REDDING, CA – THE ADDAMS’ HOUSE – APR. 6th, 2002 – SATURDAY

     “No, mom, let me sleep just a little bit more.” Kirstin dug her face into her pillow when she heard the door to her bedroom opening. She then felt someone sit by her bed “Mom, I told you, could you…” she stopped when she saw who that was “Oh, it’s you. You’re here already. What time is it?”

     “11:15, Sleeping Beauty.” Ashley brushed a lock hair away from her face.

     “Oh…” Kirstin stretched “Sorry.”

     “That’s alright.” Ashley smiled at her “Did you sleep well?”

     “I did. I’m sleeping great here in Redding.” Kirstin sat up and stretched again.

     “See? Told you Redding would be good for you.”

     “Yeah…” Kirstin smiled at him “Gotta pee. Wait here.” she got up and headed for the bathroom across the hall.

     Ashley was left alone in her bedroom. He turned on the lights and decided to take a look at her room. It was not the room Ashley was used to calling Kirstin’s. When Kirstin was in highschool and the Addams used to live in another house, Kirstin’s room showed a lot of her personality. Now, this room was similar to a guestroom. It didn’t have anything there that reminded Ashley of Kirstin. Just light yellow walls, some cushions in a corner, a small closet and dresser, 2 chairs, a loveseat and a bed. That was it. Really simple, nothing fancy.

     “Back.” Kirstin informed entering the room and closing the door behind her.

     “Good morning, then.” Ashley got closer to her and wrapped his arms around her waist as she wrapped hers around his neck and stroke his hair.

     “Hey.” she said kindly and soft into his eyes and then pushed him to her, kissing him hard on the mouth.

     Ashley’s lips moved over hers expertly and he very gently ran his tongue along her upper lip. She moaned lightly and pulled him closer as she opened her mouth slightly. When Ashley’s tongue met Kirstin’s, he groaned softly. ‘God, she tastes good!’ Ashley thought while tasting her mouth. Kirstin tightened her grip on Ashley, her body around his, not even an inch separating their bodies. She was starting to unbutton his shirt when she thought twice and pulled back from the kiss.

     “Hm…” she moaned after exhaling a deep breath. Her eyes were closed and Ashley just watched her with pure desire on her face. She then opened up her eyes, meeting Ashley’s and moaned again, hugging him tight “You gotta stop doing that.”

     “Doing what?” Ashley closed his eyes while hugging Kirstin.

     “Being so damn good at kissing. I can’t resist you for too long, you know?”

     “Well, I’m not asking you to resist me. I want you to have me, because I’m all yours.”

     “But I don’t want…” Kirstin started but didn’t know how to continue.

     “It’s alright.” Ashley smiled weakly. He knew Kirstin wasn’t prepared yet. And there was no problem with that. She lost the baby less that a month ago. It was normal behavior “I understand, baby. It’s too soon.” he pulled back from the hug and stared into her beautiful brown eyes.

     “Sorry.” Kirstin apologized.

     “There’s no reason for you to be apologizing, so stop it, alright?” Kirstin just nodded “I know that when you’re ready, you’ll let me know.”

     “You’re right I am. I’ll go running to you, don’t matter if I’m in New York and you’re in Los Angeles. When I feel like it, you’ll be the first to know it. And you better be prepared.”

     “Oh, I always am.” Ashley smirked and Kirstin smiled at him. He then leaned in to kiss her softly on the lips.

REDDING, CA – THE PEACH – APR. 6th, 2002 – SATURDAY

     “Hi!” Jared stood up when he noticed Kirstin standing right beside the table.

     “Hey.” Kirstin smiled and kissed him on the cheek.

     “Sit down, please.” Jared motioned for Kirstin to sit across him on the booth “So, how are you?” he asked when Kirstin was placing her purse beside her.

     “Good. Well, kinda. But what about you?”

     “I’m fine. But why are you kinda good?”

