Goody Two-Shoes

The sport bar just down the streets from Bam’s house was decently crowded. I didn't recognize anyone inside though, which was a good thing. I really didn't want to run into old classmates, I hated that stupid 'OMG, how have you been?!' conversation, no one really honestly cared how you've been. I've gone six years, who was left to care anymore?

“Come on,” Ryan grabbed my hand, pulling me deeper inside. The two of us got ourselves stools at the bar, close to the cash register.

The bartender came forward immediately, before either of Ryan or I could exchange words. He was a younger guy, probably around eighteen or nineteen. He looked like he just graduated high school, attractive with short shaggy brown hair and bright blue eyes. He reminded me of Adam, he looked like one of those guys who had everything going for them in high school. He was probably on the football team, maybe even the star and yet, right after graduation he ended up working in the hellhole. Stuck in this small town he had promised himself he'd escape from.

“Hey Ryan, whose the lady?” The younger man asked, I broke from my concentration, realizing my hatred for Adam had consumed me and been turned onto this young man I didn't even know. Their was a glass was in his hand and he was skillfully drying it with a towel. He's probably had this job for awhile now, giving me more reason to believe this boy would be here the rest of his life.

“An old friend,” I looked at Ryan, our eyes meeting and smiled. He returned it, his big grin almost buried beneath his beard. He kind of looked like a chipmunk smiling like that, it put me in a really light-hearted mood, reminding me of simpler days.

“Two beers,” Ryan stated, holding up his hand and the peace sign. The man walked off, returning with our drinks and placing it down. Ryan pushed him his money and turned to me.

“You know, you haven’t changed a bit,” Ryan stated, bringing the bitter liquid to his lips.

“How so?” I asked, following his actions and placing the glass bottle between my lips.

Ryan turned around in his stool so he was leaning against the bar, I just continued to sit facing the bar, my elbows perched up on the ledge, waiting for the answer, “you're still quiet. You’re probably one of the most beautiful girls I’ve ever met or will meet and still you’re so self-conscious.”

He was right, but it wasn’t really me being self-conscious anymore, it was me being careful. I didn’t trust men, especially the low lives in this town.

“Ashton, when was the last time you were with a guy?” I was taken back by the question, I turned my head to look at Dunn, but he never turned his head to look at me. He continued to watch the guys in the back of the bar play darts.

I stayed silent causing Dunn to ask again, “well?”

“Adam,” I muttered, Dunn finally turned to look at me. “I had to take care of Rori, I didn't have time to go out and date.”

We were engulfed in silence and I found myself getting slightly irritated with Ryan staring at me, “Look, it isn’t exactly easy to go out and date a guy after getting raped Ryan,” I snapped, giving him a dead glare.

“Of course not, I didn’t expect it to be,” my face twitched a little with confusion.

“Are you sure Rori isn’t Bams?” Ryan asked, his curiosity perking up.

“In order for Rori to Bam’s, Bam and I would have had to have sex, something we didn’t do,” I looked over to meet Dunn’s eyes and he raised an eyebrow.

“But I thought you guys-“

“Yeah, I lost my virginity to Bam when we were freshman, I can’t be pregnant for four years Ryan,” I corrected him. “Why the hell are you so interested in mine and Bam’s relationship back than anyway?”

“Because you guys liked each other,” I looked at Ryan, surprised by what he was saying.

“I didn’t like Bam and Bam didn’t like me. That was a onetime thing Ryan.”

“You are so full of shit, you guys were always so jealous. If Bam was with another girl, you hated her guts and Bam was the same way.” I shook my head, taking another swig of my beer.

“I hated his girlfriends because they were dumb cunts,” I stated, Ryan coughed out a laugh and smiled because he knew what I spoke was true. Bam went for the easy girls, the girls that were on drugs, the ones that were messed up, the ones that would sleep with him right off the bat because Bam was never into the emotional aspect of a relationship, he wanted the easy stuff he didn't want all the crap that came with a relationship, the shit that makes it hard. The minute one of his girlfriends started talking about love, about the future, he dumped them and went to the next piece of trash.

“Come on let play some darts.”

Several hours past, I was having fun laughing with my old friend. He was kicking my ass at darts and was telling me all about the things that have happened in the past couple of years, telling me all about his success with jackass, all the stupid stunts he had to do. It was funny listening to all his stories, I wish I had happy stories like that to share with him but the difference between myself and Ryan, I had to grow up. He had a job where he still got to feel like a kid, I wasn't as fortunate.

