***Four Months Later***
Ashley finished wrapping the small box, gently placing it under the Christmas Tree. It was Christmas Eve, and she was getting ready for Drew to come home for the holidays. "Home" was Drew's house, which Ashley found herself sleeping at more often than her own house. Not that she minded of course!
It had been four months since that magical night when Drew and Ash first met at the WWF show. A lot had changed since then, for both of them. They had grown closer over the months, despite Drew being on the road constantly. No matter how long he was away for, no matter how long Ashley had to wait at home alone for his calls, the time apart seemed to draw them closer. They were in love, that was obvious, not only to themselves but everyone around them. Ashley had become great friends with Drew's close group of friends, Amy in particular. The two were constantly out together whenever they were in the same area. It was becoming a regular thing for Ashley to travel to different areas with Drew and the rest of the WWF when she didn't have a set project. When she was home, however, her time was spent working, talking on the phone to Drew or hanging out with Allanah, Denise and Jessica, the girlfriend and wives of Adam, Jay and Chris, respectively.
The new found group of friends were as close as eas in a pod, as Chris often called them, and all the boys were protective of not only their partners, but also their friends. Such were the acts that closed the gap in the close knit group, whose bond often seemed thicker than blood. Nothing could get in between the girls, and nobody had ever dared to separate them. Until now.
As Ashley was putting the finishing touches of her make up on, the phone rang in the next room. Too lazy and preoccupied to run and get it, she let the answering machine pick it up. But when she ventured downstairs to listen to the message, she would wish she had answered the call in the first place.
She pressed the button, to hear a female voice wanting to speak to Drew.
"Hi Drew, it's Juliette here, I was just calling to ask how you are and thank you for a great night last week. I had a really great time, we'll definitely have to do that again next time your in Baltimore. I'll try again later, Merry Christmas, Buh Bye."
Ashley hit the replay button, not wanting to believe her ears right now. As the machine replayed the message from "Juliette", the same message that shattered her whole world in seconds, she sunk to the floor, her knees tucked up under her trembling body, the tears becoming too much to handle as they poured down her face.
******
Drew opened his front door about an hour later, looking into the dining room to see a candle light dinner ready on the table.
"Yum yum yum, somebody's been busy!" He chuckled, walking further into the house, dropping his bag on the floor in the process.
"Ash, were are you babe?"
He walked into the living room to see Ashley sitting there, staring back at him with a blank look on her tear stained face.
"Babe, what happened?? Are you okay??Whats wrong?" A concerned Drew asked his girlfriend, rushing to her side.
Ashley remained silent as she held out a single hand, stopping Drew in his tracks, slightly pushing him back from the couch.
"Dont come near me!" She said, an eerily calm edge to her voice.
"But..whats wrong?"
Ashley said nothing as she got up off the couch, silent tears running down her cheeks as she pressed the play message button on the answering machine, her heart breaking as she did. She remained silent as she picked up her own bag beside the door, running to her car, the slick rain and snow mixing together with the salt tears running down her face. Her eyes were swollen and red, she was in no condition to drive, but she needed to get out of here.
Meanwhile, inside, Drew listened to the message, a puzzled look on his face. His first instinct was to run after Ashley, but something was telling him to listen to the message.
"You have one new message....Hi Drew, it's Juliette, I was just calling....."
It was then Drew heard Ashley pull out of the driveway, and it was then he realised what it was that had Ashley so upset. He mentally slapped himself, angry that he hadn't told Ash about Juliette in the first place. Tears stung his eyes as he realised she wasn't coming back, the silence she had given him was more of a reality check than any words could ever be.
He sunk down on the couch, letting his feelings get the better of him. The women he loved, the girl of his dreams had just run out of his life over a misunderstanding and he couldn't do anything about it. He knew the way Ashley worked, her philosophy was : "No guy is worth crying over, and the one who is will never make you cry". He obviously wasn't the right guy then, or at least she thought so. But how could they not be, they were perfect together! God, why hadn;t he just told her about Jules?? One stupid mistake had cost him the best thing in his life.
As Drew pondered his mistake, the silver wrapping on the small box under his Christmas Tree caught his eye. He leant over and picked the small box up. He opened the card and read it, wiping away the tears that kept on falling.
It read : Dear Drew,
Merry Christmas!!! I got you, well actually us, this present to symbolise the love we have for each other. They are both matching, the only difference is the size and name engraved in them. As soon as I saw them, I knew they were perfect. I hope you like it. I know that when I wear mine, you will be in my thoughts and heart, more than now. I hope you knwo I love you, with each and every breathe I take, more and more each day!
Love always,
Your belle, Ashley.
He ripped open the paper to find two matching silver rings, each with the celtic design engraved aound the outside, the same design he had shown Ashley one day while they were shopping. On the inside of the rings, the word "forever" was engraved. More tears slipped down his cheeks as he put the ring on, a perfect fit. He lay down on the couch, falling asleep clutching Ashley's ring, the meotional distress of the day getting the better of him.
