I can't stop laughing, what Ashlyn did was genius. "So we finally get to skip class together." she says satisfied. "I'm starting to think this was your plan all along." I tell her suspicious of her. "Mhm maybe." she raises her eyebrows. Grabbing my hands she drags me to the exit of the school.

Sitting on the ground against the wall of our school. We're sharing a cigarette. This feels so relaxing, sitting here with her smoking. "You finally spoke back to the teacher." she says proudly. "Yes, I felt confident for some reason." I tell her honestly. "I love that Tory, you deserve to feel confident. And you deserve to stand up for yourself." I smile at her words. "Thank you Ash." "Oh and about that nickname, it does something to my heart." I laugh at what she says. I knew she liked the nickname when she saw the note. "Then I'll use it more often, Ash." I tease her. She looks at me with a grin. She definitely loves this nickname. "Did you actually eat the notes?" I ask her since I was curious about that ever since she put the papers in her mouth. "Yeah." she says looking proud. I laugh, "Ashlyn!"

"Oh ladies there you are." we hear a familiar voice say with a bitter tone. We look up to see Ms. Miller. I see her looking at me confused, probably not expecting to see me smoke. Well now she knows I smoke. "I saw you guys walking outside, you know you're not supposed to leave the school when you're send out of class." "Ma'am with all due respect, we're still on school grounds." I tell her. She looks at me as if she can't believe her ears. Yeah I'm finally showing some confidence, I huff internally. Get used to it. "After class I expect you guys in my classroom and I wanna have a talk with you two." and with that she turns around and walks back into the school. Ashlyn and I both groan. "I'm proud of you, goodie two shoes." I look at her confused. "For what?" "You really gained some confidence." I understand what she means now, she's talking about me talking back to the teacher again. I smile, "Thanks Ash."

Standing in front of the classroom, we're waiting for the class to end. When the bell goes, the door opens and students come walking out. We wait until the class is empty to walk in. But the teacher tells us, "Wait outside, I'll get you two in a minute." So here we're standing outside of the classroom again, both being annoyed by this. I see Ashlyn look around suspiciously. I laugh, "What are you doing?" Suddenly I feel her lips on mine. I smile into the kiss. We hear the door open and we quickly separate looking at the teacher who is looking back at us with a frown. I really hope she didn't see that. She clears her throat and motions for us to come in.

"So what was this all about?" she asks us. We both don't say anything, probably not knowing what to say. "Are you gonna talk?" she looks at the both of us. We still say nothing, what are we supposed to say? She already knew about the notes so what is there more to tell. "Okay, I'll make it easier for you. First you both come in late together saying you had a sleepover, which is not an excuse. Then you both can't seem to focus and I see you writing notes to each other. And then I call you out on it and you two show very rude behavior. I tell you to get out of my class and then you go outside, when you know it's now allowed. And you were smoking!" she's finally done with listing everything we've done wrong. I see her taking a breath before continuing, "And I'm especially disappointed in you Tory." she calls me by my first name, she never does that. "I would have never expected this type of behavior from you." she tells me. I nod. "I'll see you girls tomorrow, please show some normal behavior then."

School's now done and we're walking to Ashlyns apartment again. I feel safe there. When I suddenly remember I do need some stuff if I'll sleep there again. "Ash am I gonna sleep at yours again? Because then I'll have to get some stuff from my house this time." "Whatever you want." she answers. "Then can I stay at yours?" I look down feeling embarrassed. She puts her finger under my chin to make me look up into her eyes. Leaving a quick peck on my lips she tells me, "I would love that Tory."

"We can drop by your house right now if you want to?" she asks me. I hesitate a bit, since I will have to hope my dad isn't home. I don't think he will appreciate the fact that I slept somewhere else yesterday night without telling him and that I'm planning to do the same today. But he wouldn't allow me even if I asked. "What is it?" she asks me, snapping me from my thoughts. "Nothing, let's go to my house then." I decide to take the risk of my dad being home.

Walking in my street now, I feel nervous. 'Shit'. His car is there. That means he's home. What do I do now? Am I gonna tell her? "So I'll have to climb inside the window of my room." I tell her nervously. She looks at me worried. "Why?" "My dad is home. I don't think he would appreciate it knowing I'm gonna sleep somewhere else without asking him. But I won't ask him since he probably wouldn't allow me anyways." I tell her in a rush since the nerves are getting to me. She nods and doesn't ask further. I'm grateful for that, since I don't feel like talking about it right now.

Standing in my room, I'm thinking about what to take with me. My guitar is still at Ashlyns apartment, so I don't have to take that. My school uniform and some clean clothes. That's all I think? I put everything in a bag I've had since I was young. It's a black bag with stickers that I stuck on it when I was younger. I love this bag, it reminds me of mom. She gave it to me. 'Oh a toothbrush!' I suddenly think. I grab my toothbrush from my bathroom and put it in a little case, so it won't get dirty in my bag.

Climbing out of the window again. I see Ashlyn on the same spot patiently waiting for me. "You were very fast." she tells me. I laugh, but I know why I was fast. I definitely didn't want my dad hearing me. "Let's go home now." she tells me with a soft voice. Home. She is my home.