A/N: This is totally an AU fic. And the main POV changes from Spencer to Ashley as the fic progresses.

Chapter 1: The Ecstasies of Detention

Spencer's POV

I gather all the air I possibly can to scream out at the top of my lungs, "Mom?!" I can't find my jeans that I was supposed to wear today. They couldn't have gone far- I just had them last night. I shove all the moving boxes, making them scatter around the room. It causes my room to look more like a hurricane had just ripped through. "Mom?!" I scream again. I swear, I think she has a hearing problem or at least something that can explain why she isn't answering me. "Mom?!"

"Spencer shut up! Hurry up. You're gonna be late again if you don't!" I hear my brother trying to scream as he chews on his mouthful of cereal.

"Shut up, Glen! I need Mom! I can't find my jeans!" I open my door and yell back as I bend down to look under my bed. "Ah ha. Now I've got you." I quickly jump into my jeans, fasten them, and grab my backpack. The belligerent person I call my brother, gathers with me downstairs.

Glen scoops his last spoon of Coco Puffs and mumbles, "Come on, Spence lets go." I obey his orders and grab a quick breakfast- an apple- and head out to the car.

Ok, so here's my story since we have a few minutes until we get to school. Traffic seems to be pretty bad today, but if I were to say anything about it, Glen would come up with a slick comment that I would not be able to redeem myself with. So, anyways- I was born in Los Angeles, but moved here just a few days ago- before school started. This being Ohio. I haven't unpacked fully, yet because I don't feel quite at home, yet. My parents decided to move us at the worst time possible. I'm a freshman and know absolutely know no one at school. That makes my outlook on my high school career just dandy I've only been going for three days, though. At least in my old town, I would've known a few people. I don't know too many people yet because I haven't taken the time to be outgoing and meet some of my development neighbors. For all I know, there could be kids who go to my school that live around here. I'm not sure I really want to know them, yet. I miss my friends from back home too much to replace them already.

So the only people I know right now are my mom, my dad, and my older brother, Glen, which you have already experienced. Hold on. I have to check the time really quick. 7:58! I can't believe how late it is. School starts in two minutes and we still have a ways to go. I'm gonna be late again. Can you believe I've been late every single day since I've gone here? When I was late the first day, they understood I was in a new environment that was a lot different from where I came from, so they annulled it, but I still haven't gotten used to these schools even though they're a lot smaller than the ones in L.A. They also said that any other tardies after that would be counted. After three tardies, an after school detention is assigned to you. Well, Spencer, it looks like you're gonna to have a new assignment. Sounds like fun.

I was lucky enough to earn after school detention today. The last bell just rang and now I have to get things out of my locker before I go to B-5- the hot and muggy room they call detention. I just realized that it's not only going to be me in the room- it's gonna be all of the bad kids- the ones who deserve to be in detention; the ones who thrive to get in trouble as to dare the school authority. I don't belong in detention. So I guess being late three times automatically gets you time with juvenile delinquents. Wonderful. That just makes me even more thrilled.

I get to the detention room just in time of not being late. I scope out the room to choose a seat- not too close to the drugged out kids, yet not too far from the door so that I can run out as soon as she lets us free. I decide to sit in the last desk, against the wall. I place my backpack on the floor and take in one deep breath. I look around the room a little closer to actually see who I'm going to be with the next hour. There are not too many people here- only 4, including me. One is head-down asleep on his desk; another looks like she's doing her homework; and another is hooked up to his ear-bleeding music. I don't know how people can listen to Metal and especially at that volume. An older lady just walked into the room. Maybe she's the adviser or teacher or tyrant of this occasion. Yea, I see the lanyard with the pass showing she's a part of the school hanging from her neck. She places her things down on her big, well-organized desk and says to the class in a not-so-pleasant tone, "Hello, my name is Mrs. Stark. For those of you who haven't been here before, I will be watching over you, making sure you don't get into any trouble, but first, I have to take attendance." She digs into her tote and pulls out a crimpled paper of names. She takes out the wrinkles and puts on her glasses to read off the names. "Spencer Carlin?"

"Here," I mumble, but also raise my hand to let her know I'm present in case she couldn't hear me.

She stares straight at me and replies monotone, "Good. Uhm... Ashley Davies?" She looks around the room and automatically knows she's not there. She decides to go for it one more time. "Davies, Ashley?" No response again. Who would be so stupid as to get in trouble for detention and not even show up? Boy, that girl must be a lot of trouble to deal with. I think I just found sympathy for the teachers.

"Present," says a girl as she walks nonchalantly through the door with her cell phone at her hands, obviously texting, and a bag dangling on her shoulder. She wasn't what I was expecting to be the "Ashley Davies." She looks a nice girl to get to know. I guess I was expecting a girl whose best friend was marijuana. I gotta stop belittling people- gotta stop thinking this is L.A.

