A/N: This chapter does contain some sexual references.
Chapter 5: Soul Mates
February 1993
John left for school, Ashley was depressed but she lived. He was home every other weekend and for a while that seemed to be enough. Valentine's day was coming up and Ashley hadn't heard from John all week. She was getting more and more irritated by the day. So finally Valentine's day was here. John's brothers Matt and Steve came over at about 3 saying that John called and said he couldn't make it to home to spend the day with Ashley. They told her that they felt bad and were taking her to a movie. If she was thinking correctly she would have seen right through this act, now Matt would do something like that but Steve wouldn't. Of course she didn't want to go but they were very persuasive what I mean by this is that Steve literally threw her over his shoulder and carried her out of the house. Matt winked at me on the way out, I knew something had been planned. Years later as I was sifting through my sister's things I found a dairy that she had left. In it she talked about what happened on her and John's first Valentine's day.
I sat in the backseat of Matt's car. I was less than thrilled that John wasn't coming home. In the back of my mind I was always afraid that he would find someone better than me but he always told me that would never happen. I was so deep in thought that I didn't even notice where I was. The car stopped and I got out of the car.
"Guys where are we?" I asked.
"You'll see" Steve replied putting a blind fold on me.
"What the hell is going on!" I exclaimed "and what is with the blind fold?"
Matt gently led me into the building. About halfway inside the building we met up with John who was grinning from ear to ear. John took over leading me the rest of the way to our destination.
"What the hell guys haven't I been through enough, John is too busy to spend time with his girlfriend and now you two idiots are kidnapping me" I complained. I still had no idea that Matt and Steve had left and it was now John who was guiding me somewhere.
John said nothing he just kept leading me. Finally he stopped me from moving. He nudged me forward I guessed at that point that I was being led into a room. He took the blindfold off but the light of the room hurt my eyes so I kept them closed.
"Open you eyes" he whispered.
I did and a smile instantly appeared on my face. I threw my arms around John's neck.
"I'm guessing you missed me" he said.
"You are a jerk, I was really upset when I thought I wasn't going to see you" I said.
"Now did you really think I would let my girlfriend be alone on V-tine's day?" he asked.
"No" I replied.
I looked around the room.
"It's not as nice as my room at home but it serves it's purpose" John said.
"So your idiot brothers brought me to your school?" Ashley asked.
"Yes I have the next day and a half all planned out" John said.
"Do my parents know I'll be spending the night here?" she asked.
"Yes but I told them that you'd be staying with a female friend of mine named Liz" John replied.
"So Boo Berry what do you want to do first?" I asked.
"Shel, you know you aren't supposed to call me that when people are around to hear" John said.
"But I call you Boo Berry because you are sweet like the cereal" I said.
"What ever and I want to do anything as long as it is with you" he said.
"I just want to spend the day with you I don't care if we don't leave this room" I said.
"I was hoping you would say that so I paid my roommate Rob $50 so he'd stay away from the room while you are here" John told me.
I laughed "you are a naughty boy aren't you?"
"I didn't say a word I just wanted to be with you… we don't have to do anything if you don't feel ready" he said.
"John I may be young but I know that I will love you for the rest of my life" I said " you are the only person I want to give my whole self to"
"Are you really sure?" he asked.
I took a deep breath and nodded.
"I'm new at this too so don't be scared" John said.
"I'm not scared" I replied.
The thought of sex scared and interested me at the same time. I was scared to death of that connection that giving yourself to another person involved. But I trusted John with everything in me.
He pulled me into his arms. His lips met mine but unlike all the other times we had kissed it kiss was harsh and demanding, the hungry and lustful side of John was coming out. I pulled away from him.
"I'm sorry" he said.
"It's ok I just need a minute" I said.
"We don't …" I placed my finger over his lips.
"I want to but let's just take it slow"
Lying in John's arms later on I thought about what we had done. It was awkward and very painful but I was glad that it was with John. I don't think I will ever regret this moment because I know that John and I are soul mates and that is all that matters.