"Chelsea, there you are!" Ashley walks into the lounge and falls down onto the couch in between her and some boy that was talking to her, "Please tell me again why I don't like other people or have you know…those weird feelings for them." She shudders at the idea of this and looks at her friend waiting for her answer.
"Because girls are full of drama and it's better to have your fun with them and move on before they get too clingy or worse, you start to fall for them and then they hurt you. So no matter how hot they are, it's not worth it." Chelsea answers.
She's about to reply to the falling for someone part, but does not get to because the boy next to her is speaking to her, "What's wrong with having feelings for someone?"
Ashley glances over at Chelsea then at the boy, then back to Chelsea, "Please tell whoever this is that unless I direct a question towards him he is not to try and converse with me."
Chelsea just shakes her head as the boy looks a little taken aback. "Ashley be nice, this is my new friend Clay. Clay, this charming girl is Ashley, my best friend."
Ashley smiles at the last part ignoring the hand being offered to her by the dark skinned boy. Instead of taking it, she eyes him up and down, taking in his nice smile and his dark jeans with an orange polo. "I don't like him," she turns her attention back to Chelsea, "Ok, now back to me. And go."
Chelsea shakes her head again and smiles, "Sorry Clay, can we finish this conversation later?"
He nods with a smile, "Sure, I'll see you later. It was uh… nice meeting you Ashley."
"Of course it was." Ashley looks over at Chelsea, "seriously, this guy?" She points to him with her thumb and has her head tilted with an exasperated expression across her face. This only makes Chelsea laugh, and Clay shakes his head as he stuffs his hands in his pockets and walks away.
Once he's goes across the room to join Aiden and Kyla at the pool table, Chelsea turns her attention back to Ashley, "Ok, so who is the girl?"
"What makes you think there's a girl?"
"Because the last time you said this to me you were crushing hard on Madison."
"Chelsea! I did not crush on Madison! If anything, she was the one crushing on me!"
"Right Ashley, you didn't share those feelings at all…you didn't tell her your biggest secret ever, practically spend every night with her sophomore and part of junior year or tell her you wanted something more than just sex…got it." Chelsea responds in a dead-pan tone.
"Ugh, whatever! Why do I put up with you?" Ashley stands now and starts to walk out of the lounge, "it's like you don't even know me!"
Chelsea rolls her eyes and walks over to the pool table joining Aiden, Kyla, and Clay. "Hey guys, can I join?"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ashley woke up early the next day for detention only to spend a half hour with Miss Carlin and despite how early it was, she is in a decent mood. So when she found the note hanging on the classroom door that her detention was cancelled, she was not pleased.
After reading the few words over and over again, Ashley balls up the paper and throws it at some random person walking by. Pissed off, she storms to Miss Carlin's office and attempts to walk in, but it is locked. After knocking a few times and getting no response, she takes off down the hallway. Once she's in front of Miss Carlin's room door she pounds on it. After a minute or so of continuous pounding, the door creaks open. She leans against her doorframe clad in pajama bottoms and a long sleeved Henley top with her hair still wet. "What are you doing here?"
"What am I doing here?! Why aren't you in your classroom right now? I woke up an hour early today for this damn thing and you cancel it?! You can't do that!"
Miss Carlin nods, "Yes I can."
"No you can not!" Frustrated beyond belief, Ashley stomps her foot as she says this.
Miss Carlin raises her eyebrow, "Are you going to throw a tantrum?"
"You can not just cancel something you've been yelling at me about for the past three days!"
"I don't ever recall yelling at you Ashley…"
"That is not the point!"
"You know for someone who put up a pretty big fight to not attend morning detention before, you're a little too upset about me canceling it. Did you miss me, as that what this is about?" An amused expression forms on Miss Carlin's face as she eyes the girl.
Throwing Ashley off, she falters, "What? I…" Shaking her head she stands straighter with her fists clenched, "I do not miss or need anyone."
She shakes her head, "Ashley relax, I was only kidding."
Ashley nods, unclenching her fists and sighs, "I just wanted to talk to you about yesterday…"
Mentioning this causes Miss Carlin's body to stiffen, "What about it?"
"I'm sorry for trying to kiss you… you're just so unbelievably gorgeous that I couldn't help myself." Ashley looks confused with herself as she says this, as if she does not quite believe the words belong to her. Never, has she been sorry for trying to kiss someone, ever.
Miss Carlin blushes at this, but then shakes her head, "Don't worry about it, and just make sure it doesn't happen again."
