48.1 - Picture Perfect

Ashley's PoV

Spencer had asked me how my interview went with the school and I had bravely left out every detail by changing the subject.

Truth was, I wasn't sure how my interview went at that point. The Principal and the school board seemed interested enough. I had Grammy awards under my belt for best writer, composer and instrumentalist. I had dozens of others as well as high musical education. But that didn't matter at the end of the day, what mattered was what sort of creativity and music I could bring to the high school students.

They had me do a few tests while there and even though I knew I passed them, I was still on edge. Getting the job was a huge deal to me. I wanted it.

I didn't need it, but I wanted it.

I had just gotten off the phone with the head guru.

I got the job and I was to start the next day.

It was exciting for me to have things start to piece together after living a life I loathed for over a year and a half. It felt like I could really move on and just be on my own with my daughter and hopefully build things back up with Spencer and Lucas.

"Earth to Ashley Davies!" I looked over to find Lucas waving a fry in my face. "Where'd you go?"

Tuesday afternoon and I was on 'pick up' duty with the girls. Dylan was by the grand piano in Rapture, waiting for Spencer. It seemed that for the last couple of days, Spencer and I had switched little partners.

"Sorry," I laughed softly and shook my head, "I zoned."

"Huh," her grey eyes studied me and she raised an eyebrow, "do that a lot?"

I shrugged with a grin.

"So that's where Dylan gets it from." Lucas chuckled and took a sip of her strawberry milkshake. "So mom said you two were going out tonight."

"We are." I nodded and I tried my best to hide the kiddish smile that wanted to creep up on my face.

"Where too?" Her grin didn't help me any and I had to smile that kiddish smile. "Ou, are you blushing?"

The thing about Lucas Carlin is that she was just like her mother. She had that non-serious side to her yet she could really hold an adult conversation.

"You are not allowed to know that." I narrowed my eyes playfully and Lucas giggled, pulling out her sketch book.

"Can I show you something?" She asked, her voice immediately going quiet. I nodded and she took a deep breath. "I showed this to my teacher and he suggested that I take up art class next year or join art club after Christmas." She opened her book and skimmed through half of it before landing on the picture she wanted to share with me. Wow.

One word for you.

Fucking talented.

"I couldn't figure out the shading but I tried." Lucas blushed and shrugged as I stared intently at the beautiful pencil marks that put the word 'perfection' to shame. It was a sketch of me playing the piano. How did she get that picture? "Mom has a bunch of pictures locked away from her younger days," she said quickly as if she were reading my mind, "she doesn't know I took it so please don't tell her?"

"Wow Lucas," I breathed in awe, not caring about the subject of her drawing but the actual talent behind it, "this is absolutely beautiful and amazing."

"Oh." Lucas blushed even redder and put her eyes down towards the table. "You're not mad that I drew you?"

"No." I shook my head and gave her a soft smile. "I'm actually flattered."

"Really?" Her ears perked up and I nodded. "Thank you."

"Well for what it's worth," I closed her book and slid it back to her, "you really should join art club."

Lucas grinned. "I think I will then."

"Spencer's here!" Dylan came running to our booth and squealed before running back towards the door.

"Why did you pick us up from school anyway? Not that I mind," Lucas chuckled, "your mustang is pretty sweet."

I laughed and shrugged. "Your mom had a meeting that was running late. She called me to ask if I would mind."

"Cool." She nodded and she bit her lip, looking at me. "Ash?" I loved how she shortened my name. I was so nervous she wouldn't like me but that all changed when she started to talk with me, not just to me.

"Hmm?" I smiled as she swallowed a little.

"I just wanted to say sorry again for being mean and slamming doors in your face." Lucas whispered. "And thank you for staying here. I don't know what I would do if I had lost Dylan."

"Well, I don't know what I'd do without you guys either." I whispered as if it were a secret. Lucas grinned and blushed, putting her head down slightly. "But that stays between us."

It was true though, the two blonde Carlins were helping me heal more than they realized.

