Erica and Dot walked out of the doctor's complex and headed across the street to Dot's car.
Erica broke the silence. "You can't do this Dorothea! It's just wrong!"
"Like I told you before it is not any of your damn business! If Ashley had never come to town me and Johnny would have been back together sooner and this would be his damn baby!"
"You are acting crazy!" You can't just pick a father for your child because you slept around and don't like the one you let get you pregnant!"
"I didn't let nothing! I told you, I told him to pull out but he was so damn into it and he didn't listen!"
"Well who is it? You might as well fess up! You won't be able to hide it from him forever! Whoever he is, he's going to figure it out!"
"He won't care! This asshole needs a baby like he needs a hole in the head!"
"Well just tell me! I'm your best friend!"
"Just give me some time. I need to go see Johnny. I need to talk to him about the baby. I can't let him forget I'm pregnant for a second!"
"Dot you can't be serious! This isn't fair to Johnny! This isn't his mistake!"
"Look! You just keep your big trap shut! Are you going with me or not?"
"Okay but this isn't right."
"Just get in the damn car!" Dot yelled getting frustrated with her.
She drove straight over to John's apartment and saw him and Richie standing outside.
"Unbelievable here that bitch comes!" John exclaimed out getting annoyed while staring at her car pulling in off of Ocean Ave.
"No Dot! Just go the hell away!" He yelled as soon as she rolled down her window. "Ashley's here and she's not feeling good! This shit is just going to upset her!"
"Well tough! I don't give a damn about her! We have to discuss our child. She will just have to get over it!" Dot jumped out yelling as she walked up to John and Richie.
"Why is something wrong with the baby?" John asked genuinely concerned.
"No the baby is fine. They just want to keep a closer eye on me since I'm so young and this is our first child. The doctor said it is perfectly normal for younger girls to go into labor early the first time."
"How early?" He asked looking at her and glancing down at her little baby bump.
"Three or four weeks. And I really want you to stay with me in the hospital. I'm scared Johnny. I'll need you with me. It's our first baby and I want him to know that we love him and I want him to feel the love we have for each other."
"Woah! Back this train up! Stop saying that it's our first baby, cause we sure as hell ain't having anymore together! And I ain't staying in the hospital with you and I sure as shit ain't acting like I'm in love with you! You better face that facts Dot! You will be a single mother! As in by yourself! As in all alone! Do you get it now? I don't want any damn thing to do with you! I may be this baby's Dad, but that doesn't mean I will be having shit to do with you! So whatever thoughts you have of us being one big happy family, well just get the hell over it! It ain't happening!"
"I can't believe you Johnny! This is your child, your flesh and blood! I'll go ahead and say what everybody is already thinking! You've been acting crazy every since blondie spread her legs for you! The Johnny I know wouldn't walk away from a girl he claimed to love that is carrying his baby!"
"Yeah well you tried to trap me Dot! You knew my mind was fucked up and I was really still in love with Ashley! You stopped taking your damn pills trying to get pregnant! I realized I never loved you! Anything I felt for you, you killed it when I found out you had been fucking Bobby! So don't even try to blame this on Ashley! You turned me against you all by your damn self!"
Richie walked over to Erica. "It never gets old, does it?" He asked.
"What doesn't?" She looked at him.
"Watching these two bicker back and forth like and old married couple." He chuckled.
"Yeah they seem to hate each other alright. That's for sure." She laughed.
"Maybe this baby will bring them where they can at least tolerate each other." Richie glanced over at John waving his arms in the air gesturing wildly still yelling at Dot.
"Oh I wouldn't count on that." Erica looked over at Dot, who was staring back at her wondering what she was saying to Richie.
"Come on let's get the fuck out of here!" Dot demanded as she pulled her car door open and glanced back at Erica.
"Okay. Bye Richie." Erica called out as she walked to Dot's Grand Prix.
"Bye babe."
"He walked over to John. "Damn I didn't even mean to call her that!"
"What? I didn't even hear what you said, that bitch had me so pissed off!"
"I called Erica babe."
"Oh well don't sweat it. She didn't seem to notice."
"Wow! Dot really knows how to push your buttons." Richie laughed.
"Hell yeah! Sometimes I think she lives just to piss me off!"
