Author's note:
This is part four of a story about a group of very close and special friends. Character development was done primarily in the first three parts, so it is best to read those first.
All characters are 18 and are the subject of this FICTIONAL story. Thanks for reading and please VOTE! (5's are awesome, but only if deserved.)
Thank you.
***
Chapter 14
Amateur Night
They had walked a short distance when Ashley broke into their thoughts. "A lot of what you told me molded around or even seemed to happen because of your parents' business. Can you tell me more about it?"
Joe nodded. "I'll tell you what I can, but some I cannot because of security," he said flatly.
She raised her eyebrows at that. "security? I don't understand."
Joe looked at her. "That's ok, because you don't need to understand. Yet." She let the afterthought go, and Joe went on to tell her the history of the company. He led into his involvement with it as an errand runner and later, how he helped develop the phone they were most known for. Ashley instinctively pulled the lightweight device from a concealed fold in her dress and brushed the sand off it. "That's the one," Joe said.
"I love this phone," Ashley exclaimed. "When I see it, I KNOW that it's mine. The extra faceplates, case, everything really fits and doesn't work loose or fall off. The things I use it most for are launched from a quick-button. You came up with this?"
"Yup," Joe answered proudly. "Do you text much?"
"Yes, that's how Jasmine, Jill, and I talk most of the time."
"Well, next time they send you a message, just start typing back, it will automatically go into text message mode. When you hit send, it'll bring up a list of numbers, or names if you've programmed them in, that you last received messages from. The top will be the number or name the most recent message came from."
"I didn't know that. I always went to menu and such first. I'll have to try that." Even as Ashley said this, she started typing on the keyboard, amazed the text app instantly appeared. "Oh wow. That is so cool!"
"Who are you texting?"
"Jill. Just letting her know what you just told me about my phone and seeing what she's up to."
"Ashley, she knows. Her constant griping about texting is what gave me the idea. We gave her the prototype to test. Anyway, it's Homecoming. Aren't you interrupting her, or maybe at least her sleep?"
She ignored the last two sentences. "Wow! She got to try it out first? Did she get the first model, too?"
Joe laughed. "Yes, she got the first model...the prototype. That's what she's using still today. The prototype worked so well, the company just threw the design on the production line. Kim got the first production model, and Jasmine got the second."
Ashley didn't believe it. "But, that was like three years ago when they came out, and the slide out keyboard model didn't come out until last year. Their phones look brand new."
Joe smiled proudly. "Thanks."
"Huh?"
"Well, my idea was to make a phone that would change as a normal teenager's needs change. Their shell's and keys look new, because they just got new personalization parts a few months ago. The keyboard was an easy upgrade, because the battery cover is the whole back of the phone. The upgrade popped into where the battery was and the battery and sim card are now on the back of the keyboard unit. As new features come up, they can download the upgrade from the tower. I made sure that minor updates were free and major software upgrades were only $2." He explained further the resistance some had in the company about building a durable, upgradeable phone. That's when he pitched the idea that the company should make all the add-ons: the design shells and skins, keyboards, cases, etc. The management reluctantly ok'd the trial batch, and the phone caught on. He told her that the phones hold 30% of his parents' business income.
Ashley was shocked again. "Only 30%? These are like police cruisers are Crown Victorias...nearly every teenager has one. Where's the other 70% come from?"
Joe answered cryptically on purpose, "this and that. TV parts here, routers there."
Their arrival at the lot kept Ashley from pressing more. "Maybe all the better," she thought to herself. Joe helped Ashley up into the van like a faithful escort. Ashley grinned to herself, thinking that maybe the gentleman dream thing wouldn't be a stretch for Joe to fill. He had done a marvelous job tonight being everything she had hoped to find in a guy.
As they headed back, Joe asked if Ashley ever got a response from Jill. It dawned on Ashley that she didn't even listen for the small beep. She checked her phone and said slowly, "uuhhh, yeah. Four messages, and the first one so far is long." Joe waited patiently while driving back to the house. Ashley typed out a reply, noting mentally how she loved the phone even more now, and put it in her lap. She related Jill's short version of the night. "She said the group went bowling, then split up. Her boyfriend took her to a motel, and they had sex. Right after, she got dressed, told the guy she was breaking up with him, as he didn't seem interested enough in holding her attention. She called one of your drivers and he took her back to her house.
