“Why not?” Spencer asked already knowing the answer she would be given. “You can go back next year and sign up for all core classes to make up for what you’ve missed.”

“No I can’t, Spence. It would take me a full year, summer school, AND night school to make up for what I’ve missed and to complete my senior year. I can’t do that. I may be strong, but I’m not super woman.” Ashley felt her face reddening. She wasn’t mad at Spencer. All she wanted to do was help and Ashley appreciated that. The person she was really mad at was Chris. Hot tears began forming in her eyes and rolling down to the end of her lashes before free falling to the floor by her feet.

Spencer was speechless and didn’t know exactly what it was that she could say to make Ashley feel better.  So she remained quiet when she saw Ashley’s mouth open to speak again.

“You know what I wish?” Ashley asked not even looking at Spencer. She leaned against the wall next to the door. “Sometimes I wish that Chris DIDN’T know what he was doing. That maybe he would have put too much in my drink that night and he would have killed me. That’s what I wish.” The tears went from little drops to a long stream down her cheeks.

“You don’t mean that, Ashley. You jus-“She was cut off.

“Yes, I do.” Ashley protested. “Things would be better for everyone. Amanda would have never even had the chance to be with Chris because he would be in jail for murder and Avery and Little Amanda would never have to ask ‘where’s daddy?’ or ‘who’s my daddy?’ The world would be better without Ashley Davies anyway.”

Before anything came from anyone’s lips, Spencer embraced Ashley into a tight hug letting Ashley sob into her shoulder. “You’re wrong okay?” Spencer said watching the wall behind her with a furrowed brow and she put her hand on the back of Ashley’s neck. “You’re SO wrong because, I need you, Ashley.” Ashley’s arms wrapped tight around her in an effort to hang on to something tight. Something that was real and Spencer was the only real thing she had left. It was as if there was something pulling them apart constantly, but they were going to keep hanging on so that nothing could tear them apart.