Trigger warnings: Lesbophobia, 2 slur words, angsty at the end.


A few minutes walk later, and there they were, Gretchen's house! Now draped with beautiful mid afternoon sun! As the day neared 16:00, the place looked quite picturesque, a nostalgic sort of bright shade blanketing the gangly lawn, one that looked sort of like an Amazon jungle straight out of one of Gretchen's favorite Zoobooks. As it did so often, it didn't really feel like winter over this area of Pennsylvania.

'It really, like, whomps. It never being, like, cold around here.', Ashley complained, trying not to get her shoes dirty from the slightly wet grass. Making a disgusted face, she leapt towards the mini porch, just about making it. 'The cold is SO romantic and friendly!', she swooned, twirling on the porch, her glasses nearly flying off.

'That's a new one. Care to entertain me with that observation?', Gretchen asked, genuinely curious, as she fiddled for her keys inside her bland gray backpack, stuffed to the brim with scientific equipment, books and Galileo. 'I mean, I love snow as much as the next kid, but it can't just be that.'

'You observe wisely, partner.', Ashley replied, enjoying the opportunity. She dramatically pointed to the window showing off the Grundler living room. 'Picture it: Outside it's all so stormy and rainy and EWW. Mega gross.'

'Charmed already.', Gretchen quipped as she fished out her jingling keys, a melodious bell accompanying Ashley's words, as she kicked her feet up and down while sitting on the stairs, waiting for Gretchen to open the door.

'Ha ha. Let me finish. I'm talking a warm, inviting fireplace, and TOTALLY tummy yummy hot cocoa, with ADORABLE Peeps marshmallows swimming inside it, and, like, you're having a FANCY and FABULOUS tea party and being SO graceful and sophisticated, then watching something WAY SCHWAY with your BFF's!', Ashley pitched, dreaming of it. 'You know, a slumber party, but even better because your PJ's really DO need to keep you warm, and you get to do all the stuff I said before! Ooh, like fluffy pillow fights, and plushie mountains, and blanket forts!'

Ashley was really getting excited now, squealing as she shook her fists back and forth. 'Doesn't that sound DREAMY?'

'I mean, I suppose. I've never had a slumber party before. Not sure about some of the activities you mentioned, they're a bit… Girly for my tastes.', Gretchen commented, as she unlocked the door.

'Said the girl.', Ashley retorted, rolling her eyes at the genius.

'Well, there's all kinds of ways to be a girl.', Gretchen countered, turning on the lights in the living room.

'Well, Ms. Scientist, I thought you wouldn't be one to just play down an area you don't know anything about. If you haven't done any of those things, how do you know they're, like, not fun?', Ashley protested, getting off the stairs and following her into the room.

Gretchen turned around, pointing the keys at Ashley's heart. 'When it's a rainy day over here (which is rare), I tinker in my lab and play N64.'

'Never did that, and what's that last one? You mentioned it back at the mall, no?', Ashley shrugged, confused.

'Video games.'

'Eww, that's SO boy stuff.'

'It really isn't.'

'What-EVER, still doesn't sound my style.'

'Ah, but how would you know it's not fun if you never did any of those things?', Gretchen smirked smugly, waving the keys in victory, jingling intensely in Ashley's ears.

The fashionista in disguise almost growled, choosing instead to sigh in tired frustration. 'Must you ALWAYS use my words against me to win an argument?'

'It's my new hobby.', Gretchen joked, only to back down, waving her arms in a panic. 'Not that it's gonna keep happening! It's just until the project is over!'

Ashley, taken aback, nodded vehemently. 'Right! We're not bonding or anything!'

Gretchen calmed down, then let out a wry laugh, shaking her head at the whole situation. 'It's kind of weird, no?'

'What do you mean?', Ashley tilted her head, confused, pouting, looking oddly innocent. Gretchen thought it was kinda cute that Ashley did that a lot. 'Well, you know, saying that we're gonna never see each other again once this is over. It's not that I don't want that, just, I don't know, there's a sort of humor to it, no?'

Ashley mulled it over, scratching her chin. She chuckled wryly too after a few seconds. 'Y-EAH! Makes us sound SO dramatic!'

'Precisely!', Gretchen commented, as she sat down on the couch. ' I mean, it should be easy! It's not like we ACTUALLY want to be friends!'

'Like, duh! That's INSANE!', Ashley agreed with a hand wave, and the two laughed at the prospect.

Then they stopped laughing.

'…'

They stared at each other for a long time, thinking how strangely comfy and happy they felt.

Then they cleared their throats, looking away from each other and immediately denying it.

