Prologue
As I sat at my desk, I twirled my pencil in my fingers. It was the last class of the day and the last day of school for Spring Break. I still had 20 minutes left and dreaded having to wait. I wanted to go and see my boyfriend and best friends.As Mr. Hamilton continued to talk about some useless information about civics, I began to doodle in my boyfriend's name in my notebook. I bubbled in A.J. and Alex and BSB. His little 5 person boy band was on the verge of becoming famous and recently signed to a lable and were going to start their first tour in Europe in a couple of weeks.I didn't exactly enjoy hearing that news, but it only brought us closer. And besides, it was only going to be for a few months. And then he'd be all mine again. I suddenly was pulled out of my daydream... "Ms. Martin, I didn't ask you to take notes, so what are you doodling?" Mr. Hamilton asked, as all eyes were on me."My boyfriend's name," I answered sweetly. "And that would be?" he asked. "Alex McLean," I answered with yet another one of my sweet smiles. Those seem to always get me out of trouble. "Ah, well, please stop." He asked and continued. But was quickly interrupted by a loud buzz. I quickly jumped up and grabbed my books and sprinted out of class before anyone else could.I rushed to my locker and quickly opened it, reaching for my purple leather backpack. "Are we in a rush?" I heard my best friend Anna's voice next to me. I looked at her with a small smile as she did her locker combination. "Yeah, Alex is picking me up today. Need a ride?" I asked, shoving all of my books into my bag."Nah, I'm gettin' a ride with Lauren." Laruen was our 3rd buddy. She was 2 years younger that Anna and me, though, and was just learning how to drive. Anna was helping her out. They were like sisters in a way. She hated being called by her full name, Lauren-Marie, so we simply called her Lauren. She had long straight blonde hair, long legs, and a perfect form. But she was always more of the athletic type, so that really helped her out. "Suit yourself," I answered, shuffling through some papers.I didn't notice Anna giggle as she closed her locker. But the next thing I knew was I felt strong arms spin me around and soft moist lips meet mine. As I pulled away gently, I looked into Alex's beautiful brown eyes. "Tell me again why they make you guys wear uniforms? I can't tell where you guys start and where you end." I just giggled at his silly comment and turned back around.As he stepped back and looked me over from the backside, I continued in my locker. "Never mind, these things make you look so...so...what's the word?" He asked jokingly. "Sexy?" I offered. "Yup, that's the one," he chuckled. I finally closed my locker and gave Anna quick hug, as she walked off with Lauren.I then turned to A.J. and grabbed his hand and began pulling him to the door. "Hold up baby, what's the rush?" he asked with a goofy smile and replacing his sunglasses. "I want to get out of here before Angel gets to her locker and screws up my day even more," I whined.Angel was the most popular girl in the 10th grade. She was mean to everyone, but it seemed that I was the lucky pick out of the draw and she was most mean to me. "Please come on." I demanded nicely giving him my puppy face.A.J. just grabbed my hand and I turned around to start walking with him. But suddenly I was rammed in the shoulder and my backpack fell off my arm and fell to the ground. I looked up and saw Angel looking at me disgustedly. I lazily picked my bag back up and looked at her once more. "Watch where you're going!" She spat at me.I just rolled my eyes and went to walk again when her boyfriend stopped me. "Get out of my way," I ordered. "Not until you apologize." Angel looked at me with a smirk. "Who's gonna make me?" I asked rudely to match her attitude. Her boyfriend crossed his arms and didn't move out of my way. "Alright, that's enough, let's just move along alright here we go." A.J. pulled my arm and went to squeeze between the guy and the wall, when Angel's boyfriend grabbed my arm fiercely and pulled me back. "Ow! STOP IT! LET GO!" I screamed as Alex looked back and saw what was going on."Let her go!" he hollered, punching the guy square in the jaw. He released my arm and we quickly rushed out of the school.We slowed as we entered the parking lot and he wrapped his arm around my waist and took my bag. "You okay?" He asked, throwing my bag into the back seat of his small red convertible. "Yeah," I answered with a smile."You still use that thing?" He asked, referring to my backpack. "Sure I do. Why shouldn't I?" I asked with a giggle as I turned on his radio. He had given me that backpack when I was in 8th grade and I stilled used it whenever I could.He pulled out of the school parking lot and we drove for another ten minutes until we reached the beach. I felt kind of puzzled on what we were doing here, but I climbed out and took his hand."A.J. what are we doing here?" I asked with a smile of happiness. I loved the beach; my favorite animal in the whole world since I was 11 has been a dolphin. A.J. just smiled at me and continued to walk down the cemented path. We soon came to a small restaurant like pace, but it seemed to be empty."A.J. are you sure you can do this?" I asked, getting a weird feeling in my stomach as he jiggled the lock and it came undone. "Positive." He smiled and drew me near. Our lips once again met in a sensual but delicate kiss. As he opened the door, I followed him in as the door shut behind us.It was pitch black and I couldn't see a thing. All I could hear was my breathing and dead silence. "Alex?" I called. But there was no answer. I began to grow very scared until suddenly lights went on everywhere and people jumped up screaming "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"I was so shocked suddenly, but soon relaxed as I looked at my mother, father, Brian, Kevin, Howie, Nick, Lauren, Anna, Mariah, Alex's mother Denise, and my older sister Lana. I felt tears in my eyes. This was so sweet and so unexpected."oh my gosh! My day has been so hectic that I forgot it was my own birthday!" I cracked up. Everyone gave me hugs and happy birthdays. Alex soon walked out holding my cake with 17 candles lit. Everyone began to sing as the lights were dimmed and A.J. wrapped his arms around me.I read the cake silently to myself. 