Disclaimer: now that you've read the first chapter, I think you know who I don't own. But if I bring in new characters, I will claim them, and disclaim the others again. Enjoy, read and review!

'Zac, tell me,' she ordered. 'What do you know about this guy?'

'He's just famous at the school that I go to. Famous for surviving a massacre in his hometown. All he got was a lightning bolt shaped scar.'

Ashley gasped.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

'What's wrong?' Zac asked, concerned.

'Nothing,' Ashley said.

'Oh come on. I told you what I was talking about.'

'No, I really can't talk about it right now.'

'Come on, Ashley,' Zac persuaded.

'Fine. That's the boy who's in my dreams.'

'Really?' Zac said thoughtfully. 'That's interesting.'

'Can we talk about something else?' Ashley asked. 'I really don't want to talk about this anymore.'

Zac shrugged. 'Sure. I think we're out of time anyway.' He gestured behind her.

'Yeah, I guess so,' Ashley said, after she saw what he was talking about. Students had started to gather. Five minutes later, the bus pulled up. The kids loaded onto it; most of them grumpy. Even though the town supported education, it didn't mean the kids of the town did. Most went because their parents made them.

Amy and Emily were eying her suspiciously. Ashley knew they couldn't wait to hear why she and Zac were talking. She chuckled to herself slightly. Wouldn't they be surprised? They'd just have to wait until after school. And after my date, Ashley thought, grinning.

**After school**

'So, are you ready?' Zac asked.

'You bet!'

'Let's hit the waves!'

'Do you go surfing a lot?' Ashley asked.

'Almost every day. How bout you?'

'As often as I can.'

'Cool.'

'Oh, did you bring your bathing suit?' Zac asked.

'Uh, yeah. I always carry it in my gym bag.'

'Ok, good. Cuz I don't think you can go surfing in jean capris.'

Ashley laughed. She loved being with this guy. He was so nice, and funny.

They hit the beach and changed into their swim suits. Zac came out in red swimming trunks; Ashley in a blue one-piece. She usually wore a bikini for tanning, but when she went surfing the two piece didn't work out as well....

They each paid to rent a surf board; for they had left theirs at home.

'Tide looks pretty good,' Zac commented, wading into the water.

'Yeah, and in fact, I see a good wave right there.'

The wave was rapidly gaining speed. Zac looked at the wave, then at Ashley, back at the wave, and back at Ashley. 'No way, Ash. It's too big.'

Ashley shrugged. 'I'm gonna try.'

She paddled out to the perfect spot....and waited for the opportune moment. Then she took the wave. It was a wonderful feeling; being up so high. Zac was whooping from below...then she felt a tug. The current was dragging her board under! Ashley gave a small yelp and plunged under. Oh, this is seriously not good, she thought, totally freaking out. She could barely breathe; she couldn't open her eyes. Then unexplainably, her lungs were filled with air. More than enough to last her until Zac grabbed her around her waist and pulled her to the top. 'Ashley, are you ok? Can you breathe?' Zac asked.

Amazingly, Ashley wasn't scratched, and could breathe just fine. 'Yes, I'm fine,' she answered. 'How long was I down there?'

'Over two minutes.'

Ashley stared. She could only hold her breath for a minute. And she had had enough air to last her at least five more. What was going on?

'That was a wicked wipe-out though,' Zac said grinning.

Ashley grinned back. 'Thanks for saving me.'

'Anytime,' he said, looking straight into her eyes. It caught her breath. He had such amazing blue eyes.

They had fun for two more hours wiping out (no more serious ones), swimming, and surfing. Finally, after they were worn out, they changed and set off for Planet Pizza: the best pizza store in their area. They ordered an EXTRA cheesy pizza.

Zac walked Ashley home. 'Hey,' he said. 'Thanks for not lying about your foster parents.'

Ashley looked at him. 'You're welcome.'

Complete darkness was drawing near. 'You know,' Zac said. 'I had a great time today. Thanks for, uh, you know, coming with me.' He cleared his throat. 'Uh, I was wondering.....would you be my girlfriend?' He waited with baited breath for her answer. 'You don't have to,' he added quickly. 'It's just that I've had a crush on you for.....well, since second grade.'

'Are you serious? That's totally freaky. I've had on one you for that long.'

Zac's eyes lit up.

'Of course I'll be your girlfriend. I just can't believe that you asked me. ME. The stupid foster child with no real parents to speak of.'

Zac grinned. 'You're not stupid. The fact that you're a foster child makes you special.'

Ashley blushed. 'Thanks, Zac. That means a lot coming from you.'

Zac bent down and kissed her on the cheek.

'Mom, I'm home!' Ashley shouted as she walked in the door.

'Hi, honey. Did you have fun?'

'Yeah! Oh my gosh, I had this wicked awesome wipeout! You shoulda seen it!'

'Are you okay, dear? You didn't get hurt, did you?'

Ashley rolled her eyes. Jewel just didn't understand her. Aaron would find it cool.

'I'm fine Mom. I'm still in one piece.'

'Okay. Oh, by the way, Ash, you got a letter today. I put it on your bed.'

'K. Thanks.'

Ashley ran up to her room. She barely ever got letters. No one sent them anymore. Everything was now E-Mail and Instant Messaging.

Ashley opened her door room. She loved her room. There was a lot of space, so she could put up lots of posters. So far she had Orlando Bloom, Johnny Depp, Elijah Wood, Backstreet Boys, Keira Knightley, Hilary Duff, and Jewel.

On her bed lay a slightly yellowed envelope. She read the return address; it was from England. I wonder what this is, she thought. She opened up the letter and quickly scanned through it. She leapt up. 'Oh my gosh! This is way cool! Mom!' Ashley shouted. 'I've been chosen to go to England for three weeks!' She pounded down the stairs to show the letter to her mother.

'Wow, honey! Let me see!'

'Can I go?' Ashley asked.

'Of course, this will be a wonderful academic experience!'

Ashley rolled her eyes despite her content. She got to go to England by herself (without her foster parents) for THREE WHOLE WEEKS! And the group was leaving in a week.