Author's Note

Just wanted to say thanks for anyone who took the time to read this and leave me some feedback! I'm probably going to update this story everyday, so keep an eye out for it and let me know what you think.

Not Quite Home – Chapter 4 – Loose Ends.

Spencer was starting to think that the day wouldn't end, since her unusual and unexpected encounter with Ashley she hadn't been able to think about anything else. Luckily her English teacher hadn't seemed angry when she reappeared after 10 minutes; it was only a couple of girls at the back of the class who sniggered and began to whisper to each other when she walked back to her seat.

When the bell rang to signal the end of the day Spencer couldn't stop herself from smiling, but as she picked up her books and bag and headed towards the student car park she realized that her and Ashley hadn't made definite plans to hang out after school, and as she scanned the groups of people leaving she had a funny feeling that she had misread the situation completely.

The crowds of people were now turning into groups of fewer people, and as Spencer looked around the car park one last time she started to realize that she had misread the situation.

Spencer you are such an idiot! How could you even think for a second that Ashley actually meant what she said? She was just being nice…

"Is that your confused face? Or your angry face? Or perhaps a combination of both?" Spencer felt herself smile as Ashley interrupted her thoughts.

"I guess it was a combination of both. Good day?" Spencer knew she must have been blushing and she really didn't want to explain to Ashley what had bought on her confused/angry thoughts so she quickly changed the subject.

"Oh it was pretty good, had dull classes, got attacked by a crazed bitch and her minion, met some goofy girl, had more dull classes and now I'm back with the goofy girl," Ashley gave Spencer a goofy grin, "What about you Carlin, how was your day?"

Spencer felt herself smile again, normally she hated being called 'Carlin' it made her feel like she was being talked to by a teacher or shouted at by her parents, but when Ashley called her it she felt strangely giddy.

"Oh it was pretty good, had dull classes, swooped in and saved some damsel in distress, had more dull classes and now I'm back with the damsel although she looks like she can hold her own at the minute."

"Making fun of me in a goofy way, I kind of like it. So I was planning on going to get a smoothie, and since I might need your protection and all I wanted to know whether you wanted to go with me?"

"Well I better just check my protection pocket book to make sure I don't have any other ass kicking to do," Ashley smiled and rolled her eyes at her "You're lucky I'm all free."

"Good, now get in the car before you turn into a complete goofball."

Ashley led Spencer to her car, reversed out of her space, and headed towards the exit of the school before turning her music up.

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Instead of going to get a smoothie they decided to head back to Ashley's place as she ensured Spencer that her mother wouldn't be around and they'd have the place totally to themselves. Ashley parked her car and led Spencer inside of her house.

"Wow this is a really nice house, are you some kind of millionaire?" Spencer couldn't stop herself from looking around, this place was amazing, not to mention massive.

"Not quite, my dad's in a band and this is what my mom got in the settlement." Ashley replied as she headed to the kitchen to grab them a drink and some food.

"She must have been really pleased to get this place, it gorgeous." Spencer was stilling looking around, soaking up the Davies' mansion as she followed Ashley to the kitchen.

"Yeah she was pleased that she got to keep this place, her car, her clothes, and the maid," Ashley passed Spencer a can of Pepsi; "the only thing that she didn't want in the settlement and ended up with was me."

"I'm sure that's not true," Spencer watched as Ashley dropped her gaze to the ground and tinkered with her Pepsi can, "Hey, you're great." Spencer kept staring at Ashley until she lifted head back up so that their eyes were meeting, "Seriously."

"Yeah well my mother doesn't think so and my dad doesn't trust me enough to let me live by myself until I'm 19 so I'm stuck here." Ashley tried to give Spencer a reassuring smile and then led her up to her bedroom.

"So does your dad travel around a lot?" Spencer asked taking a seat next to Ashley on her bed.

"Yeah he's hardly ever around; I guess if I counted how many times I saw him in a year I'd be able to count it on one hand." Spencer saw that same look of pain and sadness cross over her face that had appeared when she spoke about her mother.

"That must suck; I'd hate not being able to see my dad, although I think I could manage not seeing my mother much considering she's always at work anyway."

"So is your mom some kind of lawyer or something else important?"

"Yep, she's a surgeon, so she's always working late, but my dad's great, he was always around for me and my brothers' when we were growing up and not to mention he gives the best advice, but that's probably because he's a councilor for young troubled teens and not to mention he cooks the yummiest food."

"What about your brothers, what are they like?"

Spencer loved how comfortable she felt with Ashley already, they'd barely known each other a few hours and yet here they were sitting on Ashley's bed talking about each other's lives.

"Well my older brother Glen is an ass, he always picks on me, we fight a lot, and he gets on my nerves all the time, especially when he talks about how good he is at basketball but he's my brother so I love him, My other brother is adopted, his name is Clay, he's the complete opposite of Glen, he's the intelligent one, he wants to go to medical school like mom did."

"Sometimes I wish I had a sibling but most of the time I'm kind of glad that I don't, I mean what if they would have turned out like my mother, it would be a nightmare." Ashley smiled at her again, god she was stunning, Spencer couldn't believe how beautiful she was.

"Earth to Carlin?"

Shit, Spencer knew her face must be bright red; she'd been caught not only staring but daydreaming too. "Huh I'm sorry, what did you say?"

Ashley laughed a little, "You're so weird. I just asked why you moved out here from Ohio?"

"Oh right, sorry," Spencer let out a little goofy laugh, "I was completely spaced out just then. We moved out here because my mom got offered a job at the hospital here, well that's the real reason, but my family seem to pretend that it was a 'good choice for the whole family'" Spencer repeated the last bit doing air quotes.

"Well LA is a great city, don't give me that look, trust me you'll grow to love it, there's nowhere better."

"Well so far LA has been really lame, my family never seem to be around, it's rained twice, I sit by myself at school and I hadn't talked to anyone properly since today and yet you are the second person to tell me that LA is not stupid and that I'll love it."

"Wow the other person who said that about LA must be my soul mate, who was it?" Ashley was still smiling, it was like she didn't stop, and because she smiled Spencer couldn't stop herself from smiling either.

"Oh it was some guy, I was stuck at school the other day when it rained without a ride home because my dumbass brother forgets about me, when this guy appeared from out of nowhere, even though he said it was from the gym and gave me a ride home."

As soon as Spencer had said the word 'gym' Ashley had gotten this weird look on her face. "Do you remember his name?"

"Erm yeah I think it was Aiden. Why, do you know him?" Spencer asked with a concerned look on her face.

Ashley let out a deep breath, "Yeah I do, Aiden would be my ex-boyfriend."

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TheCon12