All characters appearing or mentioned in this story are 18 years old or older. This story is a work of fiction and any reference or description to actual persons is unintentional.
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If you are enjoying these stories, leave a comment about what you liked or didn't, or things you want to ready more of. I'll take advice into consideration when I'm working out the next parts of the LoP stories.
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March 1999
It was a day after I got back from San Diego that I finally got a call from Ashley. I had left a message on her machine days ago saying I wanted to talk, but didn't hear from her until I got back to find a message on my machine.
"Hey Paul," the speaker said, "just got your message. I'll be over Tuesday to see you." Beeeeeep.
Huh, kinda cryptic but OK. Since it was Monday I had time, so I continued on my labeling and packing of things. I was certainly taking my time with it. I didn't have much in the way of stuff, but carefully packing it away made my time here stretch out just a little bit longer. I was sad to be moving away from the area I knew so well and called home. But, life moves on I suppose, and new adventures awaited me up north.
I spent the day packing and labeling and getting my uHaul truck arranged. Since I'd said my goodbyes to just about everyone, I set it for Saturday to pickup and depart Rancho Hills. I grabbed some tacos for dinner and turned in, noting that the place was very echo-y with all the posters and such off of the walls.
Tuesday comes and I am woken up by a knock on the door. Or rather, an insistent pounding. I rise, still in my boxers, to answer. It's Ashley.
"Hi," I said brightly, sort of. "I'm glad you...OOOOFFFF" I exclaimed as she punched me full on in the stomach. It caught me by surprise more than pain, but not expecting it still made me double over.
"You asshole!" Ashley yelled as she entered, slamming the door. Her platinum hair was straight and down, waving in the breeze created by the door closing. I backed up to sit on the coffee table, catching my breath.
"Umm, hi?" I say.
"Why didn't you tell me you were leaving!?"
"That's what I was going to tell you," I explained, "but I didn't want to just leave a message. I wanted to tell you in person."
"Then you should have said it was important!"
"I did."
"More important, then," she yelled. She was visibly upset, red splotches around her eyes said she was crying recently. I wanted to be consoling, but she just sucker punched me, so I was finding it hard.
"Tell me why you are upset," I said quietly.
"BECAUSE YOU'RE LEAVING, DUH!" she screamed.
"And I told you I was. A while ago."
"But now that you are it's...it's just that...GRRRRRR...why can't I talk straight?" She started pacing around the living room, her hands on her hips. She was wearing a short sleeved, dark blue maxi dress so she flowed when she walked. I would have commented on how nice she looked had my stomach not reminded me that I was still a bit mad.
I let her walk around for a bit, letting her try to find the words that eluded her. After a few minutes, I offered my own.
"I'm a little sad too to be leaving," I said.
Ashely stopped and turned to look at me. "It's more than that," she said in a more normal tone.
"Go on."
"The last year has been amazing for me," she began. "Since we started hooking up, it's lead to a lot of great times and a lot of learning about myself that I don't think I'd have found out otherwise. You were, you are, a very big influence on my life."
"And now I'm leaving," I said, the pieces falling into place.
"And now you're leaving," Ashley confirmed. "First Amber, who I really cared about, and now you, who I also really care about."
We didn't say anything for a bit. It was hard to say goodbye to someone you cared about. Neither of us knew how to do it since we only said goodbye to Amber, and we had each other for comfort if needed. Not a huge pool of experience to draw on.
I slowly got up, approached Ashley, and wrapper my arms around her. She didn't cry, but she did put her head on my chest and wrap her arms around me. I felt her warm breath on my chest as she breathed heavily, trying to regain control over her emotions. I let her be for as long as she needed.
After several minutes, she broke our hug. Wiping her face, we sat down on the couch.
"So," she said, in more or less her normal tone, "according to Leila and Tiffany, you are certainly hitting the rounds for saying goodbye to the women of Rancho Hills."
Her demeanor was more playful, so I encouraged that, lest I get punched again.
"Just saying farewell to a few close friends," I said.
"Oh, please," Ashley scoffed. "According to Leila it was the best sex she and you'd had to date. And if half of what Tiffany told me was true, you are rapidly approaching legendary status."
True, the last few days have been more exciting than most. Way more exciting in fact. I didn't exactly plan out all that had happened, but I did go with the flow, which brought me to some very interesting places.
"So," she said, turning to face me, "what sort of goodbye do you have planned for me?"
Thinking about what Lauren had asked me a while ago, I proposed it to Ashley. And while she didn't exactly say no, she did take her sweet time thinking about it.
"So, just to be clear," Ashley said, "Lauren wants to watch you fuck someone. And you thought of me?"
"Yes."
She smiled at the thought, mostly because we'd done that once before. "I'm flattered you think so much of my performance skills."