Forgetting Ashley

Chapter Four

I came in closer so she could tell me. She crouched in close "HAPPY MOTHER FREAKING BIRTHDAY!"

I fell back onto the floor from shock. The door opened and almost hit me in the head. The guys came in an Damien looked down at me and smiled "Stop smiling at me and help me up, you shiftless lug!" he smirked and helped me up.

"We know that you forgot and-" Jess said.

"My parents forgot too." I looked down at the floor sadly.

"No we didn't." I looked up to see my dad and mom.

I ran to them and hugged them "I'm sorry about earlier. You still love me, right?"

"Yes we do, and honey, its ok. You're a teenager. Its the least we expected." Mom said.

"But how did you know?"

"Jess phoned us last night. She told us to keep an eye on you and when you came to the hospital to wait outside her door with the boys."

"She called me this morning, that's why it took me so long to get to my window."

"And I'm guessing you two planned this yesterday?" I was looking at Damien who had shiftily gone and was sitting on the edge of Jess's hospital bed.

"You're such an oblivious pony." Damien said.

"Me oblivious!? Your kidding right? I am many things, but I am not oblivious, Mr.Damien Lovejoy." I said glaring at him.

He was sitting there with a present in his hand and his arms extended towards me. "Happy Birthday." he got up and kissed my cheek while transferring the gift from his hands to mine. My eyes opened wide and my mouth dropped open. Ok. I am an oblivious pony.

I saw my mom smile and my dad nod after Damien pulled away and was walking to the door.

"Damien!" I yelled at him without thinking. Shit.

He turned around while holding the door open for my parents to leave, they didn't stop. "Yes?" He said letting the door close by it self after my dad left.

"I... ummmm... Thank you. For the kis- gift... I said gift." My eyes were bouncing off the walls so that I didn't have to look him in the eye.

"Sure you did. And I hope you like it." He smiled then walked out with Nils following after him.

Nils stopped right before the door closed and popped his head back in. "Happy Birthday, Ashley. I hope you have a good day." He smiled sadly, then left.

I looked the same as he did, sad. "Hey, you look sad, whats up?" Jess asked getting up and putting a hand on my shoulder.

"Jess, its been three days since the accident. I totally forgot it was Talia's and my birthday. She was three days short of being eighteen. *sigh* I miss her so much."

"Its ok. You have me, right?"

"That's true. Thank you."

"You have Damien and Nils too. Come on, open the present Damien gave you!"

I opened it and beheld a beautiful small multi-coloured jeweled dragon ring. The tail and one of the wings wrapped around your finger to ensure it would stay on. I looked at it and blushed and smiled. Some tears came to my eyes. I put it on and gawked at it.

"Wow, that's mighty pertty." A nurse said when she walked past me with a change of clothing for Jess.

"Thanks Dian. Its her birthday today." Jess said and took the clothing from Dian. "Dian, this is my best friend Ashley."