Ashley was still thinking about her short encounter with Carson later that day. She tried to think back to anything that would have given her an indication of his interest in her but she came up with nothing. She had been clueless.

She contemplated telling her friends and decided it was better to be open with them about what Carson had wanted to talk to her about. It wasn't like she was going to go out with him. She would wait a day or two and call him to decline. After the way she had handled things with Logan she was more careful about making the same mistake again.

When she made it to the cafeteria to meet up with her friends she was still unsettled.

"Where were you?" Sally asked, seeing there was something off.

"I saw Carson."

"And?" Diane perked up beside her.

"He wanted...to ask me...out."

The shocked expression of her friends told her she wasn't alone in her reaction to it.

"Wow. I had no idea," Sally murmured.

"Me either," Ashley mumbled.

"And what did you say?" She looked up to Diane who had asked the question.

"Um I was going to turn him down but he told me to think about it." She shrugged.

"And are you going to think about it?" Sally asked flickering a glance to where Maddox was sitting with his friends.

"I don't know if there is anything to think about." Her eyes followed to Maddox.

"What about Maddox?" Diane reminded her.

Ashley gave her annoyed look. "There is no me and Maddox. He felt some responsibility in what happened with Logan and wanted to make things right. That's it."

"I'm still not convinced," Diane revealed.

Ashley glared at her friend, not wanting her opinion on the subject. "I told you I don't want to talk about him. He, who shall not be named, is not anything to me."

"Fine." Diane caved.

Ashley snuck another glance at Maddox. She felt the familiar flutter of something as she watched him interact with his friends. She was scared that no matter how much she denied it she was falling for someone who was going to break her heart.

She moved her gaze from him to a couple of tables away to where Carson sat beside Noah. His eyes met hers and he smiled. She gave him a hesitant smile before she turned back to her friends. Awkward.

Was she stopping something before it had a chance to start? In the beginning she hadn't liked Maddox at all. Did she have to give herself a chance to feel something before she stopped it? It was something to think about. But she remembered she had been attracted to Maddox straight away and she hadn't felt that same spark with Carson.

All the thinking and analysing was giving her a headache so she stopped thinking about Carson and Maddox and tried to focus on her lunch listening to the distant chatter of her friends.

She was glad she didn't have cheerleading practice that afternoon so she wouldn't bump into Carson before she had a chance to figure out an easy way to let him down. After Logan, she had learnt her lesson.

Ashley was on her way to her car, deep in her thoughts when Maddox stepped into her path.

"Hey," he said. His expressive eyes had a way of drawing her in.

"Hi." She felt so awkward at how breathless she sounded and how her heart sped up at the sight of him. A direct look into his eyes made her heart skip. Damn it.

"Anyone give you any trouble today?" he asked.

She shook her head "I'm old news." She was thankful his actions and her prank had taken the heat off her. It was something she wouldn't wish upon anyone, even her worst enemy.

"You want to come over to my house?" he asked. The directness of his gaze made it difficult to breathe.

She swallowed. "Why?"

"We can hang out and stuff." His request was so casual.

The thought made her feel nervous and excited even though she was scared. She had already learnt that spending time with him wouldn't do her any good but she nodded.

"I just have to call my mom to let her know where I'm going." He nodded.

She got her phone out and dialled her mom.

"Ashley," her mom greeted.

"Hi mom. I wanted to go to a friend's house for a couple of hours after school."

"Fine. But don't be home too late."

"I wont." She ended the call. She was surprised she hadn't been more difficult about it. Some days she was predictable and some days she wasn't.

"I'll follow you to your house so you can drop off your car." They started to walk to where his car was parked a couple of spaces from her.

"That's not necessary. I can follow you to your house." She got her keys out her bag.

"I don't mind."

Sometimes it was just easier to give in and agree so she nodded.

He followed her back to her house. The whole time she felt shaken up and unsure of herself. His presence spun her around and she was struggling to balance.

She was worked up when they reached her house and she got out of her car.

Maddox parked beside her.

She walked over to the driver's side. "I'll just be a moment."

"Sure."

She hurried into her house and dropped her bag in the front entrance. She made sure she had her phone in the one pocket and her house keys in the other pocket.

When she exited her house and locked the front door he was standing beside his car. She walked toward him he walked around the bonnet and opened the passenger door for her.

She mumbled a thank you when she got in and he closed the door. She put her seatbelt on and joined her hands on her lap to hide her nervousness. His car smelled just like him. She took in a deep breath and exhaled before he got into the car.

He started his car and the radio blared. He turned down the volume. "Sorry."

Just being with him without a word spoken was something she had never experienced with another person. There were so many emotions that it was difficult to pinpoint exactly what she was feeling. On the one hand she was scared, nervous and ready to make a run for it but on the other she wanted to see what was going to happen. All the warning signs did not deter her.

She knew how this story was going to end. But she couldn't stop herself.

She didn't think of Carson or any other boy as Maddox drove them to his house. The last time she had been there she had a glimpse into his life and the girls it entailed. She had been so upset.

He gave her a side glance. His expression as serious as hers.

"You're nervous," he said before concentrating back on the road.

She clasped her hands together. "I'm wondering how many other girls are going to rock up at your house today."

He grinned. "Only one." Smart ass.

His words inflated her heart and she smiled.

He knew exactly what to say and when. Was that what made him so popular with the girls? She refused to think about the other girls. She just wanted to bask in his presence for just a while and forget about about how this was going to end. What damage could he do in one afternoon?

Just when we reached his house her phone started to ring. She dug it out of her back pocket.

It was Jerry. Then she realised she had forgotten about her shift at the diner.

She answered it. "Where are you Ashley?" Jerry asked angrily.

She swore. She closed her eyes briefly trying to figure a way out of this mess. Maddox touched her arm and she opened to his concerned face.

"I'm on my way." She aid to Jerry and ended the call before he had a chance to yell.

"What's wrong?" Maddox asked at her obvious distress.

"I forgot I was supposed to be working a shift tonight. I'm sorry. Would you mind dropping me off?" She raked a hand through her hair.

How could she have forgotten? She was frazzled.

"Sure. I'll drop you off."

She was running too late to go back to her house to get her car so agreed.

With just a half an hour she had forgotten about her shift at work. She was working as hard as she could to get out of the house and just a few moments in his presence she had completely forgotten it.