'Well, um, let's head on over to my room now, shall we?', Gretchen suggested, rushing in there, nearly tripping over her own feet.

'Like, lead the way.', Ashley called, berating herself for such silly thoughts.


Gretchen's room was situated like Ashley's, on a second floor looking down at the front yard and the itty bitty ant people of their city.

Unlike Ashley's room, it was nothing fancy. Not even close. Ashley in fact barely noticed anything about it, it was just so ordinary. 'This place wouldn't be read about in a doctor's waiting room! "House and Garden" wouldn't print this, and it died nearly 5 years ago!', she thought to herself as she barely glanced around. She had far more pressing matters, like the sudden realization that there was one obstacle she REALLY hadn't considered.

She never actually worked on these kinds of projects.

For years, Ashley A coasted along on her less popular project partners doing her part while she hung out with the other Ashley's and did pretty much anything BUT study. She even used them as servants sometimes, if she was feeling particularly needy (which was quite often).

But this wasn't what she wanted to do this time. She had more than established this by now.

The question was: Could she actually do said work?

While Gretchen cleared her cluttered desk, turned on one of her favorite rap C-D's (a scratched up but still just about functional rip of "The Chronic" by Dr. Dre, starting off on "Nothin' But a G Thang"), and sat down on her sproingy bed, Ashley nervously clutched her arm and stuttered. 'H-Hey, um… S-so… Um… What do we… Like, how would YOU suggest we start, out of curiosity?', she tried to play it casual, leaning on air and falling down.

Gretchen, hiding something behind her bed, turned around and raised a knowing eyebrow. 'You really HAVEN'T worked on any project, huh?'

'Is it my fault my status allows me to take advantage of people less attractive and important than me?', Ashley asked, thinking she sounded very reasonable, as she stood up, wobbly. 'Also, this music sounds… Vulgar!'

Gretchen pinched the bridge of her nose. 'Well… No, but taking advantage of the ability to take advantage definitely counts. Also, do you even know what those words mean?'

'Mommy says it, so it's probably true.'

Gretchen raised an eyebrow, and Ashley knew she had nothing. Sighing audibly, she collapsed on Gretchen's bed, covering her eyes from reality. 'I'm doomed. Ashley R is doomed.', she moaned, amazed she survived up until now.

Removing said hands, Gretchen shook her head. 'Nuh uh. You came this far, might as well try!'

Ashley A stared at Gretchen, who seemed genuinely supportive and full of belief, and roused the strength to try. Slowly sitting herself up, she nodded. 'All right, all right. Too early to give up, I know. Just… This won't be too hard, right?'

'It will with that attitude. Come on, where's that classic Ashley confidence? Shouldn't you say "Oh, like, Gretchen, I'm TOTALLY acing this test, I'll ace it SO hard it will, like, get its house repossessed!", Gretchen impersonated, making over the top poses as if she was Ashley A.

Ashley R tried to, but she couldn't suppress the giggle that escaped her lips. Grabbing the pillow, she threw it at Gretchen, tutting. 'Like, no fair! That image is gonna be stuck in my head all afternoon!'

Gretchen, chuckling after getting konked by the pillow, bowed. 'Thank you, thank you. The Academy Award for best impression of an Ashley goes to me!'

Ashley's eyes widened, sparkling, as an idea catapulted into her head. 'That's it! Gretchen, you're a genius!'

'You only realized now?', Gretchen couldn't help but brag a little, flaunting in front of the girl who has everything. She struck another pose, but accidentally slapped herself, making a ringing noise.

Ashley nodded, but she was pacing now, a plan formulating in her stimmy fingers as she circled the carpet over and over. 'Yes, yes, I like that! Yes, this is a TOTALLY brilliant plan, if I do say so myself!'

'You would.', Gretchen quipped, sitting down on her bed again and bobbing her head to the rap beat.

'No, like, really!', Ashley protested, pointing at Gretchen. 'Remember the stage we saw at the museum?'

Gretchen nodded slowly, pouting her lips in thought. 'I think so… Was that the place that looked scary at first?'

'Yes, that! In the, what was it called again, ancient grease?', Ashley asked, snapping her fingers trying to remember.

'I think you mean ancient Greece.', Gretchen corrected.

'That's what I said, ancient grease.', Ashley shrugged, not understanding.

'No, you spelled it wrong.', Gretchen insisted.

'How would you know that?', Ashley asked, even more confused.

'Never mind.', Gretchen moved on from the meta gag and walked over to her book shelves, brain gears moving. 'But you raise a valid point! That was an intriguing topic! Ancient Athens would make a wonderful subject!'

