Chapter 23

Ashley and Spencer sat side by side on the couch. They didn’t look at each, didn’t talk, tried not to breath unless necessary. Dana and Alice sat across from them. Everything was quiet. No one dare to speak. The uncertainty of everything that was going on was too much. Ashley let out a sigh and put her head in her hands. She got up from the couch and went to the freezer and pulled out a bottle of Bette special Spearmint Schnapps. She pulled out a shot glass and filled it up. She slung back the liquid and felt it heat her insides up. She tensed her face at the sensation, then licked her lips at the sweet Spearmint taste.

“Ashley what the hell are you doing?”

“Alice, what does it look like I’m doing. Want one?”

“No. I learned long ago not to touch your mother’s Schnapps, and if you haven’t learnt yet, you will soon.”

“Wait, you’re not going to yell at me?”

“Oh when your mother finds out, I had no idea. I was peeing.”

Ashley rolled her eyes. Filled her shot glass up again, and went and grabbed another. She put it in Spencer’s face.

“Here.”

“No thank you.”

“What? Afraid mommy is going to yell at you?”

“No! I’m afraid your mom is going to yell at me.”

This made Dana, Alice, and Ashley break out into laughter. Alice was doubling over laughing hysterically. Ashley followed suit and ultimately fell back on the couch. She handed Spencer the glass.

“My mother’s bark is much, much worse than her bite.”

“Have you seen the woman? She’s like 8 feet taller than any of us.”

“Yes, I’ve seen my mother. I also seen my mother at her worse. Trust me, she’ll never even notice.”

“But Alice just said-”

Alice interrupted her.

“Spence. Bette likes to push me around. She thinks she’s big and bad, but when it comes down to it she treats me just like a big sister would treat her little sister. She bullies me, but anyone fucks with me and she’s on them like white on rice.”

Dana giggled. She leaned across the table and spoke to Ashley exclusively.

“Well, I don’t know how many of my sisters I’ve slept with.”

Alice and Spencer were meant to hear this. And they did. Spencer’s face grew intense.

“WHAT!? You two had sex, and she’s trying to get my mother back? When? You are the one who she cheated on my mom with?!”

Spencer gave Ashley back the glass and began to stand up, but was resisted when Ashley put out her arm.

“Chill out spaz. It was before she’d met your mother.”

“How do you know all this anyways? Does your mother sit around and talk about her sex life with you?”

“Ew no! Between Alice telling me directly herself [she looked at Alice who had a huge grin on her face, she rolled her eyes and turned back to Spencer], and her and my mother’s conversations on the phone. You just pick up on things. So is that okay?”

Spencer shrugged her shoulders. She picked the glass off the table and slung it back. Her face turned hostile as soon as the liquid began to make it’s way down her throat. Ashley and Alice busted into laughter.

“Thata girl.”

“Dana are they always this amused by pain?”

“Yes.”

Dana said bluntly.

“Oh fantastic.”

“It’s kind of endearing really. [She smiled affectionately at Alice.] It kind of grows on you, and before you know it you’re laughing with them, and when they don’t know it; at them.”

It was Dana and Spencer’s turn to laugh while Ashley and Alice pouted. Spencer could feel an immediate connection with Dana. She was sweet, and down to Earth. She also could see that Ashley and Alice were very much alike, and for some strange she couldn’t help but become intrigued by the brunette sitting next to her. She smiled at Ashley affectionately, but tried not to make it obvious.