A:N/ So it's been a while since I've done this, so be gentle on me. It's an idea I've been toying with and reading all these great fics recently has put me in the mood to write Spashley stories again. It won't be a too long of story but the chapters will be long...make sense. So I guess review if you like it review if you don't either way it's beneficial to hear what you think and I'd like to know how the idea sits with you. The first chapter is the only really slow one it pichs up pretty quickly. Hope you enjoy it!

Disclaimer: Do I still have to do these even if the shows over? Anyway don't own South or the characters if I did Aiden would've been gay.


Ashley follows quickly on her father's heels in hopes to change his mind. He pretends his eighteen year old is not there as he packs the rest of her things in the trunk of the brand new Range Rover he and his wife bought their high school graduate. He sighs in exasperation as the brunette continues to say "dad" repeatedly.

"Ashley we are letting you leave early to go on your road trip before school starts and the only reason is because you are not going alone. She is going to the same university as you and who knows maybe you guys will end up good friends. You want to drive to school on your own fine but you will not go by yourself."

"You shouldn't have volunteered me for this dad. You don't even know if she's crazy have you ever even talked to her?"

Ashley smirks proud of her argument, oh yeah she has this in the bag.

"Have you?" Raife counters and Ashley quickly deflates. Ok maybe she doesn't have this in the bag. "Ashley you two were in the same class. Her father is the head of the marketing department at my label which makes us close I'm surprised you two aren't friends."

"Dad I don't even know the chick."

"Well a road trip is the best way to get to know someone."

"You're the worst." She mumbles petulantly, he just smiles proudly and places his large hand on her shoulder.

"Then I've done my job. Now hurry up the Carlins are expecting us."

Ashley pushes herself off her new vehicle and drags her feet against the pavement as she makes her way towards the house. She smiles at her mother before the older woman quickly shuffles back inside, the brunette rolls her eyes. Christine has been crying for three days already. At first Ashley thought it was sweet but now it's starting to annoy her. She's only going to school across the country it was not that big of a deal. Sure Arizona State University is in another time zone but it has the best Music Therapy Program in the country and her mother has to understand this is her future. Guilt will not keep the brunette from experiencing her life no matter how many tears her mother sheds.

She hops up the stairs of her brownstone apartment and enters the house after her heart broken mother. Ashley giggles as she sees her father roll his eyes as he comforts his wife.

"Mom please stop being so dramatic."

"Ashley when you have children you'll understand." She wails out between sobs, Ashley chokes on a laugh and leaves her parents to finish packing up her room.

She opens up her door and takes a final look around the bedroom she's had since she was a newborn. A born and raised New Yorker and she is finally leaving the familiar city. She took a final walk through her room and looked at all the music posters on the wall, CDs that lined the shelves that have gotten added over time, pictures of high school friends that she promised to keep in touch with. A promise she knew none of them would keep, after all that was the mantra that every high school graduate veteran claims. You'll probably keep one good friend, two at the most everyone will just fade away. Ashley never took the time to actually get close to one person, she was the popular girl in school since her freshman year and it remained that way all four years. Guys and girls wanted to date her and be her at the same time. Ashley's smile and personality drew everyone in. Well everyone except one person and now they were about to be stuck in a car for several weeks as they drove cross country to their new university and make several stops along the way. That was the only way Ashley's parents would let her go off on her own. She really wanted this road trip so she sucked it up and agreed.

She runs her fingers over the pictures of her senior prom as she, her date and the rest of her friends stood on the steps of her home a cynical laugh made its way out of her mouth. These kids never really knew her then again she never tried to get them too.

"Hey kiddo, you ready?" Ashley whips her head at smiles at her father.

She places the frame down, glass down and grabs the last of her things. She excitedly rushes out of the house and throws her duffel bag on the floor of the backseat. As she jumps in the driver seat she notices her parents walking hand in hand down the street. Her brows furrow in confusion.

"Don't we have to pick up that Carlin kid?!"

Raife yells over his shoulder that she lives on the other side of the block. Ashley sighs and pulls out of the parking space and drives down the street. She pulls up to a stop sign, her eyes shift as she contemplates driving straight. The highway was that way, she's already in the car, her parents could never catch up to her. Ashley's phone buzzes. She answers it quickly.

"Don't even think about." Is all he says then hangs up.

Ashley mutters a 'damnit' and makes the dreaded right turn. The black Range Rover pulls up to the identical set of brownstones Ashley just left behind. She lazily allows her body to fall out of the jeep. She sees a blonde boy sitting on the stoop. He lifts his head once in acknowledgement and smiles.

"Glen, how's it going?"

