A/N: Thanks again for all of the reviews. And for those that came out of the wordwork to review, thanks...but you SO didn't have to give up your lurker persona...so head on back in! I'm a lurker...so much respect! Glad you all have enjoyed this. Only a couple chapters left. I'm heading to LA soon so I'm hoping to wrap it up before Halloween. HOPING...but life is busy as usual. At any rate, thanks again for all the comments...means a lot. We've still got another reunion to go here (duh!) and it's been a while since they've seen each other...so I'm sure it may be a little naughty. heehee. xoxo
Disclaimer: no change...SoN isn't mine, just the idea behind this little story here.
Ashley rolled out of bed at the sound of her alarm, the red numbers shining brighter than they ever seemed before.
7:15am
She had 45 minutes to get showered, dressed, and tie up any loose ends before Kyla would be barreling through her door ready to drag her back into the real world. Truth be told though, Ashley couldn't think of a better person to walk with back into real life. Not just real life anymore either, but her NEW life. She smiled at her thoughts, before grabbing her robe and heading for the bathroom.
7:36am
Ashley emerged from the bathroom; teeth brushed, makeup in place, hair in a towel drying, and robe hanging slightly open, ready to be discarded for the day's clothes. She couldn't help but smile as she tossed the robe on the bed and slid into her jeans and black t-shirt.
She turned back to the bathroom, taking the towel from her head as she went, and proceeded to finish doing her hair. After drying it almost completely, and adding some light product, her curls were perfect for the day's events.
7:52am
Ashley was finishing up in her room when the door burst open, revealing a smirking, balloon-holding, Kyla.
"Happy last day of rehab, sucker!!"
Ashley couldn't help the laughter that began billowing from her chest. The balloons were all different colors of the rainbow and had "Happy Last Day of Rehab" printed on each side. Kyla was definitely a force to be reckoned with!
She jumped up from her place in front of her bag and pulled her sister into a strong hug.
"Thanks betch! I can't believe you brought me these rainbow balloons with THAT printed on them," Ashley laughed.
"It's like your own pride parade," Kyla reasoned. "I'm the parade for you, and I'm proud of what you've become…so enjoy it, you ungrateful shit."
Ashley burst out into another fit of laughter before tying the balloons to the back of a chair and pulling Kyla to sit on the edge of her bed.
8:04am
"So how are you feeling, Ash? Are you ready to go home and see Spennnnncerrrr?"
Kyla earned a quick slap on the arm for her teasing and leaned back on her hands giggling as her sister talked.
"I'm feeling great. I am so ready to go home, but a little nervous as well. You know what I mean?"
Kyla reached forward, placing a hand on Ashley's arm, "You're going to be great sis…so don't even worry about that. I will be here by your side every step of the way, so falling off the wagon is no option!"
Ashley smiled before getting up and pulling her fiery sister with her.
"Well, enough of this idle chit-chat. Let's get my stuff thrown in the car and sign me out before our last group session. I wanna be ready to go when it's time to leave."
The girls headed out of the room and down the hallway with Ashley's bags slung over their shoulders and her balloons trailing close behind. They headed out the front doors and Ashley paused for a minute just to breathe deep and relish in her new-found freedom.
Kyla threw the bags in the back seat of the Porsche and threw the keys to her sister.
"Here you go girl. I thought you'd want to see your baby, so I brought her today…and she is ready for you to drive her again."
"Thanks Ky," Ashley responded, slipping the keys in her pocket before heading back to the front desk to sign out.
Ashley sidled up to the desk and began signing the papers the attendant had laying out for her, and glanced up at the digital clock on the wall…
8:48am
Only 12 more minutes until we start the long goodbye, Ashley thought.
Kyla looped her arm through her sister's and started heading off in the direction of the dining hall. The staff had decided on a send-off from there, so they moved tables out of the way to set up lines of chairs, and placed a podium at the front of the hall for various speakers.
As the girls took their seats near the back, as usual, Kyla took a minute to truly study Ashley's face.
"You look so healthy and content, Ash. Are you nervous at all?"
"What's there to be nervous about, Ky? It's just another day, I mean…maybe it's the start of a new life for me and all…but it's just another day," Ashley giggled.