"Well don't let her get to you. Eventually she will get with somebody else and maybe she won't focus on you so damn much."
I hope so, but I sure pity who ever that poor dumb bastard is!" John laughed and seemed to be quite tickled with himself.
"I guess I need to go. I'm having a couple people over if you and Ash feel up to it later. It's nothing big just a few guys and a couple of girls."
"Is Stacey coming?" John asked.
"Maybe I asked her. She had other plans but she will try, so whatever. "
"Okay well I'll ask Ash if she gets up soon."
"Later man." Richie hopped in his car and headed home.
John walked up the stairs. Dot's hateful voice still ringing in his ears. He went inside and stood in the bedroom doorway watching Ashley sleep. "God she looks so peaceful." He thought.
He laid down beside her and drifted off to sleep for a while, when a loud car horn honking in the parking lot startled him.
He sat up in bed quickly. "Damn I thought that was my alarm!" He exclaimed and laid back down on his pillow.
"You thought you were late for work?" Ashley turned over and smiled at him.
"Yeah I shot straight up thinking I had to get ready. Are you feeling better?" He rubbed his hand down her arm.
"Yeah I feel a lot better. Is your neck okay?"
"Yeah just a little sore. I'll be right back."
He walked into the bathroom to pee and rinse with some mouthwash. He sprayed on some cologne and tried to tame his hair a little.
Ashley grabbed some double mint gum off the dresser popped it in her mouth and tossed the paper on the side table.
John walked out smiling. She noticed how handsome and good he smelled. "Damn you are so fine." She smiled standing up and walking over to him.
"Really now? Well my girlfriend doesn't like me getting compliments from gorgeous blondes that I don't know. He smiled back at her.
"Aww well I don't blame her. I wouldn't ever let you out of the house."
"Really? That sounds tempting to be locked up in a house with you. Are you going to make me your personal sex slave or something?"
"Maybe it just depends on what your talents are and how good you are at them." She grinned.
"Oh I'm very good. Come here and let me show you. He pulled her in close to kiss her.
The kiss was soft and slow. He circled her tongue with his. He pulled back a little and lightly bit her bottom lip, teasing her as he let her go. "See I told you. I'm the best kisser in Jersey. Got the plaque and trophy to prove it."
She laughed. "You're so crazy."
"But you know you love me." He chuckled.
"Yeah I do."
"Hey Richie stopped by earlier. He's having a few people over tonight. If you want to go?"
"I don't know. Aren't you supposed to stay away from cigarette smoke?"
"Nobody's allowed to smoke inside anyway. Mrs. Joan would have a fit."
"Okay then if you want to. Do I have any clothes left over here? I don't want to wear this."
"Yeah there's a couple things in my closet."
"You know, it hurt me a lot when I came home and found out your stuff was gone. When I thought I lost you, it seemed like everything in my life just turned to shit. I really need you here with me. Please move back in. I don't really like the idea of you back over there with your Dad around. And I know Jake left but you know he'll be back sometime."
"I'll think about it. But let's just see how it goes for now. I have to work things out with my Dad somehow."
"I know he's your father baby, but I don't trust him and if he put his hands on you again. I don't know what I would do."
"John promise me you won't go near my Dad. I don't want you to get hurt again."
"I can't promise that. Let's just drop this for now. Go get ready and we'll swing by Richie's for a little bit. We don't have to stay long."
"Okay." She reluctantly replied and went to look in his closet for some clothes. John walked outside to look for his favorite black jacket in his car. He just opened his car door when somebody called his name.
"Johnny!"
"Oh hey Angela."
"Look I don't mean to be a nag, but you and your little friends can't keep tossing your cigarette butts off the stairs! I had them picked up yesterday and look over here! There is already another pile growing!
Well I've seen them throwing them there. Richie and Alec and that kid from your band!"
"Jack?"
"Yeah that stuck up little jerk!"
"Ha ha." John laughed. "What's your problem with my friends? They're cool."
"My problem is keeping this place decent! So I can attract normal people here not all band thugs!"
"Oh so I'm a band thug now? You weren't saying that when I had you moaning in my bed upstairs!" He laughed.
