"Extraordinary
Machine"
A/N:
So sorry I haven't updated in the longest time. I've been putting
this story off, because I don't want it to end and I've also been
lacking inspiration. Dramatic chapter with lots of POV switches!
Disclaimer:
Lyrics by Fiona Apple.
Ashley's
POV
I
certainly haven't been shopping for any new shoes.
-And-
I
certainly haven't been spreading myself around.
I still only
travel by foot and by foot, it's a slow climb,
But I'm good at
being uncomfortable, so
I can't stop changing all the time.
It was Monday. I was minding my own business, sitting in the hallway after school. I didn't feel like going home just yet, so I hadn't. I pulled my legs against my body, closing my eyes. I felt myself fall into a peaceful state of being. The school was mostly quiet, only the sound of basketballs bouncing in the gym nearby. I wasn't happy when I heard footsteps heading my way. I opened my eyes quickly, gazing up. There stood Glen Carlin, smirk finding its way to his face. I rolled my eyes.
"What do YOU want?" I asked him, standing up to meet his gaze. He stood there for a moment, as if considering.
"I think you're pathetic." He said coolly, turning around and getting ready to walk away. I grabbed him by the arm, spinning him back around to face me. He was definitely not going to walk away while I was speaking to him.
"How am I pathetic? Because standing here, right now, I only see one pathetic person. And it isn't me." I stepped closer to him, heat rising off of my face. Glen made me angrier than almost anyone ever had. Madison was the only person who could get a bigger rise out of me. I probably hated him so much because he was full of himself, and he treated Spencer poorly. I knew he probably wouldn't accept her sexuality if he knew, and that bothered me. That's the reason why she had lied to him. I was a bit uncomfortable with the lie she had told him, because now everyone was assuming I was obsessed with Spencer. I wasn't really, and even if I was, it was a mutual obsession. I got twice as many stares in the hallways now, and endless comments were made regarding the matter. It made me look bad, and usually I wouldn't care, but I was getting pretty sick of it. Now here Glen was, saying I was pathetic? He had no right to do that.
"You are so out of your league. Why must you insist on stalking straight girls? Ashley, you'd have more luck if you stuck to your kind." The way he said this struck me in the wrong way. I shook my head in disbelief.
"My kind? Glen, you don't know anything about me, and you don't know anything about your sister. So why don't you back off?" I clenched teeth, pushing him lightly and grabbing my backpack. I slung it over my shoulder, walking out the front door. I felt his eyes on me as I walked, and I didn't enjoy the feeling. I decided to get into my car and go to the mall. At least then I could get my mind off of everything.
He's
no good at being uncomfortable, so
He can't stop staying exactly
the same.
Glen's
POV
When I saw Ashley leave, I stepped back into the gym. I was feeling more annoyed than ever. I didn't understand why the girl was being so persistent. I didn't understand why she had this fixation on my sister. It was creepy. Spencer just put up with it, and Spencer was her friend. I think she felt sorry for her, because Ashley didn't have any other friends. Whatever the case was, she truly was pathetic.
I
grabbed the ball, dribbling it and then taking a shot from the
three-point line. I missed, letting out an annoyed groan.
"You're
a little off your game today, aren't you?" I heard a voice from
behind me. I turned around, face-to-face with Aiden. He and I didn't
get along very well, but it seemed now that we had a lot in common,
and we were friends. Well, sort of. I nodded, throwing the ball and
taking a seat on the bleachers. He sat down beside of me, running his
hands through his brown hair.
"Dude, practice ended 15 minutes ago. Why don't you head home?" I glanced at him for a moment. He shrugged. "I know, I haven't left yet either. It's just; I've been practicing a lot more lately because I've been thrown off for awhile. I think you know that, being the new star and all. Anyway, what's bothering you?"
I sighed. I wasn't one to share my problems. I hated doing so, but I didn't have problems often so I decided to let go and tell him what was going on.
"You know Ashley, your ex girlfriend? She's trying to convert my little sister to her team and well, I'm not too happy about it. Spencer says that Ashley's like obsessed with her or whatever. I just wish she'd leave her alone. Spencer's normal. Ashley needs to just realize that." Aiden let out a laugh as I said this, standing up. I stood up as well, grabbing the ball. We began to play a one-on-one game. A few minutes into the game, he stopped dribbling and looked my way.
"They almost kissed,
you know." He said this, and it was my turn to laugh. That sounded
crazy to me. Spencer was straight. Spencer didn't like girls.
"Sure
they did." I blocked him when he attempted to shoot, getting the
rebound and shooting back to the other side of the court. I made my
shot, and he patted me on the back.
"Denial is nobody's friend."
Ashley's
POV
If
there was a better way to go then it would find me.
I can't help
it; the road just rolls out behind me.
Be kind to me, or treat me
mean.
I'll make the most of it; I'm an extraordinary machine.
I went into Hot Topic. It was starting to be one of my favorite stores. I walked around for awhile, just browsing. I picked out a few random items. A rainbow belt, a keychain with a funny saying on it, and a cool pair of boots. I walked up to the counter and the cashier rung me up. I had once considered going goth. It would have been an interesting look for me. But it was a huge investment, difficult to do, and well, it would have given the kids at school license to mock me even more. I liked being a nonconformist, yes, but I didn't want to be too looked down on. Besides, I think the whole goth thing is overrated. It's not like it's nonconformity because there are so many people making the same 'statement'. It's all a little silly.