After one too many drinks, the two of us decided it was time to head home. We walked outside into the bitter cold and climbed onto his bike. He handed me a helmet and I latched it on. I sat behind him, snuggling close to him to hold and to keep warm at the same time.

The drive seemed longer than coming here, even though Ryan was going way to fast but I was to drunk to care. We reached Ape's house and he pushed his kickstand down, stopping the bike and I climbed off.

“You know, I've never done that before,” I muttered sloppily, causing Dunn to look at me with questioning eyes as he climbed off his bike, “I've never ridden on a bike before....it's fun.”

“You should come back soon Ash,” Ryan was unsure if what I said would set me off, so he said it carefully, “it's been so long....I just want to spend time with you again....on better terms.”

We climbed up the steps to Aprils house and before we walked in, I turned to look at Ryan, giving him a mournful look, “Ryan, I don't live a life where I can drop all my responsibilities and come running back here. I have a family to take care of....”

I could see the hurt in his eyes and I felt bad but it had to be said. I pulled open the door to Aprils house and walked inside, kicking my shoes off and stumbling into the kitche.

“Rori?” I called out, not sure where everyone was, “Ape?”

“Shhh,” I heard a male voice come from the stairs and turned around to see who was coming down the shadowed steps. I couldnt make out a body or even a face it was so dark, “the girls asleep.”

The man stepped into the light and froze when his big blue eyes met mine. His dark hair clung to his face and his pale skin looked slightly tanned in the lighting.

“Bam,” I felt the air in my lungs leave as I said his name, it rolled off my tongue and brought a tingle down my spine but also put the fear of god inside me as I realized what was about to happen.

“Do I know you?” I froze in my place, he didn't recognize me. Bam....didn't remember me?

“Oh, hey Bam,” Ryan entered the kitchen and than stopped as he looked between Bam and I, confused as to why the yelling hadn't started yet.

I opened my mouth to speak but Bam cut me off, “Oh, you must be Ryan's girlfriend!”

I was at a loss for word, how could Bam not....recognize me....I surely hadn't changed that much had I? I mean sure, the little mermaid red hair was gone but I was still Ashton! That girl he had known since kindergarten, his best friend since the fifth grade!

Than again, it has been six years, a lots changed.

“No, Bam...this isn't-” Ryan went to explain to Bam who I was but I stopped him. I was tempted to make up a fake identity but Bam would be so pissed when he found out the truth. I was assuming the light was the only thing stopping him from recognizing me.

“Is Rori upstairs?” I asked, wanting to change the subject for just a second.

“Yeah, I just read her a bedtime story and she passed out,” I felt myself smile at the idea of a male figure reading her a bedtime story, it was something I had wanted so bad for Rori, a father or even a father figure. Maybe if I had stayed here, Bam would have taken on this role.

But this was Bam I was talking about, he didn't want that.

“Thank you,” I whispered, brushing past him and heading up the stairs.

“Who is that?” I heard Bam whisper to Ryan, I knew all hell was going to break lose very soon so I just continued up the stairs so I could wake Rori.

Rori was sleeping in the first bedroom, it was Bam's old bedroom I assumed by all the heartagrams and posters. I walked over to the little girl who was all tucked into the navy blue blankets, her mouthing hanging open and drooling all over the pillow. I sat down beside her, lifting my hand to her face and brushing a few stands of hair out of her face.

The silence was nice but it didn't take long before I heard Bam running up the stairs and bursting into the room.

“Shhhh,” shushing Bam in hopes of not waking the little girl.

I turned my head to face him and I felt guilt enter my system, his eyes were glassy, meaning he was fighting back tears.

“Is it really you?” He whispered, questioning what Ryan had probably just told him. I nodded, turning to look back at the little girl in his bed.

“Yeah,” I didn't want to look at Bam again, I didn't want to see his face.

We sat in silence and I pretty much ignored his existence, my focus on Rori.

“So, your just going to sit there? Your not going to say anything?” Bam was quiet but his voice was still louder than I wanted it to be, perhaps we should have taken this downstairs or outside....but the minute I left the safety of Rori's presence I knew I would have to deal with Bam screaming at me and Ryan was hard enough to deal with, there was already to much happening today, I can't deal Bam too.

“Can we do this tomorrow Bam?” I asked, my voice low my eyes now torn away from Rori and looking out the window.

“Yeah, I've waited six years, what's one more fucking day?” He voice was normal now and had a bite to it. He stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him and causing me to jump in fear. I looked down at Rori who seemed undisturbed by the occurrence and just sighed.

Sometimes I wished Rori had never happened.