     “Ashley went to Los Angeles. He needed to do some arrangements on their next album, so…” Kirstin was clearly bummed.

     “Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. But is he coming for the Charity Event?”

     “Oh, yeah! He’s coming back probably on Monday, so…”

     “Oh, ok.” Jared said and Kirstin nodded.

     “Ready to order?” a waiter stood by their booth.

     “Oh, right.” Jared said “Are you ready to order?” he asked Kirstin.

     “Yeah…” she looked at the waiter “I’ll have a bronco burger and a coke.”

     “I’ll have the same.” Jared handed the waiter the menus that they didn’t even use and turned to Kirstin the minute the waiter left the spot “So… you moved to a new house? Because I called you on your old number and no one picked up. So I searched the book and found a whole different number.”

     “My mom and dad had moved to another house about a year ago. Oh… but you don’t know? I don’t live in Redding anymore.” Kirstin informed.

     “You don’t?” Jared frowned.

     “Nope. I’ve moved to New York, like, the day after prom.”

     “Really? I did not know that. I thought it was strange never bumping into you here in Redding, but I thought you just didn’t get out much.”

     “Nah, I’m in New York now.”

     “You go to Columbia?” Jared asked.

     “No. NYU.”

     “Do you work?” Jared asked when the waiter brought their cokes “Thanks.” he thanked the waiter.

     “Yes. I’m an editing assistant for an MTV show.”

     “Oh, wow! That’s big!”

     “Yeah, well… not that much, but I like it.” Kirstin took a sip of her soda.

     “I bet you do. And what’s your major?”

     “Journalism.”

     “Cool!” Jared exclaimed.

     “Yeah. So… Can I ask you something? If you don’t wanna answer, that’s alright, we’ll move on, alright?”

     “Yeah, ok…”

     “How do you… well… how did you and Cindy get together? I mean… when did you two even start going out?”

     “Well… She’s working in an advertising agency now. And one day I came in for this Hugo Boss shooting and she was part of the team. After that, she invited me for dinner.”

     “She invited you? Cindy? Asked you out?” Kirstin was surprised.

     “Well, yeah… she didn’t remember me from highschool, so I was just another underwear model for her. And she asked me out and I said yes, well… for obvious reasons.” Kirstin nodded. Cindy sure was beautiful. She was 5’8’’ tall, really skinny, with big breasts, dark blue colored eyes and blonde bleached hair. But her beauty didn’t make up for her lack of personality or for her lack of kindness.

     “Ok… How long have you two been together?”

     “Almost a year now.”

     “A year? A whole year? You’ve been putting up with Cindy for a year now?”

     “Yeah…” Jared nodded “But she’s not that bad. She’s really mean to people she doesn’t like, I know that. But with me she’s not like that.”

     “Jared, she orders you around…” Kirstin was actually trying to be his friend.

     “Well… I don’t mind. I’m happy with her.”

     “Are you? Are you really?” Kirstin stared into his eyes.

     “Yes…” somehow, that didn’t sound too sincere.

     “Well, if you say so, I believe you.” Kirstin decided to drop the subject.

     “What about you and Ashley?” Jared took a sip from his coke.

     “Oh, we’re fine.” Kirstin smiled big.

     “You really look happy.”

     “I am. I mean… we’ve been through a lot, but we’re fine now.”

     “What do you mean by a lot?”

     “Well…” Kirstin didn’t know if she was prepared at that moment to tell Jared everything that happened in her life. It was like they were still getting to know each other better. Jared wasn’t a complete stranger, but he was a lot different from the inside and out, so Kirstin still felt the need to be careful with what to say to him “Stuff. Hard stuff I don’t know if I feel comfortable about talking right now.”

     “Sure.” Jared smiled to Kirstin. Kirstin actually felt good after seeing that smile. Maybe Jared was the same sweet guy she once knew. She just needed to confirm that. And that would take more than just a few minutes talking.