Disclaimer: I don't own these characters – they belong to Brenda Hampton and ABC Family. No profit is being made from this fic.

Hey guys! Writing the last chapter was a little strange. I find it way easier to write in either Ricky's or Ashley's POV than in Amy's. Maybe it's just cos this is my first SLOTAT fic and I need to spend more time getting into Amy's psyche. Anyway, please read and review!

Chapter Six

Ashley's POV

'No offence, Ash,' Griffin declared. 'But I think your household would make for great television. So much drama.'

Griffin and I were hanging out in my room after school. I had been waiting all day for the school day to finally end. Fielding questions about Amy, Ben and even Ricky had been incredibly draining. There was only so much snark I could use on people before I got tired of my own sarcasm. So my newly decorated room was supposed to be my retreat…but hilariously, I had overlooked the fact that the 'drama' at school had been purely in gossip form. Home was where the action was.

'I wouldn't say that out loud again,' I said dryly. 'You should've seen Amy's face when I suggested she send in a tape to MTV for 16 & Pregnant. She actually asked me if I was kidding. Of course I was kidding. She should know what sarcasm is. How else would she have understood anything I've said in the last thirteen years?'

'This isn't going to be good night for her, is it?'

'No, probably not.'

Griffin was looking out of the window, which had a good view of the kitchen in the main house. Amy was in the kitchen, having a conversation with mom. Both of them looked really worn out and in need of a holiday. My room could basically be a front row seat to tonight's drama. Amy had mentioned on my return from school that Ben was indeed coming over tonight.

'Shouldn't Ricky be gone by now?' my best friend asked. 'I mean, I'm sure Adrian can see that his car is parked outside your house.'

'I don't know why he's still here.'

Ricky had caused a stir by ditching today. Everyone had assumed that he'd cut school in order to kick Ben's ass.

'I feel so bad for Amy. I just feel like hugging her and making her a mix-tape of songs she can mourn to.'

'Mix-tape?' I smirked. 'This isn't 1985. I don't even think people own tape recorders anymore.'

'Mix CD then. Or Mix iTunes list. How about including Carrie Underwood's 'Before He Cheats'? Country songs are all about heartbreak and revenge, right?'

'Ha! Yeah, go ahead. Mention that to her. Suggest a song where the artist's last name is Underwood. She'll end up keying Ricky's car instead of Ben's. Not that Ben has a car, he has a driver. You know what I mean.'

Amy looked our way and noticed that the two of us were staring at her. We were met with a brief look of annoyance before she continued her conversation with mom.

'I wonder what they're talking about,' Griffin pondered.

'I'm guessing the topic isn't American Idol.'

'You're such a hater.'

'Maybe I'm tired of you humming Kelly Clarkson songs during homeroom.'

'Better than Clay Aiken.'

'I thought you liked Clay Aiken.'

'Not since he joined the cast of Spam-a-lot on Broadway.'

We stopped our bickering when we saw that Ricky had entered the kitchen. He was still here.

The question was why.

Anne's POV

'Oh, you're still here,' I commented when Ricky entered the kitchen. 'You don't have work this afternoon?'

'Nah, it's my afternoon off,' he explained.

I looked from him to my daughter and quickly ascertained that they must have had some sort of disagreement or a heated conversation, at the very least. Amy refused to directly look at him. Ricky seemed to be intent on ignoring the fact he was being ignored. He crossed his arms and made no move to leave the room, let alone leave the house. As I understood it, he had also missed school today.

Wow, it's like they're in a bad marriage.

Amy shot me one of those petulant teenager looks, as if she wanted me to tell Ricky to leave. She had just told me that Ben was coming over tonight and that there was a high likelihood that they would be breaking up. She was sinking quickly into an unstable mix of resignation and anger. Before Ricky had walked into the kitchen she had asked me whether I had known she and Ben were doomed, and whether that was why I had advised her that marriage was not an option for someone as young as her.

It wasn't my place as a mother to be crushing the dreams of my children. Yet on the other hand, I suppose I had some responsibility to impart the wisdom I had acquired from my own life experiences. Love wasn't an easy thing, and a lot of teenagers out there had the wrong idea about love. They didn't know what the word meant. But then again, breaking up and making up was a part of growing up. You had to learn some things by experience.

'So, are you sticking around or heading home?' I asked Ricky politely.

Ricky didn't hesitate when he responded.

'I think I'll stay a bit longer, if you don't mind. I can help look after both John and Robbie. I mean, only if that's okay with you, Mrs Juergens.'

'What if it's not okay with me?' Amy asked in a clipped tone.

'Amy, don't be rude.' Ricky really was trying to be a good father. Though I could see where she was coming from…she wouldn't want Ricky here in the house when Ben dropped by…though at this stage Ben wouldn't be coming around until after dinner, which was still hours away…

'I'm not being rude,' she grumbled. 'Ricky is just staying out of pity. I don't need pity.'

'I'm not staying out of pity,' he argued.

