Innocence
Innocence
Late night drives, all alone in my car
I can't help but start
Singing lines from all our favorite songs
And melodies in the air
Singin' life just ain't fair
Sometimes I still just can't believe you're gone – View From Heaven, Yellowcard
Chapter One
23-year old Ashlee Simpson-Wentz stood in her backyard, the light California wind blowing through her hair. She looked around her, the people who were most important in her life; her family and friends were all around. But the only one she couldn't spot was her new husband, Pete. She smiled, thinking of Pete. Sure, they'd only been married for 2 almost 3 weeks, but just thinking of him made her eyes light up and her heart jump. She was so in love with him. And today was all about him. Today her love turned 29 years old and she had planned this party just for him.
He had told her before their wedding that he hadn't wanted a party. Their wedding would be a big enough celebration to last them a life time. But she had done the opposite of what he wanted, because she knew he would appreciate it. He hadn't had much of a birthday last year because he had been on tour and globe trotting with her…she thought she owed it to him in the very, very least.
"Ash…" She heard. "Ash…" She turned around and saw her best friend, Lauren Zelman standing there.
"Sorry…" She shook her head, shaking her mind from her daydream. "What did you say?"
"I asked you when Pete was getting here…" She said softly.
"He should be here soon." Ashlee smiled. "Patrick called me about an hour ago and said they were on their way home."
Lauren nodded, smiled at her friend and walked away.
Ashlee placed her hand on her slightly protruding stomach and turned around, walking into the house she and Pete had just bought. She checked in on the caterers who were readying some dishes in the kitchen before going to the bathroom. When she walked out of the room, she heard the shrill ring of the phone coming from the living room, as well as the office. She quickened her steps to get to it, but heard a voice answer it before she could. She stood in the doorway of the office and watched as her mother answered the phone.
She bit her lip when she saw her mother's shoulders tense a little bit.
"Alright, I'll get her." She watched as her mother turned around. "Oh, there you are." She said softly. "The phone is for you."
Ashlee smiled a little and wordlessly took the black cordless phone from her mother.
"Hello?" She said into the phone. She rested her hand on her small stomach and waited for the person on the other side of the line.
"Hello Mrs. Wentz, this is the LAPD…"
Immediately, a groan lodged in the depths of her throat. She didn't like where this was going.
The phone ringing at 3:45am stirred both Pete and Ashlee out of their much needed slumber. They'd only gotten to sleep under an hour ago, being that they were very much in the honeymoon period of their married lives. Pete reached over to answer the annoying phone.
"Hello?" Ashlee cuddled into this side and closed her eyes, letting the steady hum of his voice lull her almost to dream land.
"Yes this is Pete Wentz…what? Tyga..." She heard. "Tyga Man." She heard him sigh. "His name is Tyson…no I don't know his last name. all I know is he's supposed to have my car…"
"Ma'am, there's been an accident…"
"Accident?" She whispered. She felt her mom's hand on her back. "What, what kind of accident…"
"Ma'am you're husband has been involved in a serious car accident. We need you to meet us down at UCLA Medical Center…"
Ashlee felt her head begin to spin. She dropped the phone to the ground and practically collapsed. She felt someone catch her, and to be honest she wasn't sure who it had been. But someone had broken her fall.