I must admit that this chapter was the most fun to write so far...

Sorry, people, but no updates until Monday. I'm going to be in San Diego, but I'll post chapter eight when I get back, okay?

It was a mere three weeks until school ended for Keely and Ashley. Keely, wanting to let loose a bit before she buckled down to study for finals, decided to sleep over at Via's house the weekend their mother again went out of town on business. This left Ashley home alone.

I'm having trouble trying to sleep
I'm counting sheep but running out
As time ticks by
And still I try
No rest for crosstops in my mind

The more she thought about it, the worse she felt about her role in her sister's death. She should've been there… she should've watched out for her… she knew it was her fault, because she didn't pay attention. She'd known Bonnie the most out of anybody in that family… she should've realized.

She held back her tears as she headed downstairs. She just felt so awful about this whole thing…

On my own, here we go

Meanwhile, Phil was lounging in his room, doing some homework, when he happened to catch something out of the corner of his eye. It appeared to be lights flashing next door coming from the dim glow of the television in the upper floor. He shook his head, but noticed something sitting on his desk that sat by the window; Keely's purse sitting next to his AP World History book.

I'll take that back after I finish this homework, he thought, dully, and turned back to the paper in front of him. Once I finish this paper, I'll go over to her house and give it to her.

My eyes feel like they're gonna bleed
Dried up and bulging out my skull
My mouth is dry
My face is numb
Fucked up and spun out in my room

Stifling a yawn, despite the fact that she wasn't tired, she looked in the refrigerator for something to drink. Nothing she saw seemed to pique her interests, though… then, she saw a standard bottle of champagne sitting at the back of the fridge. She raised an eyebrow… Ashley had forgotten that was even in there. It was still unopened, too…

Eh, why the hell not? Ashley thought, pulling a champagne flute out from the top cupboard.

On my own, here we go

After a while, Ashley had completely forgotten about Bonnie. Her feelings of guilt were gone, and what was left was a feeling of euphoria, and a sense that she was worth something, that she hadn't failed her sister or her family.

Why hadn't she discovered this before? The feeling… it was amazing. She never wanted it to leave.

My mind is set on overdrive
The clock is laughing in my face
A crooked spine
My senses dulled
Past the point of delirium

"And that is that," Phil said, with finality, placing his pencil down on his finished sheet of paper. He set down his work and breathed a sigh of satisfaction.

Looking over at his desk, he remembered that he was going to bring Keely's purse to her house. He picked it up, and announced to his mom, "I'm going to drop Keely's purse off at her house… she left it here yesterday." His mom okayed this, and he left the house.

Walking up to the Teslow house, he rang the doorbell and waited for someone to answer.

On my own, here we go

"I'll get it," Ashley muttered to the empty house, leaving the glass and bottle on the coffee table in the living room. She walked over to the front door and opened it to see Phil standing there.

"Oh…" she said, a smile on her face. "Hey, hey there… Phil!"

Phil raised an eyebrow, wondering what could possibly be plastering such a wide smile on Ashley's face. "Hey, Ashley. Can I come in?"

"Sure!" she chirruped, stepping to the side and letting him in. He walked inside and Ashley smiled at him, raising her eyebrows. "So… so, so Phil… what… are you doing here?"

"Oh, I saw that Keely left her purse at my place and I thought I'd drop it off… back… here, is something funny?" he asked, seeing Ashley holding back a fit of giggles.

"Nooooo, nothing!" she said, laughing. When she regained her composure, she looked over at him again. "Did… did anyone tell you, you, you, you look like that guy off… off… off the Disney Channel? 'Cause you do. And he's cute. You're cute."

"Ashley, are you drunk?" Phil asked, having never seen Ashley behave in this manner before.

"Phil Diffy, don't be silly!" Another fit of giggles came here. "Diffy! What a… ffffffunny name! Diffff-eee…."

