Once again, I apologize for the delay. I'm having some troubles with concentrating lately. I'm trying to do too many things at once, I think. Either way... I hope you enjoy this chapter.
And to all of you out there who constantly review on this story, I really really appreciate it! Thank you to all my readers! :)
Chapter 11
It's amazing how things change. Just a few days ago I was ready to leave here. Beyond ready, actually. Ashley was being cruel for no reason at all and I felt alone, although I was surrounded by people who say they care about me—which is more than I can say about some of the families I've lived with. Things are actually getting pretty good here.
Ashley is warming up to me everyday. After taking that walk a few nights ago we've been well, getting closer everyday.
Stacy and Rachael cease to amaze me in the amount of different sexual positions they seem to know. What? Can you blame me for sneaking a peek every know in then?
Madison is... well... Madison. Her and Aiden have been getting mighty close for the past few days. It's really quite cute. I think that they make an adorable couple.
–
"We're going to the movies today Spence, you coming?" Rachael asks me as she stuffs more pancakes in her mouth.
"Nah." I say looking up from my tray. "I think I'm gonna just stay here. You know... lounge around." I add and everyone at the table smacks their teeth in disbelief. "What?" I turn to Madison—who has been texting on her phone all morning, most likely to Aiden—and ask.
"Why do you and Ashley like to pretend there is nothing going on between the two of you?" She asks raising an eyebrow and I turn to the rest of my friends—Kyla included—who have the exact same look on their faces.
"Because there isn't anything going on." I tell them and they all roll their eyes. Ever since that walk Ashley and I took a few nights ago, everyone seems to think that something is going on between us. And I guess I'm adding fuel to their fire by helping Ashley almost every day this week with her clean-up duties. It's the only time I really get to talk to her—you know without all the interruptions aka our friends.
"Spence, seriously... when are you two gonna stop acting and just make out already?" That was Kyla.
I shake my head and smile at my friends as I stand up from the table. "You guys are all crazy." I turn and go dump my tray.
"Just admit it Spence, you looooove her." Kyla yells at my back in a sing song voice. I place my tray on top of the trash and walk back over to the table.
"You guys are crazy." I tell them waving an accusatory finger around.
"It's Saturday, Spence. Come out with us." Stacy says in an almost begging tone. I shake my head. "We're even gonna sneak Ky out." She adds and Kyla head shoots up from her tray.
"Wait, what? Really?" She beams at Stacy who just smiles and nods her head. "Awesome." She half yells before jumping up quickly, dumping her tray and exiting the dining hall.
"You guys don't care about getting in trouble for taking Ky off campus?" I ask and they all shake their heads.
"Ms. Heevy's on vacation." Rachael speaks up. "The guy who replaced her is super cool. We already talked to him. Ashley could come to you know. That way you won't have to stay here." She says, holding back a smile.
"For the last time, Ashley is not the reason I don't wanna go." Madison looks up at me like she wants to say something but holds her tongue. "I'm gonna go upstairs and read a book. I'll see to you guys later."
"Later, Spencey." Madison, Rachael and Stacy all coo as I walk away from the table. I can't help but smile at them. I make my way upstairs to the library where I knew Ashley would be. She told me this morning that her duties included the library now and bathrooms tonight.
"Hey." I say as I approach her in the isle between bookcases.
"Hi." She replies with a smile.
"You want some help?" I asks as she places a book back on the shelf. "Wait, what exactly are you doing in here anyways?" No one ever uses the library so what could there possibly be to clean up?
"Dusting." She says and I nod. "No one ever uses these books so it can get pretty dusty in here." She adds.
"So do you want help?" I repeat my earlier question.
"Nah. I'm almost done. It didn't take as long as I thought it would." She tells me taking another book off the shelf, wiping it clean, before putting it back.
"Oh." I reply, hoping the disappointment didn't show in my voice.
"I heard that Ms. Heevy was on vacation and that the new guy was cool..." She pauses, cleaning another book before she continues. "We could go to the movies with everyone, you know... if you wanted to. Like if you didn't have anything else planned or something..."
"No." I say abruptly, cutting her off. She gives me a confused look.
"No you're not busy, or no you don't want to go?" She asks raising a brow.
"Well both actually." I say and she drops her head. "I wanna go somewhere else." I clarify. "Somewhere with you." I add and her head shoots up.
"Like... alone?" She asks and I can't help but smile.
"Yes, alone." My smile fades when I gauge her facial expression. "I mean, that's if you don't have anything else to do. Or did you want to go out with everyo-"
"No." She cuts me off this time. "Alone is good." She lets a small smile escape her lips.
"Okay then. I'm gonna go get dressed. Half an hour good?"
"Make it forty-five, I wanna take a shower... The dust you know." She says picking up the dust rag she'd been using—waving it in between us.
"Okay." I smile and back out of the room.
Wait is this a date?
