Chapter 1:
---Ashley---
I'd been home for a day. And I'd spent the entirety of that time... distracting (if I'm to be honest) myself by cleaning.
It's amazing how much uneeded stuff Josh and I had collected in the.. less then a month we'd been married.
I found souveneirs we'd got when in Hawaii. Cute little gifts we'd given each other. And other odd things couples collect.
But my biggest discovery was in the top of the cupboard in what had originally been Josh and I's room.
Way at the back, tucked out of sight, where Josh musn't have seen it or I'm sure he would have taken it with him, was a small shoe box decorated in red hearts.
I smiled as I took it out. I immediately knew it was Josh's and that he must have decorated it when we were still married. I carried the box to my bed and wiped the dust from the top as I sat down. On top was printed the simple words 'Sweet Ashley'
I stifled a laugh, since when had Josh described me as sweet? I smiled softly as I gently lifted the lid and placed it on the bed next to me. I moved aside the tissue paper and found a packaged wrapped in heart paper and an envelope. I opened the envelope first. Inside was a handwritten letter. In Josh's familiar messy scrawl.
My Ashley,
Happy first year anniversary, as I'm writing this for that day.
We got married yesterday, I don't think I've ever been happier. All those years of fighting, four long years, wasted. But not anymore.
I'm in love with you Ashley. So in love with you it hurts. I don't think I'll ever fall out of love with you.
I just wanted to tell you this. I don't know how our life will be in a year, I know I'll still love you. But maybe I'll forget to say it as much. So I'm telling you again.
Happy Anniversary my love, and I do love you, so much!
Forever yours
Josh
The writing blurred and merged into one grey mass with the paper as tears filled my eyes. I set the letter down beside me then curled up into a ball... and cried and cried.
I guess the sayings true, you never really realize just what you had till you lose it... forever.
---Mary-Kate---
Zac was at work and I got kind of bored staying at home with Anna so I phoned Ashley and we met for lunch. I'd been getting kind of.. I don't know, frustrated with my life lately.
I dropped out of college cause I didn't want to do what I was doing, and didn't now what I did want to do. But I don't want to be a housewife all my life either.
I need to do something.
So I got to thinking, and got to cleaning, and earlier that morning I yet again found the script for the September 11th movie Ashley and I were going to do back during our first year in College.
I didn't really think about it much at the time but for some reason I put it in my purse.
As I drove into the city I started to think about it some more. Maybe Manhattens seemingly empty skyline made me remember. But by the time I reached the cafe I was to meet Ashley at, I knew I had to bring it up.
---Zac---
The car slowly cruised into the drive and I shut of the engine. I didn't hurry to get out of the car though, I just paused there... summoning up courage.. strength. I took a deep breath then slowly climbed out of the car.
Now or never.
Mary-Kate greeted me at the door, Anna in her arms. She leaned up to kiss me and I lightly wrapped an arm round her waist as we walked inside "So how did your day go?" She asked.
"Pretty good... I... have some stuff I need to talk over with you" I said seriously.
We stopped walking as we reached the couch, I sat down.
"Me too" She balanced Anna on her hip as she looked down at me. She bit her lip "Let me just put her down for her nap"
I nodded and waited as she sung a quick lullaby to Anna then walked back into the room. "Sooo, who should go first?" She asked as she snuggled up next to me.
I stroked her hair as I thought "You" I decided, chickening out.
"Ok" She paused and played with a loose strand of fabric on her sleeve "Well,... remember that movie I told you about, the one Ashley and I were going to do a couple of years back"
I nodded
"Well... we've decided to make it. We called Robert Thorne about it and he thinks the sooner the better... we're gonna start filming in the next couple of months"
I stared at her in shock "What?" I squeaked. Well... it was a manly squeak.. sorta.
