It isn't all misery

Chapter 7

The waiter led us to the table Ashley had booked and we made ourselves comfortable. He pulled my chair out and I sat down then he tucked me in, before sitting down himself. He reached for the complimentary bread on our table and shot me a smile as he did so, offering me a bite. I politely declined and smiled back at him just as the waiter came over.

"Can I get you any drinks?"

Still feeling a bit flustered after my interaction with Andy, and nervous to be in such a nice restaurant on a date with Ashley, I decided I'd jump straight in.

"A glass of red wine, please" I replied, handing the waiter my drinks menu.

"Anything particular?"

"Surprise me" I smiled. He nodded and Ashley asked for his drink, then he left. Ashley turned to me with a smile.

"Red wine eh?"

"I adore red wine" I told him. "All kinds"

"It's nice to meet a girl with a fine taste of wines" he joked. "Usually it goes straight to people's heads. Nice to know you can handle your drink" he looked up at me suggestively.

I chuckled politely, trying to hide my nerves as a sudden thought hit me. I hadn't thought of this. Was Ashley expecting anything after this date? Was he expecting it to go somewhere. How had I not considered this? I know what kind of guy Ashley is, heck we all do. He's sweet, and a great guy, but we all know he likes his...girls. It was up to me, did I want this to head that way?

"Are you alright? You seem kind of distant" Ashley spoke up. Any thoughts in my mind were diminished as I looked at him smiling at me, slight concern in his eyes. The waiter came back over then, placing our drinks on the table, telling us to let him know when we were ready to order. I looked back to Ashley after thanking the waiter and took a long sip of my drink, watching him over the tip of my glass.

"I'm absolutely fine" I grin, with another gulp of my wine. 

I'm concentrating on tonight. Tonight was about me and Ashley. Whatever else was floating around in my mind could wait until tomorrow.

Dinner was amazing. I had the most amazing chicken dish, and then Ashley propsed dessert, so I had a brownie sundae, and Ashley payed for it all, as well as the 3 glasses of wine I had. To say the least, with the wine in my system I was ready to go to this club that Ashley had told me about.

"Very exclusive. Only the hot people get in" he expalined, sending me a wink. Which I involuntarily giggled at.

I was feeling much more relaxed and less tense than before, so I was excited to get to this club. I was having such a fun evening with Ashley so far, and it's only been dinner. I'm looking forward to this.

Ashley held my hand and I followed behind him once we had parked up and got out of the car. He led me up to the door, straight passed the long line of people waiting and hoping to get inside. He spoke his name to the big guy at the entrance and he let us in. I felt so priviledged. That's never happened to me before. If I ever went to a club it'd usually be me lining up with the others waiting to get in.

We went straight to the bar and without asking, Ashley ordered a tray of vodka shots. I'm not one for mixing drinks, so after the win I'd had I was hesitant about these shots, but it was the look he gave me, when Ashley picked up his shot glass and smiled at me, it felt so good; so I picked up my shot glass, downed it with him and slammed it back onto the bar, dabbing at my lips afterwards. Ashley sat on the stool next to me and put his hand on my knee, leaning close.

"What do you think?"

I surveyed the scene quickly. The loud bumping music, people dancing and grinding, the sleezy looking guys in the corner. There's always a sleezy guy. On the whole it was a good scene, sweet crowd. 

"I like it" I whispered in his ear. I didn't pull my face away from his quite yet. I kept my head over his shoulder and signalled the bar tender for another drink. He slid it over to me but it was just out of reach, so I held on to the back of Ashley's neck, jumped into his lap and then got it, drinking it in front of him. I held the glass to his lips and let him have a sip too. I stayed in his lap for a while, finishing my drink. Then I stood up, I had planned to quickly go to the toilet to check my makeup but Ashley took my hand and pulled me to the middle of the crowd, and I obliged. It started as the usual kind of bumping and grinding, his front to my back, his hands on my hips and we moved to the music. He caught my hand and twirled me around so we were face to face, and I let my arms fall around his neck. He held me close at the small of my back and lowered his face to the crook of my neck. My breath caught in my throat as I felt his lips press against my neck, slow and soft, but a kiss all the same. I tried not to let it phase me and let him continue, dancing still, but looking at the bigger picture, this was Ashley Purdy slowly kissing his way up my neck and my jawline. Ashley Purdy. The man on my posters in my room. Him and his friends, idols of mine, and I'm here grinding against him in a club on a date. 

Ashley lifted his head up again and rested his forehead against mine. I kept my eyes down, watching his chest as we danced but I could feel him watching me. I peered up and that's when he caught my lips. I kept my arms round his neck and held his face against mine, easing into the kiss. It was everything you'd imagine it to be. Every fan girl out there imagining this moment: it's as perfect you'd think it is. His lips moved against mine effortlessly; of course, he knew what he was doing. I on the other hand was the gawky other girl who waited around while Madison got hit on, so I wasn't as experienced as Ashley. I knew my way around a pair of lips though, I wasn't completely incapable.

I moved my hand and cupped his face, and the dancing got dirtier. We carried on like that for a while, and then another round of drinks later, Ashley was calling a friend to pick up his car in the morning and we called a cab. Both way too drunk to drive.

In my case, too drunk to think straight. I got into the cab with Ashley and he was already telling the driver his address as I crawled in a laid my head against his shoulder.

"Tonight's been great" I murmured. 

"I think so too" he told me, he slid his hand up my thigh and rested it there. In no time, Ashley was helping me out of the cab and we were walking up to his house. Everything that's happening in my life right now, every event is so surreal. Is this even happening? Am I going to wake up tomorrow with the memories of another band-related dream? I hope not. I hope this is happening.

The next couple of moments were a blur. I was in Ashley's house, slumped on his sofa, he'd left for a second but when he came back, I was already asleep.