* * * * *
“Mr. Martin, I’m afraid you have a crushed ankle and a bruised rib.” The doctor in the Greenwich hospital, Doctor Raynor informs Andrew.
“That’s just great news.” Andrew exclaims sarcastically.
Dr. Raynor frowns. “You should be happy. Your friend has it worse. He’s got – “Dr. Raynor glances down at his paper, “ – 4 broken ribs, 2 bruised ribs and a slight concussion.”
Andrew opens his eyes wide with amazement. “Wow.. He’ll be okay though, right?”
The doctor nods. “Yeah, I say give him about 2-3 months to fully recover.”
Andrew shakes his head sadly. “Poor Stevie… All he wanted to do was fit in and help some friends..”
* * * * * *
“Ashlee, let me in!” Joey pounds on the bathroom door.” Please!?”
“NO!” she shouts.
Joey stops pounding on the door. “Listen, sweetie, I’m sorry. I-I don’t know what came over me. I couldn’t help myself.”
“I don’t care! I am not coming out and that’s final!”
“Ash, please don’t make me break my own door down.”
She laughs. “Ha! You break it? Please.. don’t hurt yourself trying.”
Silence on the other end. “J-Joey?” No answer. Hmm, maybe he finally decided to leave me alone.
She sits in silence for a couple of minutes until
she hears Joey return.
“You’ve forced me to do this Ash…”
He couldn’t possibly break the door down, could he? She questions herself.
Seconds later her question is answered as the door slams open. Joey looks at her, frowning. In his hand he’s holding a pair of handcuffs.
She stares at him worriedly. “W-what do you plan to do with those??”
“These here handcuffs?” She nods. “I bought them especially for this occasion. They’re going to keep you from running away from me. Could be used for other things as well…” he smiles.
“Joey.. please, you don’t want to do this…” she pleads with him.
“Oh yes I do.” He approaches her and in one quick movement, he’s got her hand handcuffed. He puts the other cuff on his hand and tugs it, forcing her to walk into him.
“You should be happy Ash, seeing as how this is the first day of the rest of your life!”
“No it’s not Joey! It’s the absolute worst day of my life!” Ashlee whines, stepping away from Joey as far as the cuffs permit her too.
“Aww Ash, that’s not true! Now come over here and give your Joey a hug!” He opens his arms, inviting her.
She shakes her head defiantly. Joey frowns, approaching her. Suddenly the phones rings and Ashlee breathes a sign of relief. Safe! But for how long??
Joey makes his way to the loud ringing phone,
dragging Ashlee behind him.
“Helloooo?” Joey asks, picking the phone up. “Oh, hi Shane-O. Uh-huh, yeah, it’s going great. We had one little incident though.” Joey glances over at Ashlee as he says that, who rolls her eyes at him.
He continues talking to Shane. “It was nothing
really. I’m just going to need a new bathroom door now. Oh
you can? Great! Thanks, I appreciate it. Um, Shane? Can
I ask you a favor? Yeah, just a tiny one.”
Ashlee glares at Joey suspiciously.
What’s he up to?? she questions herself.
“Yeah, I just want you to go check up on Andrew
and Stevie, if you get my drift. Uh-huh. I don’t want them
finding us over here and interrupting our little, um, celebration.
You can? Ah, that’s great Shane! I owe you man! Thanks.
What? Yeah, I’ll call later. Bye!”
He hangs up and smirks at Ashlee.
“WHY did you do THAT for?!!” She shouts, stepping towards him. “I gave you your kiss, so you had no right to do that!”
“Yes I do. I don’t want them coming here ruining our fun!”
“FUN?! I do not call this fun! I call this torture!” Ashlee shrieks.
Joey places a finger on her lips, trying to silence her. “Shhh, shhh sweetie. We don’t want to be getting all riled up yet, now do we?”
She glares at him, not saying a word. “There’s that’s better now.” Joey comments, removing his finger from her lips. He suddenly yawns, realizing how tired he is. “Oh wow.. I’m so incredibly tired. I think it might be time to go to bed…” He suggests, winking at her.
She tries to stifle a yawn, but realizing how tired she is too, she lets it go. “I suppose you’re right..”
He nods and starts to head toward his bedroom, pulling Ashlee along. Seconds later they reach his room. He opens the door and pulls her inside. Once they’re both in, he quickly shuts the door behind him.
“W-wait a minute. You don’t think I’m actually going to sleep in the same bed as you, do you?”
“You have no choice. If you think I’m taking these cuffs off, you’re crazy!” Joey argues.
Ashlee goes to reply, but finds herself yawning instead. Oh what the hell.. Hopefully it’ll be just for this one night. “Fine, fine.”
Joey grins at her then brings her over to the bed. She lays down and immediately turns over as far on her side as she possibly can. Her back, of course, facing Joey. He lays down beside her and places an arm around her.
“Ashlee?”
“What?” she groans.
He’s quiet for a moment, but then finally answers. “I-I love you..”