'Happy Birthday Ashley! Love Mom, Dad, Alex, and everyone.' When it was time for my wish, I closed my eyes and silently thought to myself and blew out all my candles. Everyone clapped and cheered as Alex kissed my cheek.I was so happy and couldn't be loved any more. There were so many people who cared for me so. As the party progressed, A.J. didn't leave my side. I felt weird, though, as if there were something wrong.About 2 hours later, everyone left. I told my parents I was going to stay a little longer and returned to Alex's side as he lit some dinner candles. They smelt of vanilla ginger. He knew I loved that scent. I sat down next to him and listened to the waves crashing against the shore as he hugged me ever so tightly."I never gave you my present," He began. "Alex, you've given me enough." I assured him, but he simply silenced me. He opened his coat and pulled out a long velvet box from the inside pocket. I looked at him in disbelief. There's no way he could afford something like this.But how wrong I was. He slowly opened the box to reveal a silver chain. And the pendant that was hanging from in was a silver dolphin hugging a diamond. I gasped as he removed it. "Alex, I - I can't accept it." I quickly said with tears in my eyes. But he pain no attention and clasped it around my neck. "You deserve it." He said simply and wiped away my tears.I pressed in against my chest and smiled. But there was something he wasn't telling me. I couldn't feel it. "A.J., there's something you aren't telling me." I stated more than asked. "It's about the tour." He began and closed his eyes. "They're moving it up. We leave on Saturday." He finally said. That meant they only had three more days together."Alex, how can they move it from 2 weeks to 3 days?" I asked, trying to hold back my tears and anger and sadness and all of my emotions. "Ashley, I don't know, but -- I don't know. There was nothing we could do to change it. I'm sorry." He said quietly. My heart sank. I couldn't even swallow what I was just told.Without even thinking, I got up and went out to the balcony behind the restaurant. I began sobbing as Alex quickly followed. "Ashley, please, don't cry. It kills me to see you cry." He pleaded. "And you don't think it kills me to see you leave?" I suddenly shot with anger. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I had never raised my voice to A.J. like that before, and I knew it hurt him. But it hurt me more.I suddenly felt myself shiver. I didn't even know why. "I'm sorry." I whispered. All I felt was Alex's strong arms around me. "You have nothing to be sorry about, baby. You didn't do anything wrong." He assured me. I didn't understand. Why was he doing this to me? Why couldn't he admit that I hurt him?We just tood there in each other's arms for a while longer, the he moved and looked into my eyes. He pulled me forward and kissed me passionately. As if he'd never be able to taste my kisses again. I was sorry when he pulled away.But we couldn't pull our eyes away from each other's. I didn't understand what was happening, inside I mean. I began to feel light headed. And I could only see us; there was no one else but us two. The stars gleamed in his eyes and the light of the moon suited him so well. I didn't know what this feeling was, but I liked it. "I love you." He said suddenly.The words echoed through my mind as if it were searching for my love. Then it occured to me the feelings that were throbbing inside of me were just that. My love for Alex. "I love you too." I returned almost a whisper. His lips slightly parted into a sexy smile and he kissed me once more. He ran his fingers through my long brown hair and savaged my mouth with every kiss. I wanted tonight to on forever but unfortunately it had to come to an end.A.J.'s cell phone suddenly rang. We slowly broke apart and he was forced to answer his phone. "Hello?" he asked, annoyed. "Hey Mom..But I wanted to --but--Mom--huh? But, well, can she? All right. Bye." He hung up his phone and put it away. "It was my mom. She said I need to get home and start packing so me and you can have the rest of the week to ourselves. But if you want, you can stay with me tonight." He offered, hoping I'd accept."I don't want impose," I said. "You won't, I promise." He tried not to sound too eager. "I'll have to call my mom." He quickly handed me his cell. I walked down the dock a little and listened to it ring. "Hello?" I heard my mother's voice.
"Mommy, hi.""Ashley, what's the matter?""Nothing. I just wanted to let you know that I'm gonna stay with Alex tonight.""Oh, um, okay. Be careful, and I know you're 17 and all now, but you remember that talk we had, right?" She asked, referring to the 'sex' talk."Yes, Mom. I never said we were going to do that.""I know, but we trust you and we know you know what you're doing and if you're ready or not. I'll see you tomorrow Sweetie." And with that, she hung up as I did the same.She got me thinking. Was I ready? Was Alex the one? I guess tonight we'd see. I walked back to him and handed him his phone. I told him that I could and we were off.