'Guilt then.'

'Not today.'

Amy rolled her eyes and then finally faced him. How was I supposed to mediate this?

'School's out for the day,' Amy pointed out. 'That means a certain neighbor of mine is probably waiting for you.'

'Nice. You're trying to bait me into leaving.'

'Hey guys, let's cool it,' I advised with a smile. 'We're all friends here, remember?'

I was pretty much ignored. Oh, the joys of being the adult in the room (although technically Ricky was emancipated).

'Thankyou for looking after John so I could have a nap,' Amy said to him. 'I've had my nap. So you can go.'

'And to think I thought you'd be more agreeable after getting some rest,' Ricky replied. 'Sleep is supposed to refresh people.'

'Sleep?' She raised an eyebrow. 'As opposed to sleeping around?'

Ricky ground his teeth but did not take the bait. I had to give him credit for that. Amy was clearly in a bad mood. Maybe it would be better if he just left. Ricky and I exchanged looks. I felt a little sorry for him in this instance.

'Mrs Juergens, do you know when Mr Juergens is getting home from work?' he asked.

'Probably after five.'

To be honest, I wasn't looking forward to George's return.

We had been fighting over the fact that he thought Robbie was possibly David's son and not his. I mean, really. I was trying to enjoy the fact I had brought a life into the world. I didn't want to get embroiled in a paternity dispute. The adult thing to do, however, might be to get a DNA test and confirm that I was right. George was paranoid. The timing meant that Robbie was his.

Uncertainty in the form of fully fledged doubt could be very dangerous in a relationship. Sure, George and I were divorced, but we lived under the same roof. We had a son together.

I looked at both Amy and Ricky. Those two also had a son together. That was something permanent. Even if they weren't in a relationship with each other, they still had a relationship. It would be better for them, and for John, if they weren't so adversarial with each other.

'I want to have a follow up chat with Mr Juergens about something,' Ricky informed me.

'No,' Amy said defiantly. 'Wait, a follow-up? What did you talk to him about?'

'You're full of questions today. I feel like I'm on Jeopardy,' Ricky said.

'Alex, I'll take Ricky Underwood's Motives for $200,' Amy replied, pretending to be on the show.

A staring contest ensued. A battle of wills. Realizing that this was already a bad day for Amy, Ricky relented.

'Maybe another time then,' Ricky conceded. 'If things end up…if tonight is too much for you to handle, Amy, then you should call me. I don't care what time of night it is. I'll look after John while you…um…'

'Grieve?' Amy said stiffly.

'Yeah, whatever.'

Ricky nodded at me and then went out the kitchen door.

'I'm guessing you don't want him around because of Ben?' I asked Amy.

She went over to the fridge to fix herself a pre-dinner snack. Because of this I didn't see her face when she replied:

'Yeah, something like that.'

Something told me there was more to it than that. I didn't ask her why she and Ricky were so at odds today. It wasn't like she was going to be upfront about it. It was hard enough for her to admit to me that Ben was walking out on her.

I sighed inwardly. Teenagers and their secrets.

Ashley's POV

'Looks like Mr Underwood has left the building,' Griffin observed.

'It would be kinda cool if my household was the subject of a reality show. At least then someone would be able to get inside everyone's heads. You know, how people on a reality show are happy to tell the audience what they really think and how they really feel, but heaven forbid they fess up to the other people actually on the show.'

Ricky had looked perturbed when he had left the house.

'I'm going to ask him where he was today,' I decided.

I rushed out of the garage and into the driveway in order to catch him in time. Griffin followed me without question.

Huh. It's kinda handy to have friends sometimes. Is this why people always believe in having backup?

'Ricky!' I called out just as Ricky was about to get into his car.

He stopped and turned around. He leant on his vehicle like the token brooding bad boy from a teen movie would. He was honestly such a poser sometimes. It astounded me that some girls couldn't see through his macho act.

'Ashley,' he greeted. 'Griffin. What can I do for you?'

'Is it true?' Griffin asked with a smile, like a sneaky reporter trying to get the scoop. 'Did you track down Ben and beat the living daylights out of him? People say you brought Jack as backup!'

'Not exactly,' was the evasive reply.

'Why'd you ditch then?' I asked.

'I had to talk to Ben. Don't tell Amy that.'

He was at least a little concerned about Amy, whether he wanted to admit it or not. Sure, he'd probably say he was looking out for John or for himself, but…

'We won't,' Griffin reassured. 'But, off the record now, how'd it go with Ben?'

'Not that great…'

He trailed off and it didn't take long for Griffin and I to realize why.

Adrian had come out of her house and was heading straight for her man.

'Do we want to watch the Ricky and Adrian Show?' Griffin whispered in my ear.

'Well it could be one of those it's so bad, it's good shows. But somehow, I don't want to get caught in the crossfire.'

And I certainly didn't want to be slapped by Adrian.

The two of us stepped back from the impending scene and hoped Amy had no reason to leave the house at the present moment.