Ashlee turns over to her other side so that she
faces him. She sees him grinning at her wickedly. “I knew that’d
get you to face me.”
She rolls her eyes at him and goes to turn back
to her side, but he quickly grabs onto her arm, holding her in place.
“I don’t want your back to me. I want your loving face to be the
last thing I see when I got to sleep, and the first thing I see when I
wake up.” He explains. She sighs and shakes her head, not replying.
I’m too tired to argue.. she thinks to herself, falling to sleep.
“Good…” he leans over and kisses her lightly on the forehead. He,
too, then falls asleep with a smile on his face.
* * * * * *
Andrew sits in the chair next to Stevie’s bed, tapping his finger impatiently. He looks over at Stevie. He’s lucky he can sleep.. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to rest until I know what Joey’s done to Ashlee.. Andrew glances at his watch. Damn, 11:30 already?! He sighs, hoping that today would be the last day Ashlee would be stuck with Joey. He leans his head back and stares up at the ceiling, his eyes drooping. Seconds later he’s fast asleep.
* * * * * * *
Ashlee blinks rapidly, trying to adjust to the sudden bright sunlight streaming into the room. She focuses her attention to Joey, to her relief, is still asleep. Good.. Maybe I can get out of these cuffs now. She lifts her cuffed hand lightly, not wanting to disturb Joey. First, she tries to just slip her hand out of the cuff, but it’s no use. Her hand is too big. She sits up slightly and looks around the room. I wonder if there’s anything I can use to pick the lock… After a few minutes of searching she sighs heavily. Suddenly, a thought pops into her head. Wait a minute! The key! Joey’s gotta have it on him somewhere..
She looks at him disgusted. Ugh, I have to touch him?!
“Oh well, here goes nothing.”
Ashlee slowly reaches toward Joey’s pants pocket. She moves her hand inch by inch to the pocket until she’s right near the opening of it. She looks at Joey, and seeing that he’s still sound asleep, proceeds to put her hand in his pocket. She’s got two fingers in when a hand suddenly grabs her wrist, frightening her.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Joey asks, a smirk on his face.
“I-I, uh, nothing?” Ashlee stutters.
“That’s what I thought.” He looks at her hand that he’s holding. “Getting a little touch-feely there, eh Ash?”
“Eeewww, no! All I wanted was the key to the cuffs.” Ashlee explains, yanking her hand out of his grasp.
He grins. “Oh, the key? I don’t have it.”
She looks at him surprised. “W-what do you mean?”
“Shane-O’s got it, not me!”
Her jaw drops. “You’re kidding me right?”
He shakes his head. “Nope.”
“You’re gonna get it back though, right?”
“Yeah, later today. But for now..” his grin grows wider.
“Um.. I don’t like that look on your face Joey..”
He doesn’t reply, but instead gets up on his hands and knees. While crawling toward Ashlee, a mischievous look comes across his face.
“J-Joey? What do you think you’re doing?”
Before she can get an answer, Joey jumps on her. She tries to move, but can’t because Joey’s sitting on her.
“Get off of me!” Ashlee shouts, trying with all her might to push him off, but he doesn’t move. “Nuh uh. I like it here.” Joey says, looking down and smiling at her. “You and I are gonna have some fun…” he explains, leaning down and kissing her.
“NO!” she shrieks, but her cries are unheard.
* * * * *
Andrew wakes up, gasping. Stevie, who’s already awake and is sitting up in his bed, lets out a startled gasp.
“Something’s wrong. Really wrong.” Andrew says, wiping the sweat off his forehead with the back of his hand.
“There is something wrong Andrew! Ashlee’s been kidnapped and forced to wed Joey!”
Andrew stands up and ignores the pain searing through his leg. “I know that. But Joey’s done something to her, or is at least trying to.”
“Wow. You don’t think…??” Stevie suggests, worriedly.
“I pray to God not.” Andrew replies, heading toward the door with a heavy limp.
“Where are ya going?” Stevie asks.
“To a phone. I used to be friends with Shane, so I have his cell phone number.” Andrew answers, exiting the room.
* * * * *
“Ring, ring!”
Shane jumps up surprised. Damn phone! He checks his watch. 12:20 in the afternoon already?!
“I should pick it up.. It could be Joey..” Shane smirks, imagining what Joey could have done to Ashlee already.
“Hello?” Shane says into the phone.
“Shane, I want you to tell me where Ashlee is.”
“Oh Andrew!” Shane chuckles. “Is that you?”
“You know very well it’s me!” Andrew snarls.
“Is that anyway to talk to an old friend?”
“Shane, where is Ashlee?” Andrew asks sternly.
“You really want to know?”
“Of course I do.”
“Well..” Shane pauses for a moment. “I’ll tell you. She’s with Joey and that’s all you need to know!” Shane replies with humor in his voice.
Andrew sighs, frustrated. “Shane, I know that. But, where does he have her?”
“Oh, I dunno. They could be on a plane to Hawaii.. they could be anywhere!”
“Quit it with the game, Shane.” Andrew commands.