She looked worried "I'm sorry. I knew I should have talked to you first it's just it happened so fast" She looked at me earnestly. "Please don't be mad"
I shook my head and took her hand in mine "It's not that..." I glanced down at our hands as I tried to think of what to say. "We finished the recording album today" I decided to just spit it out. "And we agreed that since it's been awhile since our last album.. that a really big tour could be a good thing. As soon as possible, leaving in the next couple of weeks if possible"
Mary-Kate's eyes were wide "What? Leaving next week. You could haven't have arranged this all in one day!"
She cought me "Well... no. We started planning the first leg of the tour a few months ago."
"Why didn't you tell me?!" She pulled her hand from mine and backed away a little as she pulled her legs up on the sofa and turned to face me.
I'm in trouble!...
Chapter 2:
|
Todays my first day at work. I don't remember being this nervous. Ok... I do, the moment I knew I was about to propose to Ashley... but other then that I've never been this nervous.
Besides, I'm far more certain this will end up a lot better then that time did.
I chose my best suit, and heck, I'm even wearing a tie. I'm not the 'tie kind of person' Ask anyone who knew me during my teens... just give me a skateboard and baggy clothes. But I guess I can't be a skaterboy anymore, I'm all grown up.
Darn!
---Mary-Kate---
How could he not tell me about this? This will affect both of our lives! And he didn't tell me!
"I'm sorry, I... I knew you'd worry and I didn't want you to worry."
"Zac! You'll be away for months!" I shouted. Big mistake... Anna started to cry in the other room, my shouting waking her up. I let out a frustrated sigh and got up.
"Wait. What do you mean I'll be gone? When did this become just me?" Zac said getting up too.
I started to walk out of the room but he grabbed my hand and spun me around.
"Mary-Kate?"
"What? You want me to go with you? It'll be months Zac! I can't just leave for months! What about Anna? Are we supposed to take her with us?"
"She's old enough to come. She's going to be a year old in a few months"
"What about my movie?"
"Can't you postpone shooting for awhile"
"Argh!" I spun around and walked to Anna's room.
"Mary-Kate Please. This is important. We can't NOT tour!"
"You could have told me!" I picked up Anna out of her crib and tried to speak soothingly. It didn't work though. She could tell how upset we were. She started to cry louder.
"I didn't want you to worry"
"Well I'm worrying now!" I shouted.
Anna started to scream "Here. You take her!" I handed her to him and stormed from the room.
"Mary-Kate wait!"
"Leave me alone Zac!" I spun around to face him as I said it "If you know what's good for you, you will leave me alone right now!" I raged.
---Josh---
The first day doesn't usually go that well, right? It's not unusual to have a REALLY bad first day right?
I have my dream job. I got to go back to the city I grew up in, the place I love. It cost me my marriage and my dream girl, given. But we weren't going to work out anyway.
So why does everything seem to be going so bad?
Maybe it's cause I'm so young, I think some of the people at work kind of resent me. I've up pretty high considering I just got out of college.
Whatever the reason... today bit!
---Ashley---
I threw my bag down on the sofa as I walked into my apartment. Mary-Kate's idea about doing the movie was a great one. I need something to get my mind of... Josh and the divorce and the... *gulp* baby. Which by the way I still haven't got up the courage to tell anyone.. not even Mary-Kate.
I wonder how long it will be before I start to show.
My heartbeat sped up as I rushed into my room and over to the mirror. I held my shirt tight to my skin and stood on my side examining my reflection.
Nothing.
I'm just as thin as ever. No one could tell from looking at me. But for how long?
And what about morning sickness? It'll be a matter of time before someone notices me throwing up.
This is hopeless.
---Zac---
I sighed as I heard the bedroom door slam shut. Anna continued to scream and her cheeks got really red.
"Shhhh, it's ok." I bounced her a little trying to get her to calm down. "Come on Banana, don't worry. Mommy and I are just... discussing something"
Oh no that's right. Arguings one thing, when you're 'discussing', that means it's really bad. I remember my siblings and I used to worry when Mom and dad were 'discussing' something.
I sat down in the rocker and gently quietly sung to Anna.
