I DO NOT OWN ANYTHNG FROM SOUTH OF NOWHERE!

I also used a song by Fort Minor in this chapter called "Where'd You Go?"

I had felt a lot better after the talk I had with Laura. Hearing the words come from her mouth helped me deal with how I felt. I don't know why, but everything that came out of Laura's mouth made sense and sounded so true. That's probably why hearing her say it made me feel so much better.

Since my talk with Laura I also found it easier to talk to Ashley. I would greet her when I saw her, start conversations with her and hold the conversations for what seemed like hours. Ashley seemed very surprised by my actions. I don't think she expected me to acknowledge her at all. I didn't even expect to. But she didn't seem to mind. In fact, she seemed pleased that I was trying to slowly break down the wall that was between us. Ashley also tried to break down the wall that was there too. I know she didn't want me to notice, but I did.

It just kept feeling like how it used to be faster and faster. I was getting to a point were I was almost completely comfortable around her. That was good. I wanted to try and feel comfortable with Ashley again. That way, I might be able to be more than her friend again. I mean, I still hadn't completely forgiven her for what she did, but I loved Ashley and needed her around me. Especially after being around her so much for the past two months.

I kept falling back in love with everything that was Ashley. The way her nose would scrunch up in that cute little way when she would smile. How her eyes seemed to shine so bright when she was happy. The way she would just look at me. Her whole personality. I was just falling completely head over heals for her and I was still so in love with her. It was incredible.

I was sitting in my office, finishing up some paper work, when every speaker on the first floor suddenly turned on and started playing this piano melody. I rose from my seat and walked out of my office, down the long hallway into the main part of the first floor. I walked past about ten isles of Cd's and stopped in front of one of the main cashiers desks.

Sitting on top of the cashiers desk counter top was Sara and Ashley. Sara had her legs held to her chest, her arms wrapped around her legs, and her eyes looked deep in thought. Ashley sat leaning back on the counter top of the desk, her legs dangling off of the side, listening to the song that was invading the whole first floor intently. I stopped to listen to the lyrics to, trying to find out from them what this whole ... situation was about.

Where'd you go?
I miss you so,
Seems like it's been forever,
That you've been gone.

She said "Some days I feel like shit,
Some days I wanna quit, and just be normal for a bit,"
I don't understand why you have to always be gone,
I get along but the trips always feel so long,
And, I find myself trying to stay by the phone,
'Cause your voice always helps me to not feel so alone,
But I feel like an idiot, workin' my day around the call,
But when I pick up I don't have much to say,
So, I want you to know it's a little fucked up,
That I'm stuck here waitin', at times debatin',
Tellin' you that I've had it with you and your career,Me and the rest of the family here singing "Where'd you go?"

I miss you so,
Seems like it's been forever,
That you've been gone.
Where'd you go?
I miss you so,
Seems like it's been forever,
That you've been gone,
Please come back home...

You know the place where you used to live,
Used to barbecue up burgers and ribs,
Used to have a little party every Halloween with candy by the pile,
But now, you only stop by every once and a while,
Shit, I find myself just fillin' my time,
With anything to keep the thought of you from my mind,
I'm doin' fine, I plan to keep it that way,
You can call me if you find that you have something to say,
And I'll tell you, I want you to know it's a little fucked up,
That I'm stuck here waitin', at times debatin',
Tellin' you that I've had it with you and your career,
Me and the rest of the family here singing "Where'd you go?"

I miss you so,
Seems like it's been forever,
That you've been gone.
Where'd you go?
I miss you so,
Seems like it's been forever,
That you've been gone,
Please come back home...

I want you to know it's a little fucked up,
That I'm stuck here waitin', no longer debatin',
Tired of sittin' and hatin' and makin' these excuses,
For why you're not around, and feeling so useless,
It seems one thing has been true all along,
You don't really know what you've got 'til it's gone,
I guess I've had it with you and your career,
When you come back I won't be here and you can sing it...

Where'd you go?
I miss you so,
Seems like it's been forever,
That you've been gone.Where'd you go?
I miss you so,
Seems like it's been forever,
That you've been gone,
Please come back home...
Please come back home...
Please come back home...
Please come back home...
Please come back home...

As the music faded Sara seemed to snap out of her trance and automatically lowered the music that was blaring as soon as she saw me. She laughed nervously and smiled at me. She looked like a little kid who had just gotten caught steeling a cookie from the cookie jar. It was priceless. "Sorry Spazz," Sara said as she held her cheesy, apologetic smile that was plastered on her face, "Ashley was just telling me about her family. I mean, finally, after all this time. And we were talking about how music can help us escape or relate to things or other people. So I wanted her to hear this song since it seemed to relate to her and her parents so well. That way whenever she's down she can listen to it and wallow in her own self pity."

