A/N: BIG SHOUT OUT TO @codyharleyqutehughes BECAUSE SHE MADE ASHLEY. I appreciate it so much.

Chapter 29

The two teens ran alongside with Gary. Jimmy began to fall behind until he obtained a skateboard and skated next to Ashley with a smirk. "Wanna lift Ash?"

She shook her head and willed her legs to pump faster.

The trio arrived at the parking lot, where there were three bullies, one carried a baseball bat.

Gary yelled over to them, "Hey idiots, Jimmy's gonna kick your ass! Right Jimmy?"

Straightaway, Ashley knew Gary plotted against him. Nonetheless, she fought with them, each teen took down the bullies. With one final kick, Ashley sent Trent to the ground. Davis and Troy were taken down too, which wasn't surprising. She had seen both boys in action before, they were more than capable of packing a punch, especially Jimmy.

The scarred boy lead Jimmy and Ashley down to the basement of the school. "After you," Gary's smug grin grew bigger as they entered.

'There has to be something I'm missing!' Ashley racked her brain for clues she could had missed. One thing for sure was that Gary had targeted Jimmy directly. No, Gary was after the smaller fish first. Why else would he be after James? She knew he didn't have any dirt on her, besides their night together on Halloween (a day she regrets with every fiber in her being).  He physically wasn't able to plot anything against her. She was well liked throughout the entire town. All the adults loved her, the headmaster worshipped her, the prefects were wrapped around her finger, 5 out of the 6 cliches were her friends (she counted the non-cliche students as a cliche) not to mention at her beck and call. She had every single person's love and adulation. Ashley literally had everything Gary planned to seek. There was no way for him to attack her, no way to make anyone believe his lies.

Ashley Sierra Smith was untouchable.

She dug deeper into her thoughts as she lazily followed them into basement. "This is a little different from how I remember it.. you better lead the way." Gary advised.

'Whatever asshole. You and I both know Jimmy never set on damn foot in this place.' She grew agitated. As of now, Gary's surprise was somewhere underneath here. 'Oh snap!' Something clicked in her mind, her eyes widen in realization. Gary must have been plotting everything in the basement. This was where he always disappeared to. It all made sense.

Russell and the rumors.

Ashley narrowed her eyes dangerously at the back of Gary's big fat head. For some reason, that struck a cord. He obviously was the only one smart enough to piss off the Barbarian King and not get caught.

"I think that switch over there controls the door." Ashley nearly crashed into Gary. 'So much for not knowing where you're going huh?' She glared at the male Smith. She practically felt Gary's excitement radiant off of his lanky body. 'God forgive me but I've made friends with some dumbasses' She grimaced as she shifted her eyes onto Jimmy, who did what Gary said.

After this, she was sure to tell him to stop complaining to her about how Bullworth made him into an errand boy. It was his fault he made himself into everybody's bitch. 'Oh god, what did I eat for breakfast? Carnation-instant bitch?' She had to tame her inner assholeyness. 'Well it's Gary fault that I'm in a sour mood.'

Jimmy pressed random buttons until the door opened, "Jimmy... over here." Gary ran in first. Ashley didn't miss the fact Gary had completely ignored her. That alone proved her theory that Gary wanted Jimmy. Her thoughts made her extra cautious and paranoid. Ashley was good at covering her tracks, she had been careful with everything she did. No wonder Gary hadn't lifted a finger to get rid of his main threat, he was waiting for her to slip.

Ashley's mind began to overlap with many new epiphanies. She took a deep breath to calm herself, it did her no good to allow all of her discoveries to overwhelm her now. Right now, she had to focus on Gary and protect Jimmy. Gary continued to instruct James on how to open up many closed doors and such, they finally made it down a corridor when Gary ran at full speed to the very end where there was an opening to another room.

The ginger and black haired girl looked at each other skeptically, but made their way towards the male Smith regardlessly. The new room was an octagonal concrete pit with a drain in the middle, a fence surrounded the pit. It looked to be approximately six feet deep with a ladder. Ashley noticed an announcer's table that included a microphone, score cards, and a timekeeper's bell. Behind the table, some names are scribbled, along with dashes that appeared to be marking points of some sort. There is also a sort of judge's table, with a gavel and a red tablecloth.

'Is Fight Club?' Ashley watched her surrounding in fascination. 'Oh shiiiiiit, Gary is going to have Jimmy fight Russell.'

That was it. That was Gary's master plan all along. "It's right down there." Gary urged Jimmy to climb down the ladder. Ashley was too engrossed with her thoughts to stop him.

Suddenly, all the clique leaders with some other students emerged from their hiding spots. An arm kept Ashley from entering the ring to beat the living day lights out of Gary. Right as she was about to elbow the hell of their family jewels, a familiar voice stopped her. "Whoa babe relax! It's me."

Johnny. She was so glad to hear his voice. "Shhh baby, listen." He cautioned.

"So, Jimmy boy - here we are, the hole. The place where this school separates the men from the boys. The wheat from the chaff and all that nonsense." Gary informed.

