Story, Love You Forever

“Come on bell, ring. Please just ring.” Ashley Nue was sitting in math staring at the clock. “Just ring. Now…. now…NOW!!!” Math was her favorite subject but she wanted to get away from her teacher, Mr. Hubert, from school. Get away from it all. 1

“Okay class pack up your things. Don’t forget to have a good spring break. Don’t let anything come between you and a good time,” Mr. Hubert stared straight at Ashley. She hated it when he singled her out She had every right to be in a bad mood. It wasn’t all her fault. It wasn’t her fault at all.2

“Fuck off.” The words spurted through Ashley’s lips like vomit. Why did she say that?3

“Ms. Nue! Please come and see me after class.”  Ashley didn’t want to be here now, why would she want to stay any longer, especially with this creep.4

The bell rang and the students poured out into the hall. The still silence that had filled the hall way not a minute ago was now filled the roar of antsy teens getting ready for the break with their sweeties or parties full of alcohol and sex. You could never get enough of anything when you were a teen. 5

But Ashley stood in the still silence of an empty classroom. 6

“You wanted to talk to me?” Ashley tried to say it politely but even she could notice a change in her voice. The undertone of a growl.7

“Ms. Nue, I’ve noticed a hostility toward me in this you. I’ve talked to your other teachers and they have said that they haven’t noticed that. I’m wondering if your family blames…”8

“Why are you weaseling your way into my life? You’re not a part of it. Never were, never will be.” Ashley interrupted.9

“And I’m not trying to be. I’m not trying to attack you. I’m trying to help.” Ashley could her the sincere compassion coming through Mr. Hubert’s voice.10

“Well I don’t fucking need your help, or anyone else’s. Just to let you know, my family is just a bunch of bursting joy.”11

Ashley stormed out of the classroom, not even waiting for a sincere remark from Mr. Hubert. Why did he care so much? Since when did he care so much? Maybe he’s trying to get into heaven. No fucking way! He’s the biggest hypocritical person there is. 12

How dare he ask what my problem is? He should know what my problem is! It’s his fault she even had a problem. If it weren’t for his mistake, her life would be a lot better.13

“Hey Ash!” a hand grabbed her from the back. It was Chris. She had never been so glad to see Chris. He wrapped himself around her and she grabbed his strong shoulders and wanted never to let him go.14

“Hey Babe! How are the plans for next Friday cooking up?” said Tish, Ashley’s best friend.15

“Dunno. What do you and Tad have in mind? I guess we’re up to whatever.” She looked up into Chris’s big brown eyes “Right?”16

“Of course, my sweet” He grinned exposing his tongue stud gripped between his teeth.17

“You got it!” Chris had wanted a tongue piercing for years.18

“Yep! You like?” He asked, sticking out his tongue.19

“It’s gorgeous, just like you.” Ashley was smiling to. Her pristine 20

teeth glimmered in the natural sunlight.21

“You’re the gorgeous one!” he smiled and kissed her on the forehead.22

"Well okay. I'll leave you two alone." Tish was obviously thinking about something else then Chris and Ashley intended doing in a school hall.23

“Ashley, we need to talk.” Suddenly Chris’s voice had gotten serious and monotonous. 24

Ashley looked to Tish for a clue. But Tad had just grabbed her and they were in a full on lip-lock. 25

“About what?” Ashley was getting worried. What did he want to talk to her about?26

Chris grabbed her hand and led her to the empty stairwell. “There, it was too loud in that hall.”27

Ashley started panicking. “What’s going on, Chris?!” she said, obvious tears welling in her eyes. She was scared of losing him. He’s all she had, other then Tish and Tish was always with Tad now.28

He grabbed her and kissed her gently on the lips. “I’m not leaving you. You know that I love you. It’s just that… how’s your family doing? I know it’s been a rough couple of months, for everyone.”29

Ashley could feel her cheeks burning, the welling tears started tumbling down her cheeks to her trembling chin. “I … I … I’m so scared. I didn’t think this could happen. Not to me. It’s all my fault.” At this, she crumbled into Chris sobbing. “I can’t do this. I can’t”30

Chris pulled away and grabbed her face tenderly, wiping away her tears. “It’s not your fault. It can’t be your fault.” Chris pulled her back into a hug. She knew that they would be forever.31