"Ha, gee, thanks" Ashley said as she playfully smacked Sara on the arm and smiled.

"You're welcome, Ashme" Sara sang her nick name sweetly, mocking her.

"Stop!" Ashley complained, she had really grown tired of that nick name.

"Why? It makes sense. I mean, let's face it Ash, you have "eaten out" a lot ..." I said as I teased Ashley, getting a surprised look from her.

"See, it suites you" Sara said smiling as we both laughed for a few seconds. "Just like how Spazz's nick name fits her. I mean, seriously, she freaks out to easily and to much."

"I do not!" I protested as I raised my voice an octave.

"See" Sara said to Ashley smiling, and they shared a laugh.

"We need a better nick name for you" I said to Sara, not finding it fair that she got it easy when it came to nick names.

"True" Ashley said, using another word that had been rubbed onto her by spending to much time with Sara.

"Well, I guess you'll just have to wait for a special moment" Sara said as she smiled sweetly and jumped of the counter top.

"Oh no, we could always call you Simpson" Ashley said smiling mischievously, getting a threatening look from Sara.

"NO!" Sara protested.

"Why Simpson?" I asked.

"You see, Simpson here hates to be called by her last name cause it's kinda like a guys name" Ashley said, still holding her mischievous smile. "In one of the classes we have together, our teacher calls her by her last name all the time just to get her mad. It's so funny" Ashley said as she began to laugh.

"Well, it's better than lezy-borden" I said as I smiled, liking this nick name so much better.

"NO!" Sara protested again, her face begging with us to not us it as her "new name."

"Yes!" Ashley whined bak in a mimicking voice.

"Fine" Sara said as she started running toward the front door. "But if you're gonna call me by that name then you can find some other way to get home" Sara shouted, sticking her tongue out at Ashley before exiting the building.

"Tell me she did not just ditch me" Ashley said, staring at the spot Sara had just been standing in.

"I could tell you that but that doesn't mean it would be true" I teased at her, trying to cheer her up. "Don't worry, I'll drive you home" I said smiling at her.

Ashley looked at me in grateful disbelief. "Really?" She asked, hope filling her voice.

"I wouldn't say I would and then not do it Davies" I told her as I smiled slyly and walked past her to began closing down the store.

"Hey now, we're not calling me by my last name. It's either one or the other" Ashley said as I began to turn off every piece of equipment in the building that had been left on.

After Ashley helped me turn everything off, I locked up all the doors and we were headed toward my car. It was a cold day in December and the sweatshirt I had brought for a coat wasn't doing me justice. As soon as I reached my car, an old, red Honda model, I jumped in and turned on the heat full blast. I shivered and held myself as Ashley slowly entered the passenger side of the car.

"It might help if you wore a warmer coat" Ashley said in a smart ass tone, smiling at me in a teasing manner.

"Shut up" I said through chattering teeth, smiling.

"And you were the one who grew up in Ohio" Ashley said, sticking her tongue out at me.

"Shut up Ashley!" I shouted at her. Holding my hands over the heating vents as I waited desperately to be warm.

"Here" Ashley said as I felt a large piece of material land on top of me, catching me off guard.

A picked the piece of material up and realized it was Ashley's coat. I tried to give it back to her but she wouldn't take it.

"You're the one who's cold here" Ashley said smiling warmly at me, forcing the coat on top of my body.

"But you'll freeze!" I protested, trying one last time to give her coat back.

"NO! I'm fine! Am I the one who can barely talk because my teeth are chattering? No" Ashley said as I finally accepted the coat. "So stop being an ass and take it."

A comfortable silence passed after that. Ashley and I just stared at each other, soaking in each other's presence. I couldn't suppress the large smile that had spread across my face if I had wanted to. She cared. She cared enough to freeze for me. At least that was a start.

Without warning, Ashley reached across the car and tucked me in the coat. It was sweet of her. Her hand moved from were it had been tucking coat under my arm and caressed my face softly. A look of nervousness passed her face as she did so, not sure on how I would react. Truthfully, I had no idea how I would react. And I was only slightly surprised when I gently pushed my face into the palm of her hand, were it lingered on my cheek.