"Look I'm serious Johnny. We have a new owner and she wants to change a lot of shit! I need to keep my job! Please ask your friends to park over by the fence too. People are complaining. I mean look here is this Trans Am again. It should be parked by the fence. Visitors should be parked over there. These spots are for paying tenants."
"Well if I have my way Ashley will be a tenant around here very soon."
"Are you serious? She's moving in with you?"
"Yeah maybe. I hope so. But why do you care?" He asked getting a little snippy with her.
"Look Johnny, I'm the manager here and that means anybody on this property is my business! And you've had a lot of girls in and out of here lately. I mean Dorothea the other night. The brunette that slept over the other day with you. And now you are back to little miss Trans Am. Don't you get tired of dealing with all these little immature girlies Johnny? They don't know what the hell they want! I remember when we were together you told me you preferred older women."
"Well I was just a kid then. I had no idea what I really wanted."
"Well you saw how great we can be together now! Our sex was phenomenal! I know you felt how amazing we were together!"
"Look Angela yeah we have great sex together, but that's all we have. No offense but my feelings for you are not the same as my feelings for Ashley. With her our sex is great and she has my heart. I can't even begin to explain what she means to me."
"Wow! So you really think you're in love with this girl?"
"I think so. I just know I can't live without her. She's everything to me."
"Well how does she feel about sharing you? We both know you ain't a one woman kind of guy! I mean where was your precious Ashley when you drug that little brunette home to play hide the salami the other night? She laughed.
"Look you don't have any idea what you're talking about! That girl is my friend. Her mother has cancer and we were just up late talking. She's going through a lot right now!" John explained with his best poker face. Hoping like hell she couldn't tell he was lying.
She laughed. "Sure Johnny. I just bet that's what was going on!"
"Look Ang I don't know what shit you are trying to pull! But believe me nothing you can make up can beat the truth! Dorothea is pregnant with my baby and before you ask. Yes! Ashley already knows and we are still together so back the hell off!"
Angela giggled. "Oh my lord Johnny! You let Dot trap you with a baby! Wow! I wouldn't have ever thought that! You were always so careful. You always have condoms in your wallet!"
"Look she was on the pill but she quit taking the damn thing. I sure as hell didn't know about it!"
"Well I hate to hear that. I always thought Dorothea was wrong for you. I knew what we had between us wasn't meant to last but, I have to say when I heard you were messing around with her I got a knot right in the pit of my stomach. I always knew she was trouble. So how are you going to handle a baby? And what about Carol? She has to be pushing for you to marry her!"
"Well the kid wasn't planned, but I will try to be the best dad I can. Oh Ma would love nothing more than for us to get married! I don't love Dot. I never really did. It took me meeting Ashley to realize that I never felt this way about Dot or anybody else. There's no way I can marry her. I've got to go get ready. I'll get them to park by the fence and to stop throwing their cigarettes on the ground."
"Okay thanks." She walked back to her apartment.
John hurried up stairs carrying his jacket. He ran through the door and found Ashley in the bedroom sitting on the bed looking kind of strange.
"So is this okay. The other dress was too tight."
"Definitely! You look hot baby. Is something wrong? You don't seem like yourself." He asked concerned.
"Thanks. I don't know. I'm just a little tired. What took you so long outside?"
"Oh Angela was bugging me about all the cigarettes on the ground and she wants everybody visiting me to park along the fence."
"Okay. I can do that."
John changed his clothes quickly and grabbed his keys. They headed down the stairs.
"Hold up! I forgot my purse with my medicine."
"Okay go get it." John walked over to his car and got in waiting for her. She walked out and he sat there watching her walk down the stairs.
"What are you looking at?" She asked when she caught his gaze.
"The most beautiful girl in the world." He grinned.
"I know you're lying but you make me feel like I am so beautiful when I'm with you." She smiled back.
"Well it's the truth. Let's get out of here." She hopped in they headed down the road with the beautiful view of the beach laid out before them. As they pulled into Richie's driveway she seemed a little distant.
"We don't have to stay long." John looked over at her, pulling up next to Richie's car.
Ashley glanced over and saw Stacey's jeep. "Stacey's here." She seemed a little happier as she walked up to the door with John.
Richie flung the door open. It's about time you showed up." He greeted them as they walked into his house.
