It was only the next morning Ashely's insecurities crept in making her question her decision to hang out with Maddox. In the moment it had felt so right, the decision had been easy to make but it was only now she began to question if it was the right choice for her. With her messed up home life was there space for something with Maddox? She wasn't sure there was. Between school, cheerleading and her job, she had her hands full. A reminder of the other night when she had forgotten about her shift was enough for her to start doubting she had made the right choice. She had a plan to escape the turmoil at home and if she allowed herself to be distracted she would be stuck in the situation for longer than she believed she could cope with.

Boys had never been a big focus for her but it was different with Maddox. This was the first time she felt something and it scared her. The fact that Maddox wanted to spend time with her should have made her happy but it made her feel anxious. Like it would only lead to heartbreak, her heart being broken.

That morning on her way to school she felt nervous even though Maddox had assured her they would keep whatever was going on between them under wraps. She didn't like feeling vulnerable, something only he made her feel. It had been way easier being with Logan, he had been more invested making her feel she was in control. Her feelings for Maddox made her feel she was at a disadvantage, and not in control.

At school Maddox didn't treat her any different. He pretty much ignored her while she found herself looking for him in between classes and stealing looks at him at lunch. She also found herself glaring when Macy approached his table to talk to him. He had already told her she was just a friend, it didn't stop her from analysing the way she smiled at him or the way he returned her smile effortlessly. Even if he wasn't interested, it didn't mean Macy wasn't. She hated how her feelings for him controlled her in such a way. No amount of logic could override the hot burn of jealousy every time she saw a girl look back to check him or out or smile with a glitter of hope in their eyes.

The upheaval of her emotions only soured her mood. She didn't want to be this jealous person, it was Maddox who had made her this insecure stranger.

"Everything okay?" Diane asked, walking with her to her last class of the day.

"Yeah, why?" she asked, unable to keep her voice free from the annoyance she was wrestling with.

"It's just you've been quiet and moody."

She wasn't ready to tell her friends about Maddox. "It's nothing. I didn't sleep very well last night." It seemed to be the best excuse for her grumpiness.

"Mmm." Her friend went silent which made her give her a side glance.

"What?"

"I know you Ashley. This has something to do with Maddox."

She wanted to deny it but her friend wouldn't buy it.

"It's complicated." She sighed. She wasn't ready to bring what was happening between her and Maddox to the judgement of everyone. In a way she hoped the more secure she felt the more she would be able to deal with it.

"Don't overthink things Ash. Just let it happen." Diane winked and smiled before she headed to her class.

Ashley stopped for a few moments, taking in her friend's advice before she hurried to class. Not for a second did she believe it was that easy. None of her friends understood what she was dealing with at home, perhaps if she didn't have to worry about that she would be able to be a normal teenager with her biggest dilemma would be the troublemaker of her school that made her heart race. But it wasn't that simple.

All day the jealousy ate away at her. Not once did his eyes meet hers, and it was difficult not to think she might have imagined the whole hanging out thing with Maddox. Her mood worsened and when school ended she dragged herself to cheerleading. Her mind was distracted and it was difficult to concentrate on anything.

"Are you even listening?" Crystal asked, with frustrated anger when she missed the cue.

"Uh yeah, sorry." She made a point of looking at her, intent on giving her full concentration. Diane gave her a side glance.

"I don't know why you even joined. You've missed practices and even when you're here you don't follow any instructions." Crystal continued, laying into her. Despite her apology she wouldn't stop complaining.

Ashley pressed her lips together to stop herself from telling her off but the longer she went on the more difficult to began until eventually she couldn't keep quiet any longer.

"You're right. I shouldn't be here." She gave Crystal one more glare. "I quit."

Crystal's verbal lashing came to an abrupt end and her mouth hung open in surprise.

With that she stalked off. Behind her she heard the gasps and the stunned silence but she didn't care. She had too much going on to worry about cheerleading. It wouldn't get her to college and it wouldn't pay her rent, therefore it wasn't important in her future plan.

But where did Maddox fit into it. She wasn't sure there was a place for him either but she didn't want to think about that now.

"Don't Ashley," Diane hurried behind her.

She stopped to speak to her friend. "I can't do this anymore Di. It's not worth it anymore."

Her friend stood watching her as she turned and walked away.

She hurried to the gym and got dressed as quickly as she could leaving her cheerleading out fit neatly folded in her empty locker. She gave one look around the locker room before she left feeling a little relief that she had one less thing to try and juggle in her life.

On her way home her mind drifted to Maddox which only made her angrier. His treatment of her had hit a sensitive spot, even with all the logic in the world it didn't make her feel any better about his indifference to her all day.

When she arrived at home she sat in her car with her cell phone in her hands as she contemplated calling Maddox. Maybe just hearing his voice and his assurance he still wanted to hang out would put to rest any doubts that had arisen.

She had never felt this insecure, without feelings she had never experienced any of what she was going through with Maddox and it was unnerving. Already she was vulnerable to him and it was something she was struggling with. There was nothing easy about how just the thought of Maddox made her heart race or how she questioned every little look or action from him. She didn't recognise the person she was since she had met him. But as scared as she was, she couldn't put a stop to it.

There was one thing she couldn't doubt, she was losing control and it was something she wasn't comfortable with.

A chance meeting had rippled through her life, leaving nothing as it was. Things she had felt had held some importance before, didn't seem to hold the same now and it made her question everything. He made her question everything.

She let out a heavy sigh. She had never really enjoyed Cheerleading, it was something she had felt she should do, just as she had felt about Logan. But now that she had cut it loose like she had Logan she could feel the weighted burden slightly lighter.

Besides she had to concentrate on working to make the money she would need to move out as soon as she left school.

Her eyes settled on the phone and she debated whether it was a good idea to call Maddox. Would it come off as needy? She hesitated. Navigating this new situation with Maddox tied her in knots and she had no idea what to do. Whereas before there had been nothing to lose, this time was different because there was definitely something to lose.

Her hand sighted on her phone but she couldn't bring herself to call him. She couldn't allow herself to be one of those girls who allowed her heart to rule every decision.

She felt something for Maddox but she couldn't allow those feelings to grow into something too strong too soon. That would spell disaster. Decision made, she put her phone back in her bag and got out the car, heading into her house.

To ensure she kept Maddox at arm's length to ensure she didn't check her phone every five minutes she put it on silent, determined to get on with her homework. Every time she lifted her eyes from the open textbook in front of her to her phone sitting on the side table she would admonish herself and pull her attention back to her work.