A smile was spread across Ashley's face. I couldn't quite describe it. It was a mixture of happiness, relief, sorrow, and longing. Her hand moved on my face so her thumb could reach my lips. I parted my lips slightly as she ran her thumb gently across my bottom lip. I shivered at the contact. I was burning, on fire even. I couldn't believe she could still have this effect on me ... or maybe it was the heat finally beginning to work.

Suddenly, Ashley removed her hand and took her jacket off of me. I braced myself for the cold but was engulfed a wave of heat. Ashley folded the coat and placed it on her lap. She smiled at me, it was more of a pleased smile than anything. She stared at me a few more moments.

"Warm?" Ashley asked me, her pleased smile turning into a cocky grin.

"Yes, thank you" I replied to her as I smiled at her.

I started the car and pulled out of the huge parking lot. It was silent for a few minutes, but it was comfortable. I knew Ashley would break it though. She was never really fond of being silent if she wasn't alone.

"So, how exactly did you get this managing job?" Ashley asked, I could hear the grin in her voice.

I kept my eyes on the road as I answered her. "Well, I kinda cheated."

"How do you cheat on getting a job?" Ashley asked me, laughing out the question.

"One of my cousins from my dad's side is signed to Take Flight Records. You may have heard of his band called Lost Souls."

"Lost Souls? Are you kidding me?" Ashley asked in a very disbelieving voice. "You mean, this hole time I've known you, you've had a cousin who is in one of the most popular hardcore bands known to mad kind and you didn't tell me?"

"Well, it never came to mind. I didn't really start to even get into his music until recently."

"Spence, you're killing me!" Ashley shouted as I halted the car at a red light. "You have this cousin who's in a band that, not only makes great music, but produces great music, and also signs great artists. Do you see were I'm going?" Ashley asked, the desperation and frustration on her face almost humorous.

"Ashley, you don't need my cousin to see you perform to get discovered. You could do that all on your own" I said smiling at her before I began driving again as the green light appeared.

"I know that! I'm just saying it would make things easier" Ashley said; I could hear the cocky ass grin in her voice. "So anyway, did he give you the job?"

"No, not exactly. You see, he was the one who came up with the idea to start a small branch of Take Flight stores. When he found out I was going to go to Penn, he told me about job openings for it. When I went for the interview they said they desperately needed a manager for CD sales and stuff like that. And when they saw that I had taken business classes at King on my resume they offered me the job. Plus, the fact that they new that I was Charlie's cousin helped a little."

"Wait, Charlie? You're cousins with Charlie from Lost Souls?" Ashley asked, her voice sounding disbelieving. "Are you kidding me? Spence, are you kidding me? Charlie is like the only male I would ever screw! He's so damn gorgeous and talented! And you've been cousins with him all this time! That just blows my mind!" Ashley became silent for a moment, I assumed she was thinking. "Well, I mean, now I know why you're so damn good looking! I mean, anyone related to Charlie is most likely sexy as hell, which you are."

"Smooth Ash" I said as I laughed and shook my head in disbelief.

"What, Im just saying ... you're hot" Ashley said, I could see her smiling and eying me down from the corner of my eye.

It was silent for a few moments once again. I could feel Ashley's eyes boring into me, burning a hole right into my soul. It was ... comforting in a way. I don't really know why, but it just made me feel comfortable to have her watching me. It even made me feel safe.

"So, on what part of campus do you live?" I asked her as I pulled into the opening driveway of the U-Arts' College Campus.

"Just keep going all the way down to were all the trees are, wayyyyyyyyyyyyy in the back. Then, make a left."

I followed her directions and parked infront of a five-story building. It was, I assumed, originally white but had been "decorated" over the years by the people who had moved in and out of it. There were murals made of paint and spray-paint covering almost every inch of the building from where I could see it. It seemed to suite Ashley in a way. It was creative, unique, and wacky, just like her.

"You wanna come up?" Ashley asked me.

I froze. I wasn't sure if I was ready to be a lone in any room with Ashley, let alone her apartment. Ashley could sense my hesitation and automatically began to try and comfort me.

"Don't worry Spence. Sara should be here by now. And if she's not here than I promise I'll leave the front door open so you can run out anytime you want to" Ashley said smiling at me, trying her best to make me feel safe.

"Okay" I agreed as I turned off my car.

"Oh wait," Ashley said as her jacket came hurtling at me for the second time that day, "put that on. I don't want you freezing before we reach the front door."

"Ha, ha!" I exclaimed as I put the coat on and watched her exit the car.

Once I got out of the car, I followed Ashley through the front doors of her dorm. I was automatically greeted with millions of different types of music filling me head. The mixture seemed bitter-sweet in a way. It was intriguing enough to keep you interested but horrible enough to make you go crazy.

