Ashley still lay sprawled out in bed, staring at her wall, clinging to her stuffed alligator. She hears a knock at her door and yells at whoever it is to go away.

"Ashley! Open this door right this second, you haven't been to one single class today and you missed your morning detention!"

"I don't care!"

Hearing her lock click, Chelsea opens the door and walks in, "Ashley, what's going on? I haven't seen you in like two days." She takes in the empty bottles on the floor and lets out a small sigh. Sitting down on the bed, she starts to stroke Ashley's greasy hair. "Again?"

Ashley only nods.

"How about you take a shower? It might make you feel better."

"A shower won't make this go away Chels."

Chelsea nods, "Was it Madison?" She only nods slightly, still staring at her wall. Chelsea stands, "Ok, you get up and shower Ashley; I have something to take care of. I better see you in class tomorrow, this isn't helping anything. And you'd better be sober!" She quickly gathers up the bottles spewed about the room and throws them away. She kisses Ashley on the forehead and leaves the room in search of Madison, pissed off beyond belief.

Meanwhile, Ashley rolls out of bed, landing with a thud on the floor. The room is still spinning and she can't see straight. In a pathetic attempt of a crawl, she makes her way to her closet, in search of another bottle.

"Madison!" The girl turns around looking slightly alarmed when she hears Chelsea. "What the hell is wrong with you?" Chelsea storms up to her and slams her hard against the wall.

"OW! Let go of me!" Madison squirms in Chelsea's grasp, but is only slammed harder into the wall.

"You stay the hell away from her Madison."

"And if I don't?"

Chelsea slams her against the wall once more, and then lets go. She starts to fix Madison's collar while smiling evilly, "Then I'll just have to fill everyone in on your little addiction and just how much you liked Mr. Hawthorne and Ms. Jackson. Mommy and Daddy would be so proud now wouldn't they?"

Madison's eyes bulge out at this as she stands completely still, terrified. "You wouldn't!"

"Try me. Mention that to Ashley or anyone else ever again, and I'll make it so you wish you were dead. I know everything that goes on around here; you think Ashley is bad, mess with me." Chelsea takes a step back and smiles once again, "Now run along, and play nice!" Madison takes off as soon as Chelsea says this, running into her room slamming the door once she gets in, pissed off and terrified.

Chelsea straightens out her uniform, before walking toward her room, ignoring stares from her classmates that just witnessed it. She wasn't worried about them saying anything, they all knew better.

Hearing another knock on her door, Ashley attempts to throw her half empty bottle of Schnapps at the door but fails miserably, as it landed right next to her. 'Just go away!"

Whoever is at the door does not listen however, because the door is opening slowly. In walks Miss Carlin looking furious. "Ashley, where were you this morning and during class!?"

Ashley squints up at Miss Carlin from her position on the floor, seeing three of her, and smiles weakly, "Why? Did you miss me?"

Miss Carlin looks at her for a second and then around the room, finally noticing the bottles of alcohol in the garbage and the bottle lying next to Ashley, "You're drunk!"

"See Miss C, that's why I like you. You're smart and nothing gets passed you."

Miss Carlin rolls her eyes and takes a seat next to Ashley on the floor. "Is this why you missed everything?"

"Apparently the school doesn't like when people show up to class intoxicated. It's against the rules or something." Ashley responds weakly, still clinging to her stuffed alligator and staring at the wall.

Miss Carlin lets out a small sigh, "I should tell the principal you know."

"Then tell, maybe then they'll send me away forever and I'll never have to go home."

"Why wouldn't you want to go home?"

Ashley looks at Miss Carlin and then reaches for her Schnapps she attempted to throw at the door, about to take a drink, "Not enough Schnapps." She doesn't get to however because Miss Carlin snatches the bottle out of her hands.

"I think you've had plenty."

"No Miss C, there's never enough to make it go away."

"To make what go away?"

Ashley just shakes her head and clings on tighter to her alligator.

Miss Carlin sighs and stands, "Ashley, get up and clean yourself up. I expect to see you tomorrow morning for detention and in class. Don't disappoint me."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It's 5th period now, meaning lunch. And there's no sign of Ashley. Chelsea walks up to their usual table and sits down next to Kyla, "Hey, have you seen my sister? I haven't seen her since she barged into my room. I wanted to apologize to her, but she won't answer her door."

