deardiary10

    "Remember at that party, where we were introduced?" Ashley said watching Madison's turned back moving farther away from him. She slowly started turning around to listen.
     "You know the first time I saw you smile, that's when. But I figured out you are carrying something with you, I don't know what but you've been through something... But, if we could be just friends, that would be good enough for me." Ashley finished hopefully waiting for some form of a reply.
     "Ashley, please don't do this, there is so much you don't know..." She stumbled over words almost in tears.
     "Then tell me. You can tell me on the way to my house though, we have to get going." He said grabbing her hand and leading her out of the store.

                      ***                   ***                 ***

***December 25, 2000:
    Today didn't turn out to be so bad after all. I ended up running into Ashley at the grocery store and he took me over ot his house for Christmas. His family was really nice. He was a gentleman too, he took me home as soon as I was ready and didn't even try to get me alone or anything. There's two weeks of no school and he said he is going to make sure I don't spend the whole time home alone. I don't know what to think about him though. He is truly a nice guy. I know he is a nice guy because I was introduced to his mom. Only nice guys do that kind of thing. I don't deserve somebody like him, I am totally wrong for him. Ashley deserves better than me.

***December 26, 2000:
     Today Ashley called and wanted to take me to a movie. My heinous bitch of a mother refused my desire to leave the house. She said she didn't want me to cause her any more grief. As soon as she left for work Ashley came over and spent the whole day with me. We watched movies and played games. I started to cry when he pulled out Monopoly and then ended up explaining everything that had happened with my family and cried even more. He just held me and sang in my ear. This is the best day I have had in such a long time, but I am afraid of losing it all. I want to tell Ashley the truth about my past and everything but I am afraid if I do I will lose him. I can't decide what to do.

     Madison hopped off the sofa as the doorbell rang and quickly opened the door. She pounced into Ashley and wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tightly.
     "Wow, what a greeting." Ashley laughed as he hugged Madison. The front door opened once again. Madison looked up at Hayden and broke away from Ashley.
     "Great. Not only are you out all night with them but now you're bringing the bastards home. That's wonderful." Hayden glared at Ashley and slammed his bedroom door.
     "What was that all about?" Ashley asked as a confused look spread across his face. Madison turned to grab her coat and exited the house.
     "Madison?" He persisted.
     "Um...well, you know brother! He was probably just in a bad mood." Madison stuttered as she got into Ashley's truck.
     "Anything else it could've been?" He asked unsurely.
     "No, that's probably it." She answered maintaining her stare out the window. They drove along silently for a few minutes when he suddenly turned the car around. Madison looked over at him questioningly.
     "I'm not feeling well, I'm gonna drop you off at home." He remarkedin a flat tone. The car came to a halt in front of the house they had just recently left.
     "Ashley, what's wr..." She began when she was cut off.
     "You're keeping something from me. I'll talk to you later."
     "Ash...I, I'll explain," Madison gestured out of the car.