"What the hell are you doing in Ohio?"
"What the hell are you doing in Ohio?"
"Why the hell are you alone at a bar?"
"Why the hell are you hitting on me?"
"Okay enough with the questions!!" Ashley said not ready to admit to herself or anyone that she just hit on Madison Duarte. I didn't do it. NEVER. NEVER. I did no such thing.
"…so what are you really doing in Ohio?" The brunette cautiously asked the Latina.
"Work. You?" her answers were blunt.
"Spencer."
"Ahh…" an awkward silence settled in among the two.
"So why were you hitting on me again?"
Ashley's head drooped lower at the mention of such a traumatic experience. She turned back toward where Spencer was seated and saw that the girl was doubled over with laughter with a very confused Morgan giggling at her and trying to calm her down; as bar patrons eyed the blonde girl suspiciously.
The brunette sighed out in defeat. "It's some Carlin tradition." She inhaled deeply before continuing still not quite believing that she was participating in this. That she Ashley Davies was part of a tradition, not only a tradition, a tradition practiced every Christmas. "It's a competition to see who does the dishes. And Glen's idea was most numbers you can get. He also specified girls only." The brunette finished her eyes looking at the bar table instead of the Latina now looking at the blonde boy in the corner still rubbing his eyes out from watching is sweet innocent baby sister make out with her wife.
"He's an ass." The ex-cheerleader commented once again very bluntly.
Ashley simply nodded.
Again the awkward silence settled in. Finally Madison inhaled through her mouth, rolling her eyes looking at the ceiling almost as if saying "I can't believe I'm doing this," taking out a pen she took the brunette's arm into her own and proceeded to write her number on Ashley's arm.
"Take a picture of that boy in an apron for me will you?" She said before downing her drink in a quick backward head flip, smirking at the shocked brunette and walking out the doors of the bar.
Ashley looked down at her arm. There in Madison's large bubbly hand writing was her number. Her eyes found Spencer's shocked face across the bar.
Game Over Glen Carlin.
Glen was already on his way back to Morgan ready to complain about having to watch his sister be…not so innocent.
"Well Ashley. Looks like it's a tie." He smirked happily before announcing, "let's hit another bar." He joyously exclaimed.
"Nope." Ashley happily said, presenting her arm like a teenager proud of his first tattoo. There it was. Those letters written in pink. On her inner arm, the letter 'M' starting at her wrist.
"Madison Duarte."
Glen stared at it incredulously.
"Madison?" his voice shot up a few octaves. "That's impossible Ashley, I didn't even see her walk in here!" He stood disbelieving that his high school ex-girlfriend had given her number to Ashley.
"That's 'cause you were too busy trying to look disgusted after Spencer and I kissed. And this is her handwriting Glen isn't it?" Ashley said as if luring the truth out of a little boy.
Glen thought back on all the times the Latina left him notes in his locker telling him where to meet up in after his practice. Yes, yes it was her handwriting. Yes… it was. Madison's. Those same letters that used to say "bike shed" now formed her name. The numbers that used to state "after practice 6:30" now showed her current phone number.
"Buh…it…how…?" Glen stared at Ashley's arm blinking his eyes as if his eyes were playing tricks on him.
"I guess I just got the charms for the girls huh?" Ashley smiled cheekily at the boy, "I mean that's how I got your sister." Her smirk never leaving her face as she grabbed Spencer's hand in hers. Placing a gentle yet firm loving kiss on the knuckles of the blonde's hands all while maintaining eye contact with the boy. Finally breaking the staring contest to give Spencer a beautiful Ashley Davies smile, "come on babe. I promised Madison to get a picture of him in an apron." Just quietly enough for the blonde to hear. Leaving Morgan trying to snap Glen out from a daze as the two lovers headed towards Glen's car.
-------------------------------------------
Carlin's Residence
"WE'RE BACK!!" Spencer announced happily. Glen was still too shocked to say much of anything. No one in the car really blamed him. His ex-girlfriend from high school, Ashley's arch-enemy, cheer bitch extraordinaire just handed her number over to none other than Ashley Davies herself. What happened to Madison Duarte?
"Hey guys!!" Chelsea greeted the four smiling at them. They had discussed avidly as the four were gone. Wondering if Glen's lady skills could score him enough to win, or whether enough men at the bar could refuse Spencer's looks to not give her their number.
But by the look of shock and defeat on Glen's face the answers were clear.
"I'm guessing team Spashley won?" Clay added coming up behind his wife and hugging her tightly to him.
"Spashley?" Spencer and Ashley looked at each other and looked back up at the two.
"Yeah, and you two were team Gorgan." Arthur added happily behind them with Paula trialing behind him.
"Spashley sounds so much better than Gorgan." Ashley whispered happily in Spencer's ears.
"I don't know what kind of man could possibly resist you Spencer." Taylor added.