"Hmm," I heard that sultry silky voice waft through the café, "my three favourite ladies here to meet me, how sweet." I turned to see Spencer walking our way with Dylan's hand in her own.

"I was just telling Ashley the only reason why I'm friends with her is because of her mustang." Lucas nodded and winked at me.

I chuckled and nodded. "It's true. I'm being used because of my car."

"Ah," Spencer nodded with a teasing twinkle in her eye as she slid in next to me, her hand immediately finding my leg under the table to squeeze it briefly, "I remember being that way in high school too."

"Spencer!" I laughed and she grinned, looking back at the girls, winking.

"Spencer!" Jaiden mocked me as she brought a round of hot chocolate. "How's my favourite blonde?" Her eyes looked at Spencer's.

"Hey!" Lucas pouted.

"And by favourite blonde, I meant second favourite blonde." Jaiden grinned. "You know you're my all time favourite girl, Luc."

Lucas grinned and quickly shot Dylan a 'shut up' look. Both younger girls erupted into giggles.

"I'm good Jai," Spencer nodded, "thank you for taking the girls tonight. I know it was short notice."

"Please," Jaiden laughed, "I'm used to it with you."

I raised an eyebrow and Spencer laughed nervously before elbowing the teen. "Thank you." She said through clenched teeth.

The raven haired teen flinched and mouthed a sorry. "No problem." She shrugged.

"So what do you three plan on doing?" I asked, wanting the subject to be changed.

"Oh you know," Jaiden sighed teasingly, "the usual."

Lucas and Dylan chuckled.

"Which would be..." I stared at the teen.

"Luc and I usually head to Haps, grab a couple of girls, a few drinks, go back to her place and have a little fun..." Jaiden mock-frowned, "but Dylan usually grabs the cute bouncer's attention and drags him along..."

"Jaiden Wynters." Spencer scolded in a warning tone.

"I figured since it is a school night," Jaiden sighed defeated, "I'd make sure they have their homework done and take them to Central Park to skate for a bit after my shift."

"YAY!" Dylan clapped, her brown eyes wide with amazement. My girl loved her skating.

"Can we play hockey?" Lucas asked, smiling. "Dyl and I against you." She looked at the teenager.

"No way!" Jaiden laughed. "You are so much better than me, and I refuse to get beaten by a Carlin."

"Then don't lose." Spencer mumbled with a wink.

I chuckled. "Well just be safe and have fun."

"Always Momma Davies." Jaiden winked. "I have to finish cleaning up but I'll be back." She leaned over to ruffle the girls' hair and took off.

"Mom, can we go read?" Lucas asked Spencer, already shoving Dylan out of the booth gently.

Spencer nodded and waited until the girls were at the other side of the place before turning to look at me. "I missed you." She whispered. "All I can think about is kissing you, God I couldn't stop thinking about kissing you all day." She confessed as her eyes dropped to my lips.

I swallowed and nodded, knowing completely how she felt. It seemed that since we moved forward somewhat, the physical aspect halted for some odd reason. I hated the fact that I couldn't just grab her when I wanted too, but we agreed we'd talk about it when we figured exactly where we were heading.

We both knew where we were headed; at the same time we both weren't ready to vocalize it.

"So what do you have planned for tonight?" I asked, clearing my throat and breaking the thick trance we were both in.

"Mmm," she purred and quickly kissed my cheek before hopping into the other booth, facing me, "that's a surprise."

I grinned. "I like surprises."

"You hate them." Spencer raised an eyebrow.

"Okay, I hate them," I sighed, "but your surprises always make me smile."

"And hopefully tonight will be no different." Spencer nodded somewhat shyly. "It's not a big deal," she shrugged, "I just wanted us to spend some uninterrupted time together."

"And that's perfect." I whispered in all honesty.

--

Next time in Points Underneath:

I caught her eyes looking at me and I just smiled. There was no use blushing. I knew what I wanted.

She was right in front of me.

"So, say this night ends well, I'm assuming there'll be a repeat?" Spencer quirked an eyebrow and thanked the waitress as she set down our drinks.

"Many I'd hope." I smiled innocently and busied myself by checking out the menu.