"Ashley, I think you should--" but Phil couldn't finish his sentence as Ashley ran over and tackled him, landing right on top of him on the hardwood floor. He let out a wheeze, which Ashley soon sealed off by kissing him.

Prying her away from himself, Phil cried out, "Ashley, you're drunk!"

"Pssssshhhhh… no I'm not!" she laughed, looking down at him.

"Yes… you are," he said, prying himself out from underneath her. He looked over at the coffee table and saw the bottle sitting there. "Oh, Ashley," he muttered. "That's more than enough for tonight," he said to her, shoving the cork back in the bottle.

"Hey, hey, hey! Why you gotta do that?" Ashley asked, confused. She was happy… the champagne was making her happy… why didn't he want her to be happy?

"This is for your own good, Ashley," Phil said. "I'm going to put this somewhere where you can't get it."

This seemed to be especially humorous to Ashley, as she burst into a fit of laughter. "You… are very… funny. And yer cute," she said, smiling.

"Uh, thanks," Phil said, picking up the phone. He dialed Keely's cell phone number.

"Hello?" Keely asked on the other end, a faint laughing heard in the background.

"Hey, Keely, it's Phil."

"Oh, hey, Phil! What's up?"

"Um… I think you should get over here right now…"

"Why's that?" Keely asked. Listening to the background, she heard somebody on Phil's line say, "Phillll… come heeeere…" This prompted Keely to ask, "Who was that?"

"That was your sister, Ashley," Phil said, trying to keep her away from him with one hand. It was a losing battle, though, as she made her way around his arm and nearly squeezed him to death.

"I loooove yew…" she slurred, her arms wrapped around him in a bear hug.

"Just… get over here," Phil wheezed.

"Okay, I'm on my way," Keely said, and hung up her phone.

My eyes feel like they're gonna bleed
Dried up and bulging out my skull
My mouth is dry
My face is numb
Fucked up and spun out in my room

Phil paced around as he waited for Keely to arrive home. Ashley, who had been watching him intently, decided that she'd try and find where he'd hidden that bottle. She slowly walked over to the kitchen, when Phil spotted her.

"Hey," he said, walking over to her. "Hey, no. You've had enough for tonight."

Ashley stood up straight when she heard his voice. "Come on," he said, dragging her away from the kitchen. "Stay in here." He stood her up against the wall, and resumed his pacing. "C'mon, Keely…" he muttered. Standing by the arm of the couch, he paused. He thought he heard something.

Though maybe all he heard was Ashley's voice purring, as she ran and tackled him again. He fell on his back on top of the couch, again with her falling on top of him. "Hey! What the--"

Phil stopped when he heard the front door open. Ashley seemed to hear this too as she opened her mouth in shock. She got up, and Phil sat up. When she heard footsteps coming, she scooted back in horror, and latched her arms around Phil.

"This had better be good," Keely said, walking into the living room. She froze when she saw her sister practically on top of her boyfriend. A look of confusion spread across her face. "Phil… what the hell?"

"Ohhh... Hiiiiiiya, Keely!" Ashley said, standing up, relieved. Standing, however, seemed to make her dizzy. While he still could, Phil got off of the couch, and Ashley sat back down right on the spot that Phil had just moved from.

"Is this good enough?" Phil asked, gesturing to Keely's drunken sister.

"Good point," Keely said. The two of them dragged Ashley upstairs and laid her down on her bed. "Get some sleep," she said, rubbing her sister's head. "You'll be better in the morning."

"Keep an eye on her, okay?" Phil said to Keely, walking to the door.

"…Bye, Phil!" Ashley gushed. "Let's, let's do that again, sometime, o-kee? Let's do that again!"

Keely raised an eyebrow and looked at Phil, who merely replied, "She's drunk."

On my own, here we go

"Brain Stew" - Green Day

So, like I said, I'm going to be in San Diego until the third... but you know what would be really great? If I came back, and my inbox had a lot of reviews waiting for me. That'd be great. Was that subtle enough?