There was nothing Ashley could say to make me feel any better about what had happened. I got dressed and Ashley drove me to church. We sat in the parking lot for what seemed like forever.

"Spencer you say the word and we can be out of here."

"I know… it's just I don' know how to look at them. How do I look my momma in the eye? What do I say to her Ash ?"

"I don't know what to tell you, I wanna help but I don't know what to say about things like this."

"My grandmother's probably told the whole congregation by now."

"Nah…she wouldn't do that Spence. You want me to walk you in?"

'I don't know if I'm going in yet"

We sat for a few moments, I could hear the choir getting warmed up inside. You wouldn't believe how many variations o Amazing Grace they knew. The more we sat, the more nervous I got until finally, I broke out into a cold sweat.

"Hey, Ash…"

"Yeah babe?"

"Let's go please."

"Sure thing"

The first place we went to was the local diner. It's kind of hard to remember to eat when you're having sex for the first time or getting hounded the next morning. I think it was when we stepped into that diner that it actually occurred to me how small Macomb really was. Every one stared at us through the windows as we got out of the truck. As Ashley held the door open for me, the whole of the place seemed to gasp in unison. We must of stood there for a whole five minutes before anyone even offered to seat us. The waitress appeared.

"Yall eatin here or to go."

"Cut the crap Sherry, I been livin here all my life. You know me and we'll take my usual table. "

"Well go on then, you know where it is."

Ashley put her arm around my waist and we walked over to the table. I guess Ashley and I sitting in the same booth was the last straw for the owner because Sherry reappeared.

"I'm sorry girls but Moe told me to ask yall to leave."

"What the hell for"

"C'mon Ash , let's just go."

"Naw Spence, I think this fine lady here owes us an explanation as to why we're being thrown out at least."

"This is a family place is all."

"Well Sherry, I always considered Spencer my family."

"Don't make this harder than it has to be Ashley."

"No Sherry tell me why. At least be woman enough not to lie to my face."

"You want truth?"

" That's what I just said aint it?"

"The whole town know what yall doin. Look at you dressing in your Daddy's clothes , with your manly little haircut, opening doors like you somebody's man. Girl I don't know if you forgot but that's a cat you got between your legs and till you act like it aint nobody gonna allow you in their place. And you…you used to be the sweetest girl"

"Ma'am , I do believe you just insulted my lady here", Ashley said standing up" and for that, I'm gonna kick your ass."

"Ashley, your ribs."

"Don't worry Spence, I will have knocked her clean out before she even gets a lick off of me."

"Bring it on, little man"

"Sherry! That's enough" Mo said coming out of the kitchen.

"Ashley, Spencer Leave before I call the sheriff."

Hungry and tired we left. The only place left was the McDonalds a few miles out of town. Nobody wanted this new defined 'us'. There was no place for a love like ours in Macomb. The sad thing is, I think Ashley knew it too.

We retreated back to Kyla's. She wasn't too happy to hear that Ashley had never 'gotten around to taking me to church'. I knew my grandmother and my momma would be back in the morning to get me but I just wanted to spend one night with Ashley in a place where we were welcome. Maybe I was foolish but I knew I'd never be able to get enough of the way her arms felt around me, or the way the crook of her neck smelt like peppermint.

When the moon was still high in the sky, a rough pair of hands grabbed me and pulled me forward. It took a minute to shake the sleep out of my eyes and to realize what was going on.

"Get off of me, who are you!"

"Spence….what the hell? Hey let go of her man."

"Help Ash…"

Another man stormed in the room and grabbed Ashley.

"Ashley Davies, you are under arrest for the kidnap and statutory rape of Spencer Carlin, you have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be…"

"She didn't do anything wrong…let her go she didn't do anything, I'm here because I want to be."

The man carried me out to his car where I saw Kyla sitting handcuffed on the ground. He threw me roughly into the backseat and we drove off.

////////////

I thought he was taking me to jail but instead he drove me straight to my grandmother's house. At first I refused to get out of the car only to have him reach in and drag me out. Next I refused to walk , no problem, he carried me. When my grandmother yelled at me and asked if I was ashamed of myself I refused to speak. She slapped me until my lip busted.

I knew she was crazy, we all knew that, if I had any hope of making the situation any better then I would be best off talking to my mother. I tried it.

"Momma, what's going on? Why was Ashley arrested?"

"Oh Spencer I didn't wanna it to come to this but you've been so out of control lately. Perhaps it's my fault, letting you sit up there at that damn hospital for nearly two weeks."

"Out of control, how am I out of control?"

"How?' she was screaming then "Spencer you haven't been to school in nearly a month. When you were going, you were skipping for half the day. When you were there, you were mouthing off and stirring up fights!! And you ask me how are you out of control? Your poor grandmother had to walk in on you having….with that girl."

"We weren't having sex, Jesus!"

"Yeah well you hadn't to long finished, the room smelled like fucking. Spencer we can't take it anymore. You're on the first flight to New York tomorrow morning. I've got a friend up there says he'll take you in."

"Momma you can't!"

"It's done child! Go to your room and pack."

"Paula, you didn't even yell at her about that backwards fornicatin' she done with that girl"

"I won't press charges. You can't make me."

"Spencer you are a minor, I can press charges for you."

"I won't cooperate"

"That's enough child," my grandmother's hand flew across my face" get upstairs."