“Where’s that cute girlfriend of yours?” The bartended grinned when she saw Ashley approach the barstool.

“Make me something strong.” Ashley murmured dully.

The bartender frowned at the dismal expression on the dark-haired girl’s face. She poured something in a glass and pushed it towards Ashley. Ashley grabbed it and gulped it down. She coughed and spat some out.

“What the hell? This is Coke!” Ashley glared at the tall blonde.

“You think I’m going to give you anything else when you look like this?”

“Fuck you! I’ll just go home.” Ashley got up and slammed the bill down on the table surface. She had just turned when Madison and Sherry came up right in front of her, a smirk on their faces.

“Well… well… if it ain’t the Spawns of Evil.” Ashley rolled her eyes. “Get out of my way, Madison. I’m too rotten in a mood so back off!”

“Oh really?” Sherry gave Ashley a smug smile. “I guess she wasn’t invited then.”

“Invited where?” Ashley furrowed her brows.

“To the Smiths, Glen and Spencer’s grandparents. Oops…” Madison placed her hand on her chest and sighed. “Oh, I’m so sorry, Ashley. I didn’t know you weren’t invited. I assumed if Mr. and Mrs. Carlin were inviting their son’s girlfriends then they would invite their daughter’s girlfriend too.”

Ashley clenched her teeth. “You are lying.”

“What do you want to see, honey? Air plane tickets? I’m going to Ohio to meet Glen’s grandparents. You see, they accept normal people as part of their family. Not unnatural alliances.” Madison brushed away a wisp of hair from Ashley’s face. Ashley jerked in repulsion.

“I hope now you see the difference between you and me. I’m in there, amongst the Carlins. You are out here, a pariah.” Madison gave a chuckle.

Ashley looked away not being able to bear the taunting gleam in Madison’s eyes. She swiveled back towards the bar and leant against the wooden texture.

“Please, I beg of you. Give me something to drink. Kat, please.” Ashley pleaded. The bartender walked towards her and looked straight into her dark eyes.

“You love your girl?” Ashley lowered her head and nodded.

“Well then I’ll have to say you are too much of a coward to let her go. If that bitch out there can impress a family through her fake smiles, then I would expect you to win hearts. Don’t sit here and ask for liquor, Ashley. Go out there and get your girl. Nothing worth achieving in this world is easy to achieve.” The bartended poured another shot of Coke in a glass and handed it to Ashley. Ashley hesitated for a second and then curled her fingers around the glass. She gave Kat a resolute smile and then guzzled down the soft drink.