Ashley looks up at her, their eyes locking immediately, and she whispers, "I'll try…"
After only a few seconds Miss Carlin sighs, "Right well, you should go now. You aren't supposed to really be hanging out with me around my room. You know, one of those school policy things. See you later Ashley."
Ashley nods, turning to leave, and heads down the hall back to her room for a quick nap.
Miss Carlin watches her go, eying her petite body up and down and feeling her desire only grow stronger. Sighing, she shuts her door and leans up against it. After taking a few breaths she pushes herself off of the door and starts to get ready.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Over the course of the week Miss Carlin didn't acknowledge Ashley at all unless it was to discuss the current book they were reading in class. When class was let out she would always be talking to a student or leaving with the class as they left the room. This did not make Ashley happy.
In a constant bad mood because of this, Ashley began to take it out on Madison, Aiden, and anyone else who got in her way. Throughout the next week, she had tripped Aiden while he was carrying his lunch tray causing his food to go everywhere and his juice to ruin his shirt; this of course reserved her a seat in detention. Madison had hot pink hair until she could get a hold of her stylist because Ashley messed with her shampoo bottle. Multiple freshmen and sophomores were yelled at everyday, which was a usual occurrence before Miss Carlin started ignoring her, just not as often. Classes did not go undisturbed and everyone was despising whoever pissed her off by the end of the week.
Kyla, sick of her sister's actions and poor attitude, storms up to Ashley in the hallway as she's on her way to her room. "What the hell is wrong with you now?"
Ashley slowly stops walking and turns around, her face displaying no emotion, "What do you want Kyla?" she asks disinterested in her sister.
"I know it was you who put itching powder all over Aiden's underwear and put glue all over his toilet seat, what the hell is wrong with you? He never did anything to you!"
Ashley lets out a sigh, "Kyla just run along back to your boy toy, I'm not in the mood for you."
"Seriously Ashley, what hell is so wrong that you are acting like such a monstrous bitch to everyone. I am so sick of this!"
"I really don't care…" Ashley rolls her eyes and starts to turn away, but is stopped by someone tugging hard at her hair.
"Do not walk away from me!" Kyla yells and she tugs at Ashley's again, causing the girl to yelp out in pain.
Once Kyla lets go Ashley turns around and looks incredulously at her sister, "That hurt!"
Kyla just shrugs, "I really don't care…" she says, mimicking her sister.
Fed up now, Ashley takes a step forward and shoves her sister, "Just leave me the hell alone!"
Not backing down, Kyla shoves her back. Eyes wide open now, slightly from the shock of her sister not backing down; Ashley launches herself at Kyla and tackles her to the ground. By this time, everyone around is watching, afraid to interrupt as the girls roll around on the floor wrestling. It isn't until Ashley has Kyla in a headlock and Kyla is viciously swinging at Ashley that Chelsea comes running over with Miss Carlin to separate the girls. Reaching down, Miss Carlin grabs Ashley around the waste and begins to pull as Chelsea does the same to Kyla. This however, only causes more pain to Kyla since Ashley still has her in a headlock. Kyla grunts in pain as her body is being tugged in one direction and her head in another.
"Ashley, let go of her now!"
Realizing who is holding on to her, Ashley does so reluctantly. Kyla however, does not back down and continues to swing wildly in the air in attempt to get to Ashley. Chelsea being much stronger just drags her away, "Calm down!"
Breathing heavily now, Kyla stops swinging and shakes herself out of Chelsea's grip, "You're psycho!"
"I'll show you psycho!" Ashley screams as she attempts to launch herself at her sister again. She is stopped this time because of the arms still holding her around the waist. Remembering who it is holding her once again, she yanks herself out Miss Carlin's hold and faces her, "do not touch me!" She glares at her and then walks away knocking her shoulder into her hard as she heads to the principal's office knowing that's where she'd eventually be sent anyways.
The crowd that had gathered is ordered to go about their business by Miss Carlin. Once everyone starts to do so she turns to Kyla and Chelsea. "Chelsea please escort Kyla to the nurse and then to the principals office." Kyla opens her mouth about to protest but Miss Carlin cuts her off, "just go." Miss Carlin watches the two girls walk away and sighs, feeling more conflicted then before.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It's around two in the morning as Spencer sits on her couch wide awake, reading. She hadn't heard what happened with the fighting sisters, and was worried that the girls were expelled.
