The ride to her new home was mostly done in silence. The radio was playing; it was on low so Ashley couldn't quite hear what was playing, but she hazard as a guess that it was some kind of rap since both Marshall and Deshaun or Proof and Slim where into that kind of music. Rap had never really resonated with her on a personal level, maybe because she hadn't experienced what those who did had been through or it was just that it wasn't her kind of thing. So either way it didn't bother her is she couldn't hear the radio properly.

''So ya leaving anyone behind in London,'' Proof asked and Ashley could swear she heard Marshall grumble something, but she chose to ignore it and answer the question posed to her.

''Yeah, my foster carer Miss Charles and this guy,'' she bit her lip as she thought of the lingering kiss Micheal had given her just before she'd had to get in the care.

''This guy, he ya boyfriend?''

''Why you interrogating the poor girl leave her alone. Don't answer his nosey ass,'' Marshall interrupted as he broke heavily in front of a red light, which he nearly didn't make.

''No it's ok I don't mind. Um and about the boyfriend thing I don't know he kissed me before I left and well that was that; it was my first kiss too,'' Ashley started to feel the heat rise in her cheeks as she blushed, Deshaun just winked at her, causing her to giggle. What was wrong with her, she was in a car with two adult men that she didn't know and she was already telling them her secrets.

''Damn,'' it was Marshall who had responded, blowing out a low whistle, ''I'd tell you to try long-distance, but that shit never works out,'' he added.

''That's what I've been thinking. I should ask him about it right?'' if you asked Ashley why she was asking for love advice from to guys she'd just met, she'd struggle tremendously for an answer because she had no idea.

''What's stopping ya right. Wait how old are you again?'' Poof asked swivelling round in his seat to look at her, squinting his eyes as if he could judge her age by look alone.

''Sixteen,'' she replied, suddenly realising her young and vulnerable she was at that moment.

''Well if it doesn't work out at least ya young kid,'' he responded turning back in his seat. The silence then overtook the car once again as the radio continued to play the music that Ashley could still not hear properly.

❃❃❃

''Ta da,'' Marshall suddenly exclaimed causing Ashley to jump in shock, ''welcome to your new home,'' he added, a more grumbling tone lacing his words this time.

''Hey look Sarah's here to greet ya,'' Proof spoke as he was halfway out the car, ''we brought her to ya safely, look not even a scratch.''

''You do know she's not some piece of furniture I asked you to pick up from the store for me right?'' Sarah spoke, smacking Deshaun mockingly on the back of the head, ''but thank you, for picking her up.''

''Hang on I drove,'' Marshall pipped up, from his position leaning on the door.

''Yes, you did, but neither of you are Ashley with her luggage,'' Sarah rose an eyebrow as she gestured to Ashley, who was struggling to get her suitcase out of the boot of the car.

Sighing, squeezing his eyes shut in exhaustion, Marshall moved over to lift her suitcase out for her, ''ya could of just asked,'' he mumbled handing her the case. In turn, Ashley mumbled a thank you in response and said nothing else.

''Right you got everything dear?'' Sarah asked and Ashley nodded, ''well then, I'm sure you both have got things to be doing and I want to get Ashley settled before Toby comes home so I'll see you all later.''

''Yeah and see ya around Ashley,'' both Marshall and Deshaun waved goodbye before they got in the car and drove off, leaving Ashley and Sarah alone.

Now that Marshall and Deshaun had gone, Ashley was finally able to take in her surroundings. The neighbourhood seemed quite nice, there were a couple of houses on the dogy side, with overgrown gardens and a few smashed windows. Apart from that, however, Ashley felt as if she'd be safe where she was. At least she thought she would be.

Following Sarah up the driveway, she noticed how there were no plants or even much landscaping out the front. No car sat out the front of the garage and the garage itself had a big padlock bolted to the side of it. A nasty looking wire fence created a barrier between her new home and the two next door. However, she had a hard time believing Sarah was the type of person to erect such as bold statement like that.

''Right I know you have a lot of questions and I'll answer them as soon as possible ok, but I need to tell you about my husband first,'' those words being Sarah's first to Ashley hit her like a tonne of bricks. The red-head gulped having a feeling what Sarah was about to tell her was far from good.

''Toby?'' Ashley questioned, hoping she was talking about the same person, Sarah nodded in response.

''He's um not the friendliest of people and I'd just be careful around him ok. Don't agitate him and defiantly don't try and steal from him, not that I think you're that type of person, but there's just no telling what he'd do,'' Sarah explained. Ashley nodded slowly to every word that had been said and she'd be lying is she said she wasn't even a little bit afraid of Toby now.

''Right so don't piss Toby off, basically.''

''Yes. Oh and I wouldn't swear around him either, I'm ok with it, but...''

''No swearing when he's here got it. Anything else I gotta know?'' Ashley questioned, hoping Sarah wasn't going to reveal a horrifying reason why the garage was near enough bolted shut.

''Where ya room is,'' Sarah smiled reaching for Ashley's suitcase, ''come on I got some paints if you wanna decorate and we can go shopping for bits and bobs tomorrow if you want.''

Ashley let Sarah ramble on as she was led up the stairs. It wasn't until she reached the top that a sudden shiver went down her spine because she heard the front door open and a booming voice filled the house.

''Sarah, you have snuffled the girl away yet have ya, I wanna get a look at her,'' suddenly Ashley didn't feel as safe as she wanted to be.