Hey guys I'm back with another chapter! Let me know if you like this one. I thought that I would throw this one in for shits and giggles, but I don't know if I should continue this plot line! Anyways enjoy! Review!

Chapter 4 (five weeks later):

"Ashley," I heard someone yell my name in the hall. I turned around to see who it was, but a heard of people staggered into me. I felt a pair of wrap around my waist preventing me from painfully hitting the stone floor.

"Sorry." I looked back at the raven-haired girl, who released her grip around my waist. I could see her cheek turning red.

"Don't worry about it," I said giving her a reassuring smile.

"Are you doing anything tonight?" she asked nervously. I smiled a little; because I had a feeling I knew what she was going to ask me.

"Just lacrosse…why?" The poor thing was now turning bright red.

"Well I was wondering if you wanted to go see a movie, maybe get something to eat…"

"Like a date?" I question with a smile on her lips. I watched as the word 'yes' hesitated on her lips.

"Yes?" she asked uncertainly.

"Okay see you at six," I said cheerfully before walking away leaving her in the hallway with her mouth still open. I decided to take Madison's advice on 'putting myself out there again' but I was a little nervous. I loved Madison more than I think I could love anyone else. But, she's gone and I don't want to live the rest of my life thinking of what we could have become.

I rounded the corner and noticed Spencer talking to someone on the phone. I could hear her distinct laugh through the crowded hallways. When she spotted me, she said a quick 'goodbye' and started to walk towards me.

"DAVIES!" I turned around and saw Carmen storming up towards me. Last week Carmen was given stop back on the team because one of the other players mysteriously got a concussion. Ever since Carmen was back she has been trying to gain her spot as center position by making my life hell. She would trip me every time she got, jabbed me with the end of her stick, knock me in the head, anything.

"What do you want Carmen?" I said angrily.

"I think it's time that you give me that spot back," she said getting up in my face.

"Excuse me. Your spot…last time I remember was you were kicked off the team…" I've been dodging Carmen all week; I'm done with her.

"You got my spot because you had no competition," she spat back,

"Why are you so obsessed with one spot? You were let back on the team, you should be thankful that Coach even let you back on." I shouted back.

"Because it's mine…" she said pushing me back before walking away.

"Hey," I heard Spencer's voice behind me, "everything alright?"

"Yeah…I'm just a little tired," I lied. I was tried. Tired of Carmen trying to hurt me in anyway possible.

I followed Spencer into the locker room. Emily and Carmen were already changing along with the rest of the team. I quickly threw on a pair of shorts and a penny before heading out to the lower fields. Coach had already set up the cones and was waiting for us.

"Alright girls! I'm so proud of our undefeated season so far. I want to congratulate Spencer and Ashley for making the Ohio All-Star team." There was a round of applause and a few pats on the back. Carmen was on the outer circle fuming.

"Our season is almost over. We have our last game tomorrow and then states the following week. In the mean time I want you to play your hardest."

Spencer and I ran the rest of practice. Spencer did her best to keep Carmen on the opposite of the field away from me. But, Carmen always found away to get to me.

"I want everyone to divide into two team," Spencer shouted. The players formed two teams and formed around the field.

"I'm sorry Ash, but Carmen's going to be center," Spencer said whispering into my ear before joining the other team. She gave me an apologetic look before turning away. Great, just my luck.

I put my stick up against Carmen's as Emily dropped the ball in between us. I flick the ball toward Taylor who caught it and went running up the field. Carmen bolted around, but, of course, to make my life hard the end of her stick collided with my ribs. I bent over momentarily before straighten up and running slowly. Spencer stopped running and gave me a worried look that I ignored. I gritted my teeth against the pain that was ushering from my side. Carmen had already left her mark on my eyebrow; I will not let her mark me again. I know that my ribs aren't broken because I would have recognized the pain. Our team managed to score and Carmen returned to her position in front of me.

When the ball had been tossed up into the Carmen spared me mercy and only elbowed me on the other side. It was becoming hard to run because every breath I took hurt. Tears started to appear in my eyes from the pain. Spencer ran up from behind me and told me the next person to get a goal ends practice. I didn't even attempt to try to shake the ball from Carmen at the start. I just stood there and let her run down the field with the ball.

"Great practice today. Rest up, we our last game of the season is tomorrow. Wear your uniforms tomorrow," Spencer said to the leaving crowd. I took a seat on the bleacher and gently lowered myself. I applied pressure to my sides, no broken bones.

"Ashley," Spencer said leaning over me.

"Hey," I replied.

"I really hate to ask you this, but I'm running a little late. Do you think that you could pick up the cones and lacrosse balls."?

"Yeah, no problem," I said as I slowly raised myself, wincing a little as I went.

"Thank you so much," she said engulfing me in a hug. I grimaced. Why me?

I started to pick up the cones and balls and throw them into the bag. My ribs were still aching and we had the last game of our season tomorrow, besides States. It took me an hour to clean up everything. I threw the bag into the closet and gathered up the things. I gently hoisted myself into the car and drove home slowly. This was going to be a long night.

I inched my way up the stairs. When I got to my room I went straight to the bathroom and took off my shirt. There were two nice size bruises forming. I groan and hopped into the shower. The hot water didn't help much…it only made it hurt more.

I went down stairs and grabbed some ice from the freezer and put in a bag before heading back upstairs. I threw on a pair of shorts and put the ice on my sides while I lay down. I must have fallen asleep because I heard my phone ringing.

"Hello?" I said groggy.

"Hey Ashley," I heard Emily's voice, "Sorry I didn't know whether to knock or not." I glanced down at my watch 6:05 pm. Shit.

"Come in the doors unlock," I replied. I took the bags of water off my shirt and changed into v-neck. I heard the door open and then close. I quickly brushed my teeth, brushed my hair, and put on a little make-up. I popped a few Advil before I rushed down the stair and found Emily in the hallway looking at pictures.

"Hey," I said coming into hallway, "Sorry I sort of fell asleep."

"No worries I was running late anyways…so you ready to go," she asked. I nodded and grabbed my wallet and jacket.

The drive over there was simple. We talked about lacrosse and All-Stars, then about how Hall graded out colleges way to harsh, and of course the topic of Carmen got thrown into the conversation. It made me think back to the burning pain coming from my ribs; I should have taken more Advil.

About half an hour later we pulled up into the parking lot of a casual restaurant. I'm glad Emily has taste, honestly I hate fancy things. We sat down and ordered a pizza.

"What movie are we seeing?" I asked munching on some pizza.

"Well I was either thinking Noah or 12 Years a Slave, or whatever is playing," she said biting into her own pizza.

"Surprise me…they both sound good," I said. I saw a smile curl onto her lips.

We finished eating and decided on splitting the bill. The movie theater was actually pretty close to restaurants. The theaters here were a lot smaller than the one in L.A. Emily decided on Noah, which was actually the movie that I was hoping she would pick.

The movie itself was pretty good. Even though it is completely impossible to build an arc that holds that many animals than floats for days. Emily on the other hand thought that movie was horrendous. Well we all have our differences, right?

The date with Emily was probably one of the best that I have ever had in a while. For once, I didn't feel the shame on Madison's death weighing on my shoulders. It was like I was free, but I was scared of being free.

"I had an wonderful night," Emily said with a shy smile.

"I did too," I responded with a smile. I leaned in and gave her a peck on the lips. Her facial expression froze like she was in a trance. I laughed a little and she came out of it. Her hands grasped my jacket and pulled me closer before capturing my lips. There wasn't a spark, but it felt different. When we pulled apart Emily was smiling, laughing, and blushing.

"Thank you for tonight," I said opening the door.

"Thank you for saying 'yes'," she said. I waved her 'goodbye' as she pulled out the driveway. Wow…okay. I just kissed Emily. I kissed someone. The kiss felt good but it felt like I was kissing my best friend. In fact, I was kissing my best friend. I like Emily, but I just realized out relationship is platonic.

I paced around on the porch trying to figure out what to do. I automatically put my hands on my sides, which I regretted immediately. I groaned as the pain intensified. My eyes started to water.

"You 've been pacing for the past hour," I heard a voice say. I looked up and Spencer standing on the steps. Her smile immediately faded when she saw my watery eyes.

"Ashley are you okay?" she asked coming closer to put her hands around me. I instinctively back away not wanting her to touch my sides for both our sakes

"I'm sorry," I said realizing my actions were offensive, "I would totally let you comfort me or whatever. I had a rough day at practice …I didn't mean to back away…I mean I'm sorry I didn't mean to me offensive…" I sigh and hung my head in defeat.

"Carmen?" she asked. I nodded and pointed at my sides. I felt Spencer tug at the sides of my shirt. I slowly lifted it up. Spencer's eyes widened' I watched as her eyes grazed my stomach, before landing on my sides.

"Carmen did this?" she asked angrily. I nodded again. She hand ran gently over the bruised tissue. Her hands were so smooth they gave me goose bumps and sent shivers down my spine.

"Sorry," she said removing her hand, "I have some stuff that might help."

"I'll take anything at this point," I said pulling my shirt down.

"Okay I'll be right back," she said walking in the direction of her house. I went inside and changed quickly into sport shorts, sports bra, and a t-shirt. I heard her open the door and walk into my room. She had some lotion in a bottle, a few ice packs, some cloths, and a CD. She patted the bed and motioned for me to lie down.

"Can I?" she asked pointing at my shirt. I nodded and took it off, leaving me only a sports bra. She poured some of the lotion onto her hands gently put them on my sides. Her hands rub gently in circle, trying not to apply too much pressure.

"Why didn't you tell anyone Carmen did this?" she asked concerned. I shrugged my shoulders and didn't respond. She stopped and glared at me.

"Because I didn't want your brother to take me out of the game tomorrow. I didn't want Carmen to win," I said looking into her blue eyes.

"Ashley…" she said sadly, "Carmen is nothing compared to you." I smiled before Spencer accidentally put a little too much pressure making me shoot up in pain.

"I'm sorry," she said panicking. She was so cute when she was having one of her freak out moments.

"Spencer, relax, I'm fine," I said. She just looked at me again.

Spencer handed me the two ice packs to hold to my sides while she wrapped a cloth bandage around my waist. I was already feeling a little better.

"You have a tattoo," she said pointing at area above my right shoulder. I glanced over my shoulder. I got the tattoo after the car accident that claimed Madison's life. I had two birds tattooed on my back with Madison's name written in them.

"Yeah, I got it a day after she passed." was all I could muster at the moment. I felt her hands trace the writing.

"It's beautiful," she breathed out, "so meaningful. I wish I had something meaningful."

"You do; you just might not have found it yet."

"You think?" she asked turning to face me again.

"I know." A smile curled onto her lips. I mimicked her.

"I should get some rest," she said handing me my shirt. I took and slipped it back on over the ice packs.

"I'll give you a ride tomorrow," she said getting off the bed.

"You don't have to," I replied.

"Just accept the kind offer," she said in a serious but joking manner.

"Fine," I said getting up, only to have Spencer push me back down.

"Rest," she simply said before leaving. I watched as she retreated towards the door. I pulled myself out of bed and went to the balcony. I've learned from my 'spying' that every night before bed Spencer spends ten minutes writing in her notebook. I've been meaning to ask her what she writes about, but then she would know that I spy on her.

I crawled under the covers as sleep began to take over.