"Apparently, a very similar thing happened with Jasmine, because Jill got a text from her right after she got home. It said that she made it a short night with her date, and was waiting for one of Joe's drivers. They are both home safe, now. Well, actually, Jasmine is at your parents. I asked if Jill needed anything."
Joe nodded. While this wasn't great news of his friends, he expected it. Both girls had been unhappy in their relationship since summer. Any time they were off "doing the bf thing," they used that time to try to work through the differences in their heads. Recently, though, each had confided in Joe that they didn't think things would work out, and that they might say goodbye to their partners after Homecoming. He turned up the radio during one ad. A canned speech announced that the station would be doing a live remote at a quasi-popular bar and grill tomorrow night. The theme would be amateur night. Karaoke would be free, and CDs and tapes that had been sent in would be played and a vote would decide the winner of $500. Joe asked Ashley if she wanted to go, as he thought she might enjoy the Karaoke. She readily said yes when the late-night DJ came back on air.
"All you listeners should be there tomorrow night. Excuse me, tonight. It's a lot of fun, lots of door prizes, and the pre-recorded stuff that's been sent in ranges from God-awful, I mean 'humorous', to VERY well done. I just received a CD that I listened to during the commercial break. Some of you have been requesting this song since last week but no one has a decent recording for. That song was just given to me, and let me say, it lives up to the hype. Every bit. We'll feature that song tonight at Seymor's during our amateur night. So, it'll definitely be worth it to be there. All right, next up..."
Joe turned the radio back down to background level, and Ashley's phone gave a chime and lit up. She looked at it and said it was from Jill. Ashley scrolled through the message and asked Joe if Jill should pick them up for Mass in the morning. He said yes, if it was the 11 o'clock one. She set about typing her reply and sent it. Her phone chimed again, sparking a quick texting battle between Ashley and Jill. Ashley giggled softly at some of the responses. Joe finally asked why she didn't just call her. Ashley's face got one of those "why didn't I think of that" looks, and she asked in her next message. At Joe's gate, the phone chimed again and Ashley smirked at Joe saying, "Cuz she doesn't want to wake her mom! Anyway, she said she'd join us for the thingy at Seymor's."
He rolled his eyes at her dig, but said it was fine for Jill to come, too. Another blazing typing string sent Ashley's reply and good night to Jill's phone. After Joe parked the van in the spacious garage, her phone chimed once more, almost as if to have the last word. Joe rolled his eyes, being pleasantly annoyed. He had always preferred talking instead of typing. He got out and walked around to let Ashley out of her side. As she stepped out, still barefoot, she told him that Jill sent her congratulations on them making King and Queen.
They entered the house, half surprised to find it dark, save the lights that were usually left on overnight. Jasmine was supposed to be there, but they assumed she had gone to bed. Joe asked Ashley if she wanted a snack. She declined after seeing the time on the microwave reading 3:43. "Damn, it's late, I better get to bed." Joe agreed and walked her up to her door. He kissed her goodnight, then disappeared into his room.
To Ashley, his kiss completed the vision in her head of a perfect Homecoming tradition. She stepped into her room, and saw Jasmine sleeping in her bed. She took off her dress and entered the bathroom for a quick shower to get the sand off. Ashley pondered joining Joe, but decided on sleeping next to Jasmine. When she slipped under the covers, Jasmine stirred. Ashley embraced her from behind and whispered to her, "I heard what happened, and I'm sorry."
Jasmine said sleepily, "sorry for being in your bed...old habit. I'll go to the other guest room."
Ashley stopped her from getting up. "No, sweetie. Stay here. Again, I'm sorry about you and your boyfriend."
Jasmine looked over her shoulder at Ashley's face. "Don't be. It was my idea, so I'm ok. How was your night with Joe?"
"Incredible is the only word I can say about it right now. But I'm beat. I'll tell you more tomorrow."
Jasmine nodded and said, "good night, then."
"Good night." Ashley pecked Jasmine's cheek and fell asleep with her arm around her friend's waist.