"The wind it blows, Through the trees. Claiming those, Innocent leaves. And the thunder rolls. These crashing seas, Like a tender kiss, Holds it's heart. In me." I hummed a little before starting the chorus. "In this life long, Love song. You can love right You can love wrong. In this love song, You can love long. But if you love wrong, It doesn't mean love's gone."
I stopped singing and fought the urge to cry. I hate it when Mary-Kate and I argue. And things had been going really great lately.
A tear trickled down my cheek and I brushed it away as I stood up and put Anna back in her crib, a song always works. She was fast asleep. A floorboard squeaked and I glanced up. Mary-Kate was leaning against the doorframe watching me.
I turned to her.
Chapter 3:
|
I was sitting at my sketch board working on a dress. But I just couldn't concentrate. I didn't like what I was designing and I didn't know how to change it.
I made a frustrated noise and banged my head against the table "This... isn't... working!"
I sighed and stood up. I needed to do something else for awhile. I wandered around the house and eventually spotted the package from Josh sitting on the table.
I walked over to it, tilted my head and stared at it. Did I want to open it? Maybe I should just send it back to Josh. After all, it's not like I have any right to it now.
Determined to not open it I walked into the kitchen and decided to do the dishes. I walked over to my cd collection and chose out a LifeHouse single.
Why is it everything in this house reminds me of Josh?
We got this single just after our honeymoon...
I sighed and put the cd on then started the dishes.
Why did I end up here? Closer to nowhere and the middle of nothing. And I'm one step back from where I was. Spinning in circles gets old after awhile.
I started washing some plates and putting them on the drying rack to dry.
But you say if I fall I will fall straight into your arms. Should I trip over my feet? And if I start to slip I will slip right onto my knees into the center of your hands.
The music sped up and I started to dance around the room and lip sync. The scrubbing brush served as a microphone as I spun around the room.
Cause maybe, someday I could learn to trust you and just stop thinking with my head. Cause maybe, someday I could learn to let go, I'd lose control but tell me.. what's wrong with that?
By this point I was spinning around the room and making strange expressions as I pretended to spin. I started to do Shakira's 'the washing machine' as I walked towards the window, pretending to my audience was outside it.
Why do I have to know everything? Why does everything always have to make sense? Why do I always have to have you figure it out? Cause I just wanna take your hand
I stood still and closed my eyes until the song sped up again. Soon as it did I started jumping and singing along.
But you say if I fall I will fall straight into your arms. Should I trip over my feet? And if I start to slip I will slip right onto my knees into the center of your hands. Cause maybe, someday I could learn to trust you and just stop thinking with my head. Cause maybe, someday I could learn to let go, I'd lose control but tell me.. what's wrong with that?
(lyric credit: Lifehouse 'What's wrong with that?')
I was head banging along with the music as the song faded out when I noticed some movement in the apartment across the street. A guy who looked about my age was standing there staring at me as if I was crazy. I blushed and rushed from the room.
---Josh---
I finally got home to my small apartment, late that day. I was all set to callapse into bed and sleep till midday but unfortunately the house was a mess. I went into the kitchen to get a cup of coffee. But there were no clean cups. This is probably to do with the fact that I only have 2 cups, 2 plates etc. It's kind of strange, I don't see why I have 2. Shouldn't I just have one? For some reason I wanted 2.
I sighed as I ran the water and prepared to wash the dishes. Deciding I needed music I got my diskman and put on Nickelback.
Father's hands are lined with dirt from long days in the field. Mother's hands are serving meals in a café on Main Street. With mouths to feed... just tryin' to keep clothing on our backs . And all I hear about...
I'd been speed washing and already got through half the dishes by the point. Then I started to get itchy feet. I started to step from side to side as I continued to wash.
Is how it's so bad. It's too bad, it's stupid. Too late, so wrong, so long. It's too bad we had no time to rewind. Let's walk, let's talk
I started head banging and jumping on the spot, splashing water and bubbles everywhere as I did so. When the music slowed down I went back to the dishes.