'Now who's saying it wrong? Grease sounds nothing like…', Ashley sniffed importantly, but Gretchen shushed her as she leafed through heavy, dusty, musty volumes with bourbon covers and yellowing pages. 'Hey, like, no one shushes me!', Ashley definitely stomped her foot, steaming a little.

'I've always considered myself a brave pioneer of science.', Gretchen bantered, uttering 'Eureka!' and lifting a heavy book all about Ancient Athens. It made her knees wobble and she let out many pained breaths as she slowly shimmied her way towards Ashley and the carpet.

'Wow! You have, like, a lot of library books.', Ashley pointed out, watching cautiously as Gretchen exerted herself painfully to drop the book onto her carpet.

'Oh, no, these are my personal books, the fun ones!', Gretchen explained, as she dropped the book, kicking up dust from both the book and the carpet, breathing heavily from the effort.

Ashley took another look at the shelf. '...Girl, you need a dictionary, because that is the picture for 'bor-ING'.'

'Boring has no picture in the 1997 Merriam Webster.', Gretchen immediately countered, leafing through the pages in super speed.

Ashley looked over Gretchen's shoulder, trying to see what she might be able to do. So far, it was just look and stand.

'There!', Gretchen suddenly cried, making Ashley jump. Straightening her glasses, she asked 'There? What's there?'

Grethen proudly stepped aside, presenting her find. 'Ta da! The Theatre of Dionysus, Athens, Greece!'

Ashley R at first gazed down unimpressed, but then gasped as she stared at the detailed and majestic illustration of the theater, plus the modern picture showing it laid in ruins. It was just like the museum: A procession of marble steps leading to an outside horseshoe shaped stage made of stone too. One small offshoot served as a place for the chorus. Olive trees and bushes surrounded the area, people could be seen walking to other places. It was a special but also common place, an outside theater treat with reverence but also as just another thing, so accepted into the consciousness it was. Three actors stood on the stage, each one holding up a linen mask with a bold and dynamic face on it, attention grabbing, evocative. The sun was shining, the wind was blowing, men AND women were allowed to attend, let the stories grab them! Some actors even dressed as animals, just like the Ashley's had at the Christmas pageant!

'Magical…', Ashley whispered, an awe sort of hush, as she traced over the two images and the description over and over. Gretchen, smiling at this behavior, traced the images with her thumb. 'Wild guess: You want to use THIS location for our project.'

'Ding, ding, ding, straight from Hollywood, it's Pat Sajak's nightmare, Gretchen Grundler!', Ashley joked, humming out the Wheel of Fortune theme. Gretchen shrugged, confused. '...We've gotta get your daytime TV knowledge a boost.'

Putting that aside, Gretchen reminded her of the task at hand. 'Well, let's get some research down!'

'Great! How do we do that?', Ashley asked.

'We're gonna write down as much as we can about this place from all the books I have, then choose how we're going to present it!', Gretchen explained, and she pointed at her desk. 'So I'm gonna need four pencils, two A5 notebooks (there's an empty one for you, I'll take the half full one), two erasers, four sharpeners, a ruler, a protractor, two blue markers, a map of Ancient Greece and the cord phone!'

'What do you need the last one for? To call a servant to do all this?', Ashley R inquired, making herself comfortable on the couch, so as to not get herself dirty. She filed her black and yellow nails, making them sparkle with some glitter she seemed to take out of nowhere.

'I need the last one to call Mikey. And seeing as you never worked on something like this before, I'd consider getting all this stuff good practice. So, how did you say it once, chop chop?', Gretchen snarkily clapped, awaiting Ashley's obedience.

Ashley, shocked, gasped and clasped her heart. 'Moi? Why?'

'Like I said, you've never worked on this stuff before. I would suggest hopping to it, unless you want to leave me alone to do the whole thing.', Gretchen hummed "innocently", enjoying the squirming from Ashley, who sputtered and cursed, only to relent.

'Stupid, moral conscience! Oh, to be a selfish brat again!', Ashley got up and walked over to the desk, grumbling with each heavy and tortured step.

'Strange moniker to be proud of.', Gretchen replied, kicking her legs up and down on the carpet.

'I made it CUTE!', Ashley whined, as she searched the desk for the things, rolling her eyes so hard her glasses bounced around.

After much complaining, screaming at dust, blubbering over a paper cut, and confusion over maps (in Ashley's defense, Gretchen had a LOT of maps), she eventually finished, racing upstairs with the cord phone. 'How does it stretch that far? My parents STILL haven't bought me a cellphone even though I TOLD them the cord phone won't reach my room!'

'I have my mysterious ways.', Gretchen wiggled her eyebrows as she took the phone and dialed it. Soon, Mikey's familiar soft voice rang out. 'Hello, who is it?'

'It's me, Mikey!', Gretchen greeted, Ashley R looking on curiously, but trying not to speak, lest her cover be blown.

'Oh, hey, Gretchen!', Mikey replied cheerfully, happy to hear his friend. 'What's up?'

'I'm working on my project!'

'Oh, no, with Ashley A? Are you all right? Do you need to be rescued? Did she force you to watch Baywatch? Why, oh why, why must the human mind be capable of such cruelty? Is there ANYTHING I can do?!', Mikey dramatically asked, terrified for his friend. Ashley R fought the urge to fight back, but she stuck out a very direct middle finger.

Gretchen, stifling a laugh, shook her head. 'Oh, no, see, I'm working on it with, um, her cousin. Ashley R. She's an Ashley in name only.'

'Ah. Like Spinelli. Okay, that's neat!', Mikey replied casually. 'Well, what's the situation then? Anything I can help with?'

Gretchen smiled softly, leaning back with the phone onto the carpet. 'Why, yes you can, Mikey! I was wondering if you still happen to own a copy of Aristophanes?'

'Aeschylus, Euripedes, Sophocles, yeah, I have the whole gang right here!', Mikey replied immediately. 'Nothing like 6th Century B.C tragedy and a tuna fish sandwich to get the most of a wintery evening such as this!'

Gretchen giggled again, affectionately shaking her head. 'You're one of a kind, Mikey! I hope this is alright, but could I borrow a few copies? It's for the project! I'll bring them back next Monday!'

'Sure! Always!', Mikey answered in the positive, Gretchen flashing a thumb's up. Ashley nodded, figuring this was good. 'Thanks, Mikey!', Gretchen replied, checking off an item in a to-do list she quickly scribbled. 'Feel free to drop them at any time today or tomorrow! No pressure, we're still at a planning phase over here!'

'Consider it done! And send a hello to Ashley R! I hope she enjoys doing the project with you!'

Hanging up, Gretchen saluted Ashley and took the phone down herself. Ashley, meanwhile, stared at all the items assembled on the carpet. As Gretchen came back upstairs, Ashley said 'I didn't know Mikey was into theater.'

'And poetry, and books in general! He's quite the artistic soul!', Gretchen informed, slumping down onto the carpet, arranging things.

'I always thought he was just, well, into food.', Ashley continued, staring at the scene with curious reservation.

'I guess there's more to him than it seems. I've been learning that recently, Ms. Richter.', Gretchen replied, slapped at the carpet, indicating Ashley should sit down next to her.

It was so dirty.

But she had to…

She wanted to…

Participate.

For Gretchen, but also…

For herself.

Slowly sitting down, she banished all thoughts of dust, reasoning that it wasn't THAT special an outfit.

Gretchen offered her a pencil, and Ashley shakingly took it. Sitting down, she tried to write, but found herself stuck. 'The words are all… Scrambled up.', she thought, the book suddenly looking like gibberish. It just didn't feel natural to sit down and work like this, when she could be out there, doing necessary things, like try on another pair of jeans, or lust over Leo Dicaprio. Hoping against hope, she stared to the side to see if her partner was struggling, but Gretchen had already filled a whole page with details, marking parts of it in blue. Trying to force it, Ashley broke the tip immediately. 'Feel free to start.', Gretchen sarcastically and impatiently stated, starting off briskly on her second page.

'I'm trying, okay? Like, I'm not used to this!', Ashley defended herself, pouting at the criticism.

'Gee, I wonder why? Is it because you're a bully and a jerk?', Gretchen sounded out, and Ashley growled at her. 'Hey, I'm… It's not… Why are you being mean suddenly?'

'Why are YOU being so lazy? I chose this subject because you'd like it!', Gretchen countered, pointing at Ashley. Ashley stared at the finger, startled, then a little ashamed. 'I… I didn't get that.', she bit her lip, looking down at the carpet, trying not to think about all the hairs that were soliciting on her outfit.

'Contrary to popular girl belief, I was trying to be nice. But you can barely get a pencil let alone write. Might as well leave me to do it like you SHOULD have.', Gretchen retorted, turning away.

'I chose that because I was trying to be nice, remember?!', Ashley protested, throwing her arms out wide. When Gretchen turned back to face her, she cringed, seeing Ashley's genuinely insulted face. 'I really did.', she insisted.

