DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own any of the cast of Remember the Titans (I wish I
owned Ryan Hurst because he is fiiiine) I DO OWN Ashley Cole, her father,
and other random characters thrown in. "My girl" belongs to the temptations
and "unchained melody" belongs to the righteous bros. Consider yourself
disclaimed and enjoy the show.
A/N-special thanks to Amellia Rogue, Ara Kane, doyles-always, Anonymissimo,
lulubella and Lydia. The reviews were much appreciated. I hope that ill
stop being lazy and update more often now.
"I've got sunshine on a cloudy day. When it's cold outside I've got the month of May. I guess you'd say What can make me feel this way?
My girl Talkin' 'bout my girl..."
The radio released the smooth sounds of The Temptations as I got ready for homecoming. I stood in front of my mirror and looked myself over. My black halter dress fit me perfectly. My hair was swept into an updo that although was beautiful was not worth the fortune I spent on it. My feet were crammed into gorgeous but painful sandals. "Sunshine on a cloudy day." I muttered, "Sunshine is the last thing I want to think about now." A knock at the door disrupted my thoughts. "Come in." I said. My father entered my room. "Ashley, you look wonderful." He smiled. I tried to smile back. "Thanks."
"Mr. Budds is going to be stunned when he sees you. I doubt he'll be able to walk straight." He laughed. Again, I weakly smiled back.
"You know Ashley, you could do a lot worse than to end up with someone like Ray."
"Dad don't start." I couldn't believe it. I had enough on my mind than to think about my dad wanting me to get married. "Ashley you always get like this whenever I bring up your future! Why? What are you so afraid of?"
"Maybe its because I don't want the future that you want for me! Maybe I don't want to list "homemaker" as my occupation on my income tax form! Maybe I want to go to college and get a job and not depend on a husband!"
My father walked towards me. "What are you going to do at college? Spend money my money to meet a nice boy?"
"No Dad! I'm going to college to get an education so I can make something of myself! So I don't have to depend on a guy to run my life! I've had enough of that living with you for 17 years!"
My father went pale. "I've done what's best for you Ashley Cole. Don't you dare insult me. You know what? Fine. Go to college. Get your precious education. You win. I don't care anymore. Do whatever you want. But I guarantee that you'll end up miserable. Miserable and alone." He turned and walked out of the room. I was fuming. All of those years of hatred towards my father had finally come out. How one person who I cared so little about could make me so mad I didn't quite know, but I did know that I had to start making something of myself if I didn't want to end up like he thought I would. My thoughts were interrupted by the doorbell. Ray. Good ol' two faced but loveable Ray. I walked down the stairs and opened the door. Ray stood there holding a corsage. "Whoa." Was all he said. I laughed. "Whoa is right. I never thought you'd be rendered speechless Mr. Budds." "Well I guess you didn't take a close enough look in the mirror Miss Cole or else you would have seen why I can find the words to say how beautiful you look." He took the red rose corsage out of the box and slid it onto my wrist. I smiled. It was times like this that made me completely forget about Ray's less than pleasant side. How could someone who is so sweet to me be so awful to other people?
"Well beautiful, I think it's time for us to make our entrance. You ready?"
I nodded as Ray led me out to the car. I had to have a good time tonight, I just had to. "Ray I really want to thank you for apologizing to Rev like that. I really appreciate it." I looked over at him from the passenger's seat. "Don't worry about it babe. I mean I guess I owed him at least that and it made you happy. And I really do want to make you happy Ash, I mean I really care about you." I smiled. "I know."
He turned to me with a wicked grin on. "You know? That's it?"
I laughed. "Yup."
"No I love you too?"
Wait love? Who said love? I sure didn't. And Ray didn't-wait he just did. Why did that L word come up? "Ashley? Did you catch that?" Ray eyed me. "Uhhhhh maybe?"
"Ashley I just told you I love you."
"Oh." Oh was right! Ray loved me? What was that supposed to mean? What was I going to say? How was I supposed to react?
"Ash? Are you okay?" Oh god oh god he expected me to talk! What do I say what do I say?
"I Love you too." I blurted out. Oh god nice move Ashley you don't love him! He grinned. "I was hoping you'd say that." Right then, we pulled into the TCW Parking lot. "You ready to make our entrance?" He asked. I nodded. He took my hand and we walked into the gym, where the Homecoming dance was being held. A pack of Ray's buddies were standing their with their dates. They waved us over and we began to talk to them. "So Budds is ol' Bertier getting Homecoming king?" One of the guys, Greg Tollman asked.
"Who the hell cares?" Ray spat.