Stacey came over to her. "Are you okay? Richie said you weren't feeling well."
"Yeah I had another headache, but I'm better now."
"Good I was worried about you."
Richie made up a couple drinks and sat them on the bar for him and Stacey. John grabbed a beer and started to barely sipped it.
"How's it going? You feel any better? Richie asked plopping down beside John on the couch.
"I don't know. Not really yet."
"Why you sipping on that thing? You're usually on your third by now."
"I'm not supposed to drink at all with the shots. I been a little out of it since I got them. A little dizzy and shit."
"Maybe you should call your doctor."
"He said that was a side effect. I'll be fine. I just don't want Ashley to worry, so I didn't say anything to her."
"Well your secret's safe with me, but be careful. Aren't those shots high powered? Your scrawny body is probably overloaded!" Richie laughed.
"Oh haha. You're so damn funny!" John laughed sarcastically.
Ashley walked up. "What about your scrawny body?" She smiled.
"Hey you said I was so fine earlier?" He replied pointing at her.
"Oh you are probably one of the hottest guys I've ever seen." She smiled.
"Probably?" He seriously asked and faked that he was hurt.
"Oh lord I need another beer just for listening to all this shit! Richie jumped up heading to the fridge.
"My lord you are stuck on yourself! You know you are gorgeous and I am totally attracted to you. You just want me to keep saying it." Ashley grinned over at him.
He pulled her over to him. "Well actually." He started to whisper. "I'd rather you show me later, if you're feeling better." His heated breath against her ear sent shivers down her spine.
She looked into his dreamy blue eyes. "I do feel a little better so maybe." She smiled.
"Good." He replied and took another sip of his beer.
"John I heard the doctor tell you no alcohol!" She looked at him with questioning eyes.
"It's just a few sips baby! Calm down! It ain't going to kill me! Do you want one? I'll get it for you."
"No, my stomach's a little unsettled. No more just the one beer. Okay? I want you to get better."
Ash do you want a beer?" Richie asked walking up to her and John.
"I already asked. She's being antisocial tonight." John chuckled.
"Stop it John!" She laughed. "No I'm good, but thanks."
"Well I could fix you a mixed drink. I don't have any champagne."
"I'm fine really, but thanks. Sometimes I feel like I need an alcoholics anonymous meeting after hanging out with y'all." She laughed.
"Well okay then, suit yourself."
Richie looked up at someone entering the room. "Damn it Sabo! Stay out of my Dad's liquor cabinet! He's already crawled my ass earlier about somebody drinking his last bottle of gin!"
"Sorry man I didn't know. Here's the bottle of rum I swiped back."
"Okay I'm sorry."
"Where are your folks man." John asked laying back on the couch getting comfortable.
"My aunt called her pipes busted and she needed my Dad to turn the water off and try to fix it."
"Dang man that's bad. I hope he can get it fixed." John spoke and then finished off his beer.
Stacey was sipping her drink when she noticed Ashley deep in thought, staring off into space. "What's wrong Ash?"
"Nothing she faked a smile."
"Come on now I know when you are upset. I know you better than anyone."
"Let's go outside." Ashley stood up.
"Okay." Stacey turned to Richie. "We'll be right back."
"Okay darlin." He smiled through the mild buzz he was already feeling.
They walked out by John's car and leaned up against it. "What is it?" Stacey asked dying from suspense.
"This can't be happening to me!" Ashley began to pace back and forth running her hands through her hair.
"What can't? What the heck are you talking about?" Stacey questioned and grabbed her shoulder to stop her. "Look at me! What's going on?"
"John's going to kill me! I'm late!" Ashley looked into her eyes with sheer terror showing on her face.
"What do you mean you're late? As in your period is late?" Stacey asked totally shocked and dumbfounded.
"Yes that's exactly what I mean!" She was almost in tears.
"Just how late are we talking honey?"
"One day short of three whole weeks!"
"Oh my God! Ashley why didn't you tell me?"
"God I was just hoping it wasn't true! I was hoping it was my nerves or something else with everything that's been going on. I tried to put it out of my mind, but I've been feeling so nauseous and sick! Oh my God Stacey! What am I gonna do if I'm pregnant with John's baby too?"
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