You left without saying goodbye, although I'm sure you tried. You call the house from time to time to make sure we're alive. But you weren't there right when I needed you the most. And now I dream about it... and how it's so bad
I somehow managed to finish washing the dishes and got out a towel to start drying them. I stopped 'dancing' as I did this, I was lost in thought.
What about?
The thing I spend like 90% of my time thinking about. Ashley and I, and why it didn't work out.
I know for sure what one of the reasons is.
We're just so different!
Chapter 4:
---Mary-Kate---
"Hey" Zac whispered quietly. My little tantrum had worked, he looked extremely scared!
"Hey" I whispered as I shuffled my feet, my eyes on the ground.
"Look Mary-Kate, I'm sorry" He said earnestly.
"I know" I said, not looking up
He moved over till he was standing in front of me "Do you forgive me?" He gently lifted my chin so I was looking up at him.
"I guess" I said quietly "Oh Zac, what are we gonna do?" I asked as tears pooled in my eyes.
He gently pulled me into his arms "We'll think of something" He said resting his chin on the top of my head.
---Melanie---
"Mel! I'm home" Michael's voice preceded the front door slamming.
I lept out of my chair, rushed into the hall and down the stairs "How'd it go?"
Michael and I are working together to start our first business. We're starting a line of stores. I guess you could compare them to Wal*Mart. Or maybe more like the Mary-Kate and Ashley entertainment stores that were everywhere back when the girls were still in High School. Right now we don't have all the details. We're going to start out with one small store. We're going to shop around and find exclusive, affordable, things to sell.
We made a lot of friends in College who are just starting on their various careers. Ashley plans on working in fashion. She promised us we'd get first calls on her clothing line when she released it. Well, I'm just rambling and not making sense. Maybe you'll get what I'm saying. Maybe not. I hope so though.
"Well... we got the store!" Michael said as he hung his coat up.
I screamed "YES!" I hugged him "You're not kidding right?" I asked as I pulled away "We seriously got it?"
He nodded happily "We got it!"
I danced around the room happily. We were on our way. We'd just secured the lease for our first store. Now we just needed to shop around for some stuff to purchase and we are set!
---Michael---
"How about we go out to dinner to celebrate?" I said reaching out and holding Melanie still long enough to ask her.
She nodded super quickly, and it looked as if her head were going to fall of "YES!"
"Well what are you waiting for?" I joked "Go get ready!" I spun her around and gave her a gently push towards the stairs. This is Mel we're talking about, getting ready is no quick thing for her. Thus I wanted her to start as soon as possible.
She giggled and started forward, then spun back around, threw her arms round my neck and kissed me deeply. Then turned and went up the stairs.
I shook my head. A girl of surprises.
"So" a smoth voice that could only belong to our roomate Hannah came from the kitchen "I'll judge by the excessive screaming that you got your store?" She appeared in the doorway and raised an eyebrow in question.
I nodded.
She lifted her chin and smirked a little "Great"
Hannah's the kind of girl who would have been the most popular girl in high school. Not a cheerleader, she had too much class for that. But someone who looked down on anyone she considered below her (which is almost everyone) and modeled in her spare time. The kind of girl who was surrounded with an air of mystery and thus had everyone fascinated by her.
I won't deny she's beautiful. Stunning actually.
She and Melanie seem to fight constantly. I think Melanie's unconciously wary of her, afraid she's after me or something (Which is totally crazy. Why would Hannah want me?) And I guess Hannah just looks down on Mel. Crazy though. Melanie was part of one of the most popular pop groups in America. She's worth Millions just from the under a year she was part of the group. I guess it's just in Hannah's nature to look down upon other people...
"I'm ready!" Mel called from the top of the stairs as she came down.
"That was quick!" I said astonished.
"Lets just go!" She took my hand and dragged me to the door.
I waved at Hannah who smiled at me... if I didn't know better I'd say.. flirtaciously?
---Zac---
I couldn't sleep. I just kept thinking about the tour, and Mary-Kate's movie... And the very likely possibility that we're about to be seperated for a vast amount of time.