"First of all, my brothers probably. And Mr. Cocky here made a last minute rule, women numbers only." Her head jerking in the direction of Glen who still looked glum and like a sick puppy as Morgan giggled at the poor boy and stroked his back, she held his head in her arms pulled him down softly to lay a gentle kiss on the boys head.
Paula shot a disapproving glance as her son, she was hoping Spencer going out to a bar to get numbers from guys would maybe help her meet someone.
Chelsea's face went from confusion, to utter shock.
"Damn Girl! And you won??!!" slapping Spencer's arm lightly.
"No…" Spencer paused for suspense. Letting the confused faces turn to her as to why Glen looked so down if she lost. "Ashley did!!" the blonde proudly said. Yes I'm proud that my wife has the charm to get more girls than guys can. Throwing her arms about Ashley and kissing her firmly on the lips all while smiling throughout the kiss.
Clay, Chelsea and Arthur burst out in laughter. Paula and Taylor looked disgusted at the kissing of the two.
"Glen…a girl got more girls than you did man!!" Clay choked out between fits of laughter. So much for Glen's "all the girls want me" attitude. Correction: All the girls want Ashley.
Glen only glared at his brother. As Morgan attempted to stifle her giggles. The poor boy stood there defeated shifting uncomfortably.
"Oh come on son. I'll let you wear my apron while you're doing the dishes." He patted Glen on the back walking towards the kitchen the pulling the boy alongside of him, as if the prospect of wearing the famous "Kiss the Chef" apron would cheer up the blonde boy. Leaving a still laughing Chelsea and Clay wrapped around each other in fits of giggles. Taylor and Paula glaring at the two infused hands between Spencer and Ashley's body. As if their intense gazes could burn the bond between the two joined hands.
"Hey are Zak and T asleep?" Ashley asked, feeling so proud of herself she could have burst. Yes I'm proud of myself. And no it's not called being a snob.
"Yeah, they got tired waiting up for you guys."
"Oh okay, I'll just see them tomorrow morning" Ashley nodded slightly disappointed she didn't get to tuck in her niece and nephew into bed.
"Hey guys you want to know who the winning number was?" Spencer whispered to her brother and sister in law. Glen was always such an ass about girls, she was going to milk this moment.
Clay and Chelsea leaned in closer expectantly.
"Madison." One word. Whispered quietly but one word.
And that was all it took for Clay and Chelsea to be rolling on the floor from laughter yet again.
"MADISON?! MADISON DUARTE?!?!" Paula yelled out in her shocked state. Such a nice girl…I'll bet Ashley turned her gay getting her number. What a terrible woman, going around ruining lives like that. You have to wonder, just how many poor women she's corrupted with her ways.
Glen's voice came shouting desperately from the kitchen, "I didn't even see her walk into the bar!!!" his voice cracking from the desperation.
Everyone heard a small clapping noise, assuming it was Morgan covering the boys' mouth.
Glen's voice softer now but just as desperate, "I could gotten her number first if I saw her first. You know that!" he said like a child convincing his parents that he did not kill the gold fish.
"I know baby." They heard a small kiss as the four giggled out in the living room.
Arthur came out with a tray of nine hot steaming cups of tea.
"Glen and Morgan will join us shortly." He said smiling to himself. He always said to himself someday someone would put Glen in his place for the way he was with women. He never guessed this would be how…
Spencer walked up to help her father, relieving him of the weight of the cups as she placed them on the coffee table. She turned around offering Clay his cup of tea, then Chelsea. While Arthur offered them to Paula and Taylor. Paula was really hoping Spencer would give Taylor his tea. Then grabbing her own cup and Ashley, Spencer turned to find Ashley settled comfortably in a once person arm chair. Balancing the two cups she walked over handing one over to Ashley.
"For my stud." The blonde stated happily, before squeezing in so her butt was on the space left to the right of Ashley's leg while throwing her legs over the brunette's leg. Practically sitting on top of Ashley, using her legs to keep the brunette there.
"Thanks babe." Ashley moved forward and the two kissed happily before turning back to the Carlin clan. As per usual. Clay, Chelsea, and Arthur smiling happily at them. And again Paula and Taylor looking at them in pure disgust. Ignoring her mother's very clear facial expression Spencer took a sip from the peppermint scented tea and laid her head down on Ashley's shoulders. Closing her eyes. Listening to the sounds of Carlins at Christmas. The flame's crackling in the fire place, dishes clanging in the kitchen, the steady sound of Zak and Christina breathing as they slept through the baby monitor in Chelsea's hands. Inhaling the scent of her tea, the smell of her house, mixed with the slight tinge of Ashley's hair. Another year, another Christmas with the Carlins. Only this time, she was happily curled up in Ashley's lap.
Three words ran through the blonde's mind. The. Perfect. Christmas.