Chelsea only nods, "Yeah, umm… she wasn't feeling well. I think she's coming down with a cold or something."

"Really? Maybe I should go check on her."

Chelsea stands, "No! I mean, I will. You just enjoy your lunch, I'm sure she's fine anyways. Just sleeping or something…" Kyla looks at her oddly for a minute and then just nods. Chelsea moves away from the table letting out a sigh, glad she prevented Kyla from seeing her sister like this. That would only raise questions, and that's not good.

As she's about to head out of the dining room doors she's cut off by Miss Carlin. "Chelsea I'd like a word please. Ashley didn't show up to detention yesterday morning or today and she missed class…"

"Yeah she uh, isn't feeling too well. I think it's a cold or something."

"Or it could be all the alcohol she consumed." Chelsea looks alarmed at this, but says nothing, "you will tell her if she isn't in class today, I will let Mrs. Keaton deal with this which will result in expulsion." She turns on her heel and glides away, out of the dining room.

"Ashley!" Chelsea lets out a small groan and takes off towards her room. Barging into the Ashley's room she finds the girl passed out on the floor, but still breathing. Sighing she attempts to lift the girl, but fails. Glancing out into the hallway, she spots the boy she's been making googily eyes with during lunch walking by. "Hey! Can I borrow you for a second?"

The boy looks startled, but quickly smiles when he sees who it is, "Yeah sure, what's up?"

"Well…" Chelsea points down to Ashley, "Could you help me move her?"

Noticing the empty bottle next to the girl, he nods and picks Ashley up by himself, "Where to?"

Chelsea smiles appreciatively, "Thanks, to the shower."

The boy raises his eyebrows, but carries her in there anyway. Placing her in the shower gently, he walks back into the room and smiles, "There you go."

"Thanks, I'm Chelsea by the way." She holds out her hand for him to take.

He does so and smiles, "I know, I'm Clay. It's nice to finally meet you Chelsea."

"Likewise. Well, not to kick you out or anything, but I'm about to make her real pissed off and I'd hate for her to take it out on you."

Clay nods in agreement, "That wouldn't be fun." He takes a step towards the door before smiling again, "good luck, and hopefully I'll see you soon." He walks out of the door, shutting it quietly behind him.

Realizing she's still smiling goofily at the door, Chelsea snaps out of it and walks back into the bathroom. "Sorry Ash, but it's the only way." She turns on the cold water and lets it run until the small brunette wakes up screaming.

"What the hell!" Ashley attempts to stand but slips and crashes back down. Holding back a laugh Chelsea turns the water off and grabs a towel. "I'm going to kill you Chelsea!"

"No, you're going to thank me!" She throws the towel at Ashley and smiles "now take a shower and get ready for class. If you don't show up Miss Carlin will tell about your little drinking problem." She walks out of the bathroom and shuts the door behind her; standing by it until she hears the water start running again. Letting out a small sigh she begins to clean up Ashley's mess she has made in the past two and a half days.

Fifteen minutes later Ashley sheepishly walks out of the bathroom in a towel, feeling a little better. "Thanks Chels, I needed it; I smelled." Chelsea just nods and continues messing around on Ashley's computer while Ashley walks over to her dresser to get her uniform out. A few minutes later she walks out of the bathroom in the blue and red plaid skirt, white collared button up shirt, and the red and blue striped tie hanging loosely around her neck. "Are you ready to go?"

Chelsea nods as she exits out of the internet, "Yeah lets go."

They had missed lunch and 6th period getting Ashley up so they went straight to English. Walking in, they head over to their seats and Ashley glances over at Madison who glares at her, but soon stops when Chelsea notices. "I don't think I can stay awake for long," Ashley states as she tries to stifle a yawn.

As soon as she says this Miss Carlin walks in, "Oh good Ashley, you decided to grace us with your presence today."

Ashley smirks, "Yeah, I figured you'd start missing me too much if I stayed away for too long." Miss Carlin rolls her eyes and sets a large bag on her desk and starts to get situated. As she is doing this Ashley eyes her up in down; she couldn't help it, Miss Carlin was just too damn attractive. She took in the blonde's wavy hair that fell over her fitted blue tee and then her eyes traveled down to her legs that looked amazing as usual sticking out of a white flowing skirt. Ashley smiles to herself; she's definitely an amazing dresser. Miss Carlin looks up from her things she's sorting through, catching Ashley's eye and smiles.

