“Thanks,” the rocker beamed and the two hugged.

“Hey that’s my girlfriend!” Spencer scolded as she came back to them from the toy isle, her finger was wagging and her face scrunched together like she was hurt by watching the exchange.

“You’re right…” Paula released Ashley while shaking her head, “What was I thinking?”

“I don’t know?” Spencer shrugged her shoulders.

“Come on girlfriend let’s go check out the jewelry department,” Ashley wrapped her arm around the younger blonde’s waist and tugged her toward the next isle.

“But guys don’t wear jewelry,” Spencer protested making Paula and Madison laugh as the other two disappeared.

“On to the cologne?” Madison asked with an arch of her eyebrow.

“Lead the way soon to be Carlin,” Paula joked. The two made their way silently toward the men’s cologne, each to their own thoughts.

“Mrs. Carlin what were you like in high school?” Madison tried to ask discreetly as she thumbed thru different after shaves.

“I don’t know, why?” Paula didn’t understand the question.

“Well, okay the thing is…” Madison stopped and stared the older woman in the eyes, “I’m afraid.”

”Of what?”

“I’m afraid of going back senior year and becoming the bitch again, afraid I’m going to screw up and lose everyone…hell I would even hate myself for losing Ashley. The thing is I like to please people, be the leader and no one liked me like that, I didn’t like me like that.”

“Take a deep breath, listen you just have to be your self and say screw it. I know it sounds weird coming from the mother superior as Ashley deemed me but you really don’t have to worry or be scared. Besides just between you and me…” Paula leaned in closer and whispered, “I think Ashley would kick your ass if you tried to ditch them. She’s really come to rely on you.”

“I know and I rely on her too and to think we were bitter enemies up till three months ago.” She shook her head remembering all the mean words and cat fights they got into, not much as changed they still fight and throw mean words at each other but it seems more light hearted and fun now.