A flustered Gretchen muttered 'Okay, that was a little harsh. I know why you did it.'

Sighing, she shifted over towards Ashley, staring down at her paper. The girl was doodling and looking upset. 'Hmm…', she hummed, thinking, but Ashley thought she was annoyed at her for doodling.

'Excuse me, it's just… I'm not sure where to start. Again, not something I do.', Ashley explained, hating the feeling of being so lost, confused, small.

Gretchen nodded, trying to be more understanding. Grabbing a different pencil, she placed it in Ashley's hand. 'You chose this subject because…', she trailed off, motioning for Ashley to answer.

Ashley gulped, a little embarrassed. 'I don't know! Like, why the interrogation? Ugh, what-EVER. I guess… It's kind of interesting.', she looked away, hiding her blush.

Gretchen whistled innocently, resuming her writing. 'Well, then write what interests you from this book. Write it down like you would normally write something down. You do that, no?'

'In my diary.', Ashley replied, nodding slowly.

'Great! So just pretend it's a diary entry, about something that gets your heart excited!', Gretchen suggested, filling the second page now.

Ashley nodded slowly, agreeing with the logic. That could definitely be worth a try! But she had to make it feel as authentic as possible.

Reaching into her backpack, she took out her pen (one with a kitty head at one end) and selected the pink tip. Grabbing the blue marker as well, she read through the book, this time trying to key in on what interested her, on what spoke to her heart.

Soon, she had caught up to Gretchen, tongue sticking out, adding not only words, but illustrations, heart dotted I's, and even a mood music suggestion. Gretchen eventually looked over, and let out an interested and surprised 'Ooh!'.

'Find something you like?', Ashley smirked, satisfied that Gretchen approved. Gretchen nodded, tapping her chin with her pencil. 'Indeed I did! In fact, it gives me an idea!'

Going to a different page, Gretchen scribbled away in a frenzy, accurate and fast, precise and measured. Ashley gazed, greatly impressed, as Gretchen moved around and jimmied and jerked and jolted, but her drawings were as straight as, well, not as Gretchen to say the least.

Eventually, she finished, Ashley too curious by now not to see. 'Come on, I wanna peak!', she whined, trying to stare over Gretchen's shoulder, but just about blocked by size difference.

'Patience.', Gretchen teased, slowly moving to reveal it. Suddenly, she got "stuck". 'Oh, I'm gonna need to oil my joints, unfortunately. Might take some time until you see…', she began giggling mid sentence, and Ashley, half annoyed half giggling herself, lunged. 'Don't TEASE me, ugh!'

Ashley's force made Gretchen fall, and the two rolled around for a moment or two, Ashley managing to pin Gretchen and grab the drawing.

Gretchen, still laughing, looked up and froze. Ashley's glasses were sliding off her nose a tad, showing off her bright blue eyes, a blue that was both passionate yet calming, like the raging wave of emotions Ashley could be. Gretchen's hazel eyes began to shift and hide, shy. Ashley's strawberry blonde hair was now tickling Gretchen's forehead and cheeks, and her beautifully polished nails hung onto the paper as gently as possible so as to not ruin it. Ashley's head band, bow tie and tie seemed to just accentuate her face, but especially her shiny smile. But this wasn't the malicious smirk or the exaggerated grin everyone else saw. No, this smile was markedly different, holding onto a giggle, curled by being next to Gretchen.

'Mine.', Ashley victoriously grinned, but not from any bad place, and with a swift motion…

'Boop!'

She booped Gretchen's nose, and rolled off giggling, not caring she was on the carpet.

Gretchen, furiously blushing that entire time, shook her head hard, coughing a bit. Straightening her glasses (but not her heart), she wheezed out 'That doesn't mean anything, I'm going to pretend that didn't happen', as she took a few calming breaths, while Ashley happily gazed at her prize: the drawing.

'OOOH! GRETCHEN! THIS IS, LIKE, TOTALLY FAR OUT!', Ashley exclaimed, tracing the diagrams with her finger. Gretchen, now calm, fidgeted with her fingers. 'Oh, it's just a diagram…'

'Just a diagram? This looks SO pro!', Ashley showed off the diagram, one of the amphitheater, and it did look really good! It had detailed explanations of all the parts and area, including the outside city areas that overlooked the stage. In fact, all the angles and stuff gave Ashley the same idea Gretchen had. 'Say, like, what if we, like, made this? For the project? Instead of just writing!'

