Spencer's POV
"Keira Knightely or Kate Beckinsale?"
"Spencer, what is it with you and English women?" Ashley laughed, taking a bite out of her nerd rope.
To say that things had been awkward after our brief kiss that had taken place a few hours ago, would be an understatement.
But, it was a kiss that I felt deep in my bones and I couldn't help but, feel my lips tingle every time I thought about Ashley's lips connecting with mine.
However, it seemed that we were able to carry on as we always had. Only now, it seems we are both doing our best to avoid the proverbial elephant in the room. I guess a quick metaphorical band aid would have to do for now, if we were to have any chance of enjoying this trip at all.
"Keira Knightley, hands down. Natalie Portman or Anne Hathaway?" Ashley asked, staring intently into the sky. She had been carefully deflecting any sort of topic of our shared kiss earlier with humor and her award winning nose crinkling smile. I always was a sucker for that killer combination.
"That's easy, Natalie Portman. How can you resist that sexiness?" I chuckle and notice Ashley finally drop her gaze to the direction of the van. I follow her gaze and can't contain my laughter as I see our friends come into view.
It's as if someone is playing the sight before me in slow motion, with a hi-power fan on. Despite having just walked nearly 40 miles in the desert, Madison looks flawlessly beautiful, lips freshly coated in lip gloss.
Aiden is adorning the shirtless look, with his shirt tucked into his front pocket hanging out looking, like a model.
Kyla is wearing her shirt on her head in a rather ridiculously looking middle eastern fashion, and for reason she chooses now to whip it off and pour water all over herself.
Chelsea seems to be the only normal one out of my retarded group of friends lugging what seems to be the supplies for the van walking next to another figure I can't exactly make out.
As I look over at Ashley though it seems she recognizes the girl next to Chelsea just fine. "Carmen?" She spits out the name like she didn't expect to see this 'Carmen' ever again.
My curiosity seems to show across my face, because the only explanation I am given is, "It's a long story." This is usually Ashley code for, "we-have-history." And, I know that having history with Ashley can mean anything. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't anxious.
"So, I assume those two are the star crossed lovers you told me about earlier?" Carmen asked, re-situating the items in her arms as she approached the group of reunited friends.
Carmen had never actually seen King High's infamous lesbian couple up close before. But, as she noted the fiery brunette who she had yet, to formally meet she felt a strong hint of familiarity sneak up on her.
"…and somehow this piece of trailer trash seemed to follow us here, while we were back in Barstow buying stuff for the van." Madison rattled off, as Aiden and Kyla took to the hood of the van and pouring the oil and coolant into separate compartments of the engine.
"Wow, chica I'm right here. I can hear you, you know…" Carmen replied more so amused, than annoyed. Carmen thought Madison was extremely entertaining and quickly found herself seeing the fiery Latina as a worthy opponent for witty banter.
"Well, anyway Carmen seemed to have been stranded in Barstow so, we decided why not help a fellow King High alumni out." Chelsea explained, watching for Spencer's and Ashley's reaction. "You guys remember Carmen, right?"
"Uhm Carmen, right… weren't you in my English B class last year?" Spencer offered, trying not to appear rude by admitting she had no idea of who this girl that stood in front of her.
The blonde didn't like the feeling that Ashley and Carmen seemed to somehow know each other but, she realized it wasn't particularly her business and tried her best to not act bothered.
Ashley for her part was still somewhat speechless but, was met with an equal reaction as Carmen began to recognize the brunette.
"DAVIES? No way! What are the chances we'd meet again like this?" Carmen exclaimed, suddenly realizing who Ashley was.
"ESQUEAAALEZ? Oh man, I did not know you went to King High with us!" Ashley grinned pulling Carmen in for a tight hug. The brunette felt memories of her childhood flood her mind as she held tight to the girl in front of her.
"It's okay Davies, we'll just chalk it up to you being a little bit on the slow side." The other girl chuckled, taking in how much Ashley had changed since they were little. Ashley definitely had grown and all the growing seemed to do her good as Carmen shamelessly checked the other girl out.
"Oh great, how am I not surprised you two know each other. I knew my gaydar was head on. So, what did you guys date or something?" Madison remarked sarcastically, taking notice of Spencer's defeated posture.
"In fact, we did. For about a week when we were nine and, then we realized that we were much better matched as friends and partners in crime." Ashley recalled proudly picking up Carmen's bag and offering to put it in the van.
"Yeah, our Dads use to jam together before Purple Venom became famous. But, then Ashley's dad hit it big and the Davies moved to the other side of the tracks." Carmen explained.
"That was the best week of my childhood! Who knew that even back then you would be such a heartbreaker?" Ashley feigned heartache and smiled as she softly punched Carmen in the arm.
"Wait, so you guys were best friends in grade school but, didn't even realize that you went to the same high school?" Chelsea asked curiously, as she noticed Spencer slowly slip away to help Kayla and Aiden with the van.
Spencer felt her heart settle as she realized that Ashley and Carmen were more friends than anything else and, was then able to focus more on the fact that it really was none of her business.
"Well, when I transferred to King High I heard that Ashley here was quite the bitch. And, I usually don't waste my time on drama so, I steered clear." Carmen grinned, glad to have finally found a friend out of all this mess.
"Yeah, and it's not like we'd even let you hang out with us anyway." Madison sighed, clearly bored with the conversation.
"Oh Madison, sweetie it's okay. I understand that you have such intense feelings of desire for me. But, seriously trying to disguise it as anything else than pure affection is a little transparent." Carmen quickly shot back, causing Ashley to burst out laughing and Madison to mumble something incoherent.
As Carmen followed Ashley to the back of the van, she couldn't help but feel reconnected with her childhood friend. Ashley had been like her sister as they grew up. Life had been so much more complete back then. Back before Carmen's family life was sent up shit creek without a paddle.
Carmen rarely spoke of it but, after Ashley's family moved to the wealthy part of Los Angeles her father seemed to lose himself. He realized that his career of music wasn't putting food on the table and he forced himself to get a desk job. In the end, it was too much for him and he split when Carmen was thirteen.
It had been awhile since Carmen had allowed herself to think about her dad but, she quickly shook away the thoughts. She was stronger than that, and she had just found her long lost best friend. Things seemed to finally be looking up for the girl as she leaned against the back of the van with Ashley as they both looked out at the desert.
"Man, things have changed so much since we were nine." Ashley echoed Carmen's thoughts and grinned thinking back to how many memories the two had shared.
"You're telling me. But, I'm not going to lie; time has done you well Davies. So, what's the story with Blondie? Now that I know YOU were half of the infamous King High lesbian 'it' couple, I need to know everything. And, from what I can gather from my intuitive-ness you and Goldilocks are currently on the outs." Carmen observed, leaning her head against the van looking into the sky.
The shorter girl realized that perhaps she was stranded in Barstow for a reason, and that reason was to help her old friend get the love of her life back. She also quietly thanked whatever powers may be that caused her to find her way back to her best friend.
The only thing that she could have been more grateful for was the prospect of adventure and new friends as she heard the van roar to life and everyone begin to get back in the van.
"Well, that's a long story. How about we put that on the back burner until we hit Vegas? I have a feeling a night out in Sin City might be just what I need for the moment." Ashley sighed, pushing herself off the van and walking around the side door holding it open for Carmen.
"Long story, huh? Well those are the best kind." And, with that the group of friends turned around and headed back towards Fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada.