The Ambiguous Scandal

Ashlyn Valentine was just that happy-go-lucky dolt but when she enters a certain teen model Race Chester's life, not only was she the world's simplest gal, she becomes the world's greatest fool.

Chapter One - Prologue

Being a virgin may seem a bit dreadfully embarrassing for some girls and highly honorably for others, Ashlyn Valentine found herself caught in between.

She wasn't near desperate, but she wasn't an inch close to being damn proud of it and when her sister continuously flaunts about her sexual affairs to her, Ashlyn thought she was going to pass out from a major shame attack.

"Kevin sent a dozen of text messages to me. He's basically trying to force an answer out from me. Ash, what do you think I should do?" Roxy's eyes gleamed in anticipation.

Ashlyn's fingers fidgeted with the bed sheet underneath them. All she wanted to do now was to settle into bed and head to sleep for tomorrow's big day, but she couldn't possibly shove her sister off the bed and kick her out of the room. That was just rude, and, inhumane. "Maybe you should just answer him back. Give him a blunt reply..." Ash said, but the unsatisfied expression on her sister belittled her. "I don't know. Why are you asking me?"

"You're older than me, Ash. Surely, you know more than me. Besides, I always see you reading piles of romance books. You ought to know something..." Something about the way she said it was insutling. Ashlyn wondered if it was deliberate, but the answer was obvious.

"If you don't like him, tell him. No need to play games," Ashlyn advised.

"But, I'm supposed to enjoy the chase," Roxy pointed out.

Ashlyn laughed. "Chase? I thought you said you already went to bed with him?"

Roxy's cheeks flushed. "Look, I'm not talking about that ok, no need to find an excuse." Ashlyn knew deep inside, everything was just a pack of lies. That may include that dozen of text messages.

"Hmm, then don't answer at all, I think?" Ashlyn said uncertainly. "Oh I know! According to a book I read by Dean Canning, there's this exact same situation that the female main character goes through, and-"

"Arg! This is way you're still single!" Roxy let out exasperatedly. Apparently, Ashlyn's reacton wasn't what she had expected. "Just forget it!"

Ashlyn smiled. But before she had a chance to reply, their dad appeared into the room, his husky and heavy build contributed to those pounding footsteps. "It's ten for god's sake. You're still