Gretchen nodded in agreement, moving back next to Ashley. 'Yeah! That was my idea! I think we could probably assemble this out of spare parts and cardboard, of which I have in spades! I've done so before with this eclipse viewer I made, back when the eclipse happened! It was incredible, it's pretty much the only time you can stare at the sun without being blinded, so naturally I had to jump at the opportunity! First I glued this toilet tissue tub onto the cardboard box, once I cut a hole exactly 12 CM in diameter to fit in with the hole that the tube would have, which would be ideal for viewing pleasure since the hole wouldn't be too large and I would be able to look without any side effects! Of course, that requires exact measurements of where I would be looking up to, which is why I measured the distance from the sun's position at 12:37 AM, in comparison with current weather patterns, we're quite lucky to live where we are, since most place would have been unable to see thanks to January cloud patterns on the eastern seaboard, but we got spared, which is fascinating really since it's quite coincidental in the first place, more of a western seaboard thing (unless you're in maine) and oh Ashley it was thrilling, you should have seen it, it's…'

While Gretchen went off on a rant of epic proportions, Ashley couldn't help but stare at Gretchen's hazel eyes, that burned with passion even if Ashley didn't get quite a bit of it, or at Gretchen's pigtails, that bounced every which way as she shook while speaking, sort of a strange mix of dancing and bouncing. The scientist girl's explanations went on and on, sailing worlds Ashley A had never heard of, but Ashley R was beginning to realize she didn't mind seeing. When Gretchen stared back, she had the most adorable, infectious grin, as she detailed the eclipse and what it meant to her, desperate to share it with…

'Me…', Ashley thought, finding her cheeks stinging a little and her heart hammering a tad. Why, she didn't know. But she would have to move on and ignore that, lest they fail on the project!

'I mean this in literally the BEST way possible, but we really do need to get back to work.', Ashley apologetically informed, and Gretchen, catching herself, smiled sheepishly. 'I suppose now we're even.'

'Yeah.', Ashley laughed sheepishly, and the two resumed their work, taking down more notes and ideas.

'You could work on the cardboard, and I could draw the audience!', Ashley offered, sketching down some people already.

'Ingenious! And maybe, maybe I could use a generator to make some of the outside people move, maybe I could make those into little automaton models, sort of gives a technology and nature divide theme to the proceedings!', Gretchen suggested, digging in her closet for a generator.

'Ooh, terrific!', Ashley clapped, then got another idea. 'Wait, I'm gonna blow your brain! When we present this, we could present it like the actors would! I could wear one of those linen masks, you could narrate, and I'm sure I can hire a chorus!'

'I love that! That would make our project stand out!', Gretchen agreed, snapping her fingers.

'Like, totally!', Ashley happily agreed, as the two kept excitedly sketching and brainstorming and laughing and bouncing ideas off each other. Soon, they had one big plan, and they were having fun doing it!

But sadly, that didn't last long. Obstacles were still present in this strange partnership, and this one would be a doozy to challenge them the most.

'I should see if you have any other books that could help.', Ashley offered, and Gretchen, appreciating the work effort, nodded. 'Knock yourself out!'

Ashley did so, leafing through many science textbooks, and suddenly, she caught onto a book title. 'Hey, you have something here under "Greek poetry", could that help?'

'Hmm, must be one I borrowed from Mikey that I forgot to take back. What is it?', Gretchen asked, not looking back, as she kept sketching.

Ashley scrunched her face, squinting as she tried to pronounce it. 'Sappho?'

Gretchen suppressed a scream.

She gulped hard, heart drumming in her throat.

She could barely hear as Ashley brought the book over and slammed it down, scratching her head. 'What kinda name is Sappho?', Ashley asked, hoping Gretchen would know.

Gretchen, face on FIRE, looked away and coughed. 'Um, just an old name. You know the Greeks.', she made a cuckoo symbol, hoping Ashley didn't know the slang term.

Ashley shrugged. 'No, I don't know the Greeks.'

'Oh, okay.'

While Gretchen kept praying for a reprieve, Ashley dug further and further. 'So, like, what kinda poetry we got here? Let's take a peaky…', Ashley snickered in a naughty way, feeling like she was reading a private diary. It felt like she was uncovering some sort of secret, the way Gretchen seemed to be acting, and her mean and impulsive thrill side popped out, too curious now not to try and understand. 'Are you embarrassed to have a poetry book? Not sciency enough for you?', she asked, leafing through the pages.

'Oh, no, it's not… That…', Gretchen choked, stammering and stuttering, just wishing she could wake up from this nightmare. Her hands were fidgeting again, but not in a happy way.