She holds eye contact for a second or two and Ashley feels on fire. Her stomach is once again doing flip flops, but she pushes the feelings aside deciding it is just the alcohol in her still. Miss Carlin looks around the room and smiles at everyone else now, "Hello everyone, how are you?" A few mumble something, but no one truly responds, which causes her to chuckle, "that good, huh? Well luckily for ya'll, we are starting a new book. Since we just read Kite Runner, I'd like to switch it up a little and go for something lighter. And out of your picks, the novel we'll be reading for the next three weeks is The Devil Wears Prada." A few of the boys let out small groans and Miss Carlin turns to look at them, "Aiden and Clay, why are you two groaning? I know for a fact you two chose this book for your lists."

The class laughs a little as the boys turn bright red. Aiden shakes his head and looks down at his desk, "Clay told me to!"

"Anyways," Miss Carlin lifts the two bags she brought in and hands one to Madison and one to Aiden, "take one and pass this around 'til everyone has one." Once everyone has one, Miss Carlin takes a seat in an open desk with her book and hand. "So, lets get started."

Ashley, who has already read this book numerous times, lets out a sigh and puts her head on her desk, dosing off quickly.

They get through the history of the author and they discuss why the majority chose it, when Miss Carlin notices Ashley asleep. Chelsea, also noticing, goes to wake her up, but Miss Carlin shakes her head. She looks around the room and then at the clock. "Ok, that is it for today, you all may go. Have the first two chapters read and a short summary to turn in." They all look at her surprised for a second, and then quickly stand to leave, afraid she'll change her mind. Class, after all, only started twenty minutes ago. Chelsea looks at Ashley and then back at Miss Carlin, who once again shakes her, "leave her." She nods and hurries out of the classroom.

Miss Carlin stares at Ashley for a minute before sighing and going to sit at her desk. Taking out a stack of papers, she begins to grade them and never wakes Ashley.

It's not until around 4 o'clock that Ashley stirs. She sits up in the desk a bit sore, and confused. Looking around, it finally clicks as to where she is; Miss Carlin sitting up at her desk wearing glasses and grading papers is what clued her in. "Where is everyone else at?"

Miss Carlin looks up slowly and just stares at Ashley for a while, "Well since you were so bored with my lesson today, I figured everyone else must be too and let them go. But that was about an hour and a half ago." She looks back down to the paper she was grading and finishes it up. Ashley begins to stand and gather her things but is interrupted, "Sit."

She does so and looks over at Miss Carlin, who is now standing and walking over to her. "You want to waste my time? Now I'll waste yours, you're going to serve both of your detentions right now and then I'm giving you another morning detention tomorrow."

Ashley stands now, a little mad, in front of Miss Carlin, "You can't make me stay here for an extra hour and then give me morning detention for no reason."

Miss Carlin takes another step forward, now only a few inches away from Ashley, "No reason? I caught you in your room drinking and intoxicated; you missed class without an excuse and missed your two morning detentions. And," she tugs a little on Ashley's loosely knotted tie which only pulls Ashley closer to her, "you still aren't wearing your uniform properly. I think I have enough reason."

Ashley's breath hitches as she realizes just how close they are standing; she can feel the heat from Miss Carlin's body. Gulping, she attempts to smirk, but fails miserably. "Maybe you should fix it then…" she mumbles.

Miss Carlin fixes the tie gently and looks Ashley up and down, taking all of her in, "There, perfect."

Ashley smiles, catching what she really meant, "You think so?"

Miss Carlin only nods weakly. She goes to remove her hands, but Ashley grabs her to stop her. Miss Carlin looks at her, causing Ashley to get lost in those blue eyes. Ashley starts to inch forward her lips targeting the soft looking lips in front of her. However as soon as she gets close enough Miss Carlin turns her head, causing Ashley to kiss her cheek instead. Miss Carlin closes her eyes when she feels the soft lips touch her skin, indulging herself for a moment. Reality hitting her, she takes a step back and lets out a deep breath as she straightens her top. "That's all for today Ashley, I have things to attend to. You can serve your detention tomorrow morning."

"Spe… I mean Miss C, wait…"

She just shakes her head and walks back to her desk, collecting her things. "I'll see you tomorrow Miss Davies."