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�Constant Change� Chapter 11: When The Pain Shows Valerie and Ashley sat together at lunch away from everyone. Lisa came storming up to them with Cameron in tow. She was furious. Cameron was helpless. He hadn�t figured out a way to keep Valerie and Ashley safe from her anger. �Ashley! What are you doing?� Lisa demanded. �I�m trying to be Valerie�s friend because she obviously needs someone right now,� Ashley said standing up to face Lisa. �Why did you leave me this morning?� Lisa was so close to slapping Ashley across the face. �I just told you,� Ashley said well aware of Lisa�s anger. �Don�t give me excuses!� Lisa shouted. �Lisa, don�t,� Ashley said. �Don�t what?� Lisa asked teeth clenched. By that time they had drawn a large crowd. Cameron had stepped back to give Lisa room but close enough to pull her off if she got too hostile. Valerie was still sitting watching the whole spectacle unfold. �Don�t be a bitch,� Ashley replied after a moment of consideration. That was it for Lisa. She slapped him across the face. The sound stopped all activity in the cafeteria. Everyone turned to stare. Valerie gasped and shot out of her seat. Cameron stepped forward and held onto Lisa�s arm. �How dare you!� Valerie screamed at Lisa. �How dare I? How dare I?� Lisa seethed. �How dare you! You call yourself my friend? Then why the hell would you steal my boyfriend?� Valerie tried to step forward but Ashley put his arm around her waist. That didn�t stop her verbal assault. �I didn�t steal your boyfriend. He never wanted you in the first place,� Valerie hissed. She was furious and wasn�t thinking clearly. Lisa shook off Cameron�s arm and clenched her fist in Valerie�s face. �Why would he want a new girl like you?� Lisa jeered. Ashley stepped in front of Valerie afraid Lisa would hit her. �Lisa, I hate to break it to you but I was never your boyfriend.� Lisa fumed. �You bastard.� Cameron grabbed her arm as she went to swing at Ashley again. He caught her before her fist hit his jaw. She spun around and gave Cameron an evil glare. �Traitor,� she said before she stalked off. Valerie turned Ashley�s face toward her. Caught up in the moment, she rubbed his jaw where Lisa had slapped him with her hand. Ashley put his hand over hers. �Poor baby,� Valerie murmured. �Thanks for being on my side,� he whispered brushing her cheek with his hand. �I really appreciate it.� ~*~ Ashley walked Valerie to her locker after school. They were laughing and joking like nothing had happened. They didn�t want to think about Lisa�s outrage. Nothing was said about Ashley�s earlier passes at Valerie nor was anything said about Dan and Valerie�s fight. They kept their conversation light and happy. Valerie took the last book out of her locker and put it in her backpack. She turned to Ashley a smile spreading over her face. �Ash?� Valerie asked, an idea coming to her. �Yeah,� Ashley said shutting the door of her locker. �Do you wanna come over and like, hang out?� Valerie asked him. Ashley turned toward her to make sure she was serious. �Yeah, of course I do.� �Okay, but I don�t have my car with me. Joel drove me to school this morning,� Valerie told him. �Do you think he�ll mind if I tag along?� Ashley asked skeptically. �I hope not,� Valerie said as they walked toward the parking lot. Joel was talking with some of his buddies when Ashley and Valerie walked up to his car. They all made a quick exit when Ashley stepped up beside Valerie. Joel turned and faced the two. �Joel,� Valerie said before he could say anything. �Valerie, what do you� Ashley?� Joel asked confused. �Joel, he was there when I needed him today. We�re going to hang out,� Valerie paused. �So, is that okay with you?� �Are you sure?� Joel asked her. �Joel, we�ll be at our house. You�ll be there. What�s going to happen?� Valerie said. �Okay, get in,� Joel held open the door to his car still skeptical of Ashley�s true intentions. ~*~
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