Chapter 36: Don't Wanna Lose You Now
"Justin, man wake up!" JC urged him.
"What is it?" he asked grumbling..
"Was Melissa just here?" Justin thought. Man, she's so beautiful. So mature.
"What did you ask me?" Justin said sitting up.
"I asked was Melissa here?" JC asked angrily.
"Yeah, I guess she was!" Justin said. "No, man JC nothing happened. But it's like she's... she's everything to me." Justin said sighing.
"And what exactly does Ashley mean to you?" JC asked.
"She's everything. But Mel is-- I don't know what to do!" Justin said.
"I think you should follow
your heart man!" JC said leaving the room. Oh man,
Justin has gotten himself into a world win of
trouble. It'll be interesting how he gets himself out of it.
"Hey Mel, we gotta talk...." Justin said.
~*~
I met B-rok along with AJ
and Nick and Amanda for some basketball. Well the guys sort
of played. Except for AJ who just playing and flirting with
his long-time girlfriend.(I'm guessing they had gotten back
together.) The guys decided to give it a
break, at about 2:00 or so.
"You guys want anything?" I asked walking into my house. Me and my mom talked. I agree I would talk to Justin, if he called but I would still hang out with my friends which included Nick.
"Yeah, how about a margarita?" AJ said laughing.
"Sure, if you know how to make it!" I said raising my eyebrows.
"Okay, better make it asoda! Panda why don't you go and help her!" AJ said.
"Sure, I love it when you takecharge!" Amanda said laughing.
"So Ashley, you and Nick together again?" Amanda asked reaching for some glasses.
"Well not exactly! My relationship with Nick is a bit fuzzy! I don't know where the line ends or where the line begins!" I admitted.
"AndBrian? You know that boy is so sprung off of you! I mean, do you see the way he looks atyou? And the way you guys talk to each other, it seems like you've got this chemistrygoing on!" Amanda said raising her eyebrows and looking at me pointedly.
"No, me and Bri are
friends, that's it! You know you read too much into
things!" I said grabbing the sodas and heading out on
the deck.
"So, Nick I've seen you with this girl named
Julie." AJ said.
"Yeah, Julie's really sweet!But I'm not sure how Ashley's going to take it!" Nick said sighing. AJ looked at Brain but didn't say anything.
"Uh, Nick how do you think she is going to take it?" Brian asked.
"She'll be devastated!" Nick concluded.
"Oh I see!" Brian said.
"See what?" I asked him.
"Nicky here has got himself a girlfriend, named Julie!" AJ told me.
"Oh, congratulations Nick! I'm so happy for you!" I said and gave him a hug. All they guys started laughing.
"What's so funny?" I asked.
"Nothing!" Brian said. Then he did the weirdest thing, he threw me with my clothes on, into the pool. Everyone started laughing. I got out.
"Brian!!!! I'm gonna get you!" I said running still wet. The day ended up being a pool party .The day was great. I had fun. But tomorrow was school. Not one phone call from Justin for the next entire 5 days. He ALWAYS calls me at school.
~*~
"So, Justin did you call up Mel?" JC asked.
"Yeah I did," Justin said.
"Well whathappened?" JC asked getting up get some food from the refrigerator in the tour bus.
"Did you break it off with her?" he asked.
"This is what happened...."
~*~
The next day was hard. My cell didn't go off the entire 3 periods before lunch. That was really awkward for me.
So when I walked out of my class, my teacher Ms. William's asked: "Ashley dear, Are you and your boyfriend into a little fight?" she said it with such concern.
"No," I said and walked out. Almost in tears. I fled to my car. Thank God, for an off campus lunch. Because everyone I knew would say something.
"Hey Ashley, do you want to sit with us?" BJ offered.
"No, but thanks! I need sometime by myself." I told her. I drove to the nearest pizza shop.
"1 small pepperoni pizza, very little tomato sauce and grease please!" I told the waiter. Then low and behold my cell phone rang.
"Hello?" I asked.
"Hey Girl!" a voice said on the other line.
"Erica?" I screamed. "Oh my gosh! How are you?" I asked her happily.
"I'm just great! how's everything in LA?" she asked me.
"It's good, but I miss Florida." I admitted sadly.
"Well, guess what? I've got the totally perfect guy for you, JC!" she exclaimed. I winced.
"Erica, Um, aren't you forgetting about Justin?" I asked her.
"Justin who?" she asked angrily.
"Oh no, what did he do?" I asked.
"I saw him with this girl named Melissa, I've got all the info. When Nsync was in Florida for their tour, I went to a local clubs, She's 19 , bone-thin right? and he's been going on and on about her for the last couple of weeks. I would have told you sooner but I forgot your new cell number!" she said sadly.
"Oh okay, that's totally great! Right when I need him to the most he's gone! But you know for once, I'm not going to call, or cry! His loss!" I said taking a deep breath before asking. "So what else is happening in sunny Tampa?"
I could hear her deciding what she should be telling me. "Erica, don't hold back anything!" I exclaimed.
"Well, I've been dating this guy named Freddo Starr, he's this new up and coming actor. He's really sweet, Did I tell you Mandy got pregnant? Poor thing, had to drop out of school. Sad thing is she's slept with so many guys, she doesn't know who the father is." she said.
"So, is there a chance it could be Justin?" I asked her waiting for her answer.
"Oh no, that was months ago, she's only a couple weeks pregnant. Whoever the guy was it was recent.! You still love him don't you?" she asked sympathetically.
"Yeah, but it's obvious he doesn't love me! Now I really understand how Nick feels." I said to her. My pizza was ready, but I was in no mood to eat.
"Don't worry girl you'll get over it!!" She said encouragingly.
"So, what have you been doing for the last 3 months?" she asked curiously.
"Well, mostly been hanging out withBrian, shooting hoops with Bri, Um, taking care of little Tyke!" I said laughing.
"Which happens to be Brian's dog?" Erica said.
I could almost hear her saying "Someone's got a crush". I stopped her before she could.
"No, I don't like Brian. We're just good friends!" I said.
"Hmm, yeah, I could tell
right when he met you that he had some kind of physical
attraction, and now since you and Justin
are over and Leighanne and him are---" she stopped.
"Together. They are together. But separated." I said cutting her off. "Look girl, hold on, someone's on the other line." I said.
"It's probably Brian," she said laughing.
"Yeah right!" I said.
"Hello?" I asked wondering who was on the other line.
"Hey Ashley, it's me Justin." Justin said into the phone.
"Hold please," I growled back.
Erica, it's Justin, I want to see what kind of excuse he'll use this time. Call me later?" I said and clicked back to Justin.
"What is it? Come to tell me you've been cheating? Well spare me, I heard from my best friend. I at least thought you'd be a man and tell me to my face, but as I can see you even incapable of that." I said and hung up the phone.
The phone rang again. "Well, as I was about to say, I've got some news..I've met this girl, named Melissa, she's everything to me, and I still love you. But I love her too." hesaid waiting for my response. I was overcome with tears.
"So, why didn't you tell mesooner?" I said when I had finished crying.
"I didn't know how, she means a lot to meAsh, and I'm sorry to do this to you." he said sadly.
"Yeah well, today is not
my day!! But I understand, long distance relationships don't
work. So, it's fine with me if you want
to date her but just don't call me and pretend to care what's in
my life, you've broken my heart and cheated on me with Melissa, I
don't ever want o hear from you again. Tell the guys they can
call anytime." I said calmly.
"Ashley, please, I want to be in your life," hepleaded.
"Well, I need sometime by myself, OK?" I said.
"OK," he agreed.