To Live Is To Dream CHAPTER 13

It had been 3 days... and he was worried now....At first he hadn't been. Randy had come to him and told him Ami wasn't feeling well so wouldn't be showing up today, the same for the next day.. but just last night Richie had stopped by the room he knew Ami shared with her Uncle just to check on her, see if there was anything she needed.... she had barely cracked the door keeping the chain on and wouldn't let him step foot in the room, she spoken quietly and reassured him she'd come back the next afternoon. He asked her what was wrong if she needed some cold medicine or anything and she didn't elaborate just quickly shut the door not answering anymore of his knocks.

Ami was worried now, she'd told Richie she'd show up today and she was on her way now but she was scared, her Uncle had suddenly taken a turn for the worst if that was possible, ever since he'd dragged her out of the dressing room he'd been constantly yelling and hitting... worse than ever before, saying nasty things about her mother, she didn't understand it, why did he hate her mother so much and why was it her fault? He'd given her quite a mark on her face this time and she just couldnt be seen like that she had been ordered not to be seen until it faded.

Well, she thought it's still there but at least now it can be explained away it was only a slightly bruised red mark on her cheek.

Richie saw her coming... she was lost in thought again as she came up the steps he chuckled a bit to himself thinking about the first day she'd fallen right back into his arms, he wondered if she'd been just as out there then too.

"hey there stranger" he smiled

she looked up " oh hey.. sorry i bailed on you the last few days... I just.. didn't feel well"

"don't worry about it, I'm just glad your feeling better...." he watched her closely as she began to finish setting up what needed set up. She certainly wasn't acting the same as she had been a few days ago and he sighed to himself he had really hoped that whatever had been bothering her so much would ease up.

He walked over to her and peered down curiously... he raised her chin and brushed her hair back then ran his thumb over the slight bruise on her cheek "Ami.... what happened?"

She touched her cheek and lowered her eyes "oh..... you know... how clumsy I am... I wasn't paying attention in the bathroom and the mirror.... on the medicine cabinet..." she rolled her eyes a little in fake exasperation hoping he bought her story " smacked myself right in the face...... hurt like a bitch man..." she forced a chuckle as she stepped back away from him, away from his touch.

He didn't know what to make of her stepping away from him, certainly didn't expect it after the other day but now it seemed she was trying to distance herself from that and for some reason that deoressed him a bit.

"well baby you've got to be a bit more careful I think" he said and turned back around pulling cords and strings out of a bag

Ami breathed a sigh of relief that he seemd to buy her tale and didnt press the issue and silently threw herself into working, keeping herself away from him and distanced. She wished it didn't have to be like this, She'd had sucha wonderful time with him the other day, had been so relaxed, so.... happy..... and the kiss... it was just a kiss but... to her it had been so much more.... but she couldn't let that happen again no matter how much she wished.... her Uncle would certainly not allow..... and Richie.. he was so kind... not at all like her Uncle painted him out to be, he didn't need to have to deal with her issues or her Uncle.

Richie had left the stage leaving ami to handle it, he was confident in her abilities to set him up correctly, she had from day one and he had things to do before the show. He just shook his head as he thought of her. Her actions today had been enough to cool his jets, yes he found the girl incredibly attractive, and when he'd kissed her damn.... he hadn't been that turned on that fast in a long time... but...her coolness today showed him she really was too young to deal with things like that. Why else would she be distancing herself....He sighed it's for the best anyway he thought, wouldn't be good to get mixed up with an underage girl... no matter how enticing she was....