A/N: ShinObi87 – I had some college friends from Beachwood…I've been there a few times. Spent a lot of time in The Flats back in the day

Slushy – Worry not, there will be plenty of Spencer POV ahead

Glad you guys are liking it so far. Lots of fun and goodness to come! Keep tuning in!

DISCLAIMER: I still don't own anything but my own imagination

Chapter 4 – The Light of Day

The next morning was a tough one for Ashley. She had a monster hangover and had to be ok enough to go to school. She didn't want to give her Aunt Maggie any further suspicions than she probably already had.

Just then there was a knock on the door. "You ok sweetheart?" the voice asked.

"Yeah Aunt Mag…I'm alright. Just getting out of the shower." Ashley replied.

"Ok…we'll Spencer's here to see you…so come on down when you're ready."

"Tell her to come on up…"Ashley called back.

Spencer headed up the stairs and knocked on the door. No answer. "Ali? Can I come in?" No answer again so Spencer assumed she was in the bathroom and entered the room.

Out walked an underwear clad Ashley from the closet.

"Oh shit, I'm sorry Ali!" Spencer said as she shielded her eyes.

"Don't worry about it Spence. You're a girl right? You've got all the parts I do. No mystery there." Ashley smiled.

"Yeah, I guess…" Spencer sounded nervous as she dropped her hands from her face and watched "Ali" walk around the room getting ready.

"Feeling better today?" She said, trying to change the subject.

"Much…thanks again." Ashley responded. "Why didn't you say anything to my Aunt?"

"It really wasn't my place. Besides, it looked like you were hurting pretty bad and that was probably the last thing you needed. You know, if you ever need to talk or anything, I'm a great listener." Spencer offered.

"I'm sure you are Spence. I'm just not too sure I'm ready to let it all out yet."

"Well, just remember, I'm here. Hey…you wanna ride with Glen and me to school today? That is, if you promise to ride home with us too?" Spencer asked jokingly.

"Sounds like a plan Carlin." Ashley smiled

After they arrived downstairs, Maggie pulled Ashley aside and reminded her to be home early tonight for her "appointment" with AA. "I'll be here Aunt Mag." Was all she said before she left with Spencer and Glen.

All the way to school Spencer and Ashley talked about life in Ohio and Glen continued to interrupt them with stupidity. Ashley found it endearing though. It was like she was a normal kid, with normal friends, who did normal things. However, right before they pulled into the parking lot, Ashley was pulled back out of her little fantasy when Glen turned up the radio in the car. Ashley couldn't believe her ears. It was her new single. She had been so out of the loop that she hadn't realized that it was the week her new album was coming out.

"I love this new Ashley Davies song! Her voice is awesome!" Glen shouted. "Whatever Glen…you just think she's hot…" Spencer interjected. "Whatever is right…she is hot…even you agree with that Spence…I know you've got that copy of Rolling Stone where she's half naked on the cover under your bed. I saw it when I went in there to get my baseball glove back from you." Glen continued, clearly not noticing the bright shade of red his sister's face was turning from embarrassment.

"I like the article about her Glen! She's interesting!" Spencer defended herself and shyly smiled at Ashley. "Ignore him Ali…like I said before…he's an ass."

Ashley simply sat back amused watching the siblings argue back and forth about her. "If they only knew… but something tells me Spencer might have a clue …" she thought to herself. "…And Spencer's got my Rolling Stone under her bed? I've got to get to the bottom of this one!" She thought. "I remember that cover…it was pretty racy. I was topless, wearing a short pair of white shorts, black hair cascading down my back, facing a bright white wall while I was painting it red and turning my head back to look at the camera…like I said…racy – but so hot!"

The day wore on for Ashley…"so far better than the last one" she sighed. That is until her calculus teacher announced a test on Friday. "Wanna study for the test with me this week Ali?" Spencer asked.

"Yeah…I'm going to need some help so I don't fail." Ashley replied. "Why don't we meet at your house?" Ashley really wanted to get a look at Spencer's room and find that magazine under her bed. She was curious about the blonde girl. Maybe a peek into her room would give her a little more insight into who Spencer really is.

Ashley finally had made it through a whole hour of gym and headed to lunch. She grabbed a salad and a soda and headed for an empty table. "This is our table puta." It was the latina girl from yesterday. "You new here or something?" she asked Ashley. "Yeah, hi. I'm Ali Davison." Ashley said trying to be nice.

"Well I'm Madison Duarte and this is OUR table. So vamoose new girl."

Ashley had never been rejected from a group like that before. She was always begged to be joined. Everyone wanted to be her friend. Well, Ashley Davies friend anyway. So far only the Carlin kids were interested in being Ali Davison's friend. But somehow, Ashley found herself ok with that.

"Ali! Over here!" There was the sweet voice of her new favorite blonde. Ashley walked over towards the table where Spencer and Glen were sitting when she stopped and noticed a few new faces.

"Ali, this is Glen's girlfriend Chelsea and my boyfriend Aiden. Guys, this is Ali." "Hi Ali" the two responded.

Ashley's heart sunk. "Boyfriend? How could she have a boyfriend" Ashley thought. "No worries…what Ashley wants, Ashley gets." She reminded herself before sitting down with the group.

During lunch, Ashley spent most of her time watching the interaction between Spencer and Aiden. She seemed somewhat uncomfortable around him. He seemed kind of skeezy. Always trying to feel on her. You could tell that she wasn't all that into it. She kept asking him to stop but he didn't want to listen. Finally Spencer shot a pleading look in Ashley's direction and Ashley sprung into action.

"C'mon Spence…I need your help with something in the bathroom." And she grabbed her hand and pulled her along.

"What the hell was that about Spencer? Is he always all over you like that?" Ashley asked.

"I don't know…he means well…he loves me...I just…I don't know. I guess I just don't feel like that with him. I'm not all that in to it. Even in private. But we've been together for so long, he's like my blanket or something." Spencer responded.

"Well, if you're not into it, tell him to leave you alone. If he really loves you, he'll respect that."

"I don't want to hurt him Ali. He's a good guy. We've been friends forever."

"Whatever you want Spence. I just think you can do better is all. He seems like a tool." Ashley laughed.

"Yeah, he kinda is…" Spencer laughed back.

The rest of the day flowed by smoothly and Ashley met up with Spencer and Glen for a ride home.

"Do you wanna come over to study tonight Ali?"

"I've got an appointment at 7pm…but maybe afterwards?"

"It's a date then. See you tonight." Spencer said as she brushed past Ashley towards her front door.

When Spencer passed by, Ashley felt strange butterflies flow in her stomach. She turned around, walked into the house and plopped down on the couch with thoughts of Spencer in her head.

Ashley couldn't quite put her finger on it. But there was something about the blue eyed blonde. Ashley wanted so badly to be able to open up to the girl and share everything with her. Her thoughts, her dreams, and her demons. Ashley just needed to be patient, her time would come.

Maggie arrived home at about 6pm and the two of them hopped into the car to head to AA. After yesterday, Ashley was starting to feel fairly certain that she needed this. She remained quiet for much of the meeting but towards the end, she grew more courageous and stood before the group. "Hi, I'm Ashley. And I'm an alcoholic…"