I sighed for the fifth time and Mary-Kate, who was asleep next to me, her head resting on my chest, stirred a little then glanced up at me.
"Can't sleep?" She asked groggily.
I shook my head.
She sighed too and moved to sit up. "What if I don't do the movie?" She whispered.
I sat up quickly. "No! You've really got your heart set on this, I don't want to hold you back"
"I wouldn't be quitting, I'd just be waiting till the end of the tour. 6 months or something.. it could be worse"
I shook my head and pulled her into my arms "I don't want you to have to wait"
"It's just an idea. We'll see what else we come up with"
I nodded and lay back down, pulling her with me. She rested her head on the hollow of my shoulder and I kissed the top of it.
"We'll talk about it some more in the morning" I said, and finally sleep came.
Chapter 5:
|
I put an extra big spoonful of coffee in my cup and stirred. I took a sip then scrunched up my face in disgust "ew! ew! ew!" I said as I put it down on the bench.
I've always hated coffee. But yet I always drink it. Crazy huh?
I sighed and forced myself to drink the rest then grabbed my bag and left the apartment. Where am I going?
Well, I'm not really sure. I'm kinda getting low on groceries so I may go to the store. Basically I just want to get out of the apartment. This is my first time at living on my own, and I'm finding it really lonely!
I ran down the stairs (miraculously managing not to fall on my face) And out the front door. Ok, so that's used some excess energy. Now what?
I listlessly wandered down the street, swinging my bag back and forth at my side. I wanted someone to talk to, but I certainly wasn't going to find anyone on this street. Everyone was rushing this way and that, too wrapped up in their own lives to notice anyone else.
I stopped walking and leaned against the wall of my apartment building. I looked up at the sky, it was a beautiful sunny day, only a few clouds spotting the sky.
The door of the apartment building across the street opened and a man walked out. I glanced at him then did a double take. He was the same guy who's seen me 'dancing' last night.
I groaned and put a hand to the side of my face. I looked away as he crossed the street, heading in my direction.
"This can't be happening" I whispered to myself.
The guy stopped in front of me, but thankfully he didn't notice me. He stepped out into the street and waved to a taxi. The taxidriver ignored him and drove straight past.
He spun around and stomped his foot "Don't you just hate it when that happens?" He asked no one in particular.
I tried to blend in with the wall, not moving, but he still noticed me "Do I know you?" He asked
I kept my hand up to my face and looked away from him "I don't think so"
"No I'm sure I know you" He walked along the street trying to see my face but I kept turning away. "Wait! You're the girl from across the street. The one who was dancing in her kitchen"
I sighed and dropped my hand "You caught me" I said starting to blush.
---Mary-Kate---
The phone rung for the sixth time and I tapped my fingernails against the table impatiently "Where is she?"
The phone clicked and I thought Ashley had finally answered but instead the answering machine came on.
"Hey! Guess what? I'm not here! Ha! Surprised you right? Anyway leave me a message and I just might get back to you" The beep of the answering machine followed. I decided not to leave a message and just sighed and hung up.
"Not there?" Zac asked walking into the room as he towel dried his hair.
I shook my head and rested my chin in my hands "Where could she be?"
Zac shrugged. "I need to get some things in the city. How about we go do that then drop round her place and see if she's back?"
I nodded "I'll go get Anna ready"
---Michael---
"And what do they do?" I asked looking at the bright green plastic box in my hand.
"Well" The person who was hoping to sell them took another from the box and demonstrated "You press the little button" He pointed to a red button on hte side of the box "And voila!" he pressed the button and a pink dog lept out with a mechanical bark.
I jumped a little then quickly composed myself "...right" I eyed the object "Well that's certainly.... interesting"
The guy smiled happily "So you're interested?"
"Um,... how much are they?"
He named what was a reasonable price. If I added about two dollars to that and provided they sold, I'd make quite a profit. But would people buy them? They're sure weird enough to catch peoples attention... make a good party gag. Kind of like those flowers that shoot water. I'd sure be able to freak Melanie out with one.
"I'll take them" I said with a smile.