Chapter 42: Stupidity

***Author's Note: This chapter deals with sensitive issues of drugs and using drugs on others. But it's not the whole chapter and underneath all of the bad, is the element of love. I write romance not horrible, disturbing stories.***

A couple of weeks passed by, and February turned into March. During those two weeks, Johnny and Ava hosted his family for dinner. Laura and Sid arrived bringing an aged bottle of wine, and a car loaded down with home goods. Ava was overwhelmed and overjoyed with all of the things. "Johnny look! It's a Le Creuset Dutch oven and stockpot," she exclaimed with glee.

He had no idea what a Le Creuset is but responded "Great. I'm so happy for us." Then he helped Sid carry in all of the other items. Box after box was opened, unpacked, and placed just so around the kitchen.

The dinner itself, they had catered by a BBQ restaurant. Cooking for her mother-in-law stressed Ava out. Plus having Sid judge her cooking, compared to his wife's, is too much. However, she did make a homemade salted caramel cheesecake for dessert. Johnny loves it and hopefully, her in-laws would too.

They did. They loved the whole dinner and everything with it. For once Sid was pleasant in conversation with Johnny. Not only was he pleasant, but he was also entertaining. This was a nice change of events. However, as Johnny told her later, "One dinner does not make up for years of verbal abuse. It just doesn't." She can see his point, but then she also can see the future too.

Their future can either go one of two ways. One is a future where their children spend time with their grandparents. And Sid, for all purposes, will be their grandfather. The other option is a future where their children do not know, and have hardly any interaction, with Sid. She'd rather the first option be their future. To foster this, she'll go out of her way to be agreeable and charming. She'll do whatever it takes to keep lines of communication open between her husband and his stepfather.

So when she said "Sid, Johnny, and I would like to thank you for the check you sent us. We also appreciate the kind words that accompanied it." She really meant it. Then she shared what Johnny did with the money. "Johnny had the idea of putting it into a savings bond, to accrue over time. We're going to give it to any children we may have." She's proud of her husband's ideas and wants his stepfather to see how smart he really is.

Her eyes could see Sid was surprised by her words. He flicked his eyes to his stepson and muttered "Who knew." Then he told her "You're welcome."

Before the in-laws went home, Johnny and Ava gave them a tour of their house. Laura LOVED it. She emanated enthusiasm in every room. Words of happiness likewise flowed from her mouth. "Oh, Johnny this is so wonderful! I'm proud of you, my Baby. You've done well. You both have. I can only imagine what you'll do with yourself in the future." She hugged him to her, then turned and hugged her daughter-in-law.

To Ava, she simply said, "Thank you." But that thank you held so much more than just a simple thanks. You could see it in her eyes. It was full of a mother's love for her child, knowing her baby is safe and cared for. That makes all the difference.

When they got ready to leave, they made plans to have dinner at the country club together. In the week that followed, Johnny made it a point to talk to his friends. He had been meaning to tell them about looney loopy Misty. The time arrived one day after practice. He stopped them and had a huge conversation. "Hey, guys. I need you to do something for me." They all looked at him expectantly, like he was going to say let's go buy beer, get drunk, and ride our bikes. So he continued. "Ava's lunatic cousin (and I do mean she's batshit crazy) needs to be kept away from me."

Well, that wasn't a good enough answer for Tommy. His need to know got the better of him. "Why?" he asked. A simple question with an answer that's anything but.

Looking at his friend, Johnny explained "She's nuttier than a fruitcake that's why. I can't say anymore right now, but just help me, please. And watch yourselves too." He was serious.

Dutch jumped on this. "So what you're saying is, there's someone for everyone and her someone is a psychiatrist." He bounced on his feet. "Don't worry Man. We've got you." Bobby and Jimmy agreed.

Tommy hesitated. "I don't know Man. If she's psycho like you say, then I really like my hair, my hands, and my man parts. I don't want to lose them." The looks he got from his friends made him say "What? Psychos do that stuff. They damage your best features. It happens all the time in the movies."

Disgusted, Dutch shook his head. "We'll be sure to remember that the next time you ask us for a favor. And if you don't help now, then your man parts are already gone." He saw Tommy's face. "What? You don't want a sarcastic answer, then don't say stupid crap."

True to their word, the guys helped keep the crazy lady away from Johnny. Which wasn't hard, since their paths never crossed (except for first period English Lit). But the looks Dutch and Bobby gave her, alone, could make a lion shudder in fear. Johnny has also taken to showering at home after practice, even if sweat is pouring off him. Ava questioned this, why he's coming home nasty and smelly. To which he said, "Our shower is better."

