart to look up and see what was happening.

The band continued to play.

"Who are they again? God I hate this music!" Ashley whined.

"Hell if I know! I'm just here to see Van Halen." John lit a cigarette and hoped this band would be over soon.

After a while. The room faded to black and the music started for Ashley's favorite song. "Dance the night away." Everybody jumped to their feet and went crazy, when Van Halen took the stage. Ashley sang all the words. She loved this song as soon as she had heard it on their last album. David Lee Roth came front and center and took control of the stage. The crowd went wild. The next song was John's favorite from the new Album. "Everybody wants some." He danced around and cheered with the crowd.

Wishing he could hop up on stage and play with them. It was a lifelong dream of his to front a band and get to play at the Meadowlands in front of a huge crowd like this with his friends.

The band was having fun with the audience. Eddie Van Halen was laughing and playing around with the crowd.

They ran through their playlist and the crowd responded with cheers with each new song. David Lee Roth was in rare form with high jumps and kicks really wowing his fans.

Jack passed out his moonshine concoction like water and everybody was drinking it down. They were all having a great time.

Lacey and Bret were a couple rows behind them but moved up to Ashley's row to some vacant seats. She was relentlessly trying to get David Lee Roth to notice her. She pulled her top down which brought gazes from him and Eddie Van Halen.

But Eddie seemed to be a little more interested in Ashley. Which didn't go unnoticed by John. He looked directly at her several times. Half way through he grabbed the mic. "We love playing here at the Meadowlands and the women here tonight are so damn fine!"

John was almost positive that was for Ashley. As they moved into the night Eddie came to their side of the stage to do a guitar solo. When he was finished he smiled and winked right at her.

Which really infuriated John who threw up his hands and flipped him off.

"John stop! She laughed. He's just kidding around." She grinned.

"Hell no he ain't. He's flirting with you Ash, right in front of my damn face!" John spewed out drunkenly. In theory he thought it would be cool to be with a girl so hot, a famous band  member would want to be with her. But with it happening right before his eyes, it was just pissing him off.

Lacey ran over to her. "Oh my God Eddie winked at you!

"I don't think so. He's just messing around. He has a girlfriend. He's with Valerie Bertinelli."

"Believe me he ain't thinking about her right now. He's thinking about scoring with you!" Lacey laughed. The look on John's face showed that he wasn't very happy at all with this revelation."

Ashley looked at him. "Really? What's with that face?"

"You know that pisses me off. I don't want him flirting with you!" He yelled cutting his eyes back to the stage.

"He's flirting with every girl in here John. It's part of the show." She smiled.


Two security guys were walking around handing out backstage passes. Lacey was handed one and started jumping up and down. Ashley looked away and tried not to make eye contact with the guys hoping they didn't have one for her, as John stood there with his hands on his hips and a pissed off glare on his face just daring either of them to give her one.

"Here you go miss this is an invitation from Eddie Van Halen himself to party with the band after the show." The guy grinned handing Ashley the pass.

Chapter 68: Special Delivery

John wanted to save Don Hurley's delivery for last so they skipped him and drove all over the county making other deliveries.

Ashley walked in the Fast Lane. She had a lot to do. She got all the ordering done and talked to a few bands to get them booked for the next few weeks. After a few hours, a  call came into her office. "Hello." She answered.

"Hey baby it's me. I just wanted to call and tell you I miss you."

"Aww I miss you too John. Are you delivering stuff today?"

"Yeah Richie is helping me."

"Oh good please talk to him John. Y'all are too good of friends to let anything come in between y'all."

"I don't know about that, he's still an asshole. I'll see you later. I've got to get back to work. An delivery boy's job is never done." He chuckled.

"Aww you are the cutest delivery boy I know." She laughed. "Bye John."

"Bye baby."

After finishing up all the other deliveries, Richie and John drove across town and ended up in front of the Dupont plant.

"Is this place even open? There's nobody here." Richie asked looking around the parking lot.

"I don't know but Don Hurley is here that's  his Oldsmobile right over there." John pointed it out.

