Chapter 24

THE NEXT DAY

That morning I woke up like a normal day, I got a cup
of coffee with Leslie and Wendy, talked about yesterday, then
getting ready to go out somewhere, it didn't matter where
just as long as I was away from the apartment. I got dressed
and put on my sunglasses to hide away from the sun I had
hated for 2 weeks. I walked over to Leslie who was
taking her pills.

"Les I'm out. Remember we're giving you your presents
and stuff tonight so be here okay?" I said giving her a soft hug.

"Kay Ash. Have fun okay?" She said swallowing her pills.

"I will, happy birthday 18 year old!" I said smiling as I walked
out the door. I didn't know where I was going to go, everyday
I went somewhere new. Today I just felt like driving, far,
far away.

WENDY'S MORNING…

I was actually feeling better, I thought of calling A.J. too.
If he says no, why do I hate him he has his own opinion doesn't
he? I decided I was going to call him after Leslie's party thing.
I walked into the kitchen to see Leslie reading the paper.

"Hey Les, I'm going to the mall. Wanna come?" I asked sitting
down next to her. She was reading about Clinton.

"No thanks. I wanna stay home on my birthday,"
she said taking a sip of her coffee.

"You sure?" I said standing up. She nodded and turned the
page. I hugged her lightly, "I'll be back in a bit. I'll bring us some
McDonalds!" I said shutting the door. Leslie never wanted anything
on her birthday. For some reason, she loved being by herself and
alone on her birthday. I think it's from the adoption situation
but I've never asked, too personal.

LESLIE'S MORNING…

After everyone left, I took a shower, 'I'm 18,' I thought to myself
as I dried my hair. I put on a white spaghetti-strap shirt and a
black mini-skirt. I put on my black sandals and my beret I loved
to wear, I got it for my 13th birthday from my 2nd adopted
parents. They were my favorite parents, and they died when I
was 15, and gave me up when I was 14 anyways, but they
still were my favorite.

I took one last sip of my coffee and I opened the door about to
leave. Brian was on the other side about to knock on the
door. He grinned as he looked at me from head to toe.
Nick and A.J. came up behind him.

"Hey Les!" Nick said as he walked in, A.J. following.
Brian walked in and shut the door for me as I was still in
shock.

"Hey Nick, A.J.," I said as they hugged me.

"Is Ash or Wendy here?" A.J. asked as I sat on
the table.

"No. Wendy's at the mall and Ash just leaves."

"What do you mean just leaves?" Nick asked.

"She goes out everyday, going out, doesn't come back till
dark. She just, leaves." I said as I looked at Brian at the
corner of my eye, he was staring at me.

"Mind if we stay here? We have no where else to go." Nick and
A.J. pleaded.

"You guys, that's not fair to her she was just about to
leave," Brian said.

"No it's okay, I don't care. I was just going to go look at
something. You guys want some coffee, coke,
beer, anything?" I asked as I opened the fridge.

"Coke for me!" Nick said as I threw him one.

"Nothing for me," A.J. said shaking his head. I looked at
Brian's beautiful face as he shook his head. I really wanted
a beer, but I just took my medication a while ago so I got
some more coffee.

"Geez Les, everytime I see you you're drinking coffee,"
Nick said gulping down some coke. I nodded and
sighed.

"I never sleep. Well maybe a few times off guard," I said looking at Brian.

"How do you do that? I thought you need sleep," A.J. said.

"I take pills that keep me awake and have the
chemical that you get when you sleep."

"Oh, why don't you sleep?"

"I really don't want to answer that, it's a long and very
painful problem for me k you guys?" Nick and A.J. nodded,
I knew Brian found out, Wendy and her big mouth.

"Well then, happy birthday!" A.J. said as Nick screamed.
I laughed as Nick pretended to play a trumpet.

"Thanks guys," I said taking another sip of coffee.

"How does it feel to be 18? Nick wouldn't tell us,"
A.J. said as I got up.

"Well, I can drink, smoke, and other legal things I've already
done," I said looking at Brian. Nick and A.J. cleared their
throats as I smiled at them.

"So you going to have a party?" A.J. said.

"I think, tonight when Ash and Wendy get home."

"We're invited right?" Nick said as I was ready to
smack the living daylights out of him. I nodded.

"I guess, not my decision I didn't think. But um, I, I'm going
to go to my room for a minute, be right back." I shut my
door and sighed, as I knew something was up. I called my
3rd adopted parents; I missed them and knew they would wish
me happy birthday. I didn't realize the door was still open
as the guys peered through.

"Hey mom, dad, how are you guys?" I asked as I wiped my tears.

"Hey honey, happy birthday!" My mom said.

"Thanks mom, and thank you for that new car," I said as the tears fell down.

"I knew you'd like it, your father picked it out."