She's also noticed him tense up when her evil cousin comes around. This is never more evident than in their literature class. Her hand is held a little tighter and his arm lingers around her a little longer. Not to mention he'll sometimes use her as a shield. It's very suspicious.

As for herself, Ava and Dawn have been looking forward to their first golf match of the season. It's against East Valley High. Ava is determined to beat Robin this season. She's going all in. Just one time that's all she wants. Plus her coaches have told them that college scouts will be scouting Seniors all season.

While the scouts are great, Ava has already accepted the full scholarship at Pepperdine. She and Johnny discussed the opportunity forwards and backward, and backward and forwards. He agreed it's a huge option. She shouldn't pass it up. In February, they had a sit down with the scout who gave her his card. Everything he said was legitimate, much to the newlywed's delight. Before they left his office, Ava signed her name on Pepperdine's ladies golf team. Her college acceptance letter, paperwork, and scholarship information came in the mail last week.

Johnny put an application in at Pepperdine too. If he gets accepted, then he'll go there with her. If he doesn't, then he'll attend Stanford. But Ava told him, "Go where your heart is. You've always talked about going to Stanford." She's right he has, but his heart is going to Pepperdine. He'd rather be with her.

On the day of her first tournament, a terrible thing happened. A huge argument was had. The first argument of their marriage, in fact. They don't usually argue, hardly at all, yet it happened over household chores. They butted heads Monday evening about how well the different spaces were cleaned. Yes, cleaning is a minor, monotonous thing, but it led to a quarrel.

She had cleaned the entire stove and microwave. It was a monumental task, especially considering he left the pasta pot boiling over. Nasty pasta stuff was all caked in the stove eyes and all around them. Nor did he put a paper towel over the day's old chili, in the microwave. It exploded in there. Gag! Then he obviously ignored the explosion and decided to burn a bag of popcorn. Both things were a gross mess.

Well, her non-observant husband didn't even acknowledge the clean spaces. They were clean and fresh! Plus he had the nerve to tell her, as he put a bowl of soup in the microwave, "Babe there's some messy crummy stuff on the stove." So, not only did he NOT recognize her cleaning contributions it was not good enough either. How dare he!

Ava was fit to be tied and rightly so. She then initiated a dispute about how he thinks she doesn't clean. But she threw in for good measure "At least I clean, unlike you, who doesn't even try to scrub the toilet. Even though it needs it. Even though you know I hate cleaning it."

Johnny narrowed his eyes and began listing off all the times he's cleaned the toilet, in their bathroom, and in the hall. What the heck? He keeps track of this? She retaliated by talking about timeliness in cleaning. To which he stated, "I do it on my own time." Which led to her muttering "And that's the problem." He stomped out of the room and frustration ensued, on both ends, carrying over into the week.

It's Thursday now, and they are still resentful. They've gone to bed at separate times and she's cried and cried, to herself about it. But she won't back down on this and neither will he. They also drove their individual vehicles to school, which their friends noticed. Jimmy asked, "What's wrong with those two?"

Bobby responded, "Man don't you know? They're both stubborn and it's complicated." He ran a hand through his hair.

"Well, they're idiots. They're upset with each other and yet they sneak looks all day long too. He stares at her every time she looks away," Tommy declared. He added for good measure, "I hate when they don't speak. It's sad and makes me eat lots of chocolate." A candy bar was pulled from his back pocket.

Dutch and Jimmy gave him weird expressions. "You eat chocolate every day Man. Johnny and Ava have nothing to do with that," Jimmy declared.

Disagreeing, Tommy told him "No. They give me anxiety. It's a good excuse to eat chocolate, a lot more of it." A hand reached around his shoulders. Tommy grew uneasy cause he knew what's coming. Dutch always has a way of putting people in their place.

"Oh, my bad. I thought you cared. You just care about your stomach," Dutch pointed out. Then he stole Tommy's candy bar from his hand and ate it. Tommy's mouth hung open. "Once upon a time I was hungry too. That's what happened to your Mr. Goodbar. It was a good bar." Everyone howled with laughter, except Tommy. He's out of a candy bar.

After school, Rachel went to watch Ava and Dawn at their match. She even made signs for each of them. The guys, on the other hand, had practice. Bobby wondered "So you're not going to go watch your wife's first golf match of the season? She went to our first game."