"Do you want me to take the box in? I know you hate the dude." Richie asked opening his door.

John laughed. The feeling is very mutual, believe me. But no, I'm going in there too."

They grabbed the big box out of the van.

"What do you think it is?" Richie asked shaking it a little trying to figure it out.

"I don't know. He's straight laced, so it's got to be something on the up and up."

"Here's a thing of packing tape." Richie pointed to a thing of tape laying in the van. "Let's open the box and check it out. We can retape it." He suggested, curiosity getting the better of him.

"Okay but hurry." John looked around to make sure nobody was watching them.

Richie grabbed his pocket knife out and cut along the seam. He opened the box and found what looked to be bottles of alcohol and a box of cigars.

"See I told you." John commented while looking at the bottles.

"Wait a minute all this shit is from Cuba and illegal as hell!" Richie exclaimed reading the bottles and the cigar brand. "My uncle pays top dollar for this shit. I've even tried this rum before at his house and it's fucking awesome."

"Well damn I can't believe it. Don Hurley buying illegal contraband!" John laughed. "I wouldn't have ever thought it." John grinned.

They put everything back in the box. "Hand me the tape. "Richie reached his hand out and took it from John and taped it back up.

John picked up the box and they walked to the front door that was unlocked. They walked in and and a security guard let them know which office Mr. Hurley was in. John felt kind of nervous. There was no love lost between him and Dorothea's father. He had always made him feel like he wasn't good enough for his daughter.

They rounded the corner as he was exiting his office and made eye contact with the man as he opened his office door.

"Hello Johnny. Dorothea told me you were working for Mr. Alfonsi now. Hi Richie. I didn't realize you were working for him too."

"Yes sir. Richie replied quickly.

"Yeah, I am temporarily until something happens with my music." John told him feeling that queasiness in the pit of his stomach he always felt in this man's presence. "We've got a special delivery for you." John grinned knowing what was in the box.

"Okay, well you might have to give that dream up and get a real job. Something that would pay the bills. This music dream may end up on the back burner for now. Especially if you want to have any kind of a future with Dottie."

Richie and John looked very confused at each other. John didn't really want to get into it with him, but he needed to set him straight.

"I don't know what Dorothea has told you but we're not even together. I have a new girlfriend, so Dot and I certainly won't be settling down with each other."

By the look on Mr. Hurley's face, he seemed to not take this news very well. "Richie can you excuse us for a minute please."

Richie looked at John and he nodded to let him know it was okay.

"Yeah sure. I'll be out at the van."

"You know it's no secret that I never wanted you with my daughter." He looked at John and started to open his box with a letter opener and began to unpack the contents.

"I don't like your long hair. I don't like that muscle car you speed all over town in. You have no drive or long range goals and I certainly don't like the way you treated my daughter in the past." He stood up his liquor bottles on the table and took out the  cigars.

"Well with all do respect, none of that matters anymore and to be honest I was dating your daughter, not you and it never really mattered what you thought of me anyway." John looked at him showing no fear and no sign of backing down. He was not going to be intimidated again by this man.

Donald reached under the packing liner in the box and pulled out another box and began to open it.

"Well aren't you a cocky little bastard!" Donald laughed as he revealed a 357 magnum pulling it out of the box and laying it on the table in front of him.

"You know I heard a little something from one of my other daughters, Colleen. A little story Dottie told her."
He picked the gun up and looked down the barrel. "About how you got off trying to embarrass Dorothea by throwing her clothes over the balcony at your apartment and sending her out in only a towel to retrieve her belongings!" He started loading a bullet into the chamber of the gun as John began to sweat profusely wondering what the hell he might do next.

"It was a misunderstanding. Dot had been lying to me and my girlfriend and I caught on to the game she was playing. When we got home she was already there wearing only a towel. We started fighting and I'm sorry it happened but she has done much worse to me and my girlfriend! You have no idea just how vindictive your daughter can be!" John exclaimed staring at the gun in the man's hand.

