She's the Ash
Chapter 7: Packing
A/N: Hello all! Sorry for the delay, but this chappie was giving me some trouble. I do use some dialogue from 'Bust a Move' in this chapter and the next few, but I have tweaked things so that there is more coherence between canon and what I believed happened with Ashley. Thanks for reading!
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It was Thursday morning, and I was pissed. I still had no ride to Smithdale, and my options were dwindling as each minute passed. Not even the thought of this being my last day at Degrassi could bring me out of my funk
I suppose I should have felt more upset about the fact that this was my last seven hours walking the halls of this high school. This, if nothing else, was where I had met Craig; it would always hold a special place in my heart.
But, right now, I needed to be where Craig Manning was, not stuck in classes that now meant nothing to me. That was home to me.
My first class of the day was Media Immersion. I had gotten there early with the intention of tell the substitute that she could scratch my name off of the roster, but she was nowhere to be found.
I had already Mrs. Hatzilakos that I was leaving. She was sad to see me go, especially since I had just reenrolled in September, but there was nothing she could say or do. She smiled, shook my hand, and wished me luck, then went back to her papers; as I left her office I had to duck into a classroom to avoid Spinner and Jimmy. They were laughing about Spinner's piece of crap car.
I hadn't spoken to Jimmy since we had broken up, and I had no desire to tell him where I was going. He'd go to NYU and I wouldn't be there.
The problem was, aside from Spinner and Jimmy, was that I had no other real friends at this school; all of mine were actually in university already. Yes, true, I was still sort of friends with Emma back from our Environmental Club days, but she was much more into hanging around with the girls she always had, namely many. . I suppose that made today, with its lack of goodbyes, a whole lot easier.
I was sitting at my computer busily typing away to Ellie to ask if we could hang out tonight. I was nervous about telling her I was leaving again, and for what reason, but it had to be done.
It was five minutes before the bell was supposed to ring when Manny and Emma walked in. There were in the middle of a conversation and I couldn't help but eavesdrop in the middle of it.
"I can't wait to see the theater," many was exclaiming, the excitement in her voice lighting up her face. I wondered for a moment what theater she was talking about, before remembering that she desperately wanted to get into Smithdale's Theatre department. When is she going to see it?
Emma had followed her to her seat.
"And I need a vacay," the blonde replied. "Things are tense at the Simpson-nelson place with my dad home all day." She lowered her voice to a low murmur, so only those really, really listening could catch it. "Thank God we're leaving tomorrow."
My head jerked up. They were leaving in time for me to get to Craig. This was my chance – perhaps my only one – to get a ride.
Liberty walked over to her seat at that moment from the other side of the room where she had been arguing with Damien, presumably over something Student Council related, and entered the conversation.
"I have a fried who's Psi Alpha Zeta. I'm sure she'd let you guys stay." She sat down and smirked at her friends. "Should be a wild time."
There was a slight lull and I jumped into the conversation myself.
"There room for one more?" I questioned, eyebrows raised in a look of innocence. I was going to avoid telling them why I was actually going, what with one of Craig's exes right there; that would definitely prevent my going along. Hopefully they wouldn't ask.
Toby piped up next; he and I sat together in class, but he'd been staying with his grandmother all week; she was sick and refused to go to a nursing home, and whenever she wasn't feeling well she requested that Toby stay with her. He had therefore missed the discussion between our parents and me the night before, and knew nothing about Smithdale or Europe or even that I wasn't coming back.
"You're bailing on Florida?" he asked, surprised. "Who's gonna ride the mineshaft with me?"
He looked a little hurt; he and I had gotten closer since I had returned, and it was nice to have him as a friend. We were the only one the other really had anymore. His hurt look deepened at what Liberty said next.
"Are you even tall enough for that?" she asked, giving him a snide, bitchy look. I internally bristled. Damn it, I would have to ride with the egomaniac if this worked out.
Toby's head lowered and I gave him a reassuring smile. 'I'll explain later,' I mouthed, then said out loud, "There was a change of plans."
I turned to my classmates again. "So, what do you think? I'll pitch in for gas."
Manny nodded 'yes', then looked contemplative. "We can all cram into my car."
"That's if you get it." Emma has a disbelieving smile on her face. They continued to discuss the possibility of Manny actually getting to drive to Smithdale even after the bell had rung.
I tuned them out after Emma told me she'd call me later with the definite details. I smiled at her and went back to my computer screen, absentmindedly booking a moving company to pick up my things later that night.
As the day wore on, my excitement grew until it was barely containable. I had a ride, I had a plan, and I was seeing the love of my life in just two days. I couldn't sit still or focus, and a grin was still plastered onto my cheeks at the end of the day.