Hearing a light knock at her door, Spencer stands and sets her book down on a table as she makes her way to the door. Opening it, she finds Ashley standing there looking feeble in her plaid pajama bottoms and white tank top. Her hair is up in a messy pony and she is clutching a stuffed alligator. Her eyes look red and swollen, as if she had been crying for hours. "Ashley, what are you doing up still?"
Tears start to form in the girl's eyes, "What have I done that's so terrible to make you ignore me for the past two weeks? Am I just that bad of a person to not deserve your attention or do I repulse you?" A tear threatens to fall, but Ashley quickly swipes at her eye, refusing to cry in front of her.
Looking up and down the hall to see if anyone woke from the noise she opens the door further, "Come in…" She watches the girl shuffle in, her heart breaking a little seeing her like this, and shuts the door behind her.
Spencer takes a seat on the couch a little away from Ashley who is curled up at the end of it. "I am not repulsed by you, nor do I think you're a bad person Ashley."
"Then why have you been ignoring me?" she asks weakly, clinging to her stuffed alligator.
Spencer sighs, "It's just…" she shakes her head and looks over at Ashley, "it was just easier that way; easier not to deal with it all."
They meet eyes and hold their gaze for a long time, both not sure what to do. Finally Spencer sighs, and looks away, "So what happened with Mrs. Keaton?"
Ashley shrugs, looking sad again, "my father got us out of it, and we just have detention for a week I think."
"Well that's good then, right?"
"Yeah, sure…" Ashley replies weakly, looking more scared and lost than ever.
Not sure what to do, Spencer decides to change the subject, "And who is that?" she asks as she points to the alligator.
Remembering that she brought him with, Ashley blushes, "Oh umm… this is Al. Chelsea gave him to me freshman year."
Spencer smiles, "Cute." They fall into easy conversation after this for about a half hour before Spencer can't hold back a yawn any longer. "Right, well I should probably be getting to bed… as should you…"
Looking scared once again Ashley doesn't make any attempt to get up, "Miss C…"
"Call me Spencer…" Spencer says with a smile.
"Can I umm…" she looks down at her hand as she fiddles with a ring she's wearing. "Would it be ok if I uh, stayed here?" Looking slowly she sighs, "I just… I can't… I hate being alone," she says quietly.
Eying her for a second, and taking in Ashley's state, never seeing the girl look so scared or sad. She nods, "sure you can sleep on the couch. Let me get you a blanket."
Looking a little surprised, Ashley smiles weakly, "Thank you… Spencer," she adds at the end.
Spencer walks over to a closet and pulls out a pillow and blanket, tossing it to Ashley, "Night Ash."
Ashley smiles, catching the name Spencer just used. Unfolding the blanket, she watches Spencer head off to her bedroom and then lies down on the couch. Worn out from crying all night, Ashley doses off fairly quickly. In the next room, Spencer does the same.
"Stop it! Please don't!"
Jolting up in bed at the screams, Spencer quickly gets out of bed and goes into the living area. Flicking on the lights, she finds Ashley squirming and thrashing in her sleep, "No! Please!"
Realizing she must be having a nightmare, Spencer makes her way over to her and starts to lightly shake her, "Ash, wake up…" After a minute or so, Ashley flies up and clings to Spencer, tears spilling from her eyes. Spencer wraps her arms around Ashley, pulling her close as the girl cries. "It's ok, it was just a nightmare… you're ok," Spencer whispers as she rubs Ashley's back slowly.
A little while later Ashley finally calms down and stops crying, noticing that the tears have started coming to an end, Spencer loosens her embrace. "Are you going to be ok?"
Ashley pulls away from Spencer and sniffles, embarrassed now. "Yes, thank you."
Spencer nods and stands, "Ok, I'm going to go to bed then. Come get me if you need anything."
As she's about to walk away, she feels Ashley grasp her wrist, "Spencer wait…" Turning around, Spencer finds Ashley looking more terrified and panicky than ever before, "Can I… I mean, could I stay with you?" She stares at the ground, not daring to look at her.
Spencer reaches out and takes Ashley's other hand, "Come on…"
They walk into Spencer's bedroom and look at the bed and then each other. Too exhausted to weigh the consequences, Spencer crawls into bed and is soon followed by Ashley, who cuddles up next to her tugging at Spencer's arm. Giving in, Spencer wraps her arms around Ashley and pulls her close to her. Feeling Ashley's body relax in her arms, she sighs containing her smile, "Night Ash."
Ashley smiles as she feels Spencer's body relax, "Night Spence." She closes her eyes, and let's out a content sigh, feeling safe for the first time in a long time.