Ashley walks up a couple of stairs and addresses the two year old high school graduate. Ashley's popularity never stayed with her own class. Glen had made his advances in the past but Ashley's preference left him and all the other high school boys disappointed.

She's confused though, she's known Glen during high school but never knew that he was related to the girl who would be her unwanted road trip buddy. She felt a little slow for not making a connection with the last names sooner.

"Hey Ash long time no see. I'm just here for Spencer's send off."

"Who?" Ashley asks thoroughly confused. Glen only laughs lightly and points towards the front door.

"She's inside." He says then invites the brunette inside. "Thanks for doing this. She kind of keeps to herself my parents were afraid she wouldn't connect with anyone at school."

Glen excuses himself as he leaves to get his sister, no chance for her to protest she watches as he disappears further into the house. Ashley furrows her brows a bit nervous and looks around the Carlin home. She looks at the family photos and sees who she expects to be a sister she never knew Glen had. Ashley nods in approval of Spencer's appearance, she finally had a face with the name. The blonde looks familiar but Ashley couldn't remember her from school. Her attention turns to the front door as the bell rings, assuming it was her parents she answers the door.

"Daughter."

"Father, mother." The parents nod as they enter the house.

"Raife, Christine!" Ashley turns to see another two members of the Carlin family. His shaggy brown hair and friendly brown eyes easily elicited a smile from the brunette. She looks at the blonde woman holding his hand, her eyes were as puffy as Christine's and Ashley fought to hold back a chortle. Parents were so sensitive. She watches as the adults exchange greetings.

"This is our infamous daughter Ashley."

Ashley holds her hand out and shakes the hand of the older man whose name she learned was Arthur.

"It's nice to finally meet you Mr. and Mrs. Carlin." Ashley answers politely and shakes the sets of hand softly. Paula was a bit more enthusiastic to meet the young girl as she pulled her tiny frame into her taller one hugs her tightly. Ashley's eyes widen in shock and she tries her best not to push away from the awkward embrace. Thankfully Paula lets go and apologizes softly.

"Thank you so much for this Ashley."

"It's no big deal." Ashley offers quietly as she throws a quick glance at her parents.

"It means a lot to us, you're more than welcome to go to Spencer's room she's almost packed up and we'll pack up the car with her other stuff while she finishes up."

Ashley accepts Arthur's invitation and leaves the adults to themselves. As she approaches what she assumes is Spencer's room, the muffled argument tipped her off. She leans her ear closer to the door and listens to the brother and sister quietly argue.

"Spencer will you please just stop being so difficult?"

"I bet you she doesn't even know who I am!" Ashley shrugs softly. She can't argue with that statement. "Why can't I just stay home?!" Ashley nods in agreement of the blonde's protest.

"You've spent all four years of high school as a recluse Spencer! You don't go anywhere! Just do this for mom and dad."

"How is me going into a car for five weeks with someone I can't stand going to make mom and dad happy?"

Ashley listens attentively and notices Spencer didn't want to go on this trip as much as Ashley didn't want her there. So why the hell were their parents forcing them to go together.

"If you can manage that then they won't be so worried about you in school and please Spencer don't you think it's time you let go?"

Ashley's brows furrow as she thinks of reasons why Spencer can't stand her. She is sure Spencer knew her, everyone did, but she didn't know Spencer which is odd because Ashley knows everyone. How did this blonde manage to slip under her radar? Let what go? How can she have done something wrong and not even know about it? What did she do to Spencer that made her despise her for four years?

All of Ashley's questions remain open ended as Spencer's muffled voice fills the room again.

"Glen I don't need friends."

"Yeah well you've proved that for four years."

"And I graduated Valedictorian." She counters proudly.

Ashley's brows furrow, how the hell has she not noticed Spencer. She she spoke at their graduation. She quickly remembers she was focused on beating her high score of Temple Run during the speeches so Spencer must have slipped her attention.

"Well your valedictorian speech isn't going to celebrate your birthday with you in a couple of weeks, or listen to your stupid girl problems. Spencer just please stop being so damn stubborn and have a life!"

Ashley jumps back as the door quickly swings open. Glen grabs his chest in fright.

"Geez Ashley! Give me a heart attack why don't you." Ashley smiles sheepishly and mumbles out an apology. "Come on in I was just leaving."

He makes a space for the brunette to walk into the room. Ashley looks at the blonde who was taking books off a shelf and dropping them into a box. Ashley looks around the room as she tries to get an idea of what Spencer is about. Books were basically Spencer's walls, from floor to ceiling bookshelves occupy what should be regular dry wall.

