Author's Note: In Bringing of Redemption I hinted at the idea of a Ashley/Adrian pairing. I thought it would be fun to explore how this relationship started. This was written long before the season 2 premier. So if certain details do not match, then you know why.

The Budding Rose

Ashely Juergens paced her room, her long dark brown hair flying behind her, a string of curses flying from her young mouth. It wasn't fair, but then what in life was? Was it fair that her sister got knocked up by some creep? Was it fair that innocent children starved in Africa? Nothing in this world was fair, something Ashley thought she knew. No, she was only beginning to understand. She paused for a moment and considered what the Judge had said. Worthless git, Ashley concluded. As the words of the Judge rang in her ear, she bit her lip.

"Young girl, do you not know how dangerous that was?" The Judge's voice was old, ancient even, yet it still carried the same strength that of the prosecutor twenty years ago. "Although your actions are not directly responsible for the crime. I am ordering 100 hours of community service." As the recorded words finished playing, she felt like screaming. It wasn't even remotely her fault. She plopped down on her bed, no one believed her. Why should they? She was there at the scene and she confessed her part in the accident so freely. Unfair. No, Ashley thought, there wasn't a word that could describe what had been done against her. She was trying to help, now everyone.

"hates me," she whispered. The sound of her voice startled her. She remembered having a strong voice, but since the accident, her voice sounded shaky. As if it were trying to support a mountain. The words hung in the air, vibrating as they did, she knew it to be the truth. How could they not hate me? Ashley frowned. I would probably hate me too. She picked up a small elephant pillow, one she had received when she was little, and threw it at her door.

"Honey?" George asked, knocking lightly on the door.

"Go away!" Ashely shouted.

"Look we need to talk." George said a little louder, trying to use his concerned father voice.

"No!" Ashley shouted, and then she screamed in frustration. This time there was no reply but the silent foot falls of her father leaving. She laid back on her bed, wanting to go back in time and... do what exactly? Ashley scrunched her face in frustration. I did the right thing, didn't I? Its not my fault that... well its not my fault I did the right thing. Ashley felt the hot tears coming, and she fought them, she would vanquish them, she always did. She had to. She failed. It had been so long since she cried. Before the accident, she could fight them. She could destroy the rebellious thoughts and continue with her stoic appearance. But now? No she was weak against the tears, and they reigned supreme.

That night she had a dream, a nightmare really. She was at the intersection. The night sky was blooming with stars, a rare occasion with today's light pollution, but it was beautiful. She could feel the light breeze caress the world, the sounds of cicadas filled her ears. She also felt the hard shelled object in her hand. She was unsure what possessed her to do this, perhaps an act of rebellion or maybe, which scared her the most, was that she was doing it for the fun. She sat crouched, hidden from the world in the bushes, and she waited. Her father since moving next door has become relaxed in his rule. Often not noticing Ashley's disappearance from the house. A new sound began to enter her ears, and she found herself smiling. But she could see something was wrong, or she could now. She heard the screeching tires, and saw a car swerve dangerously. At that point, she should have realized she shouldn't have. But she felt herself rise, she felt her hand take the egg, and she felt it leave her hands as she threw it. For a brief second she heard the egg shatter as it landed directly on the car's windshield. By the time her mind registered what was really happening... it was over. The car had smashed directly into a phone booth. Fear jumped into her heart as she raced towards the car. She went towards the drivers side. The picture of that man's bruised and bloody face scared her. "Why..." the man would croak. This part was the nightmares idea. "Why would you kill me?" the man would accuse.

Ashley woke with a start, her heart pounding as a deluge of cold sweat covered her. It took her a long time before she realized she was in her room. The images of her nightmare were still burned into her visions. She wanted to cry out, but found her voice gone. She was unable to proclaim her torment, unable to speak the fear that gripped and tore at her heart.

"I didn't..." Ashley finally whispered. "I didn't kill you..." Ashley began to cry again, and this time when sleep came. There were no dreams, none that she could remember.

The next day was the start of her Community Service. As her father drove to the park where she would be serving her first day she slowly realized she deserved this. But not the hate she had managed to obtain from everyone. Ashley had little friends, which for the most part she didn't mind, but every time one of Amy's friends came to visit her and John, they would treat her like scum. She quickly gave up trying to convince them it wasn't her fault. The Judge knew this, but it didn't matter. Even her parents seemed distant.

"You be good now." George said as his daughter left the car.

"Whatever," Ashley said, trying to put as little emotion into it as possible. As her father pulled away to leave her to do her time, Ashley was scanning the park. It wasn't long before she saw the small group of people. They were wearing bright orange vests with DOC clearly printed on it. Several armed police officers stood idly shooting the breeze. She quietly sauntered over towards the Police, trying to stay stoic.

"Ashley Juergens?" a broad shouldered Officer asked. Ashley nodded. "Take this," the officer handed her a Orange vest and a litter stick. "Alright, your all here for whatever reason. Your job is to clean the trash you young people cause." He shouted addressing the group. "Got it? Good." The officer tossed a wrapper to the ground, "begin."

"Dumb ass." A familiar voice whispered beside Ashley. Ashley looked over and groaned. Standing beside her was Adrian. Since the accident she had been particularly nasty to Ashley. Hoping to escape her notice, she quickly walked away. "What the hell are you doing here?" Ashley froze. I am so not in the mood for this, Ashley thought bitterly.

"Same thing as you," Ashley didn't turn around to face Adrian. "Though I wasn't aware being a slut had become illegal." Ashley allowed herself a smile when she heard Adrian's gasp.

"At least I didn't kill anyone," Adrian replied, her words wreaking of malice. Ashley lost it. She spun around and marched right up to her.

"I didn't kill him!" Ashley shouted. Fresh tears sprung to her eyes, anger and sorrow flooded into her. "How many times do I have to say that?" Ashley cringed as she realized she was almost begging, "he was already on his way to crashing." Adrian's hard look faltered for a moment, but was quickly strengthened.

"Yeah I bet Ben's dad probably bribed the judge." Adrian said, but there was no strength in her words.

"Go to hell." Ashely whispered. She turned around. She felt her body begin to shake, the overwhelming sense of weakness forced her to move slowly until she fell to her knees. She couldn't take it anymore, she just wanted to die.