"What makes you late to detention Miss Davies?" Mrs. Stark asks her.

"Um…" she looks around the room, looking for a good excuse to pop into her head. "I'm not sure." She says it, knowing exactly why she was late.

"I'm not going to pay attention to that. Just sit down Miss Davies and don't be a disturbance," she demands sharply. It seems like they met before this day in detention. Perhaps it was in detention yesterday? Ashley obeys her wishes and sets down her cell phone on a desk, just a couple of desks in front of me. Her bag follows her body as she makes her way into her seat. I'm intrigued by her actions, but not exactly sure why. My voyeurism kicks in and I use it towards this girl. Mrs. Stark continues to take roll as I sit there, just staring at Ashley. Her unique design of clothing on her body is fascinating. The dictator continues to take roll, "Michael Griffin." While keeping his head down in his arms on his desk, he raises his hand casually to alert Mrs. Stark of his existence. Ashley examines the students surrounding her, starting around area first. She twirls her body all the way around to view the whole classroom and then turns back to look at me. I quickly look away, in hopes she doesn't catch me staring at her, but no such luck.

At the corner of my eye, I see her smirk due to my reaction towards her. In a very playful voice Ashley says, "Do you always stare at people like that or am I 'the chosen one'?"

I laugh it off in embarrassment and try to come up with enough courage to talk. I clear my throat and finally speak, "No. I just zoned out for a bit. I've never done this before—the whole detention thing." I feel like I was just injected with Botox because I can't get this smile off of my face.

"Well, then welcome back to Earth. I'm Ashley and I will be your tour guide to detention," she says in confidence and ejects her hand out to be shaken by mine.

"Why, thanks. I'm Spencer by the way," I reply with a simple handshake. A moment of silence occurs, but it isn't awkward. Just being with her feels natural. "So you must be an expert at this detention thing if you can guide me through it."

Mrs. Stark finally finishes taking roll and hears the two of use chatting. In a striking tone, she quickly gets our attention, "Ms. Davies! Why must you always be a part of the commotion?"

Ashley turns her head and says in an innocent tone, "I was just trying to be nice to Spencer, here."

"Spencer will do just fine on her own. She doesn't need someone like you to teach her morals in life," she snarls at Ashley. By the looks of Ashley's face, what the teacher said had more meaning to it. Ashley's eyes turned to fire as the anger burned in her head. She doesn't act upon it, though because it wouldn't get her anywhere.

Ashley turns around to me and says, "In about ten minutes she's going to say she has to use the bathroom, but I know she goes somewhere else. She usually is gone for the majority of the detention and then comes back the last few-"

Mrs. Stark intrudes on our conversation and threatens Ashley, "Would you like to spend tomorrow in detention?"

"No Mrs. Stark. Ashley turns around in her desk and crosses her fingers, acting like an angel.

I really want to pursue another conversation with this girl. I appreciate how she doesn't give a damn about authority, especially not Mrs. Stark's. I could never have the courage to put on an act like she just did. I watched the clock closely to see if Ashley was right about Mrs. Stark over there.

Tick, tick, tick. The ten minutes is up. I haven't done much in time because I'm too lazy to do my homework and I really want to talk to Ashley again. In that time Ashley took out her iPod to help pass the time. I guess iPods in detention are allowed over here because they definitely aren't back in L.A. If I 'd known that I would've brought mine. What am I complaining about? It's only ten minutes.

Will Mrs. Stark even notice? It looks like she's really concentrating on whatever she's doing. She picks up her head from what looks like tests she's grading to look at the clock. Her voice goes off like a timer. She speaks abruptly, "Well, if you kids will excuse me, I have to use the ladies room. But don't you worry- I will be watching you." She beams her eyes at Ashley, implying Ashley was the only troublemaker. That couldn't be possible because then she would only be in the room. Doesn't she understand that?

Mrs. Stark excuses herself from the room, closing the door behind her. She locks it from the outside. What a b-. Ashley interrupts my train of thought by saying, "Told you." Ashley collects her things and slides a few seats back to be closer to me.

I snicker and say, "You have been here way too many times."

Ashley smiles, "I know. It's pretty much become my daily ritual."

I shrug my eyebrows and ask, "What do you do so wrong that forces you into detention everyday?"

She hesitates to answer, but does, in a serious tone, "I punched a teacher in the face. I broke her nose. It was an ugly nose anyway. She was due for surgery any day now. I necessarily helped her out."

I'm in complete shock. My jaw drops down far enough to skim the floor. I didn't see her as someone who would just punch a teacher. Well, then again, this is whole different state- things are different around here. I ask, "Really?"

