Howdy! Here's chapter three…this one is updated to date…so another post won't happen until probably later this week. Enjoy!
Chapter Three
One week later….
I was pacing back and forth in front of a small auditorium which was filled with board members and my teachers who would be deciding my fate. The bald man…I mean my principal had arranged this meeting and told me that if I was able to convince the board to allow me to try this he wouldn't object.
Spencer and I had worked hard on the presentation that I was about to present fine tuning the details to make it go as smoothly as possible. Mr. C even offered to be my audience while I ran through the presentation the night before. He had to occasionally stop me when I would begin to mumble as I read from the note cards in my hands.
I felt like I was going to pass out at any moment from the amount of tension that was pressing on my brain. I tried doing some breathing exercises but kept forgetting to actually breathe.
"Ash…sweetie are you ok?" Spencer asked as she placed a hand on the small of my back rubbing lightly.
"Yeah…just hyperventilating…that's all." I said letting out a deep sigh.
She pulled me in for a quick hug and kissed my cheek softly. "It will be ok…we went over your presentation so there should be no problems."
"You're right…we did work hard on that thing." I said trying to relax my muscles.
"Actually I worked hard on it…you pretty much just delegated the tasks to me…" She said shaking her head and smiling.
"Hey! It is very hard to keep the soda in supply and to rub your shoulders as you sit at the computer typing away." I said winking at her.
"Yeah sure…but really it should be ok." She stood in front of me and pushed a stray hair back making sure I looked perfect. "Now…when you get out there…just…umm…picture them naked or something."
I made a disgusted face at her and she laughed. "Gross…picturing middle-aged people naked…" I made gagging noises and she slapped me on the arm. "Shit…now I'm going to picture them naked now! Thanks Spence…thanks…"
She shrugged innocently but I saw the devilish twinkle in her eye. She was about to say something but Principal Barnes stepped out of the room and waved to me.
"We are ready for you." He said heading back inside.
Spencer again looked me over and kissed my nose lightly. "You look perfect…it will go fine." She said giving me her warm smile which always made me feel invincible.
"You're right….I can totally do this." I said puffing up my chest. She poked me in the stomach and the air blew out of my lungs causing me to giggle.
I shook my head at her and walked to the door placing one hand on the handle. I looked back at her and she mouthed an "I love you" and "Good Luck." I took one final deep breath and made my way inside the room.
As I entered inside, I noticed that the first two rows were full of people that I had no clue who they were. I looked at the stage and noticed the computer set up and my introduction slide on the large screen near the side of the stage.
I walked up to the podium and placed the note cards Spencer had helped me put together down. I picked up the remote that controlled the computer and held it firmly in my hand. I looked out at the crowd and saw Spencer, Kyla, Aiden, and even Madison sitting in the back looking at me intently.
"Good afternoon…" I said away from the microphone. "I'm Ashley Davies…"
"Ms. Davies, speak up please." Principal Barnes called out to me and I nodded my head.
I placed my face next to the microphone and began again. "Good afternoon…I'm Ashley Davies. I am here today to give a brief presentation on a project that I would like to partake in to complete my credits for my high school diploma."
I clicked the button and the next screen showed a large picture of the United States. I heard a round of small chuckles when I pushed the button again and a little car appeared over L.A.
"The project would work as follows…" I felt my confidence growing and when I looked out at Spencer and she smiled I knew that I could do this. "My trip would start here in L.A…."
I went into full explanation about my plans for the trip and how I would incorporate the core subjects that were being taught to the now graduating seniors. Spencer had thrown in pictures of some of the cities that I would go to and I could hear the murmurs amongst those in the crowd.
After the major portion of my presentation, I did a brief touch on the financial portion of my project. I had spoken to my trust fund attorney about this meeting and she had informed me that if I got approval from the board then my trip could be fully funded as long as I completed the project successfully. However, if I did not get approval the funds would not be released until my 21st birthday.
The crowd let out a relieved sigh when they heard me talk about the fact that I would pay for the entire project. I knew that would definitely get me some brownie points since the school board was pretty tight on their funds anyway. Clay had helped me figure out what the cost of the trip would be and projected estimates of how long it would take me to complete the project.
I opened the floor for any questions they might have had and tried to answer them as best as I could. I concluded my presentation and Principal Barnes walked up to me as I stood on the stage unsure of what to do next.
"Ms. Davies…why don't you take a seat outside while we discuss this and come to a decision." He said to me politely. I nodded my head and motioned to the group in the back to head out.
Spencer smiled at me proudly and reached for my hand as we headed out to start the waiting game.
