Author's Note

I won't babble on for ages, just wanted to say thanks again to anyone who read this and gave me some feedback; they make me smile!

Not Quite Home – Chapter 7 – Broken Inside.

Spencer was really starting to enjoy living in LA, ok scratch that, she didn't like LA anywhere near as much as she did Ohio, but she did like a certain brunette who was part of the LA package.

"So what did you get up to yesterday Carlin? I tried ringing you but I didn't get an answer." Ashley asked as she sat down next to Spencer.

Spencer couldn't believe it had been an entire week since she had met Ashley and they'd had their 'confessions' night as they liked to call it. Since then they'd practically spent all of their time together except yesterday.

"Yeah sorry about that Ash, I forgot to tell you I wouldn't be in. Mom might not be able to make it home everyday to have dinner with us but she can always spare time to go to church on a Sunday." Spencer replied dryly.

Ash smiled at Spencer's response "Oooh! And let me guess that the secret not-so-religious daughter was feeling slightly resentful and bitter?"

"You could say that." Spencer laughed and stuck her tongue out at Ash. While Ashley responded by throwing a grape at her.

They went back to catching up about what they both did over the weekend when Spencer noticed that Ashley wasn't really paying attention to her.

"Why don't you just go over and talk to him?" Spencer asked as she followed Ashley's gaze.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Well you should Ash; you haven't been able to keep your eyes off him all week." Spencer stated as Ashley's eyes darted back to her own, a look of anxiety on her face.

"I can't." her voice cracking with sadness.

"Sure you can Ash, and you obviously want to. Look he's on his own" Spencer kept her eyes locked on Ashley's while she waited for a reply.

Spencer couldn't help but notice the different emotions passing through Ashley's eyes, as if her head and heart were having an inner battle, struggling with an impossible decision.

Luckily for Ashley the bell rang to sound the inevitable end of their Monday lunch period. Spencer grabbed her bag as she stood up,

"Look I have to go, I've got a math test now but we'll talk about this later, okay?"

Ashley nodded "Good luck."

She watched as Spencer walked away getting lost in a crowd of students who were all rushing to their lessons. As she returned her gaze to Aiden she noticed this time that dark eyes were burning back into hers, an unsure smile tugging at his lips as he approached her.

"Hey"

It was one simple word, a word she'd used a million times before and yet as it brushed passed his lips it felt so intense. Ashley quickly swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat as she tried to reply.

"Hey"

"How are you Ash?"

"I'm okay, you?"

He smiled at her gently as he looked down at her, "I'm good thanks. Basketball's going great; I'm all set now I've been offered that scholarship. How are things going for you? I noticed you and Spencer have become friends, she's a nice girl."

Ashley could feel herself relax as Aiden chatted away and seated himself opposite her, his warm smile never failed to put her at ease.

"Things are fine, Spencer's great, I'm glad I've gotten to be friends with her. I'm happy for you about the basketball thing, you deserve it."

"I'm glad you have someone who can be there for you Ash," he replied as he reached out and covered her hand with his own, giving it a gentle squeeze before pulling away, "I'd better go, I'm already late, but it was good seeing you Ash, it's been awhile."

She watched him stand, the easiness leaving her body again, leaving her feeling awkward and out of place, "Yeah you too A."

"I'll see you around sometime," he paused to smile at her again, "Later Ash."

Ashley let a deep breathe escape her as she watched him walk away, wondering why she had ever let him go, and even if she hadn't, how she would have had to in the end.

xXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Ashley had decided that her final period, drama, just wasn't for her, she couldn't understand why anyone would want to create the stuff when life was already full of it. Instead she had decided to hang out it the girls changing room, it had a big mirror that Ashley had decided to use to fix her hair and patch up her make-up before heading off to see if she could get Spencer out of Spanish early.

Ashley had fixed her brown tresses by simply clipping her hair up and was applying her lip gloss when she saw the reflection of dark angry eyes staring at her, "What do you want Madison?" she asked without turning around to face the Latino.

"Listen Chica, I saw you talking to Aiden at lunch and I'm warning you to stay away from my man! Cos lets face it he's going places now and he doesn't need a pathetic leech like you holding onto him!"

At this Ashley turned around to face Madison who was smirking at her, "Look Cheerbitch we were just talking, and I don't know how long Barbie's memory lasts but I'm guessing it's not long since you don't remember that he was still with me when he got the scholarship. And I know I'm not going places but let's face it you aren't either!"

"Whatever bitch, at least I can give him what he needs." Madison announced as she took a step closer to Ashley.

"Madison I'm sure Aiden doesn't need to catch an STI."

"Well at least he gets sex from me, not all of us are frigid like you!"

"What the fuck are you talking about, me and Aiden slept together all the time!" Ashley exclaimed as she took a step towards Madison.

"Yeah except for like the last month you were together."

Ashley took a step back from Madison in shock, "How do you know that?"

"Because if you hadn't neglected his needs then he wouldn't have been sleeping with me while you were together." With this Madison closed the gap between them and Ashley quickly squeezed her eyes shut.

She was trying hard to stop the tears she could feel building up behind her eyelids from escaping, but when she reopened her eyes to find Madison smiling proudly at her she could do nothing but let tears trail a wet path down her cheeks.

"And that Chica, is why you should stay away from my man," Madison shoved Ashley's shoulder as she passed around her and stopped just to allow herself enough room to whisper into her ear, "because you never really had him to start with." And with that Madison left Ashley alone in the changing rooms, sunken to the floor, crying and broken inside.