EPISODE NINE – Each Time You Go Away I Cry ("Each Time", E-17)

Isaac was at the front door step of Ashley’s house, contemplating knocking, okay, so it was early, but he knew she’d be up, she’d admitted she was an early riser. He was about to knock on the door, when it opened and Ashley appeared gasping in shock he was standing on her doorstep.

"Isaac!" she gasped, putting a hand to her heart. "God, what a fright…"

"Sorry, I was just in the neighbourhood…" he began.

"Ike, you live fifteen minutes away from here, and its eight am in the morning," she shifted her curls out of her face.

"Sorry," he blushed a little, he looked at her, she was wearing a pair of blue jogging pants with Adidas stripes up the sides, and an oversized Timberland sweater, her hair was down, and she looked sleepy. To Isaac, she looked like a princess. "You look pretty," he asked.

She rolled her eyes, "Give it up, Ike," she laughed, she walked over to the rail of the porch and leaned against it.

"So, looks like you’ll be able to make my birthday party after all," he smiled.

"I can’t."

He looked at her, "What’s your problem with me?" he asked in a soft tone, "why won’t you just give me one chance?"

She sighed, and looked out to the cold streets, shivering.

He tried to put his arm around her to keep her warm, but she pulled away, "Ike…don’t," she pleaded.

"Ashley…I don’t get it…according to everyone else…you don’t hate me as much as you act like you do," Isaac sighed. "According to Tay you liked me, now I don’t know if he said that just to make me feel better or what, all I know is…I want a chance, and you keep making out you hate me. Do you hate me?"

"Ike, I don’t hate you…I just…don’t wanna go out with you," her dark eyes looked at the dark grey clouds above, it looked like it would rain this morning.

"Why not? Is there something wrong with me? Is it because I’m not attractive, or because I’m not popular, or maybe because of what happened with me and Lauren, I need answers, Ash…I like you, and its not gonna go away…" he took a hold of her arm and turned her to him, looking down into her dark green eyes, "Ash, Please…" he gave her a dose of his dark brown eyes.

"I can’t be with you, end of story," she murmured, "I gotta go, see you later…" she sighed and she turned away from him, he grabbed a hold of her arm, refusing to let her go.

"I think you at least owe me some sort of explanation," He sighed, "just tell me, whatever it is, I just have to know…" he gave her a pleading look.

She pulled out of his grasp, "fine, I’m leaving. For good," she turned away, "Now if you’ll excuse me, I gotta finish packing, I’m leaving tonight."

"For good?!" he asked, "Why?!"

Ashley’s voice was bitter, "My Aunt Linda, Nicole’s mum, died, all Nicole has is her father, but he’s a nasty piece of shit, and we think she should be with us, my mum wants to take over guardianship, but we have to go through months of court before this can be arranged, and Nicole can’t leave home until we fix it up. We want to be home so at least Nicky always has somewhere to go…"

"But…what about me?" he asked.

"What about you?! God you’re so selfish, Nicky’s life is being ripped apart by this custody battle and all you can care about is yourself."
"I think I love you!" he outburst.

"That doesn’t mean shit, Ike!" she yelled, "I can’t be with you and that’s the end of it," she sighed, and with that, she stalked back into the house and slammed the door.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Taylor entered the house with Lauren at his back, Lauren was holding her backpack of things, Taylor told her to wait in the hall and went directly to the kitchen.

"Mom," he said to his mother, who was tending to a cut Avery had on her knee.

"Uh huh?" Diana asked, concentrating on dabbing TCP onto Avery’s graze.

Taylor wasn’t sure how he could ask if a girl could spend the night at his house without it seeming suspicious. Of course it wasn’t. There was nothing wrong with it, Taylor wasn’t dating her, and it was all out of worry for Lauren, he didn’t want her spending tonight over at that house on her own, especially after feeling so upset over Jon’s deception.

"Ummm, can Lauren stay over tonight?" Taylor said quickly.

Diana paused a moment and then turned to Taylor, "Why?"

"Her mom and dad are out of town and like, that house is kinda bare and quiet, she gets the creeps," Taylor lied.

"Well…"

"Mom, look, she asked if she could ‘cos she’s scared of prowlers and stuff."

"Well, okay, I guess her mom wouldn’t mind," Diana gave a faint smile.

Taylor smiled, "Thanks…"

"Jessie and Avie are staying over at Cheryl’s tonight, so I guess she can stay in the girls room…" Diana said and went back to tending Avery’s cut.

"Thanks," Taylor left the kitchen and walked into the hall. "Okay, its all okay," He said, motioning for her to follow him upstairs. Lauren followed him into Jessica and Avery’s room. Lauren looked around, and cleared her through a little.

"It’s very…um…pink," she bit her lip, noticing practically everything in the room was absolutely pink, and there were Barbie Dolls lying everywhere.

"I know," Taylor made a face of disgust, "Jessica say ‘Pink is in’," he rolled his eyes.

Lauren giggled a little, then her smile faded.

"What?"

"Everything just seems so shitty, just now," Lauren sat down on the edge of Jessica’s bed, which was the one with the pink satin quilt.

"What else could possibly go wrong?" Taylor dared to ask.

"Ashley is leaving for good," Lauren sighed, "My best friend…"

Taylor bit his lip, "Geez, that’s not good, for you, nor Ike, in case you hadn’t noticed by now, Ike is pretty set on getting her."

"Knowing him he’d probably follow her all the way to Edinburgh if it would win her heart," Lauren sighed.

Taylor chuckled, "Yeah, knowing him," he agreed.

Lauren felt tears trying to escape, "what am I gonna do, Tay? I lost my boyfriend and now my best friend is leaving."
"Hey, if its any consolation, I’ll always be here…" he pointed out.

"Yeah…that helps," Lauren admitted, sighing, "Still…you’re not Ash."

Taylor looked at Lauren’s sad expression, he chewed his lip, he wished he could help her, he wished he could make the whole world okay. But there was nothing he could do.