Chapter 4: Goodbye Isn't Forever
August 1992
It was the summer leading into Ashley and my sophomore year. John was going to be a junior this year. He and Ashley had spent every moment they could together since they had gotten together 8 months before. It was an ordinary day I was playing a game of checkers with Lucas. Ashley was laying with John on the porch swing. They both had their eyes closed enjoying each other's company.
Mom came outside, "John your mother just called she wants you to get home right away"
"I wonder what she wants" John said as he got up.
"You want me to come with you?" Ashley asked.
"Of course I do" John kissed her forehead.
They walked away holding hands.
"I still think it's gross when they do that" Lucas said.
"You aren't the only one little brother now move a checker before I get bored at start flicking them at you".
Lucas being a rather immature 8 year old stuck his tongue out at me then moved his checker. I ended up winning the game.
Ashley came home a little while later looking gloomy. I opted to ask her what was wrong, of course she snapped at me. I sighed and took it. Sometimes I wondered what it would be like if Ashley and I were close, but the more I tried the more she pulled away.
She went inside the house and about an hour later Maddie showed up. Maddie was Ashley's closest confidant.
"What's up?" I asked Maddie.
"Apparently John has been accepted to a boarding school at the beginning of the next school year" Maddie explained.
"She must be really upset because those two are practically joined at the hip" I said.
"She has had her better moments" Maddie said.
"We should kick my parents and Lucas out of the house and have an all girl slumber party to try to cheer her up" I suggested.
"That might not be a bad idea" Maddie agreed.
So it was decided I asked my parents to take Lucas out to dinner and then to a movie. Of course I had to explain to them the problem. They agreed but they made me promise that we wouldn't make a mess and there were absolutely no boys in the house.
My parents left and Maddie and I had to drag Ashley from our room.
"Ash this is the best medicine" Maddie said.
"How is this the best medicine, it's the same tired stuff we do all the time?" Ashley asked.
"Addie can you please help me?" Maddie asked.
"I have to agree Ash I mean you still have me and Maddie to keep you company and it's not like he is moving to England or anything" I said.
"But I won't be able to see him everyday" she whined.
"That could be a good thing I mean you could meet new friends or join a sports team" I suggested.
"This is not helping" Ashley said.
"Addie has a point"
It was kinda funny we all had nicknames, Madeline was Maddie, my name was Adrian but everyone called me Addie, Ashley was Ash to everyone except John who called her Shel. We were in the middle of watching Dirty Dancing when there was a knock on the door. I got up to answer it.
"John you shouldn't be here" I said. "my parents said no boys"
"So" he smiled.
"Fine whatever I know nothing" I said letting him in.
He walked into the living room.
"Hey" he said nervously.
I sat down next to Maddie who was currently glaring at John.
"Hi" Ashley replied.
"Can we talk…in private?" he asked.
"No whatever you gotta say you can say in front of us" Maddie said.
"Yeah sure John let's go to my room" Ashley said.
"What the fuck!" Maddie exclaimed. "how are we gonna know what they are saying?"
"Maddie you are an idiot" I said. I went into a draw in the kitchen and pulled out Lucas's old baby monitor.
"You are smart" Maddie said.
"Yep and now you get to turn the other one on" I smirked.
"Where is it?" she asked.
"It's next to my bed" I replied.
I turned our monitor on and waited patiently to hear voices. I heard the click and then I heard Maddie excusing herself from the room.
"You sure this is gonna work?" Maddie asked when she returned downstairs.
"Shh, I'm trying to listen" I said.
"Shel I know you are mad that I didn't tell you about Cushing Academy but I really didn't think I was gonna get in" John explained.
"But you did and now you are leaving" Ashley remarked.
"We still have 2 weeks to be together" John reasoned.
"How do I know you won't find someone better than me?" Ashley asked. Her voice was cracking a little.
"Baby there is no one better than you…I love you" he said.
"Oh John I love you too" Ashley said happily.
Maddie and I turned off the monitor when we heard them start kissing.
"I can't believe he told her he loved her" Maddie said "that was so romantic"
"Damn makes you kinda wish you had a man doesn't it?" I asked.
"Yeah… hey wait a minute that made me sound kinda desperate" Maddie said.
"You said it not me" I replied.
"Well what about you?" Maddie asked.
"Don't tell anyone but Marc asked me to be his girlfriend" I gushed happily.
"Are you freakin serious!" Maddie exclaimed.
"Maddie you are a year younger than me and Ash wait a little while" I said.
"No, Ash is dating Cena and you have the cousin… what about me?" Maddie asked.
"Chill" I said.
"I wonder what they are doing up there" Maddie said.
"I don't think I want to know" I said.
The next morning Maddie and I got our answer. Ashley and John did absolutely nothing. It's actually a funny story, they fell asleep and my parents found them like that. Let's just say Ashley and I were grounded for a while for having a boy in the house. But I was happy knowing my sister was happy.