Jimmy appeared to not give a damn. He shrugged his shoulders, "Okay, what's that got to do with standing up to people, keeping them in line?" He was thoroughly confused. Ashley on the other hand was thoroughly annoyed. She kept squirming in Johnny's arms, begging to go down there herself. She would kick both their asses if it wasn't for her boyfriend. Gary's ass would be grass about to be mowed and Jimmy because he was blind and stupid. Johnny tighten his hold on his girl, he knew how much she wanted to be there to help Jimmy out. He even knew that Gary put Russell up to this, thanks to his girlfriend's accusations against that crazy loser. Johnny didn't want Ashley to get mixed up in men's business, she could get hurt.

"This is where I stand up to you, my friend." Gary confessed.

"What are you talking about?" grunted Jimmy.

"I know you hate me Jimmy-boy, I know you've said all that stuff about me behind my back." The sociopath argued. 'No you dunderhead, the only shit talker here is you!' Ashley wanted to scream out loud.

Jimmy utterly puzzled yelled back, "What are you talking about?"

Gary walked up into Jimmy's personal space with an accusing finger pointed to his face. "Don't play innocent with me - you wanna run this school, I wanna run this school - only one of us is going to make it. And it's gonna be me..." Gary challenged. He climbed up the ladder with Jimmy the only one left in the hole. "Ladies and gentlemen, boys and morons, I give you...RUSSELL."

Ashley gasped out loud. No. Not her Russell! He was doing a good job keeping out of trouble. Hot tears threatened to stream down her cheeks. Ashley clenched her teeth in anger, her eyes blurred, but the pure rage still glistened in her dark brown orbs. Gary Smith was a dead man walking.

The audience applauded in eagerness, they were electrified. Ashley bet that if Johnny's hands weren't too busy wrapped around her, he would had clapped too. That thought sickened her. She never felt so betrayed.

Her attempts to break free from her hold grew stronger. She managed to hear Jimmy mutter 'oh no' over the crowds' enthusiasm. She stopped her movements when Russell stepped down, "Me Russell!" Her gentle giant boasted his muscles.

Jimmy pointed a finger at Gary with hate in his eyes, "Gary- now I hate you!"he cursed.

The male Smith smiled wickedly, "I know! Russell, go beat up that little jerk who said that nasty stuff to me about your mom and those barnyard animals!"

This was unbelievable. Ashley stood hugging Johnny, her face buried in his neck. She wasn't able to comprehend what was happening. She watched in horror as Russell accepted the fight.

"What?! Come here! Russell wants vengeance!"

The two fought. Ashley wasn't able to watch anymore and began to cry. Johnny looked down, worried. This wasn't suppose to happen. He may not like Russell and Jimmy being her friends, or any other male in fact, but he knew Ash was the type of girl who cared about everyone. It torn him on the inside as he saw his baby girl cry. Sadly, he couldn't do anything about it.

"Come on! Hit him where it hurts!" The couple heard Gary cheer on Russell. Ashley raised her head, a snarl decorated her lips. Before Johnny could get a grip on her, Ashley marched her way up the psychopath and kneed him in the crotch. Gary, unsuspected and unprepared, fell on his knees while he cradled his damaged goods. With him hunched over, Ashley took the opportunity to grab a fist full of his hair and slam his face onto her awaiting knee. She let go after she heard a very satisfying crunch.

"You bitch! You broke my nose!" Gary roared, He took a threatening step forward, but was pushed down by Johnny.

"Don't you ever call my woman a bitch you crazy freak!" Johnny and some of his boys surrounded him. Gary backed out, his glare nearly matched Ashley's, but her's held this ferocious intent that slightly scared him. He smiled devilishly, and she knew what ran in his mind. He plotted to tell Johnny what happened. She narrowed her eyes even more so. Ashley promised herself to never let that bastard use her like he had everyone else.

Gary stood up in time to witness Jimmy had won the fight. Petey ran in, he huffed for breath. Worry and fear danced in around in his face, he saw his best friend and ushered himself to her side.

"You happy now jerk?" jeered Jimmy.

"Ecstatic!" replied Gary with an overzealous tone in voice, "I love to watch two morons beat the crap out of each other!"

Ashley lunged at Gary, but again, was stopped by Johnny.

'Let me go! His ass deserves a beating!'

Jimmy ranted, "Why did you do it Gary? I thought we were friends!"

Ashley would had pulled her hair out then and there. In what universe did Gary ever acted like a friend. Clearly, Ashley was mute and blind to have notice Gary be friendly. God, she was surrounded by idiots.

Gary laughed out loud. It was cold and cynical. "Friends? You and me?" Gary was amazed in Jimbo's own stupidity, it was down right laughable. "I've taken dumps that had more brains than you, 'friend'."

His expression sobered up, his tone of voice darken. "No. I'm taking over this school. And you're just a liability! See you around moron." With that, he took his leave.

Petey went to the entrance of the hole and congratulated the ginger, "Well done Jimmy."

"Yeah great. What a waste of time." Jimmy scoffed.

Behind him, Russell stirred from his beat down. Ashley wasn't able to stay another second in Johnny's arms, so she stomped on his foot as hard as she could, then elbowed him in his gut. She ran down to Russell and helped him up.