Kyle bumped her shoulder, giggling along with her sister.
"You know what I mean, dork."
Ashley nodded her head, knowing exactly what her sister was saying, but didn't respond as the head doctor at Memories took his place behind the podium and started addressing the crowd.
The lights were dimmed in the dining hall, except for those at the front near the podium, shining a ray of hope down on those speaking.
As several different people took their spots in front of the podium, then returned to their respective seats, Ashley started to fidget a little, before reaching in her back pocket for a folded piece of paper.
"Ashley Davies?"
Kyla turned, somewhat confused, to her sister and watched as the brunette stood up and headed for the podium herself.
Ashley played with her paper, before looking out at the filled seats and smiling when she locked eyes with her beaming sister.
Breathe Davies, you are in front of people all the time…just do what you gotta do.
Ashley took a deep breath and sighed out into the microphone…
"So, a priest, a rabbi, and a nun walk into a bar…," Ashley began.
The people sitting in the crowd busted out laughing as Ashley smiled and became comfortable in her skin.
"I hope it's not too soon for bar jokes Doc," Ashley said, turning to look at her current counselor, who shook her head and smiled.
"I'm Ashley Davies, and today…I'm 90 days sober," Ashley started. "I wrote this little 'speech' down for today, but I don't think I'm going to follow it anymore. If there's one thing I've learned since being here…besides how to remain sober…it's how to speak from my heart; how to speak without a script," Ashley stated.
"I've led a privileged life that I took for granted, not really knowing what it meant to live. I write music and perform for a living…a living that I really don't need to 'work' for, but always felt better doing so. My dad was a rock star, so it's easy to blame my bad habits on inheritance…after all, he did the same things…but I am no longer placing blame. I'm fixing my mistakes, righting my wrongs, and moving forward," Ashley professed.
The brunette's eyes rose from her sister's and scanned the room. She almost thought, for a second, that she saw blonde locks shaded by the shadows in the back corner, but chalked it up to wishful thinking and continued with her speech.
"My sister was the driving force in helping me get my life back, so Kyla…thank you so much. If it weren't for you, there's no telling where I would be today. I also have to thank Doctor Hamilton for her continued support and help through the days I've been through. I think she'll tell you I've come a long way as well," Ashley smiled over to her doctor. "Thanks for helping me open up and feel comfortable in my own skin again, Doc. I'm sure you'll enjoy the late night phone calls you'll still receive once I'm outta here."
Dr. Hamilton laughed out loud, shaking her head at Ashley's continued antics. She truly was a survivor, and the doctor couldn't be more proud of her accomplishments.
"Before I go, I just want to say that Memories will be nothing but, just that, a memory…in my future. But, it will be a memory I hold on to with great force, because I got my life back inside these walls, and so much more. I will be forever grateful, and I will be back here again in 90 days to proclaim my 180th day of sobriety!" Ashley raised her coin in the air and the people who were listening so intently broke into applause.
Ashley smiled, looking at the back of the room again as a door slowly closed near the shadows. Ashley took a breath to slow her racing heart at the thought of the door closing.
"That was a fucking kick-ass speech sister!"
"Yeah, well, like I said…you can't live and speak by a script…you know? It's gotta come from here," Ashley confessed, pointing to her chest.
"From your boobs? Real nice Ash."
Ashley laughed, pulling her sister over to meet Dr. Hamilton before heading out of the doors and into the sunshine.
"Ready to go rock star?"
"Absolutely," Ashley said, pulling out her keys and slipping into the driver's seat of her much missed car.
"To the Carlin house, driver."
Ashley nodded her head and smirked as she pulled away from the curb and onto the highway.
She was headed home, to a new life, as a new person…with a heart full and waiting for Spencer.
"To the Carlin's," Ashley agreed. "I'm assuming you know how to get there from here…"
"Oh…umm…yeah," Kyla stuttered. "Just keep driving toward the city, and I'll call Spencer for the address so the Garmin will get us there."
Ashley just laughed, happy to be back in the real world, back with her sister, and back to her old self.
"We'll wing it little sis…don't bother with Spencer just yet."
11:56am
"We've got all the time in the world now, Kyla. We'll get there eventually."