Bare with me on this guys...
Where the lines overlap chapter 10
Ashley dropped her guitar case on to the floor of her tour bus feeling tired after a long set. She had been back in America for 2 weeks now after touring the rest of the world for just under 3 years. She had managed coming back to America that whole time so she wouldn't have to worry about everything that had happened the last time she was there. Her 1st EP hit exploded in Europe so she stayed there to write her first full album leaving in London for most of that time.
"Great set Ash" Her best friend said as he walked into her small private room knowing that he didn't need to knock.
"Thanks Aid...where to next?" Ashley asked grabbing herself a bottle of water.
"L.A...you ready for it?"Aiden answered praying that she reacted in a reasonable manner. Ashley stayed quiet for a short while organising her thoughts and controlling her reaction. She hadn't been back there since she ran away from the mess that she helped to create. She had ignored the calls from her family, everyone apart from Kyla that is. Kyla forgave Ashley straight away and they were in constant contact. The only unspoken rule they had was to never talk about what happened. Kyla had filled her in on the main points but anything after that was a no go area. Aiden had joined Ashley every few months on tour to do his job but she would often send him home to be with Kyla as they were happier than ever especially now they had baby Holden who had just turned two.
"Of course it's not like I can run forever plus I get to see my favourite nephew" Ashley smiled getting the same back from Aiden who was more than excited to see his little family after spending the last 2 months touring America.
"Ash?"
"Yea?"
"I get it if you're not ready" Aiden said placing a hand on Ashley's shoulder to show her some support knowing that this leg of the tour was going to be horrible for her and he was worried that she would go back to her old way of life.
"It's time now Aid...I'm done running" Ashley confessed feeling calm.
"I'm proud of you...I thought I'd lost you for a while there "Aiden was talking about the first few months of the European tour. Ashley had turned to booze and drugs to deal with the pain she was left feeling after leaving. He had tried so hard to help her but she was closed off from everyone until Kyla brought Holden to meet her. That little boy turned her life around; she loved his innocence and was told by Kyla that if she didn't sort her life out then Holden would be kept away from her. Not wanting to risk that she cleaned up and focused on her music, within a few months she had managed to sort her life out and then over the years she learnt how to deal with things without alcohol or drugs and it felt great. She finally felt like she had control of her life which was a new experience for her as she was always spiralling for one reason another before.
"You and me both...Aiden?"
"Yea?"
"How is everybody?"Ashley asked really only meaning on person in particular.
"Good, they are all in Cali still and they all miss you "Aiden answered hoping that he would understand the hidden meanings that laced his words.
"I spoke to Raife the other day, he's coming to my concert on Saturday" Ashley said with a huge smile. During her time away she had managed to mend bridges with her parents but not with Jackson or Spencer. Neither of them tried to contact her and she didn't blame them in the slightest.
"I knew he would, you know how much he loves you...we all do Ash. Just focus on the gig and then take the summer off to relax for the first time in 2 years"
"The same goes for you Aid you have been here for me for so long no matter what and I love you for that" Ashley admitted fighting back the tears as she hugged her oldest friend. Aiden ended the hug and left the bus as he was heading home to be with his family. Ashley collapsed on her bed feeling on edge for the first time in a while. She pulled out her phone and flicked to a photo that she had kept no matter how many phones she went through over the last few years. Staring back at her was the girl with the most perfect blue eyes, long wavy blonde hair and a smile that melted Ashley's heart every time she looked at it. The picture was taken of her and Spencer one afternoon by Kyla when they were at the Davies mansion just after that had first met. Ashley closed the phone feeling stupid for holding on to a picture of a girl that she had hurt so much and then left with no warning but there was something about those blue eyes that made her keep that picture.
The next morning Ashley was dropped off at her old apartment. Entering the apartment was a huge thing for her as she hadn't been there she left Kyla there with a note for the girl that she had dreamt about every night since. She had arranged for the place to be redecorated so that the memories were limited. She had chosen for the living to be light and airy with huge white sofas and a black grand piano in the corner so she could start working on her next album. Kyla had thoughtfully filled the walls with beautiful framed photos of her nephew and some photos from her tours. She loved how the room looked and was thankful that Kyla had done the final touches for her. Entering her bedroom Ashley was pleased to see that her room looked completely different. It was no longer the scene of one night stands, drunken nights and times spent with Spencer. It was new and perfectly painted in a dark purple colour with huge black wrought iron mirrors. The only thing that remained the same was her bed frame, she adored that bed frame and no matter how many bed memories of the old Ashley it represented it was still something she wanted to stay the same. Sitting on her old bed she picked up her cell and dialled Kyla's number.
"Hey you"
"Hey Ash do you like it?"Kyla asked straight away clearly excited about the work she had done on the house.