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"Stop that…" I said pulling Ashley's fingers out of her mouth. She had a habit of biting her nails when she got really nervous and this was clearly driving her nuts.
She frowned at me and I kissed her softly hoping to calm her nerves somewhat. She smiled and pulled me in for another kiss and I couldn't help but smile.
"Ok…ok…obviously you're better now." I said standing up not wanting to start making out especially when the board members and the principal were just inside the auditorium only a few feet away.
"Nope…I need a few more kisses then I will be set…" She said reaching for my waist. I stepped back a step and she frowned at me crossing her arms. "You're girlfriend's hurting and you won't even take a few minutes to make out with her…so not cool Spence."
"Hey don't guilt me…I was totally going to make it up to you later but if you are going to be a big baby about it all then forget it." I said sticking my tongue out at her.
"Oh…really? Hmm…and baby what exactly were you planning on doing later?" She said standing and taking a step towards me.
Her arms were starting to wrap around my waist and her lips were about to kiss my neck when the door to the auditorium opened. Principal Barnes stepped out and cleared his throat and we disengaged looking at him with flushed faces.
"Ms. Davies….we have reached a decision. Please come inside….umm…alone." He said looking at Aiden, Kyla, Madison, and me.
"Ok…" She turned towards me and frowned and I blew her a kiss. She followed Principal Barnes back inside and I let out a deep sigh.
I walked over to where Madison was standing and looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "So Madison…you never answered my question from earlier…why are you here exactly?"
"I'm here to support Ashley…" I laughed at the insincerity in her voice. "Ok fine…I wanted to see the little hootchie cry."
"Hey don't say that about my sister!" Kyla said stepping up to the Latina. Madison feigned a look of fear and then laughed at Kyla.
"You don't scare me…well I guess I will head off to find some people who actually matter." She said walking away.
"I can't believe she actually showed up to this…how did she find out?" I asked in disbelief.
Aiden shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot and both Kyla and I looked at him with suspicious eyes.
"You didn't!" Kyla squealed at her boyfriend. He looked down and he received a well-deserved whack to his arm.
"She pressured me!" He said bracing himself for another whack to his arm from his smaller girlfriend.
I couldn't help but laugh as Kyla abused Aiden for inviting the torment of Ashley's life to this very important event.
"Fuck stop…baby…I'm sorry…" He said holding Kyla's arms to her side. Kyla quickly changed her mood from anger to lust and began to make out with Aiden right there.
I looked away shaking my head at the two and watched the door waiting for Ashley to reappear. We waited for another ten minutes when finally Ashley stepped out.
I tried to read her expression but I couldn't. Her eyes were blank and there was no smile or frown on her face. I walked up to her and placed a hand on her arm. She looked at me and let a pout appear over her gorgeous features.
"Aww…baby…they didn't go for it did they?" I said pulling her in for a hug.
She clung to me and I stroked her hair with my hands. She pulled back and looked me straight in the eyes.
"It's horrible Spencer…because now I have to spend the entire summer traveling the country with my girlfriend!" She exclaimed sticking her tongue out at me.
I smacked her arm and pushed her off me. She bent over laughing and Aiden gave her a high five. "That is so not funny!" I said crossing my arms.
"Baby…I was just messing with you. They totally loved the idea. They really liked the fact that I wasn't asking for a dime and that's what sealed the deal." She said pulling me towards her.
I continued to pout as she held onto me tightly kissing the top of my head. She moved us from side to side until I couldn't help but laugh and wrap my arms around her body.
"Well I'm glad they went for it…now you really do have to take this seriously. That's the condition for me coming along." I said giving her a serious look.
"I know I know." She said rolling her eyes. She suddenly got an idea and turned to Aiden and Kyla. "Hey…do you guys want to go on the trip too? I could use another driver and you two know about other stuff too right?"
I looked at her with a curious glance and then looked at Aiden and Kyla waiting for their answers. They looked at each other and shrugged.
"Sure…for the summer right?" Kyla asked Ashley who nodded.
"I'm in…as long as Kyla doesn't drive. I'm sure you would like to live to actually finish the project." He said with a smile when his girlfriend struck him again. "Ow…fuck…stop doing that!" He said looking at his girlfriend who was pouting now.
"I'm a good driver." Kyla said proudly.
"Ok well I'll count you two in then…come on Spence. I have some tension to work off." She said slipping her arm around my waist and pulling us towards the parking lot.
"I so did not need to hear that!" Kyla yelled at us. Ashley and I laughed as we headed towards her car to head back to her place to "relax."