–
After running up to the room and hurriedly getting dressed, I texted Aiden and asked him if he would pick us up and take us to Fox Island Beach down in Lakeview—there's always some kind of carnival down there during the summer—and if I could borrow enough money so that I could pay for the whole afternoon. He agreed, of course, and also insisted that I didn't have to pay him back. I would never not pay him back though. I just needed to find a job first. Maybe I'll talk to Mr. Forte tomorrow before breakfast about that morning shift position in the dining hall.
After finishing up, I went out front to wait on Ashley.
"Ready." I hear a raspy voice say from behind me. I turn around and see a smiling Ashley standing in the door. I stand up on the steps and turn my whole body around to look at her—and I mean really look at her. Not that I hadn't noticed this before, but God is she beautiful. She's wearing some black skinny jeans, a simple gray designer tee and some gray and black supras. I swear that if I didn't live here myself with these girls, I swear that none of them stay in a foster home. The way they dress... it's kinda hard to believe.
I guess I just kinda always had this image in my head of how foster homes are run. I think that's one of the main reasons I never wanted to be in one.
"Wow." I breathe out, barely audible. But her smile grows wider so I'm almost positive she heard me.
"Ready to go?" She asks, quirking a brow.
"Um...uh... I um..." I stutter out. She giggles a bit before I clear my throat and try again. "I'm just waiting on Aiden. He's um... he's kinda our ride." I tell her and she nods. We both take a seat on the steps and wait for Aiden. "You look great." I say after a few moments of silence.
"Thank you." She smiles warmly. "You look amazing yourself." She tells me and I scoff.
"You don't have to say that just to say it." I say disbelievingly that any one could look good next to Ashley.
"Seriously, Spencer. You look great." She smiles and nods her head reassuringly.
I give up trying to argue about my looks with her. I smile and say, "Thank you." A few minutes later Aiden pulls around the circle driveway. "There's our ride." I tell her as he comes to a stop in front of us and we stand up from the stairs.
"So this is the infamous Aiden huh?" She asks with a smile on her face as we walk towards his car.
"Yeah. I guess so." I laugh a little. When we reach the car I introduce them.
"Aiden this is Ashley. Ashley this is my foster brother Aiden."
"Holy shit." He coughs out when he takes in Ashley's beauty. "You're weren't kidding when you said she was-"
"Okay!" I yell out, cutting him off. "Can we just go now?" I ask rolling my eyes as Ashley giggles next to me.
"Oh yeah, sure." He shakes his head and Ashley and I both hop into his car.
"So where are we going?" Ashley asks softly from beside me. Her and I both sat in the back. Today I'm thinking of Aiden as our chauffeur, so we're obligated to ride in the back.
"It's a surprise, so I can't really tell you." I whisper to her. I see Aiden looking at Ashley the rear view mirror so I keep my eyes on his until he makes eye contact with me then I give him a dirty look as if to say, 'Keep your eyes off my woman.' Although, technically I know Ashley isn't mine—yet.
"I hate surprises." She whispers back, leaning in unnecessarily close to my ear. Not that I'm complaining.
I swallow and clear my throat, trying to regain my focus that was just tossed out the window with Ashley being that close to me to answer her. "We're going to Fox Island Beach." I finally get out.
She lets a small smile escape her lips before leaning back towards my ear and whispering, "You give up way to easily, Carlin." She says before pulling back and letting out a snicker.
"You sneaky little girl." I shake my head, smiling. "You totally just said that to get me to tell you where we're going."
"Well how was I to know you'd give up the information so easily?" She chuckles.
"Dirty." I mumble out and sulk back into the seat. She totally made me ruin the surprise. She stops laughing but keeps a smile plastered on her face for the rest of the ride.
–
"So I'll meet you girls back here at let's say four?" Aiden asks as we get out of the car.
"Yeah, four sounds good." I nod my head.
"Okay cool. Spence, can I talk to you for a sec?" He asks me and I nod again before whispering a 'be right back' to Ashley. Aiden and I walk around to the other side of his car and we both glance back at Ashley—making sure she's looking in the other direction—before he hands me three twenty dollar bills.
"Thank you." I whisper to him.
He shrugs and waves me off. "She's fucking hot, Spence." He glances back over at Ashley. "I'm more than happy to help." He tells me and I punch him in the stomach as his eyes linger on Ashley a little too long for my liking.
"Ow." He shrieks causing Ashley to turn back around and look at us. We both give her a pleasant smile and she looks confused but turns back around towards the tons of people bustling around inside the carnival. "That hurt, Spence." He says in a low deep voice.
"I know." I shrug and start walking backwards. "Keep your eyes to yourself next time." I smile wide then make my way to the other side of the car where Ashley is. "You ready?" I asks and she smiles and nods. "Later Aiden." I yell over my shoulder as Ashley and I make our way toward the carnival. When we get to the gate I buy us some tickets to ride the rides. Ashley insisted on buying her own but I wasn't having any of it.
It wouldn't be a date if we went dutch. And I need this to be a date.
"So what do you wanna do first?" She asks me as we approach a couple of rides.