"Well all I know is, Dottie sat her Mother and me down last night and told us she's pregnant with your child. Now you are going to do right by her and my grandchild. He closed the chamber and cocked the gun. Do you get what I'm saying. You have already made my daughter look like a fool, running around town cheating on her with every little tramp you could find and you will not leave her pregnant and alone to raise your child by herself! Do you understand?"

John swallowed hard and was very nervous. "I am not the only guy she has been with and if she is pregnant, it could also be a few other guy's baby."

"Are you implying that my daughter sleeps around?"

"I'm not implying anything. She has been with some other guys so I don't know how she could be so sure it's mine."

"My daughter told me that she was with one other guy but they took precautions and that you refused to wear protection and I don't see how you didn't expect this to happen."

"She's lying! She has been with more than just two guys! She said she was on birth control pills. She told me not to use anything and she stopped taking her damn pills without telling me!" John yelled getting a little out of control.

"Stop right there!" Don held the gun up to John's head. "You don't know me! You have no fucking idea what I am capable of!" He cocked the gun holding it to John's head. He slowly pulled the trigger as John stopped breathing when the loud click rang out in his ears, knowing there was at least one damn bullet in the chamber. John's heart continued to race as he started to breathe again realizing he was okay and this asshole hadn't just shot him in the fucking head.

"You know the great thing about working at a chemical plant. It would be very easy for me to dispose of a body in probably ten different compound tanks here and there would be absolutely nothing left of you, after about an hour." He looked at John with a crazy blind rage in his eyes. "I don't want to hear any of your excuses. You are both at fault. You will be holding up your end of the responsibility to my daughter and grandchild."

John knew it was useless to argue with his crazy ass. He jumped up and headed for the door with Don calling out to him. Demanding he come back in the room. "If he's going to shoot me go ahead!" he thought, trying to get the fuck out to the van as quickly as he could.

Richie looked up and saw John coming to the van white as a ghost.

"What happened Johnny?"

"The fucker pulled a gun on me with one bullet in it and pulled the trigger at my fucking head! He told me he could dissolve my dead body in one of the chemical tanks and nobody would ever know! John yelled, as he screeched the tires driving away.

"What?" Richie asked thinking he hadn't heard him correctly.

"You heard me! He told me Dot's pregnant and that she swears it's my damn kid!"

"Damn Johnny! What are you going to do? You're fucked man!"

"I know, the worst possible predicament I could be in! And with the last damn person I would want to be in it with!"

"You need to tell your folks what he did to you!"

"Hell no! They'll have too many questions and I can't let Ma get wind that Dot's pregnant! She'll breath down my neck like a fucking dragon for me to marry her!"

"Damn you're right. Are you going to tell Ash?"

"Hell no! I'm not upsetting her about this stupid shit! Who knows whose baby it is and she is not going to fuck up what I have with Ashley! I won't let her! And you don't say a word to her! I don't want her worrying about anything! Promise me Richie!"

"Yeah man, I won't say anything. I hope you know what you're doing."

"Fuck no I don't, but what else can I do? I don't love Dot. Hell I can't stand her! And I know in my heart this ain't my fucking kid!"

"I sure hope you're right." Richie looked at him knowing he was in deep shit.

They got back to the club. And Harold handed them their envelopes of cash. "There's a little something extra in there for both of you. Thanks and get out of here go get ready for your concert."


They walked out of the office and each checked their envelope. Richie had 400 dollars and John had 800. John once again kept from Richie that Harold had shown favortism again and had given him more money. Happily they both headed to their cars to get ready for the concert tonight. John had one little stop to make at Kinney's shoe store. He had been eyeing a fresh pair of cowboy boots and since he had made a lot more than he thought he was going to treat himself. He tried them on an instantly fell in love.

A girl walked by holding a box of ladies boots and he hurried over to the women's section to see if they had them in a size seven. He snatched them up and laid the box on top of his. He paid for both pairs and starting driving home with thoughts of the events at the Dupont plant running through his mind. He thought about telling Ashley, but there wasn't anything she could do and he didn't want to worry her.