Turning his face in annoyance, Johnny replied "No I'm not. She's still huffy and pissy about my cleaning. She hasn't spoken to me all week."

Kneeing the ball, Bobby reminded him "Well you haven't spoken to her either."

"Man, what is this? The third degree? Go talk to Jimmy with that garbage." Johnny is not in the mood to hear his friend out.

Bobby disagrees with him. "No, I won't. You should talk to her and you should go to her match. If you don't, then it will only serve to make her madder."

"Well, what about me Man? I'm mad too," he whined. Why does he have to make nice? Why can't she? And why can't Bobby understand that? It sucks.

Looking at his friend, Bobby divulged "Man I heard that. You spoke your thoughts out loud. You have to make nice because it's the right thing to do. Plus if you want tang then the sooner you suck it up and apologize the better."

Crap. He didn't know he spoke that out loud. Thinking about what his friend said, it has been almost a week since he's made tang with his wife. Hmmm... "Alright but I don't like it. It sucks."

"And you're married. That's life," Bobby noted and kicked the ball to him. They played scrimmage.

After practice, Dutch reminded them all about "Timbo's party tonight is going to be big." He and Jimmy are going, Tommy said he and Dawn were in. Bobby is iffy, and as for Johnny... well he knew he didn't want to go. They all said "Bye" and left.

At home, Johnny sat and waited for Ava to get home. When she entered, she was in a snit. She had lost by two points. Two points! Looking at the kitchen, she realized it's a mess and began straightening it up. His burger wrapper should go in the trash, and there are pieces of mail for the trash too. Who needs three invitations for credit cards?

Stepping into the kitchen was the wrong decision. The minute his foot hit the floor, she snarked about all the clutter on the kitchen island. He turned around, grabbed his car keys, and left. Timbo's party sounds like a great idea.

As the hours passed by, Ava sat in her house sad and lonely. What is her problem? Why is she such a butthead about cleaning lately? And why can't they just sit down and talk? Why, why, why? The minute he gets home, from wherever he is, she's going to do that. She's going to sit him down and they are going to talk through this chore issue. It's just, it would be nice to have her contributions appreciated.

At the party, Johnny felt as miserable as his wife. He wants the same thing she does. But there he sat nursing a beer, playing beer pong with some random guys plus Dutch and Jimmy. As fun as this is, he'd rather be with Ava.

"Hey Man it's your shot," Dutch told him. He drank from the beer bottle in his hand.

Johnny got up, aimed, and threw the ball. It landed in the cup. Dutch and Jimmy high-fived him. Turning to Jimmy, he said "Watch my beer, would you? I have to go pee." Why'd he say that? He must be drunker than he thought. He left his beer on the table beside the sofa and went to the bathroom.

When he returned, he took hold of his can and drank from it. Everything was fine. Beer pong play continued, but in the corner, he noticed a group of girls. They weren't there before. The burnt trollop is included among them. He knew he needed to get away, but his head started swimming. A huge wave of nausea hit him. What the hell? His heart started beating faster. He needs to lie down.

Getting up, he walked back out to the party and went to find a room. He's just going to lie down for a few minutes, then he'll go home. His feet were staggering along. Something is not right, not right at all. The first room he entered, had a couple in it. "Sorry," he spoke. He walked along to another room. It's dark and quiet and no one is in there. Plus there's a bed. Stumbling onto it, he prayed (which he hasn't done in a really long time) that his wife would help him. Then everything went dark.

The next morning, he woke up to a HUGE splitting headache. It's pounding like crazy. He tried to open his eyes. They cooperated but not without a lot of effort. He squinted into the light of the sun, shining into the room. The sun! It's so bright. Blinding.

To make matters worse his stomach is roiling and his throat is dry. So incredibly dry like he's been in wandering in the desert. To be honest, he feels like crap. What the hell happened last night and where the hell is he? He's not at home that's for sure and his memory is fuzzy, REALLY fuzzy. He can barely remember a thing. Stretching his arm out, it hit something. Turning over he noticed someone in the bed with him. Springing up, he saw who it was.

Oh crap! How did he wind up in bed with a naked Misty? Where the hell is his wife? Where is Ava? His heart sped up. He feels royally ill and wants to throw up. Checking his pockets, his keys are there (as is his wallet). Quietly, and heart beating faster, he walked out of the room and straight for the front door.

He probably shouldn't be driving in his state, but he just wants to get home. Home to Ava. He really needs her, especially right now. That's the only thing on his mind as he drove. When he pulled into the garage and entered the house, he was met with armfuls of his wife.

