Chapter 12

Monday morning Richie was one of the first in the kitchen, usually he was last but this morning he felt exceptionally cheerful and didn’t want to stay in bed.

Now he knew Sarah liked him too, why would she kiss him otherwise? He knew if he kept the pace slow he could make something happen between him and Sarah.

He looked up when the chair next to him got pulled out. “Good morning.” He smiled happily. “You look dorky when you smile like that.” He chuckled at her remark. “That’s your fault.” It was, his day just turned even brighter just by her showing up. “It’s cute too.” Sarah smiled back at him. “Peanut butter?” Richie asked when he was done putting it on his toast and wanted to pass it to Sarah.

“I should head off to group therapy.” Richie said as everyone was leaving the kitchen. “Are you coming too?” Sarah shook her head as soon as he asked his question. “I’ll be there, right next to you.” Richie encouraged.

“No, I can’t.” Sarah said, she already had to sit through breakfast with everyone; she couldn’t handle 3 hours of group therapy. “Alright.” Richie said, “Think about it, and come with me tomorrow.” He was going to convince her to come with him and meet everyone but he wasn’t going to push it either. He was going to be there with her through all this. He got up from his chair, kissed her cheek and left the kitchen.



Tuesday morning went the same, Richie tried to convince Sarah, telling her he wouldn’t leave her alone for a second and would be at her side the entire time but Sarah said no again.

Richie didn’t particularly like group therapy himself but it had helped him understand what he was doing to the ones around him and how he was supposed to talk to them about his feelings. He was sure he’d put everything he had learned the last week into action after he left the center and went back on tour, it wouldn’t be easy but he was confident.



He didn’t give up and asked Sarah again on Wednesday if she was going. “You promise?” she asked carefully. “Yes, right next to you, the entire time.” He said quickly, hoping she’s say yes, if she did, she had made progress. Sarah took a deep breath, Richie became more hopeful. “Alright, I’ll go with you but you can’t leave me for a second.” She couldn’t believe she agreed to but Richie was going to protect her. “I wouldn’t dare or want to.” Richie said and gave her a quick kiss on the lips. He was going to ensure her there was nothing to be afraid of.

Half an hour later they stood in the therapy room. The room was at the back of the building and had an entire glass wall like the rest of the building.

Richie stood on Sarah’s left and held her hand in his. After everyone had said hello they sat down on their chairs in the circle. Sarah didn’t know what to expect but was happy to see they were only talking. She wouldn’t have to say a thing, unless someone would talk to her, she hoped they wouldn’t.

Soon enough that hope was taken away. “It’s nice to finally see you here too Sarah” Their therapist said from his lonely spot in the circle, almost across of her. Sarah simply smiled and Richie squeezed her hand. “And good to see you’ve made a friend.” The therapist added before telling what they were going to do today. “Tell the people next to you what you hope to achieve when you leave here.”

Sarah sighed, she didn’t know what she wanted to achieve, to not be afraid and find a job maybe even start a relationship. She couldn’t possibly tell them that.

She looked at Richie on her left, he simply held her hand and smiled, and then she looked away, to her right. The difficult part first. Richie did the same and turned to his lift.

A few minutes later they met again. Richie had the same comforting smile on his face as before; suddenly Sarah knew what to say. “I want a good and healthy relationship.” She said barely louder than a whisper.

Richie squeezed her hand again and his smile grew wider. “I want that too,” he said, “with you.” He added, making it clear for her.

Sarah’s smile spread across her face, she leaned in to Richie and kissed him.

When she realized she was in a room full of people, kissing someone, she pulled away. Richie chuckled with her reaction and saw her cheeks turning pink. “It’s not funny.” Sarah scolded him. “Sure it is.” Richie said as he leaned in again, “besides, I like kissing you.” He kissed her again; therapy couldn’t be over fast enough for him now.



After dinner they sat at their bench by the pond again. “I’m beginning to think to take this bench home with me in two weeks.” Richie joked, it was their bench, they had met there every time they had talked and their relationship grew closer.

“As a rock star you probably can.” Sarah said. “But as a rock star I can also do this.” He nipped her bottom lip before kissing it. “And I like this better.” He mumbled against her lips

Sarah melted into him. “So do I.” she tried to say as Richie’s tongue slipped between her lips and past her teeth, finally rubbing over hers.

Sarah sighed when they took a second to breathe. It had been years since she had kissed someone like that and actually enjoyed it. It felt good to do. Richie pulled her closer again and Sarah wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer to her.

After a while Richie just held Sarah against him, her head on his shoulder as they watched over the pond. During the second week of May the weather was warm as always in Los Angeles but Sarah shivered. “Let’s go inside.” Richie suggested, it was already getting late and helped Sarah up from the bench. Together they walked back to the building.

Richie had his weekly phone call to make and was going to his room afterwards.

At the stairs in the hall he hugged Sarah for the last time that night. “Good night.” He watched her go up the stairs until she turned the corner to the ladies bedrooms wing.

He walked over to the front desk, leaning on the high desk, he smiled at Tina. “Hi” Tina chuckled at his happiness. “You look happy tonight.” She said, she started to look for his phone. “How can I not?” He asked. “I found the most perfect girl in the place I’d least expect it.”

Tina handed him his phone. “Sarah? I’m glad you two found each other, but it’s not going to be easy, you both have your struggles.” She said. Richie nodded, he knew that. “But together we’ll get through it.” He said and turned to the sitting area by the entrance.

He dialed Jon’s number first. A surprised “Rich?” sounded on the other end. “Jonny!” Richie said excited. “How are you?” “Good Rich, how have you been?” Richie smiled, it was to hear his best friends and he was just happy. “Pretty good, can’t be better actually, well yeah it can, I could be on stage, but at the moment…”

Jon was surprised his friend was having fun at rehab. “You didn’t escape did you?” “No, don’t think I want to escape either.” Richie laughed out loud. “What kind of drugs are they giving you there?” Jon joked, but sounded serious. “Bad medicine.” Richie said simply, knowing Jon would get it. “Really? Is she pretty?” “She’s the most beautiful girl ever.”

Richie sighed as he thought of Sarah, she was so beautiful and he finally got to kiss those lips. “Leave it to you to find a girl at a rehab center.” Jon joked again, in fact he was happy Richie had found someone he could get support from and maybe more.

“I’m not cancelling the tour so you can elope to Vegas.” Jon said strictly. “Don’t worry,” Richie answered, “I’ll elope on my day off in the middle of the tour.” He heard Jon laugh on the other end.

“Jon, I have to go, say hi to everyone from me.” “Will do, take care.” Jon said and with that their conversation was over and Richie phoned Ava.

After talking to his daughter Richie gave his phone back to Tina and said goodnight.

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