Lance watched on in surprise and dismay as Ash and the gorilla, Johnny or something, danced to the pulsing beat of the music. There had been a local competition for musicians to get recognized and possibly signed. Of course the team from moon theater decided to enter. Lance had as well, thinking that he and Becky had a chance. They failed in the first round. They got to stay on, and enjoy the rest of the bands or acts though. Both Ash and Johnny made it to the final round of course. Neither won, that went to another theater, but they were just glad Moon theater got some recognition. Now, the pair were dance, together, without a care in the world. Lance honestly thought Ash would fail without him. The girl had no real talent, couldn't keep a beat, and didn't have confidence in her own music. Yeah, she was fantastic on the guitar, but that only got someone so far. You had to have greatness in you, like himself. Or, at least that's what he thought. In-spite of not winning, Ash and her companions had all been approached by a record label, all of them interested in the group. Lance got absolutely nothing, even when he went up to a lady and tried to sweet talk her into signing him. The only thing she did was give him a look of contempt and disgust.
Ash, unlike him, was actually making it. A little slowly, but steadily enough to actually have several offers. So far, she had turned them down, wanting to stay with the moon theater. Lance frowned when he finally realized two things. One: Ash finally had a support system, even after he tried to isolate from everything. Her friends, her foster parents, were all obstacle's to their goals of a music career. Second: Ash found someone new, in the form of a six foot gorilla. Johnny was completely focused on her, ignoring every pretty girl that tried to dance up to him. Several were gorgeous looking female gorilla's, all in tight or revealing clothing. Sometimes both. Johnny would smile, keep his eyes on their faces, be as polite as possible, before turning back to Ash. The ladies would leave moments later when they realized the stood no chance next to the petite porcupine. They shot her jealous looks, but seemed understanding.
When a slow song finally popped up, Lance watch as Johnny pick Ash up into his arms, slowly dancing with her, even if he was doing all of the work. Ash only cuddled close, burying her face into Johnny's strong neck. Lance also noticed that the large gorilla held Ash like she was fine china, his large hands not straying to anyplace that they didn't belong. Lance remembered vividly that he would touch Ash where ever he deemed fit. It wasn't until Becky slapped him that he realized those kind of moves weren't okay. He had idly wondered why Ash never stopped him, and came to the sudden realization that Ash had tried, but he just ignored her or talked her into it.
Ash, he realized in this competition, had been the perfect girl, kind, caring, and doting. The young female porcupine loved to take care of others, and Lance, like fool, over stepped his boundaries, expecting his girlfriend to give up all of herself while he was stuck with his lot in life. Like Becky. Lance felt like shooting himself as it struck in his mind that Ash had never needed him, only herself, and she was thriving because of it. The people at Moon theater didn't dampen her creativity, they encouraged it and gave her space to exercise it. He never did that for the girl.
"I'm an idiot," Lance mumbled to himself as he turned back to his whiskey glass to he wouldn't have to watch Johnny dance with his former girl.