"You alright Russell?" Jimmy asked. Ashley fussed over him like a mother does to her child. She checked for any cuts or bruises, once she found none, she was satisfied.

"Yeah." Her gentle giant gruffed out.

Jimmy explained to him how he didn't say anything about his mother.

"You didn't?" Russell was confused.

"No. But I want you to stop bullying weak kids. Ashley already told you to stop, but evidently that wasn't enough." Jimmy demanded. "There are a bunch of kids around this place who need a beating and you're picking on the few who don't. So I want you to leave me and him alone." Jimmy finished his little rant. It sort of made Ashley happy that Jimmy remembered to include Petey in his plans. It was cute how the small boy waved excitedly to the two boys down below.

"Oh okay. Sorry. Bad Russell." He scolded himself.

Ashley tugged on his arm and dragged him out the hole. This was the perfect time to mend their relationship. "Yo babe! Where ya going?" Johnny called out.

She turned around angrily, it was enough to scare Johnny alittle. Petey tell my dear boyfriend that I am crossed with him right now and that I don't want to see him for the rest of the day.

She left with Russell. He hadn't said a word as he let himself be carried away. The words Petey muttered replayed itself in his head. Russell smiled lightly, he was with is flower again. He had her to himself again. Ashley ended up taking them to her dorm, where she nervously cooked for the both of them and then some. After her fifth batch of flan, a Mexican desert as Russelled discovered, he moved to stop her. "What's wrong Ashley?" He was gentle with his words and it made her break out in tears.

Russell held her until she was a sobbing heap in his arms. He froze, not sure what to do with his withered flower. He decided to let her cry her little heart out, in the meantime, he plotted whoever made her cry murder. Minutes later, Ashley's tears came to a halt, her shoulders stopped quaking. The last of her hiccups erupted from her throat.

Ashley stayed trapped in Russell's big muscular arms, but managed to pull out a notepad.

I'm sorry

Russell furrowed his brows, "What are you sorry for?"

For not being a good friend to you. I made you feel unimportant, like you needed an appointment to even speak to me..

Ashley's eyes teared up again. Her father did that with her when she was a child, she knew exactly how it felt to be tossed away because her old man was too busy for his only child. Ashley went on for days without seeing him. She grew accustomed to his absence to the point she pretended that her dear Uncle Matthew was her father. It wasn't hard since they were identical twins.

The barbarian king said nothing. He didn't want her to feel worse than she already did, but his flower did made him like he wasn't important to her. Like they weren't even friends.

I didn't mean for it to get that bad. I have so much on my plate. Still that doesn't excuse what I did to you.

The black haired girl hugged onto her gentle giant with all her might. He felt tear drops leak down his arm. "Stop crying Ash." grunted Russell. "You don't have to apologize."

She looked up at his sharply, Of course I do. Even more so now that I'm with Johnny. It's going to be much harder for us to hang out.

Oh yea, she was in a relationship with that slimeball. Russell growled underneath his breath, just when he thought he would have his friend back, some puny asshat in leather took her away from him. Ashley felt his grip on her slacken, she panicked.

She held onto him tighter than before, the way his arms wrapped around her like a blanket brought serenity and peace. She felt safe.

Don't go Russell!

He didn't, his arms stayed wrapped around her. "You have Greaseball now, go ask him to hug you." Russell didn't mean to sound cold, distant, but he did and he regretted it. He watched as hurt along with something else he couldn't identify flashed through his flower's eyes.

Ashley knew he didn't mean it, that he as upset over the fact that their relationship wasn't as close as it used to be. Still, unwanted memories resurfaced.

"Ashley I'm busy." Andrew said coldly. "Go bother your uncle."

Bother.

That word made her frown. She was his daughter, not some burden he was stuck with. But that's what he made it seem like. "Uncle went out with some friends, father." Ashley whispered, afraid. Afraid of what, she wasn't sure. Moments like these, alone with her father, made her nervous and on edge.

"You have Charlie now, go ask him to play." Andrew didn't spare a glance toward his offspring. He hoped she got the hint to leave him alone, and she did.

Ashley flinched from the memory. At that moment, Russell was going to move a strand of loose curls out of the way, but it was the flinch that made him retract his hand. He thought she was upset with him again.

No Russell, I'm not mad at you! I just remembered something awful.

'I have to clear this up or else we're gonna have another misunderstanding.' Ashley thought.

I want us to be friends like we used to be. Can we be friends? Ashley wrote hopefully.

"What about the slime ball?" questioned Russell.

Ashley didn't skip a beat with her reply, Johnny will just have to get used to us being friends and hanging out.

She squeezed him tight, I love you Russell, you are one of my best friends.

Russell froze, his eyes went over and over that last line. She loved him? Russell smiled, she loved him. That made him hug her so tight, she squirmed in his steel cage like arms.

Come on, let me make you a sandwich.

Ashley moved out of her human security blanket and into her kitchen, Russell lagged behind her. On the note pad, a page was missing- the piece of paper was safely tucked away in Russell's pocket.

"I love you Russell.." Yep, he loved her too.
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A/N: I love Russell, he so cute. Again thank you for the pic!