"Johnny where were you? I was SO worried! I've never been so worried in all of my life," she choked out. Tears were running down her face. And he's never felt so relieved and so horrible in all of his life.

It was then he puked his guts up, all over the clean floor. She should care, but she didn't. Instead, she ran off to get water and a cold rag. The vomit can wait, but her husband can't. She led him to their bed and took his shoes off, then placed the cool rag on his forehead. Another rag wiped the vomit from his mouth. Her fingers ran through his hair.

After a few more pukes later, he thought he was dying. So he decided to confess everything to Ava... everything. "Babe I have to tell you some stuff. You probably won't like it." Then he told her all about her crazy cousin and what happened last night. "I think I'm dying," he grunted. He feels like it, from his heart to his head and straight down to his stomach.

She leaned her head back onto the headboard and swallowed hard. Her hands raised to cover her eyes. Anger and disappointment coursed through her body.

"You're too quiet. Yell at me please," he drawled. Ava being quiet is never a good thing. "I can hear your thoughts. Just speak." He threw his arm over his eyes. Then a horrible thought hit him, several actually. "Oh God, don't leave me, Ava! I promise I'm almost a hundred percent certain I didn't have sex with her. I don't want that. I just want you." Tears ran down his face and then he sat up and found the barf bucket again.

She wants to throttle him and hug him, or both. Realization sprung forth that the most important work she (they) will ever do is within the walls of their home. So she settled for grabbing him in her arms and speaking the truth. "Not telling me what happened, keeping it from me is the same as lying. And yes I realize I did that too by not telling you we were married. We have both been wrong. But I'm not leaving you, idiot. We just have some work to do with communication."

Her hand took his own away from his eyes. She continued to talk. "From this day forward we are going to tell each other everything. Even if we withhold information, even with the best of intentions (which we both have done) we're going to share it and work through it. And we are going to discuss every problem, even if it makes us angry like cleaning. I'm sorry I let myself get carried away with harping on cleaning.

Relief flooded his soul. "And I'm sorry Ava. I'm SO sorry for not acknowledging your cleaning habits. In the future, I will be better about trying to notice how much you clean and do for our home. Babe our home wouldn't be a home without your contributions. But more than that, I don't know what I'm going to do about your cousin. What if I slept with her?" Just the thought made him lean over and barf again.

Her cousin indeed. "For the record, I don't think you slept with her. Were your clothes on this morning?" He nodded yes. "Also, I don't think you were her target last night." She's thought about this. It was the first thing that popped into her mind as he spilled the beans. When he told her all about last night, and the times before, there are truths and there are facts. "Here's what I think. I think her target was someone else at the party and when she saw you, you became the backup plan. The reason you're so ill, and feel off-kilter, is because you were slipped a drug. I think it happened when you were gone to the bathroom."

Not liking what he's hearing, he couldn't disagree. It makes sense. Crushed, his voice croaked out "But why?"

Shaking her head, she really doesn't know. "That's the million-dollar question. I don't know. Obviously, she hates me. I don't think she wants you, she just wants to use you for her own purpose. I don't know what that is exactly, although with what happened last night I have my suspicions." She stroked his hair.

Holding her arm, he asked "What? What are your suspicions?"

Gazing off in the distance, she explained her little theory. "I don't want to say yet. I just need you to trust me with this. But right now, I want to take you to the ER and get you drug tested. They can also test for bodily fluids on you. Which again, I don't think you had sex with her. So Johnny, try to stay calm and positive. I've got you and everything will work out in the end. We have to hope for it."

He ever so softly got up and reached for his shoes, trying not to disturb his stomach. His head is throbbing, so he laid back on the bed again. She got up too. Taking the shoes in hand, she put them on his feet. Then helped him up. Love does that. It puts your shoes on your feet and wipes the vomit from your mouth when you're too weak to do so. She walked beside him and helped him into her car, where she drove them to the ER.

Their drive was quiet and his stomach churned the whole way. When they arrived, she explained why they are there. They filled out the paperwork and were seen into a room. The nurse came in and took his urine sample to have it analyzed. While they waited for the results, she held his hand and comforted him.

As irritated as she is at him not telling her about her cousin, she hates seeing him in this state. He's her husband, the man she loves and pledged her life to, and right now he's a pitiful wreck.  Of course, she's going to stand by him, come hell or high water. She just wishes this hadn't happened, just like she wishes she hadn't fussed about cleaning. But then is there ever a right time for situations like this?