This was suppose to be their fresh beginning and a great night they had been looking forward to. He pushed all the bad thoughts out of his mind and flooded his brain with thoughts of Ashley. The only woman that truly mattered.

He got out and ran upstairs. Her car was there so she was already home. He hurried in and sprang the box on her. "I hope you like these. If not you can exchange them for whatever you want." He smiled.

She opened the box and pulled the boots out.

"Oh John I love them!" She slid them on and looked down at them. "They are beautiful. Thank you so much." She kissed his lips.

"We've  got a little time let's go walk on the beach." He smiled, so glad to see her and happy she really liked the boots.

"Okay." She took her new boots off and slipped on her flip flops. They walked across the road and she kicked her shoes off in the sand. Loving the feel of the sand between her toes and walked down the beach together. He lifted her up and kissed her in the surf. "I love you Ashley and nothing will ever change that."

"I love you too."

"I want us to have a great night together. I want everything to be perfect." He smiled.

"Don't worry John. I'm sure it will be, I'll be with you." She smiled back at him.

Chapter 67: End Of The Road

The next morning at 7:55 a.m. John woke up to a loud banging on his front door. He jumped out of bed, still naked as a jaybird. He reached for his jeans and pulled them up quickly. He hurried to the door wondering who the hell it could be. He pulled it open with a great deal of force to stop the incessant banging.

"Ma! What are you doing here?" He forced an awkward smile.

"Well are you not going to invite your own Mother in? I thought I taught you better than that." She glanced at him and worried he wasn't eating enough. He looked too skinny.

"Yeah sure come in." He instantly thought of  Ashley lying totally naked in the next room with half  the covers kicked off. "Let me grab a shirt. He hurried in the bedroom and shut the door. "Ashley, it's my Mother!" He whispered.

Ashley flung her eyes open. "What? Your Mom is here now!" She jumped up and wrapped the sheet around her and scurried into the bathroom.

John threw on a shirt and went back out to the living room and closed the bedroom door.

A disapproving Carol had already put two and two together and realized John had a girl in the bedroom. She just hoped like hell it wasn't Ashley.

She glared at her son as he entered the room.

"What? What are you looking at me like that for?" He asked noticing how unhappy she seemed.

"Who is she?"

"Who is who?"

"Who is the tramp you have stashed in your bedroom?"

"Look it is too early in the morning for this! I was up late and I've got a pounding headache. What exactly brought you over here?"

"Is that Ashley's car in the parking lot? I knew she was trying to move in to take advantage of you! I hoped you would come to your senses by now! I certainly hope you are using protection! You don't know who all she's been with and she is probably trying to get herself pregnant to get her hooks into you! Wise up Johnny!"

"Look we have already been over this!" I told you she was a virgin before she got with me! And stop worrying! I want to be with her! I begged her to move in! She didn't really want to!"

"Probably because of all those boys she has on the side. There is still a few boys hanging out at her house! And not to mention me catching her all over your best damn friend!"

"Richie is just her friend Ma! Look I didn't want to tell you this. The guy with the black Charger that is staying with her brother, is her ex boyfriend and he used to beat her up when they were together. He grabbed her and choked her infront of Richie and he punched him and got him off of her. That's what the hug you saw, was about."

"Well that's awful, but don't let her drag you boys into her squabbles with her boyfriend!"

John laughed holding his head. "I am her boyfriend, Ma! Me, nobody else! I love her, I want to be with her! She's not trying to get herself pregnant, but even if it did happen. I would beg her to marry me and I'd be there for her and hope like hell she never realized that she deserves so much damn better than me! So please drop this crazy shit because you are really starting to piss me off!"

"Watch that smart mouth Johnny! I am your Mother. I just came here to check on you and see how you are doing."

"I'm a little better, I'm going back to work for Harold today."

"Are you sure you're ready?"

"Yeah I'm good."

"Tony told me Dorothea called me yesterday, when I was at the market. Do you have any idea what she would want to talk to me about?"

"That maybe like a dumbass I went and knocked her up!" He thought to himself and lied through his teeth.

"No I have no idea what she could want." He replied with a straight face.

