Disclaimers Note: I Do Not Own Recess.

Authors Note: I am very sorry for the long wait. I had some computer troubles but I am back with another chapter. I hope you read and ask for reviews. Thank You.

Lip Gloss on a Hockey Jersey

Chapter Four

Ashley sighed as she ran her fingers through her hair.

Two more weeks and...

She closed her eyes.

She couldn't even think about it.

"Ashley?"

Ashley looked up in surprise, her thoughts interrupted. She blinked blankly up at Ms. Groke-and the whole fourth grade class looking at her from behind.

"Are you okay, Ashley?" Ms. Groke kneeled down a bit, "Your eyes are a little red."

"I'm fine!" Ashley said a little too quickly.

The whole class started whispering. Ashley could see Ashley Q starting to get up with her fists balled.

"I just need some water..." Ashley assuring smiled up at her teacher.

"Well, okay..." Ms. Groke looked at Ashley, her eyes flashed a bit of sadness.

Ashley blinked once again. Dose she know... Ashley thought.

However, the constant whispers of her peers caused Ashley to throw the thought to the back of her mind.

"Thanks." She mumbled.

Bob yawned as he stood waiting at the front of his school, waiting for his mom to pick him up.

Today was such a drag.

The Kindergartners were set loose by the bumbling idiot, Roger, Randy, or Randolph. The Fifth Graders were trying settle a score with the Forth Graders-again. He had to be in court to settle some sort of argument over territory in the East of the Playground. And on top of that, Bob had a five page essay due tomorrow.

Bob spotted his mom's car rounding the corner onto the street of his school. Then he heard a voice from across the lot. Bob turned to see Ashley A. and her driver next to a smoking black vehicle.

"I'm sorry, Miss Ashley." The man said sadly.

"Oh no," Ashley shook her head and patted the man's arm. "It's not your fault, Mr. Carl. It's just the car."

"But I know how your trying to get to skating practice early everyday." Mr. Carl sighed.

Miss Ashley just shrugged. "Then today I'll have to miss it. It's okay, Mr. Carl."

Bob, upon hearing the conversation, spoke out. "Hey! Ashley!"

Ashley turned to see Bob waving and jogging her way.

"You need a ride?" Bob asked.

Ashley blinked. "Excuse me?"

"Well, I overheard that you had skating practice so I can give you a ride." Bob nodded towards his Mom's incoming car, "I have hockey so my mom and me can give you a lift."

Ashley looked at Mr. Carl, who nodded. "Seems reasonable."

Mr. Carl smiled at Bob, "Thank you, young man."

"No problem." Bob then looked back at Ashley for assurance. "So?"

Ashley gave a small smile. "Sure." She looked at Mr. Carl, "So you'll be picking me up later?"

"Yes, ma'am." Mr. Carl smiled, "Right at six."

"Alright then." Bob smiled as he and Ashley walked away.

When Bob and Ashley began their walk to the front of the school, both were very quiet.

"So that's why I've been seeing you after school, huh?" Bob started up, smiling down at Ashley. "Usually I see you on the football field."

Ashley smiled back, "Yeah. I sort of wanted to do ever since last year…" Ashley then blushed a little from embarrassment. She had never really talked to King Bob because…well, he was king!

"Ice Skating, right?" Bob said when he didn't hear go on.

Ashley snapped back to reality, "Yeah, Ice Skating." She blushed again. She also didn't want to talk to him after her incident with him on top of Old Rusty. "Sorry, Kind Bob."

Bob nodded, "That's cool." He then laughed out, "Look, just call me Bob out here."

"Bob…" Ashley tried, with a little coaxing from Bob. "B-Bob…Bob." Ashley finally said with a large grin across her face.

"That would be me!" Bob laughed. He looked up when he heard someone call his name out.

"Robert!" A woman from a blue minivan shouted out as the van rolled in.

Bob stood up and without really thinking about it, lifted his hand to take Ashley's. "Here's my mom." Ashley took Bob's hand and stood up, not really thinking either about their hands together.

