DESPERATE

Chapter 37

The next day, Riley stood with Ashley in the hallway next to her locker as she brought out her books.

"I still don't believe it Riley." Ashley said slamming her locker door shut.

"Oh come on Ashley."

"Hey guys." Lily said walking up to them.

"Hi." Riley said.

"Hey. Where's Corkie?" Ashley asked.

"Oh. She couldn't come today. She says she has her monthly eye check-up and that she'll come tomorrow."

"Oh yeah." Riley said.

Sarah walked up to them. Her eyes weren't bright at all.

"Hey guys." She said flatly.

"Hey Sarah." Lily said.

"What's wrong?" Riley asked.

She looked at Ashley. "Ashley, have you had any encounter with my mother before?"

Ashley looked confused. "What? Me? No. Why are you asking this?"

"I don't know. She said I can't be friends with you. Any of you actually. That you all could have some bad influence on me. It's complicated but she was specifically talking about you Ash."

Lily raised a brow at that. "Bad influence huh?" She scoffed.

"I'll see you guys in class." Sarah said and walked away.

Lily looked at Ashley. "Why would Sarah's mother tell her that?"

"I don't know. Don't ask me ask her."

"Let's just get to class." Riley said.

After school that day, Lily, Ashley and Riley were walking twards the gate when someone called out.

"Ashley."

She looked behind her to see Valeriewalk up to them along with Megan and Samantha.

"Hey Ashley." Megan said Sam just smiled.

"Hi."

"Umm..." Valerie began. "My mom said to let you know that you should come visit sometime."

"That's sounds lovely. I will." She replied with a smile.

"Great. Ava and Owen didn't come to school today. Bye."

"Ok then."

"Valerie please wait." Lily said immediately.

Valerie looked at her. She only knew Lily as a new member of their class. "Yes."

"Just wanted to know... When is your birthday?"

Ashley scowled at that question, she knew what Lily was trying to do. Well, let's end it here then. So that Lily could drop it.

"Why do you ask?"

"Nothing really." Riley said.

"Just intrigued." Lily added.

"Alright. 10th of April."

Ashley looked at her shocked. "Are you serious?"

"Do I look like I'm joking?"

"Well.... Surprise Surprise....Ashley has the same birthday with you." Lily said.

Valerie looked at Ashley. "Really?"

"Yeah." Ashley replied.

"Wow. It's common for two people to have the same birthday date." She said.

"Well one could say you both are twins." Megan said and Ashley coughed.

"Exactly." Sam agreed.

"That's nice Ashley. I guess we'll celebrate together when the time comes. " Valerie said.

Ashley smiled. "Sure."

"I gotta go. Bye guys." Valerie said and walked with Megan and Sam.

Ashley faced Lily again.

"Lily..." She began.

"Ashley give me a chance. Please." Lily said.

"Just listen Ashley. Remember we'd promised we'll help you." Riley spoke.

"Yeah. Let us have the irrational ideas." Lily said.

"Fine." Ashley gave in.

"I have an idea Riley." Lily said.

"What's that?"

"Birth certificate."

"Birth certificate?" Ashley said confused.

"Let's go home and check your birth certificate in your mom's room. Just to be sure that all this is not just in my head." Lily said.

"Here it is." Ashley said handling her birth certificate to Lily. They were in her mom's room.

"It's says Kim."Lily read.

"You see. Now do you believe."

Lily threw her hands in the air. "It doesn't make sense."

"Yeah." Riley agreed.

Lily went to sit at the front of the bed thinking. She kicked her leg forward and backward, but as it went backward her leg hit something hard. Riley heard it and bent down to have a look.

"What's this?" She said.

They bent down looking under the bed. Lily bent down and brought it out. It was a black briefcase. They placed it on the foot of the bed and opened it.

Inside were pictures of Lilianna with Julie and a man they didn't recognize, wedding photos and a marriage document of Lilianna.

"Look at this Ashley." Riley said handing her another certificate she pulled out of the briefcase.

"Whitlock." Ashley read. It was... her real birth certificate. What the hell.

"And this." Lily said handing her another one.

"Valerie Whitlock." She read again.

"What's the meaning of this. It's not possible." Ashley said.

Suddenly a car pulled over in the driveway. Her mom was home.

"Ashley, your mom's home early." Riley said.

"To hell with investigations. I'm getting answers now." Ashley said and left her mom's room with both certificates in her hand. Lily and Riley followed her.

Ashley came downstairs just in time to see her mom walk in with Julie. Her mom looked at her and could tell she wasn't happy.

"What's wrong dear?" Her mom said looking at her.

"What's this?" Ashley said showing her the birth certificates. Lily and Riley came down too. All the colour drained from her mom's face.

" You might as well tell her now." Julie said.

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