*   *   *32

Ashley stared at her mirror. She saw the reflection of the clock face in it. The red numbers were gazing back at her. 1:00 am. Her parents had been arguing all night and she was pulled into it, on too many occasions. She couldn’t sleep because she couldn’t ignore the angry screaming. There was the sound of smashing plates from downstairs. She rushed down; the floor of the kitchen was covered with the scattered remains of a plate her little brother had made a month before the accident.33

“Nancy, you can’t hold on to him forever!” his words were slurred and she saw the half empty bottle of brandy that was full not 4 hours ago. Her mother was curled up on the ground sobbing. 34

“Dad! What’s going on?” Ashley screamed running across the floor to her mom’s side.35

“Your mother has to let go. We all have to let go.” Her father was talking louder now. He was scary when he was drunk. He had been drunk ever since Grady died. 36

“Dad! You smashed his plate. That’s one of the only things he ever made. That was all we have left. Everything else is gone dad! You know that!” Ashley was starting to cry.37

Ashley’s mother looked up through teary eyes. “No, Ash, I threw it.”38

Ashley looked at the kitchen; she hadn’t really seen what had happened. Blood was dripping down her father’s arm. “Mom! You threw the plate at dad!”39

“Your father deserved it.” Her mother’s breath was heavy with the scent of brandy.40

“You two are insane! You have no clue what you’re doing to me!” At that, she ran out of the kitchen and up to her room. She leaned on her door as she closed it. She could feel the anger in her tears. She picked up her little black phone. She stared at the keys, deciding whom she should call. She finally decided and slowly punched in the number.41

“Hello?” Chris’s groggy voice answered almost immediately.42

Ashley was silent. What could she say? “Hey.” She barely choked it out through the tears.43

“What’s wrong?” Chris was obviously worried now. Maybe this phone call was a mistake.44

“Chris. I don’t think I can do this. My parents are arguing; they’re destroying my life. Everything used to be so good. Why can’t we go back to that?” Ashley was still crying and there were a few pauses 45

so she could breath. The tears were now everywhere. Now she was curled up on the ground. Scared to make a sound.46

“Baby, don’t worry. It’s all going to get better. You’ve got nowhere to go but up! And one day you’re going to soar. I know you are.” Chris was so good at making her happy, usually. But now the words seemed empty and hollow.47

“You know, you say once I've hit the lowest place to go there's no where left to go but up? That's a lie, sure you can't go down but you can remain stationary, never going any where in life. That's where I am right now. Why can’t I move?" She had never said that Chris was a liar. He wasn’t, it just wasn’t true in her life right now.48

“Do you really feel that way? Baby, you’ve got me. And I love you.” Chris was sounding really scared now.49

“You know what. You’re right. Look go back to sleep. I’ll be okay. Everything will be okay. I love you. No matter what happens, I’ll always love you.” She always would love him.50

“I love you. Always will. Look, call me when you wake up. Maybe we can hang tomorrow. Over at my house” Chris was finally starting to calm down.51

“We’ll see.” Ashley said. Forcing a smile into her voice.52

“Good night baby! Love you and sweet dreams” She loved how he said good-bye53

“Love you and sweet dreams” She hung up the phone and look at the bottle of pills in her hand. 54

“I hope my dreams are sweet. Because I’m not waking up.” She thought about everything that led her here. 55

*   *   *56

That night still burned clearly in her mind. It was her and Chris’s first date and her parent’s anniversary. Her parents understood how big this day was for her and got one of her dad’s friends to watch Grady. Phil Hubert had fallen asleep while smoking. When he had noticed the fire, he ran outside, still in a dream-like haze he forgot to get Grady. The innocent little boy lay burning in his sleep. 57

*   *   *58

As she lay in her bed, stomach full of Tylenol. She remembered that night. She remembered how seconds before her life changed; Chris had given her first kiss. She was floating; she was soaring. But seconds later she was laying on the ground, winded. She thought she’d at least be able to stand again. But things kept knocking her down. And she could deal with it any more.59

*   *   *60

Tears streamed down Chris’s face as he stared down into the heavy oak coffin. He stared into the face of his true love and he uttered his last words to her.61

“I’ll love you forever.”62