I stayed close to Ashley's side as I followed her up the stairs. To my surprise, they're weren't a lot of people in the dorm. Maybe it was because tomorrow was the start of Christmas break. It still completely astounded me though that there seemed to be hardly anyone in the building, especially with all of the different kinds of music blaring.

When we reached Ashley's door I was relieved. I could hear some of Sara's crazy music blaring through the door. "Thank God! I don't know what I would have done if I had been left alone with Ashley ..." I thought as I entered the room.

"Spazz!" Sara shouted at me as she engulfed me into a friendly hug. "What's up? How was your ride here with Ashme? Horrible I assume, considering her company is plain bothering."

"Haha!" Ashley laughed mockingly as she offered her hand out to take the coat that I had been wearing.

Ashley took the coat and my sweatshirt and hung it over the side of one of the black leather couches in the room. She sat down on the couch to the far wall and I sat down next to Sara on the couch to my right.

"She likes me better" Sara proclaimed to Ashley teasingly as she stuck her tongue out at her.

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever" Ashley mumbled as she lowered Sara's music and walked toward their overly large fridge.

"Well, I'm surprised" Sara said as she tried to begin a conversation. "I never thought you would have driven her home. I was hoping you'd leave her there so I could get some rest tonight."

"So you could get some rest?" I questioned Sara, almost positive she would respond with a cocky answer.

"Yeah! I mean, this girl's always bothering me for sex! It gets tiring!"

I laughed as I watched Ashley spit out the water she had just poured into her mouth. She started laughing hard as she tried not to drop the water bottle that was in her hand.

"Yeah, righttttttttttttttttttttt" Ashley said as she opened the rather large fridge in the dorm room. "Would you like something to drink Spence" Ashley asked me.

"What do you have?" I asked as I watched Sara disappear and then reappear with an acoustic guitar.

"We have some Coke, water, Root Beer, Beer ..." Ashley trailed off.

"I'll have a water" I told her, not believing that I checked her out as she bent over to get a water bottle out of the fridge.

"Throw me a Root Beer please Ash" Sara asked as I watched her tune her guitar, thankful she hadn't notice me check out Ashley. "So Spazz, I wrote this song about my Grandmother. Now, I want you take it seriously so pay close attention."

"Okay" I said as Ashley handed me my water bottle and put Sara's Root Beer on the wooden table in between the two couches.

Ashley sat down on the other couch with a knowing smile plastered across her face. Obviously she had heard this song before, and the smile on her face made me question the sincerity of the song I was about to hear.

Sara started playing the song, strumming strings fast. It sounded like a folk tale or country song. And I knew then that it wasn't to be taken seriously just because Sara was the type of person who thinks folk or country music has no point.

One day, when my Grandmother was young,

A young woman of 17

She fell in love with the milk man,

who was 23

she'd smile with him and flirt

whenever he was around

and one day while exchanging glass bottles

she invited him inside ...

At first, she was real modest,

holding friendly conversation

but it all changed direction

when she lifted up her skirt

The milk man swallowed hard

on his own milk he'd brought

and followed Grandma through the house,

out to her old barn ...

On that day,

Grandma had a little fun

with the milk man in that old barn

eventually she had a bun in the oven,

catching her father off guard

but the milk man tried to marry Grandma,

but my Great Grandfather wouldn't approve

And now I'm known

The Granddaughter of the bastard son of the Milk Man from Peru!

Oh yes,

The Granddaughter of the bastard son of the Milk Man from Peru!

I was laughing so hard by the time that song ended. I had fallen back into the comfy material of the couch and was clutching my stomach as I laughed so hard. I moved one of my hands away from my stomach to wipe the tears from my eyes.

"OH MY GOD!" I shouted, not being able to contain myself. From the corner of my eye I could see Ashley laughing too, holding it in better than I was. "The granddaughter of the bastard son of Peru? AHHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAA! THAT'S GREAT!"

"I thought you'd like that" Sara said smiling at me as she began to lazily stroke her guitar.

"You're incredible" Ashley mumbled smiling, still holding back laughter.

"Ashley, I know I'm incredible. You tell me this every night."

"Shut up!" Ashley shouted as she threw her now empty water bottle at Sara, hitting her on the head.

For about the next three hours we all sat there and talked. We talked aboutwork, music, cars, the weather, our lives; everything and everything we could talk about. It was around eleven when Sara decided to call it a night. She claimed she needed her rest because she was going to perform with Jason and his band at a fund raiser all of the next day. Ashley and I said goodnight and then I was left all alone with Ashley.