"It's perfect Ky I don't think I could've done it any better myself...thank you"
"I was happy to help; I've felt pretty useless since you left"
"Hey don't be stupid now. You bought Holden into my life and that's all you needed to do"
"Don't make 36 hours of painful labour so minor but you're welcome. Holden misses his Aunt Ashley you know"
"I miss him which is why I was also calling"
"We're going around to Dad's if you want to come?"
"Erm..."
"Don't worry Christine is in Paris and Jackson is awol still" Kyla explained knowing exactly why her sister was apprehensive about going to her family home.
"Hasn't she been in Paris for like a year?"
"Yep...Dad is past caring now and he really wants you there"
"Ok I'll be there in an hour" Ashley sighed forgetting how much her sister can whine. After grabbing a shower Ashley looked through her mail which had been piling up for a quite a while considering Aiden and Kyla only opened anything that looked like bills etc. Scanning the mail she found a hand written letter so she opened it nearly crying when she read it. It was the letter that she had left for Spencer and written on the back in simple hand writing were the words "Fuck you Ashley". Ashley knew that her leaving would hurt Spencer but she had hoped that the girl would understand that at the time she thought she was doing it for the best. In hindsight Ashley knew that running away was a bad choice but she had learnt to live with it now and wasn't going to let Spencer's note affect her new attitude.
Entering her childhood home was an even bigger deal for Ashley than her apartment because not only did it house Spencer memories but also ones from her limited childhood with Jackson. She let herself knowing that nobody would hear the door and she made her way towards the back garden.
"Trying to sneak in unnoticed" A gruff voice asked from the door way.
"Hey Dad" Ashley smiled hugging her Father who still looked and dressed the same as the day she left.
"God I've missed you Ash...I'm so happy that you're back baby girl" Raife said still holding on to his eldest daughter.
"I've missed you too Dad...I'm sorry"
"Ssssh its ok...I get why you left. I'm just glad you're back and I'm not the only one" Raife said putting to a small figure heading there way as they entered the garden.
"Aswee" a small dark haired screamed as he toddled towards his Aunt arms open and a huge smile on his face. Ashley picked up the mini Aiden and admired his beautiful green eyes that he had inherited from his Father.
"How you doing little man?"Ashley asked placing the small boy back on the ground.
"Good...Ima swim" Holden replied grabbing Ashley's hand and pulling her towards the pool. She took off her trousers so she was just in her bikini and jumped in the cool water.
"Come on Holden I'll catch you" Ashley said holding out her arms for Holden to jump into which he happily did after taking a run up.
"Mamma come play" Holden shouted as he saw Kyla come back into the garden but she simply laughed and took a seat next to Aiden
"In a minute Honey you play with Aunt Ashley" Kyla called back smiling happily as she watched her son play with her sister that she had missed dearly. Even though they had hardly seen each other since Ashley left they were still closer than ever.
After splashing about with Holden for a while Ashley convinced him vacate the pool as it was time for his nap much to the toddler's disappointment.
"Come on buddy I promise we can play another time" Ashley promised kissing Holden on the head just before Aiden took him off upstairs. Kyla and Aiden had moved in with Raife for a while until they found the right house for their family. It wasn't ideal but the Davies mansion was big enough for everybody to have their own space especially now Christine and Jackson were gone. Ashley dried herself on a towel then took a seat next to Kyla.
"Are you ever going to ask me?"Kyla snapped annoyed for a reason Ashley couldn't understand just yet.
"Ask you what Kyla?"Ashley replied dumbly.
"About her"
"Oh...erm How is Spencer?"Ashley finally asked faltering as she let the name pass her lips.
"She's good" Kyla replied simply trying to force Ashley to ask more questions.
"Do you talk to her?"
"Yea, she's actually a good friend of mine now "Kyla confessed feeling guilty.
"Oh...how did that happen?"
"After everything that happened she stayed in L.A and I was there for her when her family just up and left"
"Why did they do that?"
"It's not my place to say Ash"
"Sure I understand...Does she ask about me?"Ashley asked feeling like a complete idiot for doing so.
"Every once in a while but not so much anymore...she's happy now"
"Does she know I'm back?"
"Ashley you're a frickin rock star everybody knows you're back in town at the moment" Kyla laughed forgetting how dumb her sister can be sometimes.
"Ugh yea I forgot about that. Look I've got to go I have a meeting with the label about some documentary for the tour DVD" Ashley moaned not wanting to leave just yet.
"Oh it's a hard life "Kyla mocked hugging her sister.
"Ash I can ask her if she wants to see you "Kyla offered not knowing how she would begin to ask Spencer to that.
"No need, if she's happy then I'm happy" Ashley smiled meeting Aiden at the front door so they could go to this meeting.