"I wish I could dream about Max Hart like I do Angela." Those were some of the words on the page. Ashley T. remembered them quite clearly. She was the only link to Ashley Q.'s inner-most thoughts—had she betrayed her? Did she have the ability to fully get the whole picture of Ashley Q. from pages to words to the minds of the other Ashleys?
Ashley T. wondered why Ashley Q. had written so freely, knowing the diary rule. Did she want them to find out, or something?
And then Ashley T. realized, with a horrible jolt, that she too had forgotten "The Most Sacred and Ancient Rule of the Diary." That was, like, totally ironic, because the last time she could remember the rule being used was in seventh grade and it was her own diary then.
She, Ashley T., had once written about how she had actually enjoyed a fishing trip her family forced her on. Oh come on, her brother had baited the hook, and her brother's cute friend was there! Plus, she was able to miss school. She hadn't been in any true danger of being kicked out—nothing ruled against enjoying the outdoors, they'd all looked over and over again. She was safe. But, as for Ashley Q.? Probably not quite as safe . . . .
Ashley T. wished she could eavesdrop in on the conversation, but she was supposed to occupy Ashley Q. They started talking about History class, the class they had with Spinelli. Ashley T. liked to tease Spinelli about being a lesbian, but now that she knew Ashley Q. was one, that just seemed cruel.
Ashley B. told Ashley A. to sit down on the bench in a more-or-less deserted hall.
"Alright, Ashley B., what is it?" asked the blonde.
"Well, Ashley A., I heard from Ashley T. what's bothering Ashley Q."
She paused, and they both scowled darkly at the boy who decided to pass through the hall at that moment.
As soon as the hall was empty again, Ashley B. continued. "Ashley Q. is a lesbian."
"Oh my God, really?"
"Really. You know what this means, don't you?"
"What?"
"She's going to develop crushes on us—probably already has. And Ashleys do not date other Ashleys," she said in a somber tone. "In fact, Ashleys only date—"
"Popular boys," finished Ashley A., deep in thought.
"We, the Ashleys, are concerned with our group image."
"More than Ashley Q.'s feelings?" said Ashley A. timidly. She may be the designated leader, but Ashley B. was not someone she wanted to upset.
"Well how would it look? In fact, her fashion sense may be deteriorating as we speak—and remember how good she is at kickball?" her eyes narrowed.
"Yeah, that was a little un-Ashley," admitted Ashley A. "So, we really have to push her out? Out on the streets of our high school? It just sounds so . . . ."
"Harsh. Yeah. But hey, she did put it in the diary. I think she wanted us to know. O, poor, brave Ashley Q.! She was willing to sacrifice herself for the Ashley image."
"Can't we just . . . change the rule?"
Ashley B. paused. "Ashley A. Are you really willing to ruin the significance of her actions? She wrote that all for a reason."
"Maybe she didn't remember the rule," said Ashley A., in a last attempt.
"Ashley A. Are you a leader or not? Maybe I need to take your place, if you're going to get cold feet about protecting our Ashley community. Got it?"
Ashley A. nodded, then lowered her head a little. She supposed it had to be done.
"So, we're going to out her like that?" asked Ashley T. nervously. "Really? I mean, that seems so heartless."
"It's Ashley tradition, spanning from the second meeting of the Ashleys ever," said Ashley A., looking a bit miserable. "The crime must be read off in a public area of the school. Used to say playground—revision made after sixth grade graduation."
Ashley T. nodded slowly.
"It's for the best," said Ashley B. She licked her lip. She wasn't entirely sure of that herself, if she was completely honest. But she thought it was better to be certain of something wrong than to not be certain of anything at all.
"Tomorrow we split with Ashley Q."
"Traditional Ashley Class-Before Notice?"
Ashley B. nodded. "Definitely. Give her some time to prepare for it."
Ashley T. felt that, perhaps, being outed in front of the entire student body during lunch was something no one could adequately prepare for. Maybe she'd let it slip to Ashley Q. beforehand. It was, after all, her fault the redhead was in danger of being kicked out anyway.
