The Girl He Knew Somewhere

Twenty One

"Before you say anything, I have something I really need to tell you!"

Ashley stared at Micky, she could see excitement in his eyes. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. He handed it to Ashley and told her to open it.

Ashley unfolded the paper and stared at the poster.

"Circus Boy!" She exclaimed. "Oh, my days! I went to a filming of that when I was eight! I was so shy! I would have run all the way back home if it hadn't been for...."

Ashley properly looked at the boy on the poster! Suddenly she could feel her hands trembling. She looked from the poster to the young man sitting beside her on the sofa.

"It was you!" Ashley whispered, tears filling her eyes. "You were the boy who took me to see the elephant!"

Micky nodded. He told Ashley everything, from how when he had met her at The Butterfly Inn and she gave him that feeling he'd seen her before, all the way to when he finally figured it out.

Ashley looked back at the poster. It had been a month after this event that her parents had died. She never watched the show, as she had moved in with her Grandparents soon after, and she had shut herself away then. Ashley admitted that she often thought back to the boy and his elephant.

"They actually became my favourite animal after that day!" Ashley said, after she told Micky her story. "I still can't believe I didn't twig it was you!"

Micky suddenly noticed the sadness form on Ashley's face.

"What's wrong?"

Ashley sighed and folded the poster up. She sat up straight, and looked straight at Micky.

"Before I came here, I phoned Grandma! She told me she'd phoned the police and that you and Mike had come over!"

"I said that I will go back to London!"

Micky stared at his friend.

"I have too! They are my guardians, but I told them that I intend to come back!"

"When?"

Ashley shrugged her shoulders.

"I don't know yet, but let me do this. For their sake. I want to stay in touch with you though, but I decided that once I get back to London, I am going to take my music career seriously! Also, I have an uncle back in England who is very much into the music business!"

Micky didn't say anything.

"Micky, I am really sorry! But, I have to go! I hate that I have too, but it's for the best!"

Micky looked at Ashley, his face sad. He excused himself and went upstairs. Ashley sighed and looked back at the poster. She smiled a little at the cheeky little face on the poster.

"Ashley?"

Ashley looked up to see Davy, Mike and Peter standing on the spiral staircase. Ashley stood up.

"I gather you know?"

Without saying anything, the three boys walked down the stairs and all embraced Ashley. Ashley returned the hug, letting the tears fall. She listened as the three said that they were going to miss her, and that she definitely had to come back.

"Look after Micky, won't you?" Ashley said. She waved at the boys and was making her way to the door, when Micky came running down the stairs!

He rushed over to Ashley, apologising for leaving her. He put something in Ashley's hand.

"I brought it for you earlier today!" He told her. "Don't open it till you get on the plane, but you had better know this: I am determined that the next time we meet, I'm taking you out on a date!"

"That had better be a promise!" Ashley said, clutching the small parcel in her hand.

Micky offered to walk her home. Ashley agreed, and the two walked together in silence, but hand in hand.

As they reached the drive, Micky stopped and placed his hands on Ashley's shoulders.

"You go and make something with your music, and we will do the same! If we met as kids, we are definitely going to meet again! I'm sure of it!"

Ashley agreed. She thanked Micky for being an amazing friend. Suddenly, she realised just how much she was going to miss him!

But, before she could say anything, Micky Dolenz of The Monkees pulled her closer, leaned in, and gave her a kiss just like the one they shared back at the beach.