"Well I still don't like or trust her, but she is a Jersey girl. If I had to go with the lesser of two evils. I would rather you be with her than little Miss Mississippi in there!"

"Give it a break! Would you? Ashley is going to hear you!"

But it was too late. Ashley was sitting on the bed and through the paper thin walls, she could hear everything John's Mother had to say about her.

"Don't worry about Dorothea. She is really jealous of me and Ashley. She is probably trying to stir up some trouble for me!"

"Okay I want bother with talking to her then. Have you got in touch witht that cute litte nure from the hospital?" She smiled.

"No she's really not my type." He blurted out. Hoping to shut her up.

"She really seemed like your type, when you were in the hospital." She argued.

"No, Ma please drop it."

"Okay, but don't forget your Dr. appointment Tuesday. I will pick you up at 9:00 sharp."

"Ok fine I will be ready."

"Well I need to go. I'm going to the shop for your Father to do my hair."

"Okay Ma, glad you stopped by. I miss you. "

"Miss you too baby." She smiled.

Carol walked out tbe door and John headed to do damage control. He hoped Ashley hadn't heard any of the hurtful things his Mother had hissed out. But he knew with such thin walls she had.

"She's gone." He smiled, trying to read her face.

She looked disappointed. "She hates me John."

"I swear it's not you. It's just the thought of you. She has never liked any of my girlfriends. She knows I love you and I moved out and I'm pulling away from her. That's what she hates."

"But she said she would rather you be with Dorothea and if she's pregnant she will want you with her."

"If Dot's pregnant, that's an unfortunate mistake on my part. It never should have happened. I was high on my pain pills and fantasizing about you constantly. I was out of my mind and thought I was making love to you. Even Dot said our sex was never that good before."

"John please don't, I don't want to here that."

"Oh fuck, I'm so sorry. I didn't even mean to bring it up."

"It's okay. I heard you say you would want to marry me if I were pregnant."

"I know you said you don't want to ever get married, but I would try my damnest to change your mind if you were carrying my kid."

"See that's what I don't get. If I were pregnant you would want to settle down with me. What about Dorothea? Wouldn't you want to be with that child?"

"I would be there for my child but as long as you existed anywhere in this universe, I would still love you and only you. I couldn't pretend to love Dot. I have to be with you."

"A baby would change things." She looked up at him."

"Not for me. Not my feelings for you."

"This is so hard for me." She looked at him with pain showing on her face.

"It's okay, there's no way the lying bitch is pregnant. She's just trying to start trouble for us. She hates we are together."

"I love you John."

"I love you too. I've got to get ready for work. Come take a shower with me."

She smiled. "Okay."

They finished showering and exited the bathroom with a happy little satisfied grin on their faces. With lack of time, they really had just planned to only shower but when they started kissing they both got carried away. The memory of the hot quickie was sure to stay fresh in their minds for the rest of the day.

They got dressed and Ashley helped John with his hair. "Thanks baby. I look damn fine today."

"Yeah but you always do. I'll see you this afternoon.  I love you." She kissed him on the lips.

"Was it good this morning?" He asked with a smirk.

"You know it was." She smiled and looked away.

"Oh no don't act like you're shy, after what we just did!" He laughed.

"I'm not shy doing it with you. Just talking about it after." She blushed a little.

"I know you don't know, because you've only done it with me, but we have damn good sex baby!"

"Oh John!" She gave him an awkward smile.

"I'm serious baby, sex with you is the best I've ever had." He kissed her.

"I doubt that. I've got to get to work." She grabbed her keys and purse. He walked her down to her car. He kissed her through the window.

"Bye baby."

"Bye John." She drove away and he stood there thinking how happy he was since she came into his life.

He went back upstairs and ate two toaster waffles and drank a glass of orange juice. He grabbed his keys, locked up and walked outside to go to his car. He noticed a new girl that just moved in. Blonde and really hot. Just the kind he was normally attracted to.

"Hi I'm Tiffany. Is that your Mustang?"

"Yeah, hi I'm Johnny. Excuse my voice it's kinda messed up right now."