Grabbing
my bags, I walked out the door. I wasn't watching where I was going
and ran straight into Madison, who had been walking by. She scoffed,
looking at me with disgust on her face.
"Sorry." I muttered,
picking up the stuff I had dropped. She stood there, watching me.
"I still can't believe you denied me." Madison replied, stepping closer to me. I could feel her warm breath on my face. She stared into my eyes, and I unconsciously shivered. "You know, that Spencer girl isn't worth it. All you're doing is becoming even more of an outcast. I'm sure you don't want that." She said false-sweetly. I shrugged.
"I'd rather be an outcast than be with you. End of story. Madison, you're lower than low. Okay? Been there, done that, never going there again. It may have been exciting at the time, but there is nothing there, nothing real between us, and unfortunately I need something real. I need something, and I see that something in Spencer." I waved her away, not wanting to talk to her anymore. I was just so sick of everyone else. I wanted to be left alone. I knew I had to go home to get any real peace.
Madison's
POV
"You'll regret it!" I called after her. This was starting to drive me crazy. Ashley was the only girl I'd ever found myself attracted to. Our relationship, if you wanted to call it that, happened awhile ago. We were both at a party and got a little too drunk. You could guess where it went from there. Anyway, we dated secretly for awhile but then we broke up because it was a little much for both of us. I'd always had such a fixation on her, and that still hadn't disappeared.
She was the opposite of me in all ways. She wasn't really involved in anything at school, and she liked to keep to herself. She was weird. I liked that in her for some reason. The only thing we seemed to have in common was the need for attention and the fact that we were both seen has being hot. I didn't want to date her, but seeing her around Spencer made me so jealous. I didn't know what it was, but I felt so possessive. I wanted Ashley to be with me so she couldn't be with anyone else. I wasn't interested in a real relationship at all. She and I never did have a great relationship. Just a lot of carnal feelings we felt deep in our gut. Simple instinct we couldn't get over. I know I still hadn't got over it, but I wasn't sure about Ashley. She said she didn't feel anything for me. I was hoping that she was lying.
Anger came over me. I pulled out my credit card, ready for some intense retail therapy. It was a good thing I came from a rich family, because shopping was the only way I could make myself feel better. So I went shopping a lot.
Even shopping didn't help get my mind off of Ashley. Staring at the beautiful shoes in front of me, I sighed. Why did she make me feel this way? It didn't make any sense.
Ashley's
POV
I was home. Finally. I slipped into my warm bed, pulling the covers up over me. I turned on my IPod, putting in the headphones. I closed my eyes, and listened. It was good music. I always loved music, because it was so soothing to me. Ever since I was a little girl I would sing, and listen to whatever I could get my hands on. That came from my father. He used to sing me to sleep all the time. Nothing compared to the sound of his voice.
Now as a teenager, I strived to discover all sorts of new artists. I bought more CDs than I could listen to, and it seemed I was constantly listening to music. My newest favorite was what I was listening to right now. The band was called Azure Ray, and it was the most beautiful music I had ever heard.
Brilliant vocals filled my ears. Their lyrics were astounding. Seriously, the first time I heard them I was enchanted. They changed my life with just two lines. A couple more, and I was hooked. They changed my life.
A lot of Azure Ray's music reminded me of Spencer. This song was called Displaced, and it fit all of my feelings perfectly. I smiled to myself, turning off the IPod and picking up my cell phone. I called Spencer, desperately wanting to hear her voice.
Spencer's
POV
I
am the baby of the family, it happens, so
Everybody cares and
wears the sheeps' clothes,
While they chaperone.
Curious, you
looking down your nose at me, while you appease,
Courteous, to try
and help - but let me set your mind at ease.
I was excited when the phone rang. It was Ashley. I hadn't talked to her all day. She seemed focused on other things, and I was afraid she was mad at me. Glen told me about the talk they had, and it was bothering me. I thought maybe what he said had gotten to her. She knew how I felt about her, I hoped so at least, and she hadn't said anything to my brother. I was thankful for that, but I felt terrible. It felt like living a lie. I wanted to be able to come clean and just be happy. I knew I would do it soon.
"I'm
glad you called." I admitted, leaning back onto my bed, letting a
smile find it's way onto my face. I'd missed her, a lot. I could
almost hear her smile in response.
"So am I. How was your
day?"
"Pretty good, I guess." Both of us were silent for a moment. I liked the silence. The cool thing about Ashley and I was the fact that we didn't have to fill the silence. We were perfectly okay with it. We both often got lost in our own thoughts and dreams, and it didn't matter. We were so in tune with each other, sometimes we didn't even have to speak. It was so cliché but it was so true. She was my best friend. I was falling in love with her, and it was scary.
But somehow oddly familiar.
Tomorrow. I would tell them all tomorrow. I wasn't sure how Glen was going to react but I knew I had to do it sooner or later, and sooner was better than later. I was going to hold off on telling my parents for awhile, and hope Glen was nice enough not to say anything.
Do
I so worry you; you need to hurry to my side?
It's very kind.
But
it's to no avail; I don't want the bail.
I promise you, everything
will be just fine.
If
there was a better way to go then it would find me.
I can't help
it; the road just rolls out behind me.
Be kind to me, or treat me
mean.
I'll make the most of it; I'm an extraordinary
machine.
A/N: Only one more chapter, then the end.
