"Hey, how are you getting home?" The lie came out before she could stop it. "Um, I’m walking…" Clay pointed towards the parking lot. "We could give you a ride if you want."

"Naw, I have to met my kid sister…she’s over at Moore."

"Well, Spence…you ready?" Pulling away from her brother, Spencer smiled brightly. "Actually, I think I’ll walk today too…it’s really pretty out. What do you say Ash, want some company?"

"YES…I mean that’d be okay…if you want." What the hell, Davies? Could you sound any more desperate? Wait, did she just call me Ash?

Grinning, Clay winked and grabbed Spencer’s Bee Gees book bag, "Catch you ladies on the flip side."

Ashley smiled goofily, staring at the other girl’s profile as she waved to her brother. "Spence?"

"Hmmm?"

"Your brother has really cool side burns." The blonde’s loud laughter proved contagious. Ashley couldn’t stop herself from giggling along with her. "Oh my God! Please don’t tell him that. Ever since he grew his hair out, he spends more time in front of the mirror then I do! Our mom totally hates it, she’s been trying to get him to cut it for weeks now." As their laughter faded, both girls looked away from each other, suddenly awkward again.

"I kinda…well, I didn’t really walk to school today…I actually rode my bike." Spencer’s eyes widened. "Oh wow, now that’s a really cool bike!" Confused, Ashley looked down. Her hand was resting on the handlebars of a brand new, shiny red Schwinn, complete with matching streamers and striped banana seat. "Yeah…it is…but um that’s not my bike…"

"Oh, well which one is yours?"

Blushing, Ashley nervously walked over to the last bike in the rack. Anytime, Professor… "She’s not much to look at but…" After warily eyeing the bikes patched frame and nearly bald tires, Spencer smiled politely. "That’s a neat…greenish…purple color…it sort of matches your jacket." Ashley tied her satchel onto the bike’s fender shelf and climbed on. "Ready?"

"Are you sure I won’t be too heavy for you?" Flexing her arms, Ashley grinned. "Hey, I’m a lot stronger then I look!" Spencer couldn’t help but giggle. "Hmmm…okay Popeye." Sitting carefully on the duct taped banana seat, she settled comfortably behind the smaller girl. When bare, slender arms, slipped around her waist, Ashley swallowed feeling her heart beating so hard it hurt. Spencer’s voice was muffled against her back, "I’m ready, Ash." Using her feet to steady the bike as she backed up, Ashley grinned when the arms around her tightened even more. She started out slowly, peddling languidly, enjoying the closeness of the girl’s body pressed against hers. Spencer stared past Ashley’s shoulder, smiling into the warm sunshine. Wild, brown curls caught by the wind lightly tickled her face, surrounding her in the smaller girl’s scent, a heady mixture of ivory soap, tobacco, and Short and Sassy shampoo. Spencer closed her eyes, squeezing her arms tighter around the brunette’s thin frame. For the first time since leaving Ohio, she realized that she felt completely at home. The sound of Ashley’s soft, surprisingly beautiful voice gently interrupted her thoughts. Recognizing the song, she opened her eyes, joining in shyly. Bright brown eyes met hers when Ashley grinned over her shoulder, singing louder.

You are the dancing queen, young and sweet, only seventeen
Dancing queen, feel the beat from the tambourine
You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life
See that girl, watch that scene, dig it the dancing queen