IV.
isn't there a white knight upon a fiery steed?
"Ashley, we can't take her with us!"
"What else are we supposed to do? I can't leave her here, Mads, Not after what happened."
"You're gonna have to, 'cause she's not coming."
"Why not!" Ashley paced back and forth, running her hands through her hair roughly, as Madison stood her ground, eyes full of fury.
"It's too dangerous and you know it!"
"I'm not leaving her again, not after what happened!"
"What is your fascination with this girl anyway, Ash'?" Ashley stopped in her tracks at Madison's quiet question. Her face twisted in an expression like confusion.
"I-Mads, I don't…" A soft sigh interrupted Ashley, sending her to Spencer's side within seconds. "Spencer?" The girl in question opened her eyes reluctantly and looked at Ashley in bewilderment.
"Wha…" She sat up, with Ashley's gentle assistance. "…what's going on?"
"Aah, you fainted Spence'. We brought you back t' camp."
Spencer looked around frantically, "But why did I…" She sat back suddenly, leaning into the other girl, who held her steadily. "Oh." Ashley tried a small smile as Spencer remembered the events that brought her back with them, but she only managed a small twitch of her lips. "I don't remem…there was a man. He…he attacked me." Ashley nodded with a remorseful gleam in her eyes.
"I-we found you," the apologetic girl supplied.
"You saved me?"
She looks so sweet and innocent (and so reminiscent of another naive girl she knew) that Ashley can't help but grin and say, "Yeah, I'm your knight in shining armor."
--
"Tell me a story?"
"What kinda story ya want, Kye?"
"A fairy tale, with a pretty princess and a knight. You know, with kisses and stuff."
Ashley chuckled from her spot sitting next to Kyla's legs on her pink bed. The little girl was all curled up in bed, covers to her chin (placed lovingly by Ashley). "Ok, let me think…well, once upon a time there was a princess with long, beautiful blonde hair and shining blue eyes named Samantha. She was the prettiest girl ever born, and also the nicest anyone had ever known. She lived with her father, the kind king Arthur. The princess was happy, but she wished for someone to love, for her soul mate. She searched the kingdom high and low to find the person she was meant to be with.
"One day, a knight came to the kingdom on a mission to fight a dragon and he stopped at the castle to pay his respects to the king and princess. Princess Samantha fell in love the moment she saw him, handsome in his armor with gorgeous brown eyes and…"
"Wait!" Ashley looked up, surprised by Kyla's outburst. Her sister had sat up, flinging off her covers with excitement.
"What's wrong?"
"I don't like the knight, he's not right."
"Well, what do ya want him to be like?"
The young girl looked contemplative for a second before her eyes lit up with an idea. "Make 'em like you! You're the bravest person I know!"
"Like a girl and everything?"
"Yeah, like you and Jess!"
Ashley smiled, "Oook. Here we go again." She paused for dramatic effect with a mischievous grin on her face. "The knight arrived at the castle and Princess Sam fell in love at first sight. The knight was a girl, not a boy, because boys are ugly and smelly." Kyla giggled in glee, clapping her hands. "She was beautiful, like the princess, but strong and brave, braver than any guy knight. Her name was Amanda. Her hair was curly and cut short and her eyes were deep pools of brown, so deep the princess thought she would drown in them. The knight fell in love with the princess, too, but she didn't act all girly and shi…er, stuff, 'cause ya gotta act cool if ya wanna get the girl." Ashley said matter-of-factly and Kyla nodded along, taking in the information. "They kissed that night, under the stars, and the knight proclaimed her everlasting love to the fair princess, bein' all smooth and charmin'," Ashley winked.
"But Amanda still had to fight the dragon, so she said goodbye to her girl and set off to defeat it. Samantha stayed at the castle for a week, biting her nails and waiting for her brave knight to return. Finally, Amanda returned, a little beat up, but victorious and lookin' really sweaty and hot. They embraced, and kissed and then Amanda picked her up, took her to bed and made sweet, sweet lo…" A throat cleared from the doorway and Ashley looked up to see Jess leaning against the door, shaking her head in amusement. Ashley gave her a sheepish smile. "Well…let's just say they lived happily ever after."
Kyla clapped and cheered, hugging her big sister with enthusiasm, "That was the best story ever!"
Ashley laughed and made Kyla lay back, tucking her in once again, "It's time for you to go to sleep now, kiddo. So shut your eyes or I'll beat ya up." Kyla giggled and squirmed as the older girl poked her in the sides.
Her sister stood and headed towards the door, giving Jess a peck on the lips when she got close enough. She took the other girl's hand and went to leave, but Kyla called out for her. Ashley turned with raised eyebrows and Kyla gave a timid smile, "You're my knight 'n shining armor."
Ashley grinned and nodded, "Yup, and I'll always protect you. Now go to sleep, rugrat."
"Ok, Ash'. Night."
"Night." She and Jess left, hand in hand, and Kyla drifted to sleep moments later, a secure smile across her lips.
--
The guitar's sound filled the night air, the only noise in an otherwise dead night. Ashley stared into the fire as her fingers moved, ignoring her companions. The fight between her and Madison had not been resolved – Madison was just being stubborn (and a bitch), according to Ashley – and Spencer had been silent the entirety of the night, sensing the tension between the friends. The blonde girl shifted uncomfortably on a log, the air heavy with unresolved conflicts.
Playing the guitar has agitated Ashley rather than calm her, making her annoyed for their avoidance of the issue. Madison huffs every once and awhile, sitting primly on a log with her arms crossed over her chest tightly.
When the Latina sighed for the hundredth time, Ashley stopped playing abruptly, slamming her hand against her instrument. Spencer flinched, fixing her gaze on the ground, but Madison just raised her eyebrows at the other girl.
"Fuck, Madison, what is your problem?"
"You know what my problem is, Ashley. She can't go with us!" Spencer kept her gaze to the dirt resolutely, but her eyes watered slightly as she listened to the argument.
"She's not going back there, I don't care what you say. It's not safe."
"So what? We've known her for a day, she's not our responsibility!"
"She is. I'm not losing her, not again," Ashley murmured, eyes pleading with the other girl.
"Oh, Ash," Madison's eyes widened in realization and a pitying note comes into her voice. "She's not…"
"Stop. She's coming, that's final." Ashley's jaw was set, eyes hard. Madison acquiesced, giving a small nod. Spencer looked to each of the girls with confusion, wondering what had just transpired.
Both girls looked far away for several minutes before Ashley perked up suddenly, looking to Spencer with a grin. "So, you ready to travel with the crazies?" Her smile was infectious and the blonde returned it with a small one of her own. She nodded quickly.
Ashley resumed her playing with barely a glance to Madison. Her fingers danced with vigor, and soon the argument was forgotten.