"You plan on bringing all these with you?" Ashley asks with a soft laugh. Spencer remains quiet as she tapes up her box and drops it on the floor. The brunette rolls her eyes at her failed attempt to make conversation. Ashley never had to force herself on anyway and she isn't going to start now.

Spencer walks past her classmate and out of the room. Ashley's awkwardness had not faded since the moment she stepped foot into the Carlin home. She stands in the blonde's room and swings her arms aimlessly as she reads the titles of Spencer's books. She feels a small weight shift on her foot then looks down her eyes shoot open and she screams in horror as she leaps onto the blonde's bed.

"Ah!"

Spencer rushes back into her room and sees the brunette on top of her bed.

"What the hell are you doing?"

"There's a rat! It tried to eat my foot!" She screams terrified. She points in the approximate area of where the rodent tried to maul her.

Spencer bends down and picks up the cannibal rat and holds it up to Ashley to get a better look. It didn't seem to appease the brunette's fright as she jumps farther away from it.

"Don't touch it! Get it away from me!"

"It's a ferret Ashley. It's my brother's." Spencer's voice monotone as she looks upon the hysterical girl on her bed. "Now can you please get off my bed?"

Spencer cradles the ferret in her arms and scratches its head gently before dropping it into the hallway. Ashley leans her head ever so slightly to make sure the weasel like creature scampers a distance far from her. She jumps down from the bed and straightens the ruffled up covers. She watches as Spencer picks up the box she dropped earlier.

"Thanks." Ashley says timidly and the blonde grunts in acknowledgement. She looks at the valedictorian and smiles. Spencer expression is unreadable as she stares back at the girl who used her bed as a means of an escape from Roscoe the ferret.

"Do you need any help?"

"Yeah, you can stay here and keep an out for more man eating rats." Spencer answers quickly then turns to leave the room. Ashley misses the smirk the blonde wore as she walks out.

Their encounters were wordless as they pack up the other half of the trunk that Raife had left empty for Spencer's belongings. Glen slides Spencer's final box into the car and closes the trunk.

"All set." The blonde boy exclaims exhausted. Everyone lines up to say goodbye to the girls. More tears, eye rolls, and final hugs.

"Call if you need anything." Arthur says as he holds the passenger door open for his daughter. She gets into the large car and notices her father's hand extended out towards her. She knows there's money in his hand. She pushes it away and smiles softly at her father.

"I'm good dad, the money you and mom have been saving up for a trip I don't want to be on is more than enough."

"Spencer, take the money." He asks softly. She can't argue with him. Her heart aches softly at his plea. She opens her hand and allows her father to place a couple hundreds in it.

Ashley looks at the exchange from the driver seat and smiles at the two. She turns her head as a knock on her window draws her attention away from them. Raife rolls two fingers in the air signaling his daughter to put down the window.

"Call me at least twice a day, got it?"

"Unless I go on an all night rager and lose my phone."

"That will be the only reason why you shouldn't." They share a laugh and Raife cups his daughter's cheek softly. "Be safe, have fun, and I'll miss you kid."

"I'll miss you too daddy."

Christine barges next to her husband pushing him out of the way to say one last goodbye to her little girl. "I love you sweetie, don't talk to strangers!"

Spencer snickers in the passenger seat while Ashley glares at her mother. "Mom I'm not five."

"Ashley please the last thing I need is a late phone call saying something happened to you."

"Ma you don't need to worry about me because I hear there's some guy around here climbing through windows snatching your people up so just hide your husband because they raping everybody out here!" Ashley answers with a laugh as she quotes the famous youtube sensation Antione Dodson news interview in response to her mother's demand.

Raife chuckles then quickly stops as his wife gives him an evil eye. "Yes mother I won't talk to strangers, only the ones that have candy! Can we go now?"

Spencer nods and gets a kiss from each of her relatives. The Davies clan mirrors the gesture with their own child and step back as Ashley pulls the car out of the parking spot.

"Here we go!" She exclaims in excitement. She looks over to her passenger and notices that the blonde already has her nose buried in a book. "You can at least pretend to be excited."

"Woo." Spencer answers flatly as she turns the page of her book. The brunette sighs then plays some music from her iPod. Well she has a passenger but it was almost like being alone. Spencer didn't seem to be up for much talking and as far as Ashley is concerned that was more than okay.

Ashley heads toward the Verrazano Bridge. She bobs her head to the music as adrenaline for what's to come builds up. "Later New York."


So that's the first chapter as I said pretty slow but things pick up super quick, after all these years of Spashley fics its kind of hard to keep things fresh so hopefully you guys enjoy this review whether good or bad. I promise I won't cry...much. Thanks for reading!