Never Let Go

Chapter 9- Bridges Of Stone

~*Amanda's Point Of View*~

I found myself responding to Jacob's kiss without even a logical explanation as to why. I was so confused and this was just making things worse.

We kissed for a minute or so longer and then I pulled away.

"We can't. Jake this is wrong. I mean what about Janie or Ashley for that matter? I thought that you were still in love with Janie. I thought that you were going to propose to her. Jake we can't."

"I'm sorry. I don't even know what I was doing. It's just that in the past day or so I've found myself really attracted to you. I don't even know why. I just am. Maybe I'm lonely. I don't know. About the only thing that I do know is that I'm very attracted to you and I enjoyed that kiss."

"I enjoyed it too Jake, but not in a 'I'm in love with you let's get back together' kind of way. It was more of a 'I haven't had sex in the past eleven months, your I hot and I want you' kind of way. I'm sorry, but I'm in love with Ashley and you're in love with Janie. We can't screw that up by being together ok?" he nodded.

"You're right. I think it would be best if we just went to sleep."

"That's a good idea." I slipped under the covers and pulled his arm around me.

~*Ashley's Point Of View*~

.::The next Day::.

Jake hadn't come home like he had said he would last night and we were all starting to get worried.

"Were do you think he is?" Dan asked sitting down on the couch.

"With Amanda." I answered bitterly.

"Why do you say that?" Erik asked.

"Because that's were he was the night before last and all day yesterday. Where else would he have gone?"

"I don't know."

"Ok then." A moment later we heard the front door open and then close. Jake walked into the living room shortly after that.

"Where have you been?" Erik asked.

"At Amanda's." He replied sitting down on the couch.

"What are you guys like back together now or are you just screwin' eachother?" I asked angrily.

"No and NO. We aren't back together and we aren't having sex. Christ, jump to conclusions much. We were just hanging out. She's been really depressed lately and she needed a friend. That's all."

"Yeah well...well I don’t know." I said stomping up the stairs to my room, slamming the door behind me.

~*Jacob's Point Of View*~

"What's got him so pissed off?" I asked once Ashley's door was closed.

"He's worried that you're going to take Amanda away from him. Put yourself in his shoes. What if he spent two nights at Janie's house?"

"I'd punch is fucking lights out."

"Well, that's how he feels."

"He doesn't need to. I'm not trying to steel Amanda way from him."

"I know that and everyone else knows that, but he doesn't seem to know that. So, for now, maybe it would be best if you just sort of distanced yourself from Amanda a bit." I nodded and then headed towards my room.

~*Ashley's Point Of View*~

.::Two Days Later::.

"Hello?" I heard Amanda's voice ask through the phone.

"Hey Manda, its Ashley."

"Oh hey Ash. What's up?"

"Would you like to go out to dinner with me tonight?"

"I'd love to Ash, but I've got Aurora and I'm not sure if I could find a baby-sitter on such short notice."

"Not a problem. Dan offered to baby-sit Aurora."

"Ok, great. What time do you want to pick me up? Or should I meet you there?"

"I'll pick you up at 6:00, ok?"

"Ok, I’ll see you then. Bye Ash."

I hung up the phone and did my happy dance around my room, before running downstairs to find Dan.

"She said yes she said yes she said yes!!!" I yelled as I ran into the living room where everyone else was watching TV."

"What was that Ash? What did she say? I don't think that the sea urchin, at the deepest place in the ocean, quite heard you." Erik said with a bit of a smirk.

" She said YES!!" I yelled jumping over the back of the chair and sitting in it.

"You'll still baby-sit tonight, right Dan?"

"Yeah."

"Thank you thank you thank you!!!!"

"Ahhhhhhh!!! She said yes!!!!" I yelled before running back upstairs to get ready. I was picking her up in an hour

.::8:00::.

I'd taken Amanda to her favorite Italian restaurant. We were going back to her apartment for desert.

Once we got back to her apartment she went upstairs to go change. She came back a minute or so later wearing a pair of pj shorts and a t-shirt.

"That dress was starting to get uncomfortable. There's only so long that you can wear a tube dress without it starting to fall down." She said as she walked into the kitchen. I laughed and followed her.

"So Manders, what're we having for dessert?" I asked, wrapping my arms around her waist.

"Hmm.....I was thinking strawberries and cool whip."

"That's my favorite."

"I know." She whispered before turning around and putting a strawberry dipped in cool whip up to my lips. I opened my mouth and accepted the strawberry from her. After I finished it I pulled her closer to me and then leaned down to kiss her.

We stood in the kitchen kissing for about five minutes when she began walking backwards out of the kitchen. I grabbed the cool whip, my lips never leaving hers, and we headed upstairs to her room.

I definitely owed Dan.

.::Two Weeks Later::.

It had been a week since Amanda and I had gone out for dinner. I had basically moved in with her since then. I had spent every night there and spent almost all day, except for when I had a meeting, at her apartment.

I didn't really see her much during the day because she had to work. Since Stephanie and Andy had been on their honeymoon Manda had hired Mrs. Simmons, who lived next door, to watch Aurora while both of us were gone. When I was there though, I watched Aurora. I had really enjoyed spending time with her.

"Hey Ash." Manda said as she opened the door. She had groceries with her, so I went over to help her. I gave her a quick kiss before taking a few of the bags.

"Where's Aurora?" She asked as we walked into the kitchen.

"She's sleeping."

"Oh, ok. Well, then I guess it's just you and me for dinner then huh?" She asked as she began pulling various items out of the grocery bags.

"What are you making?" I asked as I helped put away things.

"Lasagna."

"I love your lasagna."

"I know. That's why I'm making it. Wanna help?"

"Sure. What do you want me to do?"

"Will you boil the noodles?"

"Yeah."

After we had dinner Amanda went upstairs to check on Aurora. I went into the living room to watch TV while I waited for Amanda to get back.

I had just turned on the TV when the phone rang.

"Hello?" I asked answering the phone.

"Ash, its Dan. Uh listen you kinda gotta come home like now."

"What? Why?"

"You've uh got a couple of visitors."

"Who?"

"Listen I can't really talk about it right now. You just need to come home ok." I sighed but then agreed.

"All right. Just give me about fifteen minutes. I wanna say by to Manda and Aurora first. "

"All right. See ya then." After I hung up the phone I walked upstairs to say good-bye to Manda. I wonder who could be waiting back at the house for me.

"Manda?" I asked walking into Aurora's room. Amanda was feeding Aurora at the moment.

"Dan just called. Apparently there's someone back at the house that came to see me. Dan wouldn't say who, but he said that I needed to get back now, so I'm gonna go. I'll come back later if it's not to late."

"Ok, come back whenever. You have your key, so just be sure to lock the door when you come in and then just come up to my room ok? I might even be awake." I nodded and then gave her a kiss before leaving.

I arrived back at the house ten minutes later. I got out of my car and went up to the front door. I unlocked it and walked inside slowly. I closed the door behind me and then walked into the living room.

"Shelli?" I asked barely above a whisper.

"Ashy, hi." She said getting up and hugging me. My eyes however, were glued to the baby that Erik was holding.

"There's someone that I'd like you to meet." She went over and retrieved the baby from Erik and then walked over to me.

"Ashley, I'd like you to meet your son."

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