I shrug, "Whatever you wanna do is fine." I assure her. She smiles and nods her head and pulls me toward the Ferris Wheel. "This is a little cliché don't you think?" I ask quirking a brow.
"Yeah, sorta. But this carnival has to be the biggest carnival I've ever been too and I wanna see all it has to offer. The Ferris Wheel is the tallest ride—hence it will be the best way to see the whole park." She finishes just as we reach the line.
"I never thought about it like that." I say with a smile.
"I know." She says matter-of-factly, handing the ride attendant two tickets as we piled into the ride car.
"Ashley I-"
"Hold your arms up please." The ride attendant interrupts my statement, bringing the bar down on to our laps. "Enjoy the ride." He says backing away from us and moving our cart around to let the next people in line into the cart behind us.
"What were you gonna say?" Ashley turns to me and asks.
I rack y brain, deciding on whether or not the interruption was a good thing. Maybe I shouldn't be telling her something like this so early. I mean, I'm not even sure if this is a date or not.
"Nothing." I shake my head and smile, turning away from her as the ride attendant finally starts the ride.
After riding a few rides at the park and playing a couple of games Ashley and I decided to take a walk along the beach. It's an extremely nice day in Ohio today. Summer days usually are. It's the Fall and Winters I hate.
"I had a lot of fun today." Ashley looks over and tells me. I can't help but smile.
"Yeah, me too." I admit truthfully. "I mean, I did win you that giant ass panda." I add proudly.
"That you did." She smiles. "You really should try this funnel cake Spence, it's good." She tells me as we come to a stop and take a seat on a bench. She places the panda down next to her and breaks off a piece of the funnel cake and eats it.
"Mmm." She says as she chews it up and swallows it. "Sure you don't want any?" She asks me again.
I nod my head. "Yeah, I'm sure." I reply.
"But it's amazing. Like the best one I've tasted...ever." She says dramatically, causing me to laugh at her.
"I'm sure it is... but I still don't want any."
"Oh come on." She says, breaking off another piece. "Just try it." She holds it up in front of my mouth. I'm tempted to take it just for the simple fact that it's coming from her hand, but I hate funnel cake. Okay, I don't hate it but it's something my dad and I used to always share when we went to carnival's together.
"Nope. Don't want any." I say lightly.
"For me?" She asks, titling her head to the side with a shrewd smile on her face.
"You know." I start, taking the funnel cake into my mouth from between her fingers, "This isn't gonna work every time." I say, knowing that she just used her cuteness to get me to do something she wanted me to do.
She shrugs and says, "A girl can try."
"Mhm." I smile at her. "It's almost four. You ready to get back?"
"No, not really." She says and it catches me off guard. "But I wouldn't want to keep your brother waiting like that. It'd be kinda rude." She says standing up, tossing the last bit of the funnel cake in the trash and scooping up the giant panda from the bench—tucking it under her arm.
"I guess so." Is all I can manage to say.
–
"I really had good time, Spencer." Ashley tells me as we reach our door. We've made it sort of habit to stop outside of the door instead of going right in, in fear that we're gonna catch Stacy and Rachael having sex. We've had enough of that this week.
"Me too." I tell her.
"Maybe we could do it again soon." She suggest and I nod.
"Yeah. But Ms. Heevy comes back next week." I suddenly remember.
"There are always ways around the rules Spencer." She says with a sly smile. Of course there are.
"Okay." I nod my head. "I guess I'll see you later then." I say. I know she has to go back to her janitorial duties, although I wish the night didn't have to end.
"Yeah, I better get started on these bathrooms or I'll miss dinner." She says softly. I'm not sure what comes over me at this very moment. What goes through my mind, what feelings enter my body... all I know is that I wanna kiss her... I wanna kiss her and the way her eyes keep glancing down at my lips I'm sure she wants to kiss me too. I bite the inside of my lip as my eyes drift from hers down to her lips.
It's now or never. I tell myself as I begin to lean forward and she does the same. Our faces are a breath apart, lips nearly locked when...
"There you two are!" Madison emerges from our room. Ashley and I snap back on reflex.
Gotdamnit Madison! I internally scold her.
"Yeah, here we are." Ashley says a little snappy. I guess she's feeling the exact same way towards Madison as I am right now.
"How dare you go out with Aiden and not tell me?" She directs the question to me.
"I...uh...er...um..." I honestly didn't even think about it actually.
"Spit it out, Carlin." Madison says a little fractious.
"Calm down, Madison." Ashley speaks up suddenly. "We didn't even hang with him. He just dropped us off. Geez, you were at the movies anyways." She says handing the giant panda to Madison. "Could you put that on my bed please." She tells her, grabbing my hand. "We'll see you guys at dinner." She adds as she pulls me down the stairs. "Sorry about that. Madison can be a little boy crazy sometimes." She tells me as we reach the janitors closet.
"It's okay. I get it." I tell her as she opens the closet and grabs her cleaning supplies out. "Mind if I help?" I ask, wanting to spend just a little more time with her.
She lets a small smile escape her lips, "I was hoping you'd ask."
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