"Oh well that's okay. I just love old Mustangs. I'd love to go riding in it sometime." She smiled really big and her emerald green eyes sparkled as he looked at her.

"I'm sorry." He grinned.  "But I have a girlfriend and she'll kick my ass if I take any other girls for a ride." He laughed.

"At least you're honest. I have a boyfriend, but I don't let him tell me what I can do." She grinned. "It's a lot more fun that way!"

John just smiled. Not really sure what to say.

"With that long hair of yours. you look like you should be in a band or something."

"I am, it's called the Rest."

"Cool I just love drummers. What do you play?"

"I play guitar, sing, and I write songs."

"Where do you guys play?"

"All over. The Fast Lane a lot."

"I'll have to drop in sometime to watch you."

"Okay it was good to meet you. I've got to get to work."

"Okay well if you ever need anything, I'm in 6 A. Bye Johnny."

"Bye." He climbed in and drove away thinking. "If I didn't have a girlfriend, I would of been all over that. But she sure wouldn't be worth me losing Ash." He grinned driving down the beach. Proud of himself for being a good boyfriend.

Ashley had pulled in at a gas station to buy a cup of coffee. Walking outside she felt someone tap her shoulder.

"Hey Ash."

She turned around to find Jake.

"What do you want Jake?"

"You know you are so fucking hostile to me! You didn't used to be the way."

"I guess always getting hurt by you, tends to bring out the hostility in me!"

He laughed. "You're talking bout the other day at your house. Aww shit girl that wasn't nothin. You know I was just playing with your ass!"

"I couldn't breathe Jake!"

"I was just fucking with ya." He chuckled. That's all I can do  since you won't let me fuck you." He looked her up and down and licked his lips. "Damn you are looking mighty fine! You sure Bongiovi can keep you satisfied. I mean if he's all you ever had, how would you really know?"

"I've got to go she tried to walk past him and he grabbed her arm.

"Let me go!" She tried to jerk her arm from him.

"Just settle down." He looked into her unhappy blue eyes with his dark almost evil eyes. "You know that fine little sis of yours is looking alot like you these days. It's almost like she's the spitting image of you at that age. She's not quite as hot as you are. I mean your tits are amazing. She's got the same smart mouth you do. But I could put it to good use like I did yours. You gave the best head in three counties!" He smiled.

"Fuck you! You better leave Kelly alone!" Ashley was pissed and was almost shaking she was so mad.

"Well if I can't have you I might as well go after the next best thing!" I saw her up at Thunder's with her fake i.d. She's hanging around Presley James. Now that little slut will get her in trouble for sure."

"I told her to leave that bitch alone." Ashley replied pulling her arm away from his grasp.

"They were at a table full  of navy guys. Some punks from up here in New York. I told her to get her ass home. She asked me to give her a ride down to the beach and she asked me for a joint."

"Did you give it to her?"

"Yep I gave her both of them and she was flirting with me Ash! She told me she always thought I was hot and that she had a dream, that I kissed her. I could of had her! I could of fucked your little sis right there at the point! The same spot I used to makeout with you."

"I'm warning you! You better not touch her!"

"She's naive just like you used to be Ash."

"Look, she's young and innocent and way too good for you and you are way too damn advanced for her!"

"Maybe not. I heard she ain't a virgin no more. She gave it up to Double J at the shell pile, this summer and two other guys since. I guess she's gotten a little loose like her big sis did."

"You're a lying bastard! She hates Double J!"

"Nope it's true she's getting wild and Wendi couldn't care less. Nobody's looking out for her. When are you going to come to your senses and come home. You have that nice damn place your PawPaw left you. You don't have to  move back in with Wendi. He wouldn't want you up here! I know you're not happy here. You miss home, I know you do! These people here are nothing like us Ashley! And I hear you trying to tone down your fucking accent! What's the matter Ash, your boyfriend don't approve of that backwoods accent?"

"No he's never said a word about it!" I do that for myself. I hate my accent! They talk different up here and I sound so country and dumb!"

