Ashleys bags were packed and stacked by the door; every now and then she'd open them and check that she had everything she needed. Miss Charles had told her not worry and that if she had left anything she'd make sure to send it through the mail.

''Ashley I think you've checked and re-checked your bags enough, come on it's time to go,'' Miss Charles placed her hand on the red-heads shoulder and squeezed it gently.

''Where's Micheal?'' Ashley asked, knowing that he couldn't come to the airport, but a part of her had hoped he'd still say goodbye to her before she left.

''I don't know dear, but we better get moving. I don't want you to miss your flight,'' Miss Charles let go of Ashley's shoulder and moved to take her suitcase, ''although you probably wouldn't mind if she did,'' she mumbled and Ashley couldn't help the smirk that crept across her lips.

''That's where I get my back chatting skills from them,'' Ashley pointed out with a rose eyebrow, but Miss Charles just ignored her by opening the front door and carrying the suitcase down the front steps.

With all her possessions placed in the boot of the car, there wasn't much more for Ashley to do. Looking up at the house that had been her home for sixteen years. A small part of her hoped that one day she'd be back living in the little lilac house, but now as she found herself say goodbye she realised that she may never come back.

Sighing she opened the door to Miss Charles Ford and was about to get in when a shout caught her attention. Micheal had called her name and was running down the front steps of the house onto the pavement, where within moments he was staring right at Ashley.

''Fuck...'' he breathed out heavily as he tried to catch his breath, ''I thought I'd missed. I couldn't let you leave without saying goodbye and doing something I've been thinking of doing for a long time,'' Ashley frowned unsure as to what was happing. Although she quickly realised when his hands moved around her waist and he drew her in for a kiss.

''I'm going to miss you,'' she whispered placing her forehead on his.

''Yeah me too,'' Micheal ones again placed a kiss on her unsuspecting lips before he pulled away, ''you gotta write to me you know.''

''Yeah, I will,'' Ashley with tears running slowly down her cheeks, waved a final goodbye before she got into the car. She didn't take her eyes off of Micheal until they turned the corner and into the street. Only then did she feel the locket he had placed in her coat pocket.

As they draw closer to the airport sudden realisation as to what was happing settled on Ashely. It was her first time travelling by plane, her first time leaving the country in which she was born, and the first time she was going to live in a house with a family. These were all first's for Ashley Jackson, and she was doing it all alone.

''Are you excited?'' Miss Charles asked, glancing over at Ashley, noticing how quiet the teenager seemed to be.

''No,'' Ashley replied, she was looking out of the window, watching the English countryside whiz past her. Her arm rested on the edge of the window, twirling a strand of her bright auburn hair around her index finger.

''No,'' Miss Charles repeated, ''why not?'' She had hoped that Ashely would have felt at least some kind of excitement. Although she had a feeling that whatever excitement she may have had, probably disappeared with Micheals very surprising goodbye.

''Because I didn't ask for this, I don't want to be shipped off to the other side of the world,'' she huffed out turning to look at Miss Charles, who was taken aback by the sudden bitterness that laced the teen's words.

''We're not shipping you off Ashley, we're giving you a better life,'' Miss Charles explained, but Ashley's stare only hardened.

''A better life. You think I'll get a better life in Detroit? Have you even looked at what happens in that place, drugs, gangs, gun violence...'' Ashley started listing off but was cut abruptly off.

''You won't be anywhere near activity like that. I assure you,'' Ashley always admired the way Miss Charles was able to keep her voice calm, even when a child was shouting at her.

''We'll see,'' Ashley mumbled, just as Miss Charles turned into the airport. It was then she found the upcoming events all too real, more real then she had first thought.

Twenty minutes later Ashley sat by the gate, her backpack resting on the empty seat next to her. Most of her luggage was in the hold, while other pieces were being posted over, which she would receive in the next few days. She was sat next to Miss Charles, her headphones on, connected to the walkman that lay hidden inside her coat pocket. The locket Micheal had given her was clutched in her hand. A tap on the shoulder by the woman next to her, made her reluctantly pull them her headphones off and place the locket around her neck.

''I want to make sure you know who's picking you up,'' Miss Charles stated while pulling a picture out of her handbag, ''now Sarah and Toby can't pick you up from the airport, so they've asked someone else. Here,'' she handed the photo over to Ashley.

The photo wasn't of just one person it was of two, one was a lot skinnier than the other, his brown head of hair was shaved so it was extremely short and his eyes confused Ashley as she wasn't sure if they were blue or brown. The man stood next to him was dark-skinned, slightly taller and had a similar haircut.

''Er who are these guys?'' Ash asked, her eyes lingering on the two, who as far as she could tell seemed close to each other. Although it was just a picture, so she didn't want to make any assumptions too soon.

''DeShaun Holton and Marshall Mathers,'' Miss Charles answered, turning the photo over to show the names written on the back, ''now your plane has just called, you need to get going,'' she added, pulling Ashley to stand up.

''I'm gonna miss you and when I mean you I don't mean the bratty kids of your's I'm leaving behind, but just you,'' Miss Charles didn't bat an eyelid at Ashley's description of her fellow children, ''oh and maybe Micheal,'' she added, her hand returning to the locket he had given her. Miss Charles a little overcome with emotion, pulled the young girl into a hug, not letting go until boarding for the flight called again.

''Write, I want letters or postcards, even photos will do, but I want to hear from you and I suspect Micheal will too,'' Miss Charles spoke sternly to her as she joined the line for the flight.

''I promise I will. You wrote the address down enough times,'' that was the last words Miss Charles heard from Ashley, the rest were written in black and white.