Ashley, meanwhile, finally landed on a poem. 'Oooh, this seems sort of understandable! Let's see now…', she cleared her throat and began reciting, as Gretchen sunk more and more into herself, hands barely covering how tomato red face and hyperventilating breath.

'That man is like a god to me

Who, sitting face to face with thee,

Shall hear thee sweetly speak, and see

Thy laughter's gentle brandishing.'

'Tis this astounds my trembling heart:

I see thee, lovely as thou art:

My fluttering words in murmurs start,

My broken tongue is faltering.'

'My flushing skin the fire betrays

That through my blood electric strays:

My eyes seem darkening as I gaze,

My ringing ears re-echoing.'

'Cold from my forehead glides the dew:

A shuddering tremor thrills me through:

My cheek a green and yellow hue;

All gasping, dying, languishing.'

Ashley finished reading, while Gretchen laid in a fetal position on the carpet, slowly whispering 'Is it over?'

'...Like, what the whomps did that mean?', Ashley asked, curious. Gretchen sighed in relief. 'Phew.'

'...Better check this totally helpful author's note!', Ashley continued, Gretchen groaning and smacking her head back on the carpet in defeat.

And so, Ashley read.

And she read again.

And she read again, just to make sure.

Then a fourth time, because it was her favorite number.

Then she placed the book down and looked at Gretchen.

'...Wait, she's, like, a lesbo?', Ashley A asked, making Gretchen turn to her and cringe. '...Maybe, I… I didn't read that far…', she tried, hoping that lame excuse would work.

It seemed to, since Ashley raced to her next thought. 'Like, wow, I didn't think she was totally into girls, like, eww, that's so gross and wrong!'

Gretchen sighed. But of course. 'Mmm hmm.' she murmured in a non committed way, as she turned away again, allowing the suffering to continue.

And Ashley was far from done. 'Ugh, I feel dirty just holding this!', she threw the book away and sprayed her hands with disinfectant she borrowed from her mom. Shaking her body like she was a wet dog, she took a few deep breaths. 'Wow, like, doesn't she know that you can't do that? Like, I can't remember how Mommy says it, but I think it's like, "God made us two genders for a reason, you wouldn't put a square peg in a round hole", yes, that's what she said! That's as silly as, well, as anything! Two women can't have children!'

'Not the mainstream way, no…', Gretchen muttered, trying really hard not to cry next to Ashley.

'And, like, why would you even think that? It's so dumb and obvious! Ha! That Sappho of Lesbos isn't much of a genius like we are, eh, Gretchen?', Ashley nudged Gretchen, only to gasp. 'Duh! That's why it's called Lesbos! Lesbians! Island of Lesbians, whew, that's so creepy crawly, huh, Gretchen? An island full of carpet munchers! Those are the terms, right? That's what they said on that one TV show… Heh, she must have been SO ugly, she just got desperate! Imagine being that hopeless in love! Couldn't be me!', Ashley snickered meanly, lifting her nose.

Gretchen was nearly dead. Only one thing could have been worse than this. 'Yes, Ashley, yes, I understand…'

'I'm so sorry for you!'

Gretchen's eyes widened and she stared at Ashley, who kept on talking without thinking.

'I mean, you and Mikey OBVIOUSLY didn't know, duh! I know I and the other Ashley's have called you freaks before, but there's freak and there's THIS! Don't worry, though, I know you're not actually one of those! You're far too… That is, I mean, um… You're not THAT freaky. You're too… Respectable, that's what we keep saying, yes, respectable to be gay!', Ashley said in a reassuring voice, almost like she cared, like she wanted to tell Gretchen that they could still "respect" each other because she wasn't gay.

And that was the one thing worse than this.

For a long 15 seconds, Gretchen stared blankly at Ashley, Ashley waving her arm in front of her eyes. 'Yoo hoo? Gretchen? You, like, good?'

Gretchen then slowly stood up, picked up her work, placed it on the desk, turned around, pushed Ashley out surprisingly well, then closed the door.

Ashley, shocked, knocked on the door, flabbergasted and pissed. 'HEY! WHAT'S, LIKE, THE BIG IDEA?!'

'Go away.', was all Gretchen could muster at first. She had collapsed into her bed and wrapped herself with covers. If she closed her eyes, maybe Ashley would disappear.

More knocks. Scratch that theory.

'Go away, please.', Gretchen tried, hoping the politeness would help.

'I will… NOT! What the FUCK is going on? We're working on, like, a project?'

'We were. But now I want you to go. My dad will be back soon, he can pick you up to your house.', Gretchen forced out, hiding again in her covers once she was done.

