Ashley lay on his bunk where he had taken to hiding from the half dressed females outside. He had his iPod on blaring KISS into his head phones. His cell was in his lap as he waited for Micha to get home from class and message him. He had a sketch pad on his lap while he tried to capture with pencils the laughter in her eyes, the fire in her hair, and the wickedness in her smile. His lip was trapped between his teeth as he worked. He could hardly believe it had been just over a week since he had seen her.
"Ashley there's something we have to talk about before I leave." She told him.
"What is it?" he asked.
"You're well… your rather renowned for your debaucherous behavior." He smiled it was to easy for him to forget that she was such a nerd when she stood in front of him dressed like an outcast.
"It bothers you?"
"Well… I mean… I love you how you are, licentiousness and all but I really don't want to share you."
"I swear that I'm not going to cheat on you Love."
"It's not your intent I am concerned for." She made a nervous gesture as if she was pushing up non existent glasses.
"Then what is it?"
"You've built yourself up this lecherous life style… I'm worried it wont be as easy as you think to step back from it."
"It doesn't matter how hard it is. I can do it, for you. If it gets to hard I'll just run back to you. I have cash now, I can do stuff like that." She shook her head a small smirk playing on her lips.
"I'm worried that on top of being an alcoholic you're probably a nymphomaniac."
"Who said I'm alcoholic?" he said looking offended.
"This is a conversation we will have later, when I have more time."
"Fine. I'll stay clean and you will too. I love you how you are. I don't want you to be like all the other girls running around."
"I promise to stay nerdy and not become a slut." She said with a perfectly straight face that made him laugh, "remember I love you and your lasciviousness just save it for me. Don't change who you are. You're a deviant and a bad boy and well I'll let you rebel for me."
"I'll see you as soon as I can." Ash said pulling her into his arms.
"I'll miss you."
"It wont be long at all…" he said knowing it was going to feel like a very, very long time.
Ashley was pulled back into the present by a pounding on the bus door. He gently set aside his picture and climbed out of his bunk. He still had a small smile on his face from his memory of Micha. He had always reveled at the little imp-like nature that lurked behind her sweet and smart exterior. He was pretty sure that was what made her so damn attractive. She was calm in his tempestuous world but she had a spark of mischievousness that made her exciting as well. He wondered what about his 'debaucherous' nature appealed to her so. He was pretty sure part of it was his veritable inability to get mad. Micha had a record for infuriating people. He was still exploring, mentally, just how deep her mischievousness might go as he answered the door.
"Ashley," there was a girl there. Damn. As the days had gone by he had seriously started putting count into Micha's theory that he might be a sex addict. His solution to the problem was avoiding women. He really wasn't sure what else he could do.
"Yea?" He said. He stared directly over her head. She was HOT. No denying it, she had huge boobs and was barely wearing any clothing.
"I was wondering if you could sign me?" She said holding out a permanent marker and gesturing towards her chest.
"Sure" he said. He felt heat race through his body as she brushed her hand, rather intentionally against his. He tried to ignore the fire in his body. The feeling that told him just how long it had been since he had had a women in his bed. He scrawled his name across her chest and shoved the marker back in her hand. He needed to get away from her and her fake boobs. He repressed a disgusted face, fake boobs were just wrong.
"Ash," she said setting a hand on his bare shoulder. He felt his breath hitch.
"Yes?" he said. He knew that normally this would have been all it took he and this girl would be screwing each other in the back but now… things were different. He had Micha. He had what he wanted. Those thoughts didn't stop the heat he felt racing through him. He was pretty sure Micha was right, he was a sex addict, and right now he must be suffering 'cravings'.
"You look lonely." She said staring at him with big, fake blue, eyes.
"I'm fine, thanks," he said his voice was tight.
"A guy like you shouldn't be lonely."
"I have a girlfriend," he said removing her hand from his shoulder with all the control he had in his body.
"She really isn't treating you right." The girl said. "If it was me. You wouldn't be alone right now. She left you all alone. She's practically begging for her spot to be filled." Ashley shook his head. That wasn't right. He couldn't stop himself from examining her. She was hot. Dammit she was. She was closing in and he was powerless to move away. He started praying for Micha's forgiveness right then.
"Ash!" Andy's voice suddenly broke through the air, just as the girl's lips met his. 'o thank you god' Ashley thought.
"Get away from me," Ashley shoved the girl back. His breath was hard and heavy. He was shaking.
"What the hell." Andy said his deep voice angry.
"I just…" the girl started. Ashley imagined Andy giving her one of his glares because he heard the sound of her hurried footsteps heading away.
"Man are you alright?" Andy said laying a hand on Ashes shoulder.
"No." Ashley said his voice was horse for some reason.
"You look like you're going through withdraw." Andy said.
"I think I am." Ash said before turning and racing into the bus. He started throwing a bunch of his shit into a bag.
"Whoa, Ash, slow the hell down." Andy said following him in.
"No man," Ash said looking at Andy like a desperate man. "I have to get out of here. I'm going to really fuck up if I stick around."
"Fine." Andy could see the desperation on his friends face. "We have a big show next Friday in Cincinnati, be there." Andy said and walked out.
Ash headed out of the arena like there were demons on his trail… maybe there were. All he knew was that if he didn't do something fast he was going to break his promise to Micha. He couldn't do that. Not this time.