Ashley starts laughing hysterically, "No! You're too gullible!"

I produce a very annoyed face, but can't hold it too long because she's right- I'm so gullible. I confess, "That's not funny. I really thought you did that. You made it look so convincing."

Ashley smiles from ear to ear and says, "Yea, I know." She pauses and then smiles again. "I got you so good."

I admit, "You did. Now are you going to tell me the real reason why you're in detention all the time?

She wipes the smile off her face and says, "The real reason is that I purposely ditch first block- English."

"Why?"

"I don't appreciate the way the teacher treats me. I had her last year for English. I was so lucky for her to move up to the high school and get her for a second time. I was even luckier to have detention with her most of the week," she says sarcastically. "She belittles me all the time. I hate it. I don't know why she does it."

I shrug my eyebrows and give her my opinion, "That's not right. No teacher should have the power to undermine any student." I stop. "Have you brought it up with anyone- like another teacher?"

Ashley scuffs her voice, "No. What are you kidding? Like they're gonna believe me. Just forget about it. There's no point."

It looks like I might've pushed a wrong button. I anticipate that it doesn't cause her to stop talking to me. I apologize, "I'm sorry. I didn't know-,"

She makes up an excuse, "It's okay. It's only high school" She changes the subject, "So why are you here?"

I laugh, embarrassed by my cause, "I've been late everyday—since school started."

"Really? On purpose or one of those 'I can't find my way around the school' excuses?" Ashley asks.

With all honesty I say, "It's not an excuse. I really can't find my way around."

Her facial expressions show she has a solution for me. "I bet I could help you out. Are you a freshman by any chance?"

Would she be able to help me if I wasn't a freshman? "Yea, why?" I ask simply.

"What sending district are you from?"

"I'm actually from L.A."

"Oh. Well that is a big difference."

"Yea it's hard for me to adjust."

Ashley informs me, "Well, I'm a freshman, also. We probably have at least one class together. I assure you, this school isn't too big." She looks down at my backpack. "Do you have your schedule with you by any chance?"

"Uhm…" I look down at my bag, trying to think if I left it in my locker or not. I unzip my bag and dig through my books and papers. "A ha!" I draw the schedule out of my bag and pass it to Ashley. That would be way too perfect if she had at least one class with me.

She examines the schedule for a few seconds. Her eyes widen unexpectedly, almost causing my heart to jump. "I don't think you're going to like this."

"What?" I ask. She turns the paper around and points her finger at my English class. "I'm not quite understanding this. What is so bad?"

"I have a class with you, but it's too bad it's the class I love to hate," she shrugs her mouth.

"So your saying that you have English with me, but we'll pretty much never see each other because you're willing to ditch almost everyday—just because of a dimwit of a teacher?" I ask, in hopes of her not saying yes.

Her thinking face kicks in. Ashley lays the piece on the desk to pull her bangs behind her ears from her eyes. She answers slowly, "That… pretty much…sums it up. Yup" She shakes her head up and down.

"I think you're ridiculous. Just because of a teacher?" I ask as she continues to shake her head. Somehow I'm able to produce an almost ingenious idea. A smile morphs on my face--one similar to Freddy Kruger's. "I have an idea."

Ashley seems frightened, "I'm afraid to hear what it is."

"If you go to English class everyday, then I'll help you prove to that nutcase of a teacher that you're as smart-or smarter- than any other student she teaches," I propose.

Ashley thinks about it a few moments. She finally says, "It's a tempting offer. How are we gonna prove it to her, though?"

She got me there. I come up with a cliché answer, "I don't know. We'll think of something." She checks the clock to distinguish the time. I can't see the time from where I'm sitting because I'm planted against the same wall as the clock. I ask her, "What time is it? Do we have much time?"

She piles her things together and hands back my schedule to me. She says quickly, "No we don't. She should be back any second now." She drops her things on her desk and sinks into her seat.

The door unlocks and in comes Mrs. Stark. She proclaims, "I'm back. I hope you didn't make too much trouble." She rests her keys on her desk and proceeds to congregate her things as well. It must be time to go—she's packing up awfully fast. She announces, "Well, kids, I'm feeling a little nice today. I'm going to let you off free now. There's only a few minutes left—no consequences will be issued." She creates a fake smile and immediately storms out of the room.

I look over at Ashley to see her reaction. She laughs and then turns around to me. She says, "That's a new one." I get up and get together my things. Ashley waits up for me, instead of charging out of the door like the other students. We walk slowly to the exit of the room and she asks, "So I'll see you tomorrow?"

I smile in reassurance, "Yes. And this time I'll be early."