"So, what do you want to do?" Ashley asked me with a smile. She had been staring and smiling at me all night. It made my heart pound in my chest.

"I don't know. What is there to do?" I asked, returning her smile like I had been all night.

"Well, we can't do anything too noisy or Sara will literally kill us for waking her up. So, hot steamy sex is out" Ashley said as she bit he lower lip, trying to act like she was actually thinking hard on the subject. "We could always watch some tv."

"Okay, but where's the tv?" I asked as I looked around the main room to their dorm, no television in sight.

"I have one in my room. Sara doesn't like watching tv for anything except music so she hardly watches it at all."

I was nervous as Ashley got up and walked into the room closest to the couch I was sitting on. She came back out and looked at me for a moment, trying to figure out why I was hesitating. When realization hit her she smiled and shook her head a little bit.

"Spence, I already told you. As disappointed as I am about it, we can't have hot steamy sex. So just come and watch some tv with me."

I smiled at her, some what relieved and disappointed all at once.I won't deny that there was a part of me that wanted to have hot steamy sex with Ashley, but I couldn't. Neither of us were ready for the emotion that act held between us.

I stood from the couch and stretched, Ashley's eyes never leaving me as she waited for me. I began to walk toward her and she headed back into her room. I walked into the room and took it in. It wasn't quite Ashley but it was getting there.

To my left was a set of drawers which had been decorated with pictures. Across from me was a desk that had a lamp and laptop on top of it. It was also decorated with different pictures. There was a bulletin board above the desk which had various pieces of paper pinned to it, giving it a messy feel. In the far corner of the room was a queen sized bed. It's mixture of blue and purple sheets were tangled with each other, making it look extremely comfy. In the corner across from the bed was a wooden stand with a rather large tv on top of it

Ashley made herselfcomfy as she laid down on the bed, grabbing two pillows to prop her head with. She turned on the tv and smiled at me. Why did this site seem so familiar?

"Can you close the door before you come over hear?" Ashley asked me as her attention was turned toward the tv.

I closed the door and walked over to the bed. I laid down beside her using the remaining two pillows to prop my head up as well. From the corner of my eye I saw Ashley smile. I smiled as well.

We watched tv for what seemed like hours. We watched MTV, a few Movies, and we caught the ending of an episode of The L Word. The hole time thought I could feel Ashley's eyes on me. I finally looked over at her and smiled sweetly when I realized where she had been staring the hole time.

My hand. She had been staring at my hand. I knew Ashley Davies, and when she stared at something she wanted it. This hole time she just wanted to hold my hand but was to shy to. Ashley Davies shy? It was incredible and sweet. It made my heart melt.

When Ashley realized I was looking at her she averted her eyes to the tv. I could have sworn she was blushing. I smiled and shook my head. This was the side of Ashley Davies I had come to discover was under her facade. And I always thought this side of her was so loving, adorable, and gentle. This side of her made me feel so warm at heart.

"You can just hold it" I said, smiling a knowing smile at her. I was right to assume she had been blushing because her face became ten times more red than it had been.

"I know ..." Ashley responded, her voice sounding shy and innocent.

I waited only a few minutes before I took her hand in mine. I kept my eyes on her as I did so, watching a smile work its way on her face. She looked over at me, her eyes filled with happiness, relief, and longing. "Oh God, those eyes ..." I thought as I stared into them, allowing myself to become lost in a haze of brown.

"We should go to bed" Ashley said in such a light voice I wouldn't of recognized it coming from her mouth if I hadn't of seen her say it.

"Alright" I said as I rose from her bed, noticing a quick look of panic cross her face.

I walked over to Ashley's desk with the computer on it and turned the light off. The only light left in the room was the glow of the tv. I walked over to her drawers and began searching for comfortable close. I grabbed two pairs of sweat pants and two old t-shirts, and threw one of each over at Ashley. She smiled in a devious way as I began to change in front of her, holding her gaze the hole time.

Once we were both changed and had stopped ogling over each other's bodies, I walked back to her bed and laid back down. I grabbed the remote that was in between us and turned the tv off. I felt Ashley untangle the covers and pull them up over both of our bodies.

"Good night" I said in almost a whisper, my heart beating fast within my chest.

"Good night" Ashley whispered back, the hot air of her breath hitting the back of my neck, making me shiver.

Before falling asleep, I felt Ashley wrap her arm around my waist, pulling me closer to her. I sighed in contempt. I had wanted to be in her arms for so long.