DESPERATE

Chapter 23

After their dinner of Salisbury steak that night, Ashley told her mom about her plans with Valerie on Wednesday.

"Why can't she do that part alone?" Her mom asked.

"I dunno. She said it's a team project. That everything is a together stuff."

"Ok. As long as you're home before 5pm."

"No problem."

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Ding Dong. The doorbell rand as Ashley pressed the button at Valerie's house. It was Wednesday. Ashley had gone home from school, dropped her bag and went straight to Valerie's house. The door was opened by Suzie-the maid that had come earlier to tell Ashley and Valerie to come down for lunch.

"Good day miss." Suzie said.

"Please just call me Ashley. I'm here for Valerie." Ashley replied.

"Ok. Come in Ashley." She took her to the living room to wait for Valerie.

"Ashley!" screamed Ava as she ran out from under the staircase to hug her. She was happy to see Ashley again.

"Hey Ava." Ashley said chuckling. "How are you?"

Ava looked up at Ashley with her big brown eyes. "I'm fine. Did you come here to play with me?"

"No silly." she chuckled again. "I'm here for my assignment."

"What's this?" Ava asked tugging on the book she had brought along. It was a shakespare novel.

"It's a book. Shakespare collection."

"Oh, I thought it was a princess book."

"Well I can get you one. I'll bring it when I come over on Saturday."

"You sure."

"Yes."

"Yaay!!" Ava shrieked. "Ashley's gonna get me a princess book." she kept jumping around and singing it repeatedly like she just won a lottery.

"Ava," it was Valerie's stern voice. "How many times would I warn you not to disturb any of my friends that comes over?"

'Did Valerie just refer to me as one of her friends.' Ashley thought.

Ava stopped singing. "Oopsie. Caught again." she giggled. "Bye Ashley." And she ran off in the other direction.

"Let's go." Valerie said to Ashley and she followed.

"You know, Ava wasn't disturbing me." She began as the climbed the stairs.

"The girl just doesn't listen."

"You should learn to talk more nicely to your sister." Ashley said.

"You should leran how to mind your business." Valerie replied. "She's my sister not your's."

"But still..." She wanted to continue speaking but Valerie interrupted her.

"But nothing." She sounded pissed. "I don't want to hear it. You're not family. I don't even consider you my friend yet."

The last statement stopped her from speaking further. So they were not friends...yet.

They entered Valerie's room, straight to the computer. "Let's work." Valerie said switching on the computer.

"Suzie!" It was loud enough for anyone outside to hear.

"The door creaked open and Suzie's head popped in. "Yes miss."

"Get me the raspberry brownies mom made today with two cups of Sodas." She spoke like she was making an order.

"Ok." She replied leaving.

"Is she your....?" Ashley wanted to ask.

"Yes she's my personal maid."

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