"He did? I kinda figured, it was a real nice car and you
don't know anything about those kind right mom?" I said laughing
to hide the crying I wiped my eyes again.

"Of course Les! Would you like to talk to him?"

"No I have to go, I have company. I love you mom," I said as I
wiped my eyes some more.

"I love you Leslie. Call me tomorrow huh?"

"I will, bye." I hung up the phone as I sighed and wiped my eyes.
When I talked to my 3rd parents, I would always cry, but I
was crying even more since Brian was there. I turned around to
see Nick and A.J. standing at the doorway, Brian near the
door.

"What the hell are you doing?" I asked as I walked over to them.

"What's wrong Les?" Nick asked concerned.

"I get emotional when I talk to my parents, they're the
only ones who ever loved…nevermind. I just get emotional,
I'm fine now okay?" I said as Brian shook his head.

"Do you have something to say to me Brian?" I asked as he looked
at me.

"No, I just know what you're talking about, I do the same thing,"
he said so A.J. and Nick wouldn't understand. Brian, Ashley,
and Wendy were they only people who knew my situation,
and I wanted to keep it that way, he knew it too. I loved him
so much for that.

"Hey Nick, let's go, uh, watch some t.v. bro!" A.J. dragging Nick
down the hall.

I was so nervous, I felt like I was going to collapse right then and there.

"Can we talk?" Brian said coming up to me.

"I don't think so," I said as he took my hands, his touch so soft
and warm.

"I wanted to talk about last week," he said as he stroked my hair.

"I understand what you did, I do, I just wish you
didn't have to find out that way."

"Les…"

"I mean you shouldn't take advantage of people like that,
just because they're younger and don't understand
and love you."

"Les…"

"And I really hate you for that Brian Thomas!"

"Les!"

"No wait till I'm done! I loved you and you…you…j…oh
God I'm stuttering again. Look, I don't understand you. And
it's hard, because I always understand people, and I guess
that's why I miss you. You're full of surprises, I never knew
what you were going to do, and I liked that. And you know
what? You shouldn't judge people by their age; some people
are way mature for their age. I think that after today I don't
think we should talk anymore, it's best I think, and maybe for you
too. There, I'm done." I looked at Brian's face as he grinned.

"You're so cute!" He said, as I was just puzzled completely.

"Huh?"

"I miss you, so much. Les, I want to see you after today,
I want to be with you. I love you Les." I looked at him,
I couldn't believe what he said to me, so I thought of the closest
thing I could say.

"Why would you play with my mind like that? Are you trying to
hurt me? Cause it's working." He shook his head as I started
walking away. He grabbed my arm and pulled me close to him, our
bodies touching.

"I'm not I promise, this is for real this time, I love you, I
swear," he said as I shook my head, my heart was happy,
my head couldn't understand.

"Did Ashley and Wendy put you up to this? Cause if you
think this is funny I hate you even more than I do for sleeping
with me and dumping me like you did. Excuse me I have to entertain
your friends." I pushed him away as I walked out to the
kitchen.

"Hey Les! Have a nice conversation with B-Rok?" Nick said
peering his head in the kitchen seeing my tears. "Les what
happened?" Nick said holding me.

"I'm sorry, this, I can't be here. Can you lock up if you leave?
I have to go think." Nick nodded as Brian saw me slam the door;
he opened the door yelling out to me.

"Les? Come on Les!" Brian said as Nick sighed. I started
the car and sped off, I had to be alone and the place
Brian took me was just the place…

ASHLEY CAME HOME…

I sighed as I turned off my car and got out. I got a few more
things for Leslie while I was out since it was on my road trip.
I took the bags out of the trunk and opened the
apartment door.

"Les? I'm home!" I said as I went to my room, not even noticing
Nick sitting on the couch with the guys. I got wrapping paper,
tape, scissors, and the bags of presents as I set them on the floor
of the living room. I turned to find the remote and saw them sitting on the couch.
I screamed as loud as I could.

"Ash! Calm down it's just us!" Nick said as he calmed me down.

"What are you doing here! How did you get in? Where's Leslie?
What's wrong with Brian?" I looked at Brian's pitiful face.

"Leslie let us in, she left after a thing with Brian, and I'm here to
see you. A.J.'s here to talk to Wendy, and Brian's here, you know
why he's here."

"Wait! Brian what are you here for?" He sighed and talked in a very
low tone.

"I wanted to apologize for what I did and tell her some other
things."

"Okay…I bet you I know where she is, want to go get her so
we can start this party for her?" I asked Brian. He shrugged
and got up.

"I guess so, where is she?"

"I don't know exactly, it's that place you took her one time with
water or something?" As soon as I said that he grinned and
walked out the door. "I take it he knows," I said as I dumped all the
presents on the floor.

"Damn girl you sure do buy your friends gifts on there birthdays!" A.J. said.