"That's what I'm saying baby you don't fit in here. You or Stacey!"

"Well if you hate it here so much, why the hell do you keep coming back? And why were you trying to find a job here?" She questioned looking up at him.

"Because you're here."

"Don't factor me into your life choices Jake. I'm sorry, but I'm totally in love with John. Nobody has ever made me feel the way he does."

"That's how I love you."

"No you don't. That's how much you want to control me. I've got to get to work. Go home Jake. Forget about me."

She walked over to her car and drove away with him standing there watching her.

John pulled up at Galaxy and was surprised as shit to see Richie's car there.

He walked in and went up to Kristen at the bar. What's Richie doing here?"

"Harold called him. He needed him to help him with something out back. He tried to call you. Your phone isn't on yet."


"It should be on today. Damn I really didn't want to see him up here."

"Aww come on you too besties arguing. I smell a female influence here."

"No just an asshole jerk. I don't need hanging around."

"Well don't look now but Mr. asshole jerk is headed this way." She walked away giggling.

"Hey Johnny. I know you probably don't want me here but Harold wanted me to help him out this morning."

"It's fine, whatever Harold wants."

Harold walked out. "Boys I have some deliveries for you. He handed John a list. "The van is gassed up and ready. Don't you boys have that concert tonight?"

"Yes sir it's tonight. Well after the deliveries you can take off. I know you need time to get dressed and work on all that hair that the both of you have. I'll ever understand this fad of all this hair.  Men looking like women! I don't get it. I'm surprised these young girls go for that!" He shook his head.

"Oh we definitely go for it!" Kristen called out. "I just love a man with long hair!" She smiled.

John laughed. "See Harold the babes love it!" He smiled.

"Okay." He laughed. "Just get with me when the deliveries are done and I'll pay you."

"Okay thanks. John replied taking the list and not waiting for Richie.

"Johnny wait up!" Richie called out getting pissed.

"What?" He spun around unhappy about this situation.

"I told Harold I couldn't work for him  anymore, that we had a falling out and he told me to get my ass on up here anyway."

"Is that what you call it? A falling out?"

"Well yeah, I did something dumb and you're pissed at me."

"Look Harold wants you working for him fine. But you need to know, we aren't best friends anymore! I don't know what we are."

Kristen called out to them. "Here's one more box they forgot to load!"

They stopped arguing for a minute.

"Is it already on the list?" John asked.

"Yeah they just forgot to put it in the van."

She went back inside and John put the box in the back of the van.

"We've been through a lot of shit Johnny. Hell you are more like a brother to me than a friend! Is this it? Is this the end of the road for us?"

"Maybe. You haven't given me one good reason why you tried to fuck me over with Ashley."

"I thought if anybody in the world would understand you would. You did the very same thing to Bobby, when you got with Dorothea."

"Well in case you didn't notice Bobby and I aren't even friends anymore and I regret that a lot. I used to sit back and watch him with Dot and thought they had everything. She had me fooled alright. It certainly wasn't worth it, to lose one of my best friends for a mediocre piece of ass."

"Damn Johnny all I can do is apologize. But I can't say I regret it. Nobody really thought you were going to get your memory back and you were really hurting her. I was." John cut him off.

"Thinking with your dick!"

"No I wasn't trying to sleep with her. I just wanted her to know how I felt."

"Well that's bullshit and I don't know if I can get past it. You knew what she meat to me. You stabbed me in the back. That shit hurt like a motherfucker and I don't see me forgiving you anytime soon." John looked up with a little hurt  in his eyes.

"That's fair. I guess I deserve that." Richie couldn't argue. He knew he was right.

"Come on let's get these deliveries done. So we can get paid and get the hell out of here." John snapped as he jumped in the van."

"Where's our first stop?"

"Well this doesn't make any sense." Richie scrunched up his face questioning the delivery.

"Not the Candystore again?" John shook his head.

"No it's the Dupont plant, it's a delivery for Donald Hurley."

"What the hell could Dot's Dad be getting delivered from Harold?" John asked baffled.

"I have no fucking idea!" Richie answered.