"Well I think that its gonna be him and Emma Hoyt," Greg's date Laura was saying. "Either that or Ronnie Bass and whoever he goes with."
"What do you think Ash? Who's gonna get it?" Greg asked me.
"Um I dunno." I wasn't about to say Ronnie or Gerry. "Come on Ash! You must have a guess." Laura gushed. "Ronnie Bass then. He should get it over Bertier." I said. Greg laughed. "Hey Budds you picked a good date. She's loyal she don't like Gerry Bertier neither. But I think it's better him than that homo Bass. What the hell is up with that fruitcake?"
The whole pack started laughing. I almost threw up. These people were terrible. But yet again, they didn't know all of the issues that I'd had with the two guys. I guess I couldn't blame them. My thoughts were interrupted when Ray grabbed my hand and said "Let's go dance. I wanna show off how I have the best girl here." I smiled weakly and followed him. We were slow dancing to Unchained Melody by the Righteous Brothers when I caught sight of Ronnie. He was dancing with his date, Michelle Becker who was some sophomore I really didn't know. I tried not to look at him and instead to concentrate on Ray, the guy I was "in love" with. I remember Ray talking a lot while we danced, but I couldn't tell you anything he said. I just smiled and nodded and giggled when it seemed appropriate. After that dance, Ray and I went off and talked to a few of his friends. After a few songs, Ray asked me if it was alright with me if he danced with his friend Lisa. I said sure and sat down. A few minutes later, the song that I had heard while getting ready began to play-My Girl. I closed my eyes tight, hoping that I was just imagining it and it would stop. But something altogether different happened. "Ashley?" A voice behind me said slowly. I turned around to see Ronnie standing there. I looked up at him cautiously, hoping that he wouldn't detect the sadness in my eyes. "Will you dance with me?"
He looked at me earnestly and held out his hand. Slowly, I picked up my own trembling hand and put it in his. I don't need no money, fortune, or fame.
I've got all the riches baby one man can claim.
I guess you'd say
What can make me feel this way? He held me close, closer than I think even he expected. But I didn't mind, somehow dancing with Ronnie was better than Ray. I felt safe and happy in Ronnie's arms while a little uncomfortable in Ray's because of his notorious roving hands. But wait no, that's not right. I didn't have feelings for Ronnie. I couldn't. I loved Ray. "Ashley I need to know why." He pulled back and looked down at me. "Because we're in love you asshole." A voice behind me said. Ray had come up behind us. "Let's get out of here Ash. We'll leave Mr. Homecoming King alone to be worshipped by his little fairy subjects." Ray grabbed my hand and pulled me away before I could even spit out a quick apology to Ronnie. We walked out to the car, Ray still holding my hand and pulling me along. "What the hell was that?" I screamed at him as I pulled my hand loose. "He was all over you! Why were you dancing with him in the first place?" Ray yelled back.
"We used to be friends! You were dancing with Lisa and I was bored and he asked me so I said yeah."
"Then he wanted to know why you came here with me! I know that's what he meant! Ashley come on get serious! Ronnie Bass likes you. He likes you a lot a blind dude could see that! And he thinks that I'm the scum of the earth so he'd do anything to convince you of that!"
"Just drop it Ray! I'm a big girl and I can make my own decisions! If I didn't want to be here with you then I wouldn't be! If I liked Ronnie I'd have gone with him! But I don't! I like you-I love you!" Tears had started to form in my eyes. Ray stopped. "Ash don't cry!" He came over to me and hugged me close to him. "I'm sorry baby. Don't be mad at me. Its just.I don't like seeing you with him. I know you guys are friends but I was always worried that there was something more." "Its okay, its just I always have my dad telling me what to do and I don't want it from you."
Ray put his hands over my lips. "Shhhh. Say no more. I'll never be this way to you again. I promise."
I slowly smiled and whispered. "Thank you."
We stood there in the parking lot for a few more minutes. "Baby?" Ray asked me.
I looked up at him. "You wanna get out of here? Go somewhere where its just the two of us?"
A million thoughts raced into my head. I had heard rumor after rumor about Ray treating girls badly. But this was the new Ray.my Ray. The Raymond Budds who loved me and would fight Ronnie Bass for me. So I said "Yeah."
We got in his car and drove. We ended up at the Hill, the local makeout spot. It was pretty deserted considering everyone was at homecoming.
"The view is pretty." I remarked, hoping to break the silence. "You're prettier." He said. I grinned at him. He leaned over and kissed me. Soon after, we had moved to the backseat. Ray was on top of me and we were both breathing heavily.
