Ok, I lied. Less early morning - more mid afternoon, but I did change the entire chapter, so I'm pleased lol!
Your reviews are all awesome, some of you have highlighted points that I hope get sorted out in the following few chapters. If not, let me know and I'll try and clarify!
Not mine as usual - Enjoy :)
Finding The Story
Chapter 37
What the hell was I thinking, allowing her to get so involved with my life? I knew this would happen. She's ruined everything I built for myself. The songs, why did she have to mention the songs. And Lohan had a drinking problem before I hooked up with her…I'll be having them correct that too. Jesus this magazine is in so much shit.
"Ashley"
I'm so glad its over. Lesson learnt – don't date dangerous people.
"Ashley!"
Kyla doesn't 'live in my shadow' does she? No, she wanted to remain anonymous, so it's not my fault that she's an unknown, actually it's a job well done. That's it, yeah, congratu-fucking-lations to me!
"ASHLEY!"
"Wow, what?" Kyla finally got her sisters attention after a long period of being ignored.
"Why are you torturing yourself? Stop reading it."
"I'm not 'torturing myself'" Ashley said with air quotes "I'm looking for factual inaccuracies."
"That entire article is a factual inaccuracy!" Kyla flopped down on the couch and continued to flip through pages on her clipboard, preparing for the next show. "We're getting it sorted Ash, the magazine is finished."
A part of Ashley was glad that the whole saga was finally over, that article came out today and there was no more to worry about. Another part still couldn't believe that Spencer, her Spencer, would ever write like that about her, but who else knew so much?
"Some of it's true though." The singer said quietly.
"I know. But enough of it is speculation to warrant a case."
"Why did she do it Kyla?"
"How many times do I have to tell you, I don't think she had anything to do with the photo. The article even says it came from the bell boy I pissed off, so if anyone's to blame, it's me."
"It's just so coincidental. That he would be on the right floor, at the right time, with a phone – and you know they're not allowed those at work!" Kyla just laughed as the singer desperately clung to every chance that she had not been wrong about the journalist. "Either way, this was all her." She said, tossing the magazine into the trash.
What Ashley didn't realise was that the article she had just read was in fact very little Spencer, and a lot of James. The blonde was aware that her boss already had a lot of information about her time spent on tour, and as he was the one to tell her about the songs, there was little way of avoiding that piece of information from emerging, but what she could do, was not give him anything else to work from, and instead save that for her second chance.
The blonde had contacted Chelsea straight away and made the girl an offer she couldn't refuse – an exclusive insight into the singer's life and work, with no price tag. All Spencer wanted was the chance to show what she could do as a journalist, and fix as much as she could with Ashley, and her sister.
Naturally, Chelsea was ecstatic to have such an epic land on her desk, so did not argue when Spencer requested that no alterations be made, and it got printed as it was. The only problem was, that 'Hello' didn't hit the shelves for another two weeks and by then, it may be too late.
"Carmeeeeen, what if she doesn't read it?" The flatmates were on their way to the Carlin household for some much needed family time, but Spencer had her mind on other things than the road in front of her.
"SPENCER!" Carmen shouted as she grabbed the wheel and straightened the car on the freeway. "Will you please concentrate just a little bit?"
"Sorry, I'm just...I don't know what I am…"
"Nervous is what you are, hell so am I, it's been awhile since I braved Paula Carlin's cooking, and I think my immunity may have dropped!"
Spencer started giggling, and then she started to chuckle, which caused Carmen to join in, and before they knew it, Spencer had pulled the car over and both girls where laughing so much their cheeks were hurting, and their stomachs ached.
"I don't understand why that was so funny!" Carmen stated as she struggled to catch her breath.
"Me either! But it feels so good!" The calmed themselves, and wiped away laughter tears before finally pulling into the Carlin driveway.
The evening was a pleasant one, with discussion of Ashley kept to an absolute minimum, and instead talk of Glen's dismal love life was batted about for fun. The food was atrocious, but that was not unexpected, so Arthur once again called for take out, much to his wife's annoyance. When the girls finally went to leave, Spencer realised that considering she had been blocked and deleted from every communication portal available in the modern world, she had done everything she could, and now, it all rested on one very angry lady, with a poor reputation for forgiveness.
The two weeks were drawing to a close, and so was Ashley's tour. She had gone through the motions at every destination; smiling when it was required, singing occasionally, and greeting fans with fake enthusiasm, but this had only fuelled her attitude problem more.
"Watch where you're fucking going, asswipe." Was about as charming as she got these days.
"Ashley, can I get you to just sing a few lines, so I can test the mics?" A stage hand asked.
"No. Do it yourself. Why should I help you do your job…is that what I pay you for? For me to do your job."
The poor guy didn't know what to say, he would have been better saying nothing. "No, but, your stood right by the mic…"
"So I am" She leaned a little closer to the mouth piece, before stating clearly "You're fired." With that, she walked off stage, ignoring Kyla as she passed by.
"Ashley! This is no time to be firing my staff!" The manager shouted as she ran to catch up. "He was just doing his job."
"No, I'll think you find that, that was exactly what he wasn't doing." Ashley said without slowing.
"You selfish brat." That stopped her.
"This whole thing with Spencer hasn't just affected you, but have you once stopped to ask me how I'm feeling about it all? My entire life is now being talked about by everyone, and it's not what I signed up for, but I'm getting on with it, I'm still here, still trying to make your life that little bit easier. All you lost was the secrecy of a few songs, I lost any chance of a normal life, any chance of keeping my sister to myself, that's all I wanted. Snap out of it Ashley, this isn't just about you anymore. Grow the fuck up."
The singer heard the light clunk of something hitting the floor and then footsteps growing faint as they stormed away from her. She turned around to find her beanie and sunnies at her feet, an indication of Kyla's understanding. She picked them up and ran back to catch up with her sibling.
"Hey, wait" She spun her round so they could look at eachother. Tears streaked down Kyla's cheeks and Ashley's heart broke once again. "I am so sorry."
The girls moved closer until they found themselves in a comfortable embrace, and just stayed there while the rest of the arena moved around them. When they eventually pulled apart, Ashley was the first to speak.
"How are you?" Kyla smiled at the sentiment, and started to wipe the tears from her face.
"I've been better. You?"
"Meh, I'm alright. I've got this amazing sister and she's just been my rock recently."
"Yeah? Must be nice." Ok, that stung a little – I did deserve it though. Ashley pretended to take a shot to the heart and pouted her bottom lip.
"I can do better, I'll look after you out there. I promise."
"I never doubted that Ash, I'm just scared that I'll have to buy a hat as bad as yours and constantly wear sunglasses just to go to the store." The singer gestured for them to sit on the edge of the stage, and then continued.
"I'm not gunna lie to you Ky, you will be recognised, you will get cameras in your face, but you know all this. You get it every time your stood next to me anyway. I know it's different now, but they will get bored, they always do. But, until that time comes around, you'll need a horrible hat of your very own, and I would love to be the one to buy it for you!"
The two girls hugged once more before sneaking out of the arena in borrowed disguises.
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