Ami sat on the bed and rubbed her shoulder wincing a bit. She was still in shock. She'd known her Unlce Randy wasn't the nicest of men but she had never thought he might actually get physical with her. But that is exactly what had happened.
He was angry, so very angry with her. She didn't know why. was it because for the first time in weeks she'd actually let herself smile? Granted the smiles were hesitant and at times weak.. but she smiled non the less. It was hard not to around Richie. For as much as he looked like a full grown man. He certainly didn't act like it much. He was silly and so happy and so excited about life! He had spent the day teaching her how to polish his guitars and grinned cheekily as he told her his "babies needed some love" She broke into a light smile at this and listened as he continued to explain why he has asked for her help.
Seems he needed a stage hand all his own since his normal tech had taken off a few days before. Matt, his normal tech was going to be a father anyday and needed to be home with his wife. So Richie had told him to go. It wasn't like he couldn't handle things himself for a few weeks, he'd done it before. At least he thought he could. but now was different he was so busy during the day he hadn't time to do everything that needed to be done. Ami just sat and polished away careful as she listened to him weave a tale of his days full of hangovers and early morning meetings, morning show interviews, promotional appearances , shows, after show meets, It exhausted her just thinking about it all and she thought he must be some kind of superman if he does this on a day to day basis. He ended his story by telling her he figured since she was here and didn't seem to really have a job to do, maybe she wouldn't mind stickin with him til Matt came back.
Ami really didn't know what to say to this and tried to politely decline just saying her Uncle really wouldn't like it, she helped him all day long. But Richie was having none of it, He just commented that he knew Randy didn't have too much work to do and there was no reason why he should need her help so bad and insisted on speaking with him. That was of course, if Ami would just say sure......
Ami was torn, She really had been enjoying herself today and Richie seems so much mor easy going and alot less demanding, not that she was afraid of hard work, she wasn't but it had been nice to be able to just sit and listen to someone, someone who wasn't yelling or gruff or intentionally rude or crass.But she was afraid her Uncle would throw a temper tantrum at the thought of her doing anything that might be easy work. In the end Richies playful pouting and cajoling won her over. And she gave him a very quiet "ok" with a light smile.
Ami had no idea what was said or how it transpired but she knew now that Richie had gotten his way because as soon as she and her Uncle had gotten into there hotel room he had out of nowhere pulled back and backhanded her across the face. She hadnt even seen it coming and it was a hard enough blow that she'd lost he balance and fallen into the side of the oak dresser in the room. She rubbed her shoulder once more and stared at herself in the mirror above that dresser in awe at the fact that her only visible injury seemed to be the one on her upper arm. A nasty bruise spreading out yellow and dark purple. Not a mark on her cheek, though it still pulsed a bit and was tender to touch. She hadn't even been able to mentally register much of his verbal tirade aimed her way after the physical attack. She did hear him babbling about fucking rockstars always getting thier way and him warning her to keep her mouth shut about things if she knew what was good for her. That no one wanted to hear her sob story. Just do what he says and be done with it. The rest she didnt even digest since her ears had still been ringing from the slap.
She shook her head to clear her thoughts and got up from the bed, glad that her Uncle had finally stormed out in his rage. She made her way to the bathroom and ran herself a nice hot bath locking the bathroom door behind her and slipping into the water eyes closed. She lay there and tried to forget the nasty ending to her day and just remember the easiness she felt around Richie. She had felt calm and clear minded for once.....She never thought she would be, he was like an god to her really, untouchable, perfect. In another time and place... before the accident, she would have been overwhelmed with excitement, tongue tied, and stared at him with open teenage adoration. But now after everything that had happened she was over that part. No more childish dreams for her. What was the use anyway? Life never worked out the way you wanted it to.
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