Chapter 3: Iris (Goo Goo Dolls)
A/N: I really don't like the song but I thought it went well with this chapter. This is the First Chapter that you get to see Ashley; the majority of this chapter is flashback stuff. I really I'm not up on the way that a Lawyer would speak. So if I get anything wrong, you CAN SUE ME. Just Kidding, I have no money.
Back at the offices of Kerwin/Van Zandt/Nelson you hear someone talking loudly.
"Lady & Gentleman of the Jury. This is an open & shut case. One Tony's Auto Shop enacted hiring policies and business practices that have violated Canadian laws. He fired two mechanics who were of Muslim decent simply because they were praying to Mecca, this violates section 2 of the Canadian Charter or Rights & Freedoms. He would not hire a black mechanic because as witnesses will back up he" Would hire a black mechanic because he would steal parts and sell them on the black market". My clients only ask that the defendant would change his overall business' practices and attain sensitivity workshop so this cycle of hate will be broken. Thank You"
Ashley looks down at her tape recorder and rewinds the tape and plays it back. "Lady & Gentleman" she puts on a small frown. It is evident that she does not like to her the sound of her own voice. This is something that could be trace back to her days in high school. It was only that curly haired boy with that mischievous smile that helped her get over her little complexion. Then she began to think about the last day she say him in person, before he became that huge rock star that the world would soon know.
"Where are you taking me Manning," says Ashley who is in a blindfold
"No, I'm not gonna give you any hints. Why do you always try to bring down the romantic mood that I am trying to set," say Craig who is writing something down on a paper and gives to the cabbie.
The note says "Delacorte Theater, Central Park. Please don't say anything im going to proposed."
"Of Course, Kid anything you want," says the cabbie who smile at the happy couple
"Why does the cabbie get to know and im not me. I thought I was your girlfriend, shows how much you love me" says Ashley and as she crosses her arms and pouts.
"Look Ash, He gets to know because he is apart of my plan. Can you please a little faith me, I thought I was you boyfriend" says Craig as he touches his lips with hers.
Even with her blindfold on she knew every part of his face from memory so it was no surprise that she knew exactly where his lips were when she pulled him back to her and kiss him.
"I Love Craig" she says with her nose grazing his
"You will always be the love of my life Ash. You're my soulmate, and my best friend" he says as he pulls backs and reaches into his pockets and fills that tiny little box that will change their lives forever
She puts on her head on his shoulders and thinks to herself "this will always be the way I want it to"
"Anyways, don't you have to be at the studio recording your album, I mean Rick Rubin doesn't wait on anyone" says Ashley knowing that his career means everything to him
"I know that's why we finished it yesterday, so I could be here. 13 original tracks and one cover song, he said it reminded him of a young Fogerty, I told him he was out of mind, but its still a nice compliment. And he didn't seem to mind when I told him what I had planned, so he just smiled and said that we should push through so we could get it done sooner" Craig says this knowing that finally everything was falling into place
"Okay my love, you know I only have your best interest in mind" Ashley says while smiling
The cab reaches it's destination and they both get out. The cabbie says "20.17. You know what kid, I'm a sucker for love, and so it's on me. By the way I hope she says yes". " Thank you so much, and I hope so too" says Craig
Craig guides Ashley to the front of the stage and smiles at her. "Can I take this damn thing off already" Ashley says angrily.
"Not yet" says Craig as he gets on the stage, and picks up his guitar. "Now you can," he says as he put his guitar on.
She rips it off, which cause Craig to laugh. She looks all over and sees the theater being set up for a performance later that night. She is so happy to see such a familiar sight her man up there with his guitar playing for only one person is the audience, a thought enters her "this is the way that it should always be"
"Okay, look you know that I don't like this song, but I'm going to sallow my pride because I love you, and I know that you dig this song" Craig says who has a huge grin on his face. And he starts to play
And I'd give up forever to touch you'Cause I know that you feel me somehowYou're the closest to heaven that I'll ever beAnd I don't want to go home right now
And all I can taste is this momentAnd all I can breathe is your life'Cause sooner or later it's overI just don't want to miss you tonight
And I don't want the world to see me'Cause I don't think that they'd understandWhen everything's made to be brokenI just want you to know who I am
And you can't fight the tears that ain't comingOr the moment of truth in your liesWhen everything feels like the moviesAnd you bleed just to know you're alive
And I don't want the world to see me'Cause I don't think that they'd understandWhen everything's made to be brokenI just want you to know who I am
She has a smile that makes his heart stop and feel like he is in heaven. He regains his composure and continues to play.
And I don't want the world to see me'Cause I don't think that they'd understandWhen everything's made to be brokenI just want you to know who I am
And I don't want the world to see me'Cause I don't think that they'd understandWhen everything's made to be brokenI just want you to know who I am
I just want you to know who I amI just want you to know who I amI just want you to know who I am
He finished the song knowing that Ashley would love the song
He takes his guitar off and gets off the stage
Ashley runs to him and jumps into his arms. Smiling at each other and passionately kiss each other, now the both of them understand when Ben Gibbard wrote "Soul Meets Body", he meant that when both were working in unison that happiness was around the corner.
"This is so perfect Craig, I never thought I would ever be this happy in my entire life" Ashley says as she rubs her nose and lips against his.
"There is only way to complete this day" says Craig as he gets down on one knee
"Look Ash, You know my heart belongs to you, and I know that your heart is forever tied to me. I know that we both have made mistakes in this relationship, and I know that im impulsive and I don't things through but I have never been surer of anything in my life. I just finished my second album, I've been clean for two year, and I'm on my meds. You are on the Dean list, becoming a lawyer is what makes you happy, you're singing has never been better. I'm asking you to become my Wife, to become my partner for life. You are my muse, my inspiration; you are the reason I wake up in the morning and why I come home at night. Ashley Elizabeth Kerwin will you Merry Me" says Craig with a hopeful look on his face.
"Craig im so in love with you, you are everything I have ever wanted in a man, but I can't marry you. I mean don't get me wrong I eventually want to merry you someday but not right now. Not when everything is perfect, not when your career is going so well, not when school is good for me. What about when you go on tour, what school. How are suppose to build strong marriage when you're away, when I'm away" Ashley says this knowing that it's gonna break his heart. And she was about to proven right.
"Yea, of course what was I thinking, I had this perfect image in my head of our future. Me writing and singing the music I wanted to sing, you opening up your own practice and two maybe three amazing children who we would always love. Yea of course, I'm the crazy one I should check if I took my meds" Craig says this while angrily shutting the ring box and starting to walk away
Ashley stops him and says, "We will have that, we will have that perfect life but not now, I can't. Please baby can you understand that" with visible tear falling down her face
"Yea, look I need some time to think, this is all way to much" says Craig "I'm gonna go talk to Sean. Maybe he can help me think clearly"
"Okay you know I love you right" says Ashley as she tries to find his eyes.
"Yea I Know" says Craig who is visibly upset and can't help hiding his tears
"I hate myself right so much" Ashley says to herself
Flashing forwards in time to her office. A Small tear rolls down Ashley face as she thinking to herself "I should've said yes, why didn't I say to him, I wonder where the only man I've ever love is"
Liberty enters the office and says "Ashley we got court in an hour, we have to leave"
"Yea, let me get my stuff" she says while getting up. She grabs her briefcase and the move two of her fingers to her lips then puts to a picture then she leaves and closes the door behind her
The picture in question is one that she took of Craig in their New York apartment; in the picture he is sleeping peacefully. For someone who has gone through so much pain, Ashley would look at that the picture and smile and think to herself, that's the way she would want to see him. Peaceful and Happy.