Sorry this chapter took so long I'll try to get the next chapter done quicker.
Chapter 17
Ashley A POV
Okay Ashley you can do this.
This is no big deal. Just walk in there and place an order. Ignore everyone else, whatever there saying doesn't matter. It really doesn't. What do they know anyways.
"Icream?" A little voice that I have come to know so well interrupts my thoughts making me realize that I had been standing on the street for quite awhile now trying to talk myself into going into Kelso's.
Who would have thought three years ago that I would have been worried about going somewhere that was constantly packed with people my age. I mean I certainly didn't, I lived to go to the popular places so I could watch what my friends and I use to call the unfortunate people. We'd laugh at what they wore, who they were with and other such nonsense. I defiantly never thought the princess of popularity would fall so hard. But then again things happen… life happens and I won't regret a moment of it.
"Mommy, Icream!" I look down at the little girl who looks so much like me and smile. My baby girl sure got a lot of my traits. From her blond hair, blue eyes as well as her inability to wait.
"Yes baby girl, lets go get your ice cream." I say as I smile down into the blue eyes that stole my heart immediately. Little Sara, who is the reason that I am now one of the biggest topics of discussion and laughter and also the reason I won't let what they say bother me. Who gives a rats ass what they say I have more important things to deal with then them.
With this in mind I quickly cross the street pushing Sara's stroller towards Kelso's.
Opening the door to the diner I awkwardly maneuver the stroller through the doorway ignoring the stares coming my way.
"Here let me help you Ashley" I look up into Kelso's friendly face and smile. When I had been pregnant I had craved ice cream more then anything. He had never looked at me as if I had made the worst mistake of my life nor had he ever treated me badly. Actually he had treated me better then ever always going out of his way to make sure I had what I wanted. We chatted when no one was around and told him some of my fears. He in fact became some what of a grandfather figure to me.
Helping me through the door, I went to the side where I could take Sara out of her stroller.
"Hi Kelo! Mama said I coud hav icream today" Sara said as she grinned at Kelso. Even after Sara was born she stilled loved her ice cream.
"Well aren't you a lucky little girl Sara." Kelso said as he tickled her making her shriek with laughter. Sara's shriek drew a little too much attention for my liking but it also brought out Debbie, Kelso's wife. Upon seeing Sara she grinned and made her way to her side.
"Hello Ashley" she said as she finally reached us before turning her attention to Sara.
It was one of Sara's gifts. She was so cute and sweet that almost every adult fell in love with her. And she of course lapped up the attention, smiling sweetly and doing whatever she could to make them love her more.
Kelso finally looked up at me and grinned. "She's a piece of work you know that. Debbie just wants to take her into the back and play with her for a bit. Is that okay?" He asks even as Debbie starts walking away with Sara. I nod as I laugh, every time I came in here Debbie always ran of with Sara to play with her.
Looking around the diner I freeze as I see my old friends sitting in a booth glancing over at me slightly then whispering and laughing. I quickly begin to look for a table, my eyes falling slightly over other people that I once new, I freeze again when I see TJ and the old gang…… Is that Gus? Well damn. If the little guy didn't grow up to be extremely hot. I didn't even know that they all kept in touch.
My heart gives a little pang wishing that I had friends like that but I ignore it and continue to look for somewhere to sit. Unfortunately all the seats are taken so my choices are slim. I can A) go sit with my old friends and let them pretend to be my best friends as they influences on my daughter badly. B) I can go into the back room because I know I'm allowed but there isn't really any where to sit. C) I can go ask TJ and his friends if I can sit with them cause I'm sure they would let me. Or D) I can go up to a complete stranger and ask if I can sit with them.
Wonderful choices really, I look towards TJ and see that they really don't have room for me let alone Sara so that one's out. The Ashley's just get on my nerves so no way in hell am I sitting with those back stabbers, plus I don't want them to rub of on Sara. So lets see if there is anyone here I can sit with. Looking now for someone sitting on there own my eyes fall on a girl near the back of the diner who looks like she's doing homework.
Well here goes anything. Making my way towards her I ignore once again the looks I'm getting and continue to the booth she's in.
"Excuse me do you mind if I join you" I ask as I look down at the girl. After a moment of no response I try again but am once again greeted with silence.
Screw it if she wants to be rude I'll be rude to. With my mind made up I slip down into the seat across from her. After a moment of silence I look over to the papers on the table. To my surprise I see that she's drawing the diner and it's actually very good.
She looks up from the picture and jumps back with wide eyes when she sees me sitting across from her.
"Sorry every where else was taken. I asked if I could sit….."
She laughs then while holding a hand over her heart. "No big deal. Muriel is always telling me that when I'm drawing I go into another world. Any ways I'm Elli" She says as she throws her hand out toward me.
I grin at her warm smile "Ashley" I say as I shake her hand.
"A, Ashley A" She says as her eyes go wide. What the hell. How does she know me? God damn it are people starting to tell new students who I am.
Seeing me scowl she looks a little puzzled just as I'm about to get up and collect Sara, Debbie arrives handing me Sara with Kelso right behind her holding two bowls of ice cream.
I look over at Elli and see her eyes go wide again as she looks from Sara to me and back to Sara.
"Is she yours?" She asks with a slight bafflement to her voice. I nod slightly no meeting her eyes. I can feel the tears coming. Damn it I hate it when this happens why can't everyone leave me and Sara alone.
"I take it since you aren't sitting with the other Ashley's your no longer friends with them." I look up in surprise seeing her look over at the table of Ashley's then back at me. She studies me for a moment then smiles softly and looks down at Sara.
"Hi, I'm Ashley S. what's your name?" She asks Sara as she keeps one eye on Sara and the other on me. My mouth drops open as I look at the girl across from me.
"Spinelli?" I gasp as she laughs slightly.
"I really do go by Elli now just so you know." I'm still gaping at her as she says that. How could this be Spinelli? She just kind of disappeared in elementary school. And why wouldn't she be sitting with her old gang?
"What are doing here?" I ask absolutely mystified by the sight of her in front of me. She smiles slightly before shaking her head.
"Well…. My guardian had a heart attack a month ago and I came home because I figured it was time" She laughs slightly "You know nobody has recognized me. The only person who knows who I am is Eric Menlow, and the only reason he figured it out was because the boy is still working in the damn office" she finishes with a snort. I stare at her for a moment then begin to laugh.
"So why tell me?"
Looking at me, and then at Sara and over to the Ashley's she smiles slightly but it doesn't really reach her eyes.
"I thought that you would understand the need to make a new you." She says finally while she shrugs her shoulders. Looking down at Sara who is now absolutely covered in chocolate ice cream I grin, she's right I do understand.
Sara makes a grab for her spoon again but some how ends up flinging the ice cream on the spoon at Elli. Much to my horror and amusement it gets her right in the face causing her to jump slightly and look down at Sara in surprise who is now giggling.
"O so you think its funny, well try this" Elli says as she takes her own spoon and balances it on her nose the way we used to in elementary school causing Sara to shriek again with laughter. I smile knowing that if Sara had done that to one of my old friends they would have been pissed. Reaching over to Sara with a napkin I begin to clean her face while dipping the end of the napkin into my water cup to help with the scrubbing.
Removing the spoon from her nose still smiling at me she shakes her head. "Life sure does take you to places you never dreamed of going doesn't it." I look up at her from cleaning my sticky daughter and grin at her. Yes, yes it does. Who would have thought that I would one day be making friends with Ashley Spinelli my one time enemy on the playground but I guess stranger things have happened.