-Chapter 2-
-First Night Back at Nicky's-

Tyler pulled up to Nicky's a few minutes later and parked in his usual spot. All three of them got out and walked into the building. Ashlee grabbed Tyler's arm and made a face. "What's wrong?" he asked.

"The smell." she paused. "The smell is making me sick."

Tyler laughed. "You're crazy. This is how it smells all the time... you weren't gone that long." he shook his head. "Come on."

All three of them walked over to the table where Caleb, Reid, and Kate were sitting. "Look who's back!" Caleb yelled.

"There's my girl." Reid said, standing up. Ashlee smiled then gave him a hug. "I missed you, Ash."

"Yeah... me too." she nodded and let go, then gave Caleb a hug. "Hey Bro!"

"Hey... did you have fun?"

"I sure did." she told him, then everyone sat down. "How's Mom?"

He shrugged. "The same."

"Wonderful." she paused. "Hey Kate."

"Hello Ashlee... welcome home."

"Thanks." she nodded, then a few minutes later she stood up. "I'm hungry... I'll be right back." then she walked over to the bar and smiled. "Hi Nicky."

He stopped what he was doing. "Hello Danvers... back from your vacation?"

"Yeah, since school starts on Monday."

"Oh." he nodded. "So what would you like? You can have anything you want, it's on the house."

"Thanks... can I get a bacon double cheeseburger with no onions, large fries, and a large Pespi?"

"Sure." Nicky smiled. "Give me about five minutes." she nodded, then sat down on the bar stool waiting for her food.

Seconds later, she hears "Well, well, well... Little Miss Danvers is back home."

Ashlee rolled her eyes. "What do you want, Aaron?" she asked, turning to face him.

"I was wondering if I could get a dance later."

"Are you nuts?"

"Come on... just one dance." he smirked, making her roll her eyes again.

Before Ashlee could answer, both of them heard "It's not happening, Abbott."

Aaron turned around. "This doesn't concern you, Parry."

"Yes it does... now leave her alone." Aaron glared at Pogue for a few more seconds, then walked away. "Jay, you alright?"

She nodded. "I'm fine."

"Look... there's something I need to talk to you about." she looked at him with a blank stare. "That party we were at." she looked down. " The night before you went to Florida."

"Um... that was a while ago, Pogue." she shrugged then looked up at him. "I don't even remember what happened."

"You don't remember." he paused to look her in the eyes. "Me and you-"

"Here's your food, Danvers." Nicky said, cutting Pogue off.

She hopped off the bar stool, grabbed it, and smiled. "Thank you, Nicky."

"No problem... welcome home." he smiled at her before walking away.

Ashlee turned around to face Pogue. "Whatever happened... happened. It's in the past and it should stay there." then she walked away back to the table and sat down.

"Geez Ash... hungry?" asked Tyler.

She nodded. "I didn't eat earlier."

Reid was about to grab a few fries, but Ashlee smacked his hand. "Hey." he frowned.

She shook her head. "I'm starving and I'm not sharing."

Pogue sat down in his seat. "Jay... you gonna eat all of that?"

She glared at him. "Yes, Pogue... I haven't ate all day. I got this."

"My girls got this." Reid chuckled. "Remember... Ash used to eat extra large pizza's to herself, back in the day?"

Ashlee nodded and glared at Pogue. "See... I got this."

"Wow Ash, why are you moody?"

"Cal... it's been a long day and I'm fuckin' starving."

"Okay, okay." he raised his arms in defeat. "Sis, calm down."

A little bit later, after Ashlee finished eating, Reid grabbed her hand. "Come dance with me." she nodded, then stood up and followed Reid to the dance floor. While they were dancing, Ashlee couldn't help to notice the way Pogue was looking at her. "You okay, Ash?"

She snapped out of her daze. "Huh?"

"Babe... you seem tense."

She smiled up at him. "No. I'm fine." then she rested her head on his chest and closed her eyes.

Minutes later, when the song ended, Ashlee slowly lifted up her head and made a face. "What's wrong?" he asked. She covered her mouth with her hand and ran into the girls bathroom. "Okay, then." Reid muttered to himself, then walked back over to the table.

"Where's Jay?" asked Pogue.

"She ran into the bathroom."

"Why?"

"Well Caleb." Reid started as he sat down. "My guess is... she's in there yackin' up her burger."

Ten minutes later, Ashlee came back out, then Caleb said "You okay, Sis?"

"Yeah... I ate too much. I'm fine though."

Reid reached up and rubbed her back. "You sure, Babe?"

She nodded. "Yeah." seconds later, she noticed Pogue shake his head and roll his eyes. She looked over at Tyler. "Can you take me to the dorms?"

"Yeah, sure come on."

Reid gave Ashlee a kiss on the cheek. "I'll be by later."

She nodded. "Okay... goodbye everyone." then her and Tyler walked out to the Hummer, got in, in and he drove off.

"So." Tyler started. "Is everything okay?"

"I just ate too much and ate it all too fast."

"You sure that's all?"

"Yeah... Ty."

"Okay." he nodded. "I just wanted to make sure you're okay."

"I know and I love you for that... but I'm fine."

"If you weren't, would you tell me?"

"Of course... you're my best friend."

"Okay." he chuckled. "I love you too, Ash."

A little bit later, Tyler pulled up to the dorms and parked in spot. They got out, walked inside the building, and up to her room. "I'm sleepy." Ashlee said, with a yawn.

"Me too." he nodded. "So there's a party at the Dells tomorrow night."

Ashlee giggled. "Oh the annual 'cops-come-to-crash-our-party' party?"

"Yeah, but this time... we're seniors, Ash."

"True." she nodded, then opened her door.

"You want me to stay with you for a while or are you going to sleep?"

"After I unpack a little, I'm going to sleep."

Tyler gave her a hug. "Well... welcome back home."

"Thanks buddy." they broke from the hug. "Goodnight, Ty."

"Night... Ash." then Tyler walked away and Ashlee went into her room, then shut and locked the door. After Ashlee cleared off her bed, she went into the bathroom, and put on her pajamas. A few minutes later, after brushing her teeth, she turned off the light, crawled into bed, and went to sleep.