His thumb stroked over her hand. "Ava," he whispered. His voice sounds pathetic and heartbreaking. "Ava, I'm so sorry for hurting you. Please forgive me for being a total idiot. You're the only woman that matters to me. You're the love of my life."

She put her finger to his lips and wiped at his tears. "I told you before, you're my person. I'm permanently in love with you. Yes, you're an idiot. But we'll work on that, together. This trial, this storm, is temporary but we—" ... She pointed between the two of them... "We are permanent. OK? We're going to get through this and keep building on our marriage." He gave a weak nod and half smile.

The doctor came in and told Johnny "You're urine was analyzed and your instincts were correct. You definitely were slipped something. Traces of the date rape drug GHB were found in your system. GHB is a colorless liquid. It has no taste or smell. It can also make you sleepy, forgetful, and weak. Those are the less dangerous side effects. Bad side effects can have you vomiting, with your heart rate is affected. The worst ones are seizures and a coma, which leads to death, or overdose which leads to death. Usually, it makes people feel more inhibited and more sexual. Clearly, the mix with alcohol had the opposite effect on you, which is good. You are very fortunate you're not lying dead somewhere."

This hit him hard. His breath shuddered cause the blood rushed to his ears. He couldn't hear anything else the doctor was saying. His stomach fell to his feet. He was drugged. He— Was— Drugged. He could have died or been in a coma. This girl is demented and he wants nothing to do with her. Not him and especially not his wife, whom he heard say "Thank you, doctor. You've been very helpful."

When the doctor left, Ava stared at her husband. "You're going to be fine. He said your body flushed out a lot of the drug already. Thank the Lord." Then she cried tears of relief. "He also said there were no bodily fluids found on you. You didn't have sex with her and you're not dead." She sobbed into her hands.

He sat up on the bed and pulled her to him. Sitting on the edge, he held her. He just needs to feel her in his arms. Her warmth and her love are grounding him. She's real, he's real, and he's alive. Shaking his head, he said "No. No, I'm not fine. Ava, I was drugged. I was drugged and I could have overdosed due to the alcohol. I could have died." Tears spilled out of his eyes. "I'm never going to a party ever again and neither are you. I don't want us anywhere near those places. I love beer, but I can't even think about drinking anything. I just feel so... dirty and used."

Holding him to her, she kissed his face all over. "Honey, I know. I know. And I'm SO sorry." They sat holding on to each other for dear life, hugging and crying and forgiving.

He wasn't done talking. "And even if I went to the police, they couldn't do anything. They couldn't arrest her because there's no way to prove she put it in my beer. I'm screwed. It's her word against mine like she's said all along. Why do I have to be such a dummy with a degenerate reputation? I am what your father said I was. He was right, Sid was right." This made him even sicker and instead of barfing, he cried. Suddenly he felt very powerless and he hasn't felt like that in a REALLY long time.

Ava just held him, disagreeing with everything he spoke out loud. The damage her deranged cousin has done to Johnny is immense. It's going to take a lot of love and encouragement to help him get over this. But if it's love and encouragement he needs, then she'll supply it without delay.

The hardest part about a situation like this is knowing you can't do anything about it. Knowing that you want to, and you would if you could, but you can't.

Since he wasn't admitted to the hospital, just given a prescription for some stomach medicine and a detox, he got up from the bed. "Let's just go home," he begged. She took his hand and they left together.

As Ava drove them in the direction of home, a major thought flickered in her brain. It could be a game-changer. When they arrived home, she got out and got him situated in their bedroom. Then she told him "Honey I have to go out. But I promise I won't be gone long. Just trust me and get some rest." Johnny questioned her and wanted to know what she was doing. Her parting words are "Going somewhere, where someone may be able to help us. Just trust me. I think this will work in our favor."

He laid his head back on the soft pillow. Of all the people in the world, he trusts her the most. He's SO thankful for his wife and her patience with him. His stupidity and anger landed him in this situation, this awful situation. He's been given a gift, two gifts really. The gift of life and the gift of his wife. He's not repeating the same old mistakes again. Changes are coming big changes.

But one thing is true. Unconditional love never fails. It can struggle, but its bond can't be broken. True love remains. That's what he has with Ava. Any other woman would have yelled at him, left him, and not even thought of carrying him to the ER. Any other woman would have, but not her. She's his person and he's hers, even in the midst of his own stupidity.