'BUT… BUT WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE HERE? IT'S NOT EVEN THAT LATE! HECK, IT'S BEEN, WHAT, AN HOUR? AT MOST? WHY ARE YOU TELLING ME TO GO?!', Ashley demanded, almost scratching at the door like a feral cat.

'If you don't know, then that's why I'm angry.', Gretchen growled back, tired of this. Tired of… Of everything. Punching her pillow, she said quietly 'I actually thought, just for a second, that it wasn't so bad, being your project partner…'

Ashley groaned so loudly it nearly shook the door. 'BUT I DON'T KNOW! JUST TELL ME! WHY ARE YOU BEING SOOOOOOO UNFAIR?! WE WERE HAVING A GOOD TIME, NO? GOD, GRETCHEN, WHY…', Ashley asked, feeling almost hurt for a second. She had tried really hard. What had she done NOW? Turning red, fuming, steaming, she kicked the door one last time and screamed at the top of her lungs 'Oh, you know what, fuck it! You're JUST like the other Ashley's! Talk to the hand, because I am DONE being shouted at for stuff I didn't, like, do! Who needs you, or them?! What-EVER, I SAY! YOU HEAR ME?! WHAT-EVER!'.

Finished with her rant, Ashley sat down at the end of the door and sighed, waiting for Gretchen's dad.

Gretchen, sighing, wanting to say a million things, bottled them all up and screamed into her pillow instead.

They sat like that, occasionally stomping or punching or screaming or sighing, for 3 hours.

Finally, Gretchen's parents came back from their business trip, and were a little startled to see the strange girl sitting at their daughter's doorstep. Deciding not to escalate things ('Unlike that dumb stupid Gretchen! What a freak!'), she simply explained that she had helped Gretchen with a school project and asked to be driven back home.

And so, she was. It was cold, silent, boring, and lonely.

At their respective beds (Menlo had been sent by Ashley back home, he thankfully lived nearly next door so it wasn't a problem), Ashley and Gretchen both went to sleep, the former still angry and confused, the other crying hot tears into her pillow.

They honestly didn't know how they would handle tomorrow.

But they would have to…

And that day, good or bad, would change their lives forever.

So you see? You see why I was so angry, so upset?! I don't get it! I really didn't do anything! I wasn't mean, selfish, judgy, greedy, anything!

Stupid Gretchen!

Stupid feelings!

Why am I… Why am I so worked up about this?

It's just a l-AME project and a l-AME problem until the week is OVER and I never have to see HER again! If anything, I just burned a whole day! I did my part, she has a project plan! I've survived the first day, I should be celebrating! I should be happy! I don't CARE about her anyway!

Ignore the wet stains, I… It's just milk. Yes, that's it.

Just milk.

Just project partners by fate.

Nothing more.


This was a hard chapter to write, tbh, though I did finish it on Friday in the end! I wanted to keep it a little longer however, so there would be time to digest the previous chapter!

Besides the angst, I think what made this one hard was that it's the most static chapter so far (in terms of location). It's mostly in Gretchen's room, after all, and Ashley is not noticing the room and house for a reason I will explain later (that reason is I came up with a chapter that is so goddamn adorable and it requires Ashley not noticing). It's kind of meant to feel slow and static though: It's arguably the first time they've had to just sit together and do something, really face the fact that yes, they are bonding.

Of course, the angst has to be addressed. It can't all be forward steps and blooming rainbows (how fitting). Ashley A is a rich girl from 1998 raised by a conservative, toxic mother, with no knowledge of homosexuality, just the constant reminder from those around her that she must fear it and hate it. She will learn her lesson, I promise it, dear readers. Next chapter will address the first proper spat between these two (which again, it had to happen), and while it will be less angsty in ways, it will be featuring quite the sad section, so prepare for that.

Despite the difficulty in writing this one, I really enjoyed it, personally! The girls getting to properly talk just the two of them without any pressure of time (first time since the museum) was really important and fun, I feel comfortable writing in Gretchen's home, and there's loads of setup here for the rest of this long second arc.

I also did some research for 90's stuff AND Pennsylvania state stuff, so expect more of it in upcoming chapters.

Speaking of that, here's the overall plan for the next few chapters (spoilers hidden, of course):

1. The girls address their fight

2. A long montage chapter

3. Ashley Slumber Party

4. Ashley at Gretchen's house (but whyyyy, you'll seeee)

5. The presentation day

6. The following week

7. The BIG one

This means that arc 1 is 7 chapters and arc 2 is 11 chapters, jeez.

Anyway, hope you enjoy, read and review, I'm hoping to get the next chapter out at worst by next Sunday! See ya then!