Chapter 14:

On her first day back after suspension, Ashleigh steered clear of everyone. It didn't prove to be too difficult, since everybody seemed to be avoiding her. Belinda had been right. The students of Roosevelt treated her as if she had sprouted horns on her forehead. "This is inexcusable!" She thought. She kept calm and focused on the source of her anguish and the plan she had so cleverly devised. The day was lonely though. She'd never been an outcast before. It hurt, but she buried it deep and didn't let it sway her.

At the end of the day she spotted Carson and Charlie sitting on the tailgate of her truck. She approached them quietly. The students on the sidewalk and standing around in the parking lot noticed Ashleigh walking toward them. It seemed everyone was holding their breath. As she closed the distance, they both looked up. "What do you want, Ashleigh?" Charlie demanded. She looked down at her shoes and shifted her weight from one leg to the other, appearing nervous.

"Umm, I have had time to think about everything, and I was wrong. I'm sorry. Carson, please, forgive me. I'm a total bitch sometimes and I hate it, but I'm going to really try to be a better person. I know it is too much to ask for right now, but maybe someday we could even be friends."

"Are you kidding?" Charlie asked. He shook his head and Ashleigh kept a tight rein on her anger. Carson looked up and met her eyes. Something in the intensity of the gaze instantly made Ashleigh uncomfortable. There was no anger or bitterness, but there seemed to be an ocean of calm and tranquility. She didn't smile and Ashleigh finally had to look away. She glanced at Bess and Sully who were standing nearby. Then her eyes wandered to Belinda who gave her an encouraging nod. "Ashleigh, you're right, you are a bitch and that is never going to change." Charlie continued. She looked at Carson again.

"I forgive you," Carson said quietly.

"What?" Charlie's head snapped to Carson's face.

"I forgive her, Charlie." Carson shrugged her shoulders. Ashleigh smiled broadly, her perfectly straight, white teeth stretched from ear to ear.

"Thank you, Carson. Thank you so much. I swear; you won't be sorry." Ashleigh bubbled over her relief. Then she gushed, "Maybe we could study for French together sometime." Carson gave her a sedate smile.

"Maybe we could."

As she turned to walk away, Ashleigh felt victorious. She pretended not to notice her classmates watching her get into her car. She sat behind the wheel for the moment thinking about what had just happened. She checked number one off of her mental list of what needed to be done in her scheme. Suddenly, Carson's direct gaze filtered through her memory. It again made her wiggle a little. Something about those eyes made her feel differently about Carson. "What was it? Pain? Peace? Comfort? Self-Confidence? Maybe all those things." She thought. It occupied her mind for only a moment and then it flitted away. All that mattered now was that she needed continue to move forward.