After the last bell rang, I nearly skipped to Toby's car in the parking lot. He normally took my home, and today was no exception. I climbed into the passenger seat and placed my bag on my lap.
My stepbrother's expression was just as dour as he carefully pulled out pf the parking lot. The radio was blasting some Top 40 pop hit, and he made a right instead of his usual left.
"Um, Tobes? You're going the wrong way."
His eyes never left the road.
"We only have ten minutes between home and Degrassi. We need more time than that to talk."
Oh, boy.
We eventually pulled through the drive-through of our favorite smoothie place – he with Banana Mango and me with Berry Blast, his treat – and he pulled into a parking space, the music still playing in the background.
"So," he began, putting the car into park. "Why aren't you coming with us to Florida?"
And, just as coincidence and my luck would have it, the previous song ended and the DJ began speaking.
"School's out for Spring Break, Toronto! And here to rock you into the craziest week of the school year is the latest single from our hometown boy Craig manning- 'She's the Ash'!"
My face could have easily fried an egg in that moment; I was bright red from both embarrassment and pleasure and Toby couldn't fail to notice.
"Why are you so red, Ashley?" Typical blunt Toby.
"Um," I cleared my throat. "Listen to the song, Toby."
His eyes gradually widened as the song played on. "It's about you, isn't it?"
I nodded. "And that's why I'm not going to Florida."
I explained everything: what Kate and Jeff had said, what happened between me and Craig a week ago, where I was going, and exactly why I was going to date Craig Manning a third time. Eventually I stopped talking and he just looked at me.
There was a silence for a minute. Then he pulled me into a hug, which floored me because, one, he's Toby, and two we've never really acted like siblings- just friends. He let me go and made eye contact with me again.
"I'm going to miss you."
His face was serious and I felt a rush of sisterly affection for my stepbrother.
"I'm going to miss you too, Toby."
He smiled. "But I'm okay with it, because I know you'll be happy."
I gave him a grin and he returned it. He then put the car in reverse and pulled out of the space, speaking to me as he did so, the grin still on his face.
"So, you're basically never going to graduate, are you?"
I punched him in the shoulder as we headed to the house.
Later that evening I was sitting at the kitchen table. Everything I owned was sitting in boxes in the foyer, waiting for the man from storage space to come with his van to take it away, save for two suitcases and my purse Those were sitting in the corner of the living room, which was where I had chosen to sleep tonight. My room was no longer mine; it was Mom and Jeff's guest room now. My pillow and old stuffed rabbit were on the couch along with my blanket, ready for me to curl up in.
The phone had rung multiple times earlier. Emma had first called to let me know that we were all leaving around 9:30 tomorrow morning, and that we would all be meeting at Manny's house. She had given me the address, expressed her excitement about the trip, and then hung up.
The second time it had been Craig; he had finally gotten his phone back. I was able to tell him that I had found a ride and he was overjoyed. We didn't get long to talk, though, and he hung up assuring me that he loved me like none other and that he couldn't wait to see me on Saturday.
The third call had come from Ellie. She couldn't get dinner tonight, but she had expressed an interest in getting coffee before her class the next morning. We set up plans to meet at 8:30, and when I hung up the phone I realized that I had the entire evening to myself to do nothing.
When my mother walked in an hour later, I was sitting at the table and writing; inspiration had taken hold and I didn't here her enter.
"Ashley?"
I acknowledged her with a nod of my head; my concentration was broken now. I stared at the fridge she had opened It was six-thirty, our usual dinnertime, and my stomach was growling audibly.
"Are you hungry?"
I put down my pen. "Yea. I was going to go get a sandwich after I finished writing."
I stood and reached for my hoodie and purse, but she stopped me/
"You're not eating your last meal at home with us?"
"Mom, this isn't my house anymore; you and Jeff made that clear, and I understand. I don't want to use your food or be in the way anymore than I have to."
Her eyes widened. "Sweetie, I-"
"Mom, I know that you're upset with me for leaving again, for starting all of this up again."
"No, Ashley," she stopped me. "I'm not upset with you. I want you to be happy; I may not agree with this decision, but I'm not trying to disown you. Yes, you're an adult now, but you're still my baby girl and you'll always be welcome here."
I smiled at her for the first time since I had announced I was leaving.
"Thank you, Mom."
She walked over and pulled me into a hug, then stepped back.
"Come on- we're going out to dinner, and you're coming with us."
"What about my boxes? The mover will be here-"
\The doorbell rand, and my mom and I laughed.
"He shouldn't take more than an hour. We'll leave when he's done."
I agreed and walked into the foyer to start filling out paperwork, my mom watching me sadly, but proudly.