"Funny, can you guys wrap? I need to wrap all these
before they get back. Where the hell is Wendy?"

"We have no clue. When we got here only Leslie
was here," A.J. said shrugging.

"Great. She better get her butt here before they get back here."

LESLIE'S SORROW…

I sat on the hood of my car and watched the water as the
breeze blew my hair. A few cars went by, but one stopped
and someone got out, it was him.

"Can't you leave me alone please?" I said wiping my eyes.
He stood in front of me and sighed.

"Ashley's home, she wants you to come home for your party."

"I'm not in the mood for a stupid party, I hate birthdays."

"Can you tell me why?" He said, his face I couldn't
resist.

"Well for one I don't know if it's really my birthday, that's just
what my 1st parents made for me when they got me. Second,
everyone gives me things I don't deserve. I don't deserve anything,
which is probably why I'm not with you, I don't deserve you.
I don't deserve a family…" my voice faded as my tears came down so
fast I couldn't see. Brian sat on the hood and held me.

"Les why would you say things like that? Everyone deserves a
family, even if they're in your situation. Doesn't your 3rd
parents love you?"

"I guess so," I managed to say.

"See, you found a family. Hey a family who got you this car
too, nice one." I smiled and wiped my eyes as I let go of him.

I was starting to lose my doubts about him lying to me.

"They did didn't they?" I said as he smiled. We looked out at
the water, it was so beautiful, I just wanted to sit there with him
forever.

"Do you want me to go? It's getting late and Ashley's probably
worrying," Brian said jumping off my car. He stood in front
of me.

"I think I should go too, she'll never forgive me if I don't except
her thousands of gifts," I said as Brian nodded. He lifted me off my jeep hood and
put me down smiling.

"Thanks," I said hugging him.

"For what?" He said as we held each other.

"For being here for me," I said as I kissed his cheek. I still didn't fall for
the 'I love you' bit.

He nodded as I got into my jeep and he got into his.

BACK AT THE APARTMENT…

I was pacing back and forth waiting for the puny little
18-year-old they called Leslie. Nick and A.J. were looking out the
window to spot them. It was 15 minutes past 6 and Wendy
finally got home.

"Hey Ashley! Nick? A.J.?" She said dropping her wrapped
presents. Nick and A.J. helped her pick them up.

"Why is everyone freaking out at our presence?" Nick asked
sighing.

"I don't know Frack, I don't know!" A.J. said as Wendy and I
put the new presents in the huge pile.

"There they are!" Nick yelled.

"Good! Last year she stayed at a hotel so she wouldn't have to
go through this!" I said as Wendy cleared her throat.

"Why?" A.J. asked.

"Uh…nothing, nevermind." I said clearing my throat. Leslie
walked in with Brian tagging along behind her still with
an awful face.

"Hey Les! I thought you would never get home!" I said sitting
her down on the couch next to the presents.

"Ash you don't have to do this," Leslie said sighing.

"Of course I don't! I just like to! Now stop complaining!"
I said as everybody gathered around to see her open her presents.
Brian leaned on the wall closest to us; Nick sat next to me on the
couch, Wendy next to Leslie, and A.J. on the floor passing the
presents. She got tons! Clothes, CDs, books, tapes, a cd
Walkman, money, you name it, she got it!

"Les I got you something too," A.J. said handing her a present.
She opened it, it was a charm bracelet.

"Thanks A.J." Leslie said hugging him.

"Wendy told me you like charm bracelets, and I knew the perfect
place to get it."

"I like it, thanks!" Leslie said putting it on her wrist. Nick handed
her a big box. It was a cappuccino maker! Leslie loved those
more than coffee!

"Cool Nick! Thanks I love it! Cappuccino's are the best!"
Leslie said hugging him lightly. I helped Leslie take everything to
her room and dump it on her bed.

"Ash?" Leslie asked.

"Hmm?" I said dumping more stuff on her bed.

"Brian told me he loved me. Should I believe him?" She
asked.

"He probably means it Les. Guys don't lie about love, it doesn't
happen often for them and when it does they like
showing it."

"Yeah I guess so," Leslie said sighing.

"You know he's probably got you a present he just
didn't want to show it to anyone else."

"Yeah okay whatever Ash!" She said as she walked
down the hall, I tagged along.

All of us talked as a group for about an hour, then we went
our separate relationship problem ways. I looked at Leslie as she
walked outside with Brian…

LESLIE'S LOVE…

I walked with Brian to the steps of our apartment as we sat down and looked
at the stars.

"I finally named my star," Brian said repointing to it.

"What did you name it?" I asked curiously.

"Leslie. Whenever I'm confused or sad and I'm not near you I can
look at that star and it will make me feel better." Brian said as I looked
into his eyes.

"You're kidding right?"

"Why would I? Les I would never lie to you, I love

THE END!!!