“Thanks for the ride home Mr Dennison.”  Ashley waved meekly as she stumbled into the Davies Mansion.

She awoke early morning to a dreadful headache and churning abdomen.   Emptying out the stale contents of the evening’s events from her upset stomach, Ashley eventually returned home.  Forcing herself up to her room, the young woman slowly slipped into her warm bed beneath the large comforter.

It didn’t take long for sleep to overtake the exhausted body once again.  Her eyes fluttered shut encasing the brunette in a gentle dream.

***

“Oh my God!!!”  Spencer squealed, running into the home with an envelope from UCLA clutched in between her hands.

“Mom! Dad!”  She shrieked as her parents stumbled into the living room.  “I’m in!  I’m going to UCLA!!!”  Her feet hopped up in joy and before they hit the ground her father scooped the young girl up into his arms.

“I knew it!  I knew you had it in you Spence!”  He squeezed her delicately, rejoicing the delight in her voice.

Paula smiled from ear to ear suppressing the tears that welled up in her eyes.  Wrapping her arms around the pair, she joined in on the hug.  “Congratulations honey…I’m so proud of you.”  Mother Carlin spoke in between silent sobs of happiness.

“Thank you…I can’t believe it.  Thank you so much.”  Spencer gripped them even tighter, letting her joy emanate with each simple gesture.

***

Ashley remained sprawled out beneath her covers, enjoying the slumber of an entire day.  She finally awoke as the sun had already settled and the stars emerged.  Forcing her eyes to adjust, she noticed the slight glow of her cell phone across the room indicating a voicemail.

Slowly getting to her feet, the young girl made it across the room and fetched the device.  As she flipped the phone open, her eyes settled on the acceptance letter than she had received from UCLA earlier that week.  It was crumpled and tossed aside in a hurry; never once given a second thought until now.  Ashley quietly pressed the speaker to her ear and waited as the message began.

“Ash, I haven’t been able to reach you all day!  I called Kyla, she checked up on you and told me you were out like a light.  I really hope you feel better babe.  Anyway, I should make this short.”  There was a pause.  “I’ve been accepted to UCLA!! I got the letter today!!”  Spencer squealed in the background as Ashley’s heart sunk even further.