*Pt. 19*

Over the next month, everyone got settled into their jobs, they'd hang out at the pond or parties, seeing Jesse at school in passing-
He went to the A & W one Friday nite with Tom- Jada took their order, when she came inside, she told Ashley they were there- {Ashley was working the other side} it wasn't too busy, so she went out, going up to Jesses window- he smiled,
"Hey darlin'-" she raised her eyebrows,
"What's going on with you Jesse ? We never see you anymore, I thought we were all going to stay friends-?" he smiled,
"We are friends. I just been hangin' out with some other people-"
"Kammie's people-" he shrugged,
"Ya gotta give me a break darlin', I said I'd be cool about you & Jeff, ya just gotta give me time to get used to it." she nodded, "It's not as easy for me as you might think-" she nodded again,
"I know- We all miss you is all-"
"I'll be back around, don't you worry-" she miled, stepping up onto the truck to hug him,
"When's the nest gig ?"
"Next week- We're playin' at Kammies 18th birthday." she just stared at him, he shrugged, "It's a paying gig darlin'-" she said bye to them both, passing Jada,
"They're playin' at Kammies birthday next week-" Jada frowned,
"What ?" then, "Jesus !" Ashley got back to work-

Jeff had bought a GTO that needed some work done on it- it was parked at the gas stations garage- He, Chris & Jimmy worked on it when they had time- Jada had a '65 Mustang that needed a paint job badly, she was saving money for it- but it was drivable-

When Ashley got off work, she went over and sat while Jeff worked on his car- she sat on an old coke crate- she was surprised to see Kenny there- he smiled,
"Hey Ashley-"
"Hi Kenny- Why're you here so late ?" he smiled, he motioned with his hands, {he was wiping off some car part}
"Helping Jeff out. He needed a carborator, so I found him one in the yard." she nodded,
"Oh, cool." Jeff came out from under the car, his shirt off, all greasy, he stood up & kissed her,
"Hey baby. Busy tonite ?" she shrugged,
"The usual. Jesse came by with Tom." he nodded,
"Yeah, they stopped by here too. There's a party at the old mill. Did you wanna go ?" she shrugged,
"I don't know, maybe. Jada said something about meeting up with Tom. I'm not feeling that good-"
"If you wanna go with Jada that's cool. I'm gonna be awhile -" she sighed inwardly,
"I probably will-" Jada pulled up just then, her car making a terrible racket, Kenny & Jeff frowned, glancing over at it, Jeff said,
"You need a muffler-" she held up her hands,
"What ?" they all walked over, Ashley opened the passenger door, Jeff repeated,
"You need a muffler-" she flipped him off,
"It 'has' a muffler."
"Then it needs a 'new' one !" Kenny added,
"It's in bad need of a tune up too." Jada laughed,
"Whenever you boys are ready to fix these things for me, let me know !" Kenny nodded,
"Tomorrow. 3pm. " she raised her eyebrows,
"Are you serious ?" he nodded,
"Sure. I can do a tune up in no time. I'm sure Jake won't mind if you pay him later for a new muffler-" she smiled,
"Alright then ! Thanks !" he nodded & went back to Jeffs car, Jeff kissed Ashley,
"I'll se you tomorrow, ok ?" she nodded,
"Ok." he kissed her again,
"I hope you feel better. Be good." she nodded, he shut her door & Jada peeled out-
"You're still not feeling better ?" Ashley shook her head,
"I think I'm coming down with something-" Jada looked at her quickly, but didn't say anymore-

At the mill, Tom & Jesse were wrestling {arm wrestling} a bon fire was going, Chris & Jimmy were flirting with a couple girls from school who were sophmores next year- Jada said,
"I don't see slut ass anywhere- Maybe Jesse is getting sick of her." Ashley just shrugged, they walked over to Tom & Jesse, sqeezing thru some people who were standing arround watching- Jada asked,
"Who's winning ?" Reese, {who had just graduated too} said,
"They've been at a stand still for 5 minutes." Jada laughed,
"Why'nt ya'll call it a draw ?" Tome & Jesse both looked at her, "I'm serious ! Look at you two !" they looked at eachother & nodded, letting go- "I swear !" Tom stood up, grabbing hold of her, pulling her in for a hug, Ashley knew then they'd been drinking awhile. Jesse offered her the bottle of Jack, she took a drink & almost threw up- he frowned,
"You ok Ash ?" she nodded & walked off- she went over by the stream, squatting- the water wheel still turned from the water in the stream, it just didn't work the Mill anymore- Jesse walked up, startling her,
"Damn Jesse !" he knelt next to her,
"What's wrong with you Ash ?" she shook her head, "I shouldn't have drank from the bottle, I'm coming down with something-"
"Darlin', the alcohol will kill any germs." she threw up then, he pulled her hair back, holding it out of her way- when she stopped, he pulled his shirt out of his back pocket where it had been hanging, handing it to her- she wiped her face & handed it back,
"Thanks Jesse-" he put it back in his pocket,
"Anytime darlin'. Shouldn't you be home in bed ?" she nodded, he took her hand, helping her stand, she was dizzy, he put his arm around, walking her to Jadas car, she sat down, feeling miserable, "I'll be right back-" he went over to Tom & Jada,
"Hey, your sister's pretty sick- she needs to go home-" Jada sighed,
"I just started partyin'-" Tom gav him the keys to his truck,
"I'll ride with Jada later-" they all walked over to Ashley, Tom asking,
"You gonna be ok girl ?" she nodded,
"I need a bath & lay down-"
"Jesse's gonna drive you home in my truck, ok ?" she nodded, Tom kissed her head, Jada said,
"Do you need me to go Ash ?"
"No Jada- I'll be fine- You have fun-" Jesse started to walk her to Toms truck, Tom picked her up & carried her-

They drove in silence on the way- Jesse was driving slowly, being pretty buzzed, plus, he didn't want her to throw up again-

It was 1:30am when they got to the house- her Mom wouldn't be home til after 2:30am or so-
He helped her inside & upstairs-
"Want help ?" she gave him a look, he smiled, "Just kiddin' ! I'll be in Toms room if you need me-" she nodded & he left.

After her bath, she put on a tank top & undies, laying on her bed- Jesse tapped on her door, she pulled the sheet over her,
"Yeah-" he came in, opening her windows all the way, her ceiling fan was already on- he sat on her bed-
"Feel better ?"
"A little, yeah. Thanks Jesse-"
"No problem." the lamp on her nite table was the only lite on in her room, "Where's Jeff ? Still workin' on that car ?"
"Yeah. I think he loves that car-"
"Mmm-" she noticed how he was looking at her,
"Where's what's her face ?" he grinned,
"Kammie ?" she nodded, making a face. "Some bullshit girls thing-" Ashley nodded,
"The stuff for the 4th ?" he nodded,
"Yeah, float costumes or some shit for the parade-"
"What about Pappy, is he still coming down for that ?"
"Hell yes ! He'd have to be dead to miss it !" she smiled,
"So everyone's doing the usual ?"
"Of course, Pappy loves it !"
Every 4th Pappy came down from his mountain to town, Jada drove his truck while he sat in the back with the boys, all dressed as hilbillys, drinking from 'shine' jugs, his tribute to free enterprizes, sticking it to Uncle Sam, etc-
Ashley looked at Jesse,
"Are you serious with......'her' ?" he laughed,
"Hell no !" he paused, "Just keeping myself occupied for now." she nodded,
"Jess, I think I'm gonna sleep-"
"Ok- I'm gonna crash in Toms room for awhile- Gotta sober up-" she reached for a hug, then he left her room-

*CONTINUED*


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