""Hey Mom." Bob said when he mother stopped in front of the two kids.

"Hey Bobby," Mrs. Cartwright smiled at her son. She glanced to Ashley and her face lit brighter, "Hello! Are you a friend of my…" She then looked down at Ashley and Bob's intertwined hands, smile still lit, and added, "son's?"

Ashley and Bob looked down at their own hands at well, blinked, and jumped to the sides.

Mrs. Cartwright almost laughed at this but kept her composure. "Well, don't be rude Bob and introduce me." Mrs. Cartwright smiled at the young lady. She looked like someone she once knew.

Bob sheepishly rubbed the back of his head and grinned as he said, "Oh, this is Ashley.. Do you think we could give her a ride to the ice rink?"

"Of course!" Mrs. Cartwright smiled, "I'm more than happy to help one of my son's girlfriends-"

"Mom!" Bob shouted.

"I meant a friend who is a girl-"

"Mom!"

"Friend. Happy to help my son's friend." Mrs. Cartwright smiled at the two kids, watching at the giggling Ashley and reddening Bob.

Ashley looked at Mrs. Cartwright and was taken by her obvious beauty. Mrs. Cartwright looked so familiar. She looked tall with long, flowing blonde hair. Her eyes were a bright green that shined with radiance and her face was long and lean. Ashley didn't mind so much of being called Bob's girlfriend but she didn't really know why…

Bob slid into the backseat after Ashley but after giving his mother a look.

Mrs. Cartwright just smiled at him as if nothing had happened.

As Mrs. Cartwright drove around into the street, Ashley spoke up. "Thank you, Mrs. Cartwright for the ride."

"No problem, sweetie." Mrs. Cartwright smiled. "So you ice skate?"

"Yes, ma'am." Ashley nodded.

"That's great!" Mrs. Cartwright laughed, "I loved being on the ice… gosh, I haven't been on the ice since-well, for quite sometime now!"

"My mom used to be an ice skater," Bob shrugged. "My dad said she used to be good or something like that."

"Really?" Ashley asked, her attention became even more interested.

Mrs. Cartwright laughed, "No! I was just okay."

Bob snorted at this, "My mom was supposedly this great ice skater back in her day-"

"Back in the day, was when the days were filled with theatrics, and gymnasts, and ballerinas on the ice. The ice was the rising cool and the smooth slide of metal against the frost." Mrs. Cartwright smiled as her eyes clouded with memories. "The ice was part of a beautiful display of lights, drama, people, and…" Mrs. Cartwright laughed, "yourself. Just your skate, your dreams, and yourself."

Ashley smiled in awe. "Then you are amazing!"

"You mean," Mrs. Cartwright laughed, "was amazing."

Ashley shook her head and laughed, "No way! An ice princess stays an ice princess as long as their love for the ice still glows."

It was a good thing they had reached the skating rink because Mrs. Cartwright stopped the car abruptly. Bob and Ashley both jerked forward, Bob catching Ashley by the arm before she flew into the air.

"Oh, I'm sorry!" Mrs. Cartwright shouted, putting the car in parking mode. She turned around to see Bob and Ashley laughing, which made Mrs. Cartwright smile in relief.

Ashley smiled, "Thank you very much for the ride, Mrs. Cartwright. It was very nice meeting you.

"Yeah…Thanks, Mom." Bob laughed, "Try not to do that again when you go home."

Mrs. Cartwright smiled but her eyes were still on Ashley. "I didn't catch your last name, honey." Mrs. Cartwright asked as Ashley got out of the car.

"Oh," Ashley smiled as she turned around. "Its Arnbrewster. Ashley Arnbrewster."

And with that, the golden-blonde waved a goodbye leaving a wordless Mrs. Cartwright in her mini-van.

No wonder she looked familiar… Mrs. Cartwright thought as she watched Ashley and Bob walk together through the double-doors of the skating rink.

Thank you for reading!

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Island Sweetheart