�Constant Change� Chapter 1: Only Time

�Ashley, you�ve got to be kidding!� Lisa Milan whined. �You can�t move away!�

�Lisa, I�m so sorry. I didn�t want to tell you because I knew you�d be hurt,� Ashley Angel wrapped his arms around her.

Lisa and Ashley were not officially a couple but they both wanted to be. They were so close they could taste it.

�When?� Lisa asked suddenly. �When are you leaving?�

�Over Christmas break,� Ashley said sadly.

Lisa turned around and hid her face from him. She didn�t want him to see the tears that fell from her brown eyes. �Oh Ashley,� she whispered.

�Lisa, I know. I know,� Ashley pulled her closer to him. He said all these words that would make her feel better but didn�t mean any of them. He didn�t know what to say. He never would.

�I�ve got to go,� Lisa said pulling away from him.

�Lisa, take it easy,� Ashley replied watching her strawberry blonde hair walk away. When she was out of sight, he broke down and let his own tears flow.

�Hey man, you okay?� Cameron, Ashley and Lisa�s best friend, said behind him.

Ashley hastily wiped his tears away. �Yeah dude, I�m cool.�

�Did you tell Lisa?� Cameron asked.

�Yeah,� Ashley said quietly.

�And?� Cameron prompted impatiently.

�And she freaked out on me. I knew she wasn�t going to be happy,� Ashley told his friend. �Leave it alone, Cam. Just leave it alone.�

�Hey, lay off man,� Cameron threw his hands up. �I�m just trying to be your best friend.�

�Yeah well,� Ashley said. �I gotta go. I don�t want to talk about it.�

Cameron watched as Ashley got in his black Corvette. Cameron shook his head. �Ashley, seriously. We all knew she was going to freak. We all knew,� Cameron mumbled.

~*~

It wasn�t even two weeks after Ashley left when she showed up. Valerie Ford moved across the street from Ashley�s empty house. She fit in easily with his crowd of friends. Not once was his name mentioned in her presence. Everyone thought it was best if she didn�t know.

Valerie sat in the cafeteria with Lisa and Cameron one late winter afternoon. The trio talked about their English class. Valerie snuck several glances at the table next to them.

�Val?� Lisa asked her. �Who are you looking at?�

Valerie�s cheeks turned pink. �Um, no one?�

�Oh come on, just tell me,� Lisa encouraged.

�Okay,� Valerie sighed. �See that guy in the gray shirt? That�s Dan Miller.�

�You�re kidding, right?� Cameron laughed. �Dan Miller? He�s a senior, Val. He�d never date a junior like yourself.�

Valerie wrinkled her forehead. �Who says?�

�He�s totally hands off to you,� Lisa informed her. �Believe me. He�s big man on campus. He doesn�t want you.�

�Well you guys don�t have to be so mean about it,� Valerie protested. �You never know.�

�Fine, whatever Valerie,� Cameron said turning back to Lisa. �Did you hear the news, Lisa?�

�What news?� Lisa asked casually.

�Ashley�s moving back in with his aunt,� Cameron beamed at spreading the good news.

�Seriously?� Lisa shrieked. �Ashley�s coming home?�

�Yep,� Cameron noticed the confused expression on Valerie�s face. �Ashley Angel was a good friend of ours. He moved over Christmas break.�

�Oh that clears it all up,� Valerie said sarcastically.

�Lisa and Ashley had something pretty hot going on,� Cameron said mischievously.

�Were you guys going out?� Valerie asked.

Lisa shook her head. �Nope, it never got that far.�

�Why not?� Valerie asked unknowingly digging up the past.

Lisa bit her lip. �Well��

�Neither told the other how they felt until it was too late,� Cameron explained.

�Seriously?� Valerie said. �Then this is like perfect for you.�

Lisa smiled. �Yep. I can�t wait to see him.�

�He�ll be here on Monday,� Cameron told her.

Lisa sighed. Valerie rubbed her hands together. This could get interesting.

~*~

�Who missed me?� Valerie stood with Lisa and Cameron before school on Monday morning. She turned when she heard the deep masculine voice.

�Ashley!� Lisa shrieked. She threw her arms around the tall, good-looking guy. He wrapped his arms around her.

�Oh Lisa. It�s good to be back,� Ashley said into her hair.

When Lisa finally let him go, Cameron gave him the handshake hug that guys have. �Man, it�s good to see you.�

When the three had gotten reacquainted, Ashley�s gaze fell on Valerie. �Hi, I�m Ashley Angel,� he stuck out his hand.

�Valerie Ford,� Valerie said shaking his hand.

�It�s nice to meet you, Valerie Ford,� Ashley said giving her an adorable smile.

�You too, Ashley Angel,� Valerie said giving him a sexy smile.

�Ashley! What are you doing home?� Lisa said breaking the gaze shared between Ashley and Valerie.

�Living with my parents wasn�t working out so I decided to come live with my aunt,� Ashley said putting his arm around Lisa�s shoulders. The two walked off completely absorbed in conversation.

Valerie turned to Cameron with a blank expression on her face. �So that�s Ashley, huh?�

�That�s Ashley for you,� Cameron said. �What�d ya think?�

�He�s, uh, interesting,� Valerie said before the bell rang. �See you later, Cam.�

�Later Val,� Cameron said walking off to his first period.

Valerie hugged her books to her chest. She was already getting a weird vibe from Ashley and she hadn�t said more than two sentences to him. She shivered. Ashley�s presence could still be felt around her.

~*~

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