Madison and the cheerleaders walked away as Spencer stood next to Ashley. Spencer looked towards the brunette, only to see that Ashley was walking away. Spencer looked down and shook her head. I’m so sorry Ash. You have to believe me. The bell rang and Spencer stood, glued to that spot still watching Ashley walk away. Ashley never once looked back.

Ashley didn’t go to class. Instead, she went into the bathroom and called up Natalie. Immediately Natalie answered and knew something was wrong. “Ash? Talk to me… what happened?” Ashley broke down in tears trying to repeat the story to Natalie. “Ash, come get me, okay? We’ll go somewhere and just talk. Just us, I promise.” Just us. Ashley flashbacked to the day of her attack and started crying again. “Shit, Ashley. Just calm down, it’s going to be okay, I promise you. Calm down and come get me. I’m out at lunch now so I can leave and I don’t have to be back. It’s going to be okay.”

After a few minutes, Ashley exited the restroom and walked off campus towards her car. She didn’t notice the bright blue eyes following her from the restroom to her car as she got in and drove off. Spencer watched Ashley’s car drive away as she turned towards her own car and left, needing to be alone.

True to her word, Natalie was outside the campus waiting for Ashley. As soon as she caught sight of the brunette’s Porsche entering her campus’s parking lot. Natalie got in the car and reached over, giving Ashley a hug over the center console. “It’s okay Ashley, I’m here okay. I won’t leave you.” Ashley put the car into drive and drove off towards the beach, her hand holding Natalie’s tight.

Ashley and Natalie reached the beach and got out of the car, meeting in the front and clasping their hands together once again. They walked up and down the tide, just walking in silence. Natalie looked over at Ashley and saw a ring on a necklace. She stopped and reached her hand out to look at the ring. It was a small white gold band with five diamonds in it. “This is really beautiful Ashley. Who gave it to you?” Ashley looked down at the ring and turned her head looking towards the sea. “No one gave it to me. I bought it for… for Spencer. It was her birthday gift. It’s a promise ring, that we’ll always be friends no matter what. Her birthday was the day after I got attacked. Ironic, isn’t it? I get her a ring that signifies our friendship and its everlasting love, and I get my body bashed on because I love her.”