"Are you ready Ashley?" He looked down at me with this look of adoration that I couldn't describe then and still don't know if I can describe now. I just knew that it was real. Not a weekend fling, this was the real deal, right here and now. I slowly nodded and right there in the back of a pickup truck, I gave myself to the guy that I loved. Or at least thought I loved.
"I've got sunshine on a cloudy day. When it's cold outside I've got the month of May. I guess you'd say What can make me feel this way?
My girl Talkin' 'bout my girl..."
The radio released the smooth sounds of The Temptations as I got ready for homecoming. I stood in front of my mirror and looked myself over. My black halter dress fit me perfectly. My hair was swept into an updo that although was beautiful was not worth the fortune I spent on it. My feet were crammed into gorgeous but painful sandals. "Sunshine on a cloudy day." I muttered, "Sunshine is the last thing I want to think about now." A knock at the door disrupted my thoughts. "Come in." I said. My father entered my room. "Ashley, you look wonderful." He smiled. I tried to smile back. "Thanks."
"Mr. Budds is going to be stunned when he sees you. I doubt he'll be able to walk straight." He laughed. Again, I weakly smiled back.
"You know Ashley, you could do a lot worse than to end up with someone like Ray."
"Dad don't start." I couldn't believe it. I had enough on my mind than to think about my dad wanting me to get married. "Ashley you always get like this whenever I bring up your future! Why? What are you so afraid of?"
"Maybe its because I don't want the future that you want for me! Maybe I don't want to list "homemaker" as my occupation on my income tax form! Maybe I want to go to college and get a job and not depend on a husband!"
My father walked towards me. "What are you going to do at college? Spend money my money to meet a nice boy?"
"No Dad! I'm going to college to get an education so I can make something of myself! So I don't have to depend on a guy to run my life! I've had enough of that living with you for 17 years!"
My father went pale. "I've done what's best for you Ashley Cole. Don't you dare insult me. You know what? Fine. Go to college. Get your precious education. You win. I don't care anymore. Do whatever you want. But I guarantee that you'll end up miserable. Miserable and alone." He turned and walked out of the room. I was fuming. All of those years of hatred towards my father had finally come out. How one person who I cared so little about could make me so mad I didn't quite know, but I did know that I had to start making something of myself if I didn't want to end up like he thought I would. My thoughts were interrupted by the doorbell. Ray. Good ol' two faced but loveable Ray. I walked down the stairs and opened the door. Ray stood there holding a corsage. "Whoa." Was all he said. I laughed. "Whoa is right. I never thought you'd be rendered speechless Mr. Budds." "Well I guess you didn't take a close enough look in the mirror Miss Cole or else you would have seen why I can find the words to say how beautiful you look." He took the red rose corsage out of the box and slid it onto my wrist. I smiled. It was times like this that made me completely forget about Ray's less than pleasant side. How could someone who is so sweet to me be so awful to other people?
"Well beautiful, I think it's time for us to make our entrance. You ready?"
I nodded as Ray led me out to the car. I had to have a good time tonight, I just had to. "Ray I really want to thank you for apologizing to Rev like that. I really appreciate it." I looked over at him from the passenger's seat. "Don't worry about it babe. I mean I guess I owed him at least that and it made you happy. And I really do want to make you happy Ash, I mean I really care about you." I smiled. "I know."
He turned to me with a wicked grin on. "You know? That's it?"
I laughed. "Yup."
"No I love you too?"
Wait love? Who said love? I sure didn't. And Ray didn't-wait he just did. Why did that L word come up? "Ashley? Did you catch that?" Ray eyed me. "Uhhhhh maybe?"
"Ashley I just told you I love you."
"Oh." Oh was right! Ray loved me? What was that supposed to mean? What was I going to say? How was I supposed to react?
"Ash? Are you okay?" Oh god oh god he expected me to talk! What do I say what do I say?
"I Love you too." I blurted out. Oh god nice move Ashley you don't love him! He grinned. "I was hoping you'd say that." Right then, we pulled into the TCW Parking lot. "You ready to make our entrance?" He asked. I nodded. He took my hand and we walked into the gym, where the Homecoming dance was being held. A pack of Ray's buddies were standing their with their dates. They waved us over and we began to talk to them. "So Budds is ol' Bertier getting Homecoming king?" One of the guys, Greg Tollman asked.
"Who the hell cares?" Ray spat.
"Well I think that its gonna be him and Emma Hoyt," Greg's date Laura was saying. "Either that or Ronnie Bass and whoever he goes with."
"What do you think Ash? Who's gonna get it?" Greg asked me.
"Um I dunno." I wasn't about to say Ronnie or Gerry. "Come on Ash! You must have a guess." Laura gushed. "Ronnie Bass then. He should get it over Bertier." I said. Greg laughed. "Hey Budds you picked a good date. She's loyal she don't like Gerry Bertier neither. But I think it's better him than that homo Bass. What the hell is up with that fruitcake?"
The whole pack started laughing. I almost threw up. These people were terrible. But yet again, they didn't know all of the issues that I'd had with the two guys. I guess I couldn't blame them. My thoughts were interrupted when Ray grabbed my hand and said "Let's go dance. I wanna show off how I have the best girl here." I smiled weakly and followed him. We were slow dancing to Unchained Melody by the Righteous Brothers when I caught sight of Ronnie. He was dancing with his date, Michelle Becker who was some sophomore I really didn't know. I tried not to look at him and instead to concentrate on Ray, the guy I was "in love" with. I remember Ray talking a lot while we danced, but I couldn't tell you anything he said. I just smiled and nodded and giggled when it seemed appropriate. After that dance, Ray and I went off and talked to a few of his friends. After a few songs, Ray asked me if it was alright with me if he danced with his friend Lisa. I said sure and sat down. A few minutes later, the song that I had heard while getting ready began to play-My Girl. I closed my eyes tight, hoping that I was just imagining it and it would stop. But something altogether different happened. "Ashley?" A voice behind me said slowly. I turned around to see Ronnie standing there. I looked up at him cautiously, hoping that he wouldn't detect the sadness in my eyes. "Will you dance with me?"
He looked at me earnestly and held out his hand. Slowly, I picked up my own trembling hand and put it in his. I don't need no money, fortune, or fame.
I've got all the riches baby one man can claim.
I guess you'd say
What can make me feel this way? He held me close, closer than I think even he expected. But I didn't mind, somehow dancing with Ronnie was better than Ray. I felt safe and happy in Ronnie's arms while a little uncomfortable in Ray's because of his notorious roving hands. But wait no, that's not right. I didn't have feelings for Ronnie. I couldn't. I loved Ray. "Ashley I need to know why." He pulled back and looked down at me. "Because we're in love you asshole." A voice behind me said. Ray had come up behind us. "Let's get out of here Ash. We'll leave Mr. Homecoming King alone to be worshipped by his little fairy subjects." Ray grabbed my hand and pulled me away before I could even spit out a quick apology to Ronnie. We walked out to the car, Ray still holding my hand and pulling me along. "What the hell was that?" I screamed at him as I pulled my hand loose. "He was all over you! Why were you dancing with him in the first place?" Ray yelled back.
"We used to be friends! You were dancing with Lisa and I was bored and he asked me so I said yeah."
"Then he wanted to know why you came here with me! I know that's what he meant! Ashley come on get serious! Ronnie Bass likes you. He likes you a lot a blind dude could see that! And he thinks that I'm the scum of the earth so he'd do anything to convince you of that!"
"Just drop it Ray! I'm a big girl and I can make my own decisions! If I didn't want to be here with you then I wouldn't be! If I liked Ronnie I'd have gone with him! But I don't! I like you-I love you!" Tears had started to form in my eyes. Ray stopped. "Ash don't cry!" He came over to me and hugged me close to him. "I'm sorry baby. Don't be mad at me. Its just.I don't like seeing you with him. I know you guys are friends but I was always worried that there was something more." "Its okay, its just I always have my dad telling me what to do and I don't want it from you."
Ray put his hands over my lips. "Shhhh. Say no more. I'll never be this way to you again. I promise."
I slowly smiled and whispered. "Thank you."
We stood there in the parking lot for a few more minutes. "Baby?" Ray asked me.
I looked up at him. "You wanna get out of here? Go somewhere where its just the two of us?"
A million thoughts raced into my head. I had heard rumor after rumor about Ray treating girls badly. But this was the new Ray.my Ray. The Raymond Budds who loved me and would fight Ronnie Bass for me. So I said "Yeah."
We got in his car and drove. We ended up at the Hill, the local makeout spot. It was pretty deserted considering everyone was at homecoming.
"The view is pretty." I remarked, hoping to break the silence. "You're prettier." He said. I grinned at him. He leaned over and kissed me. Soon after, we had moved to the backseat. Ray was on top of me and we were both breathing heavily.
"Are you ready Ashley?" He looked down at me with this look of adoration that I couldn't describe then and still don't know if I can describe now. I just knew that it was real. Not a weekend fling, this was the real deal, right here and now. I slowly nodded and right there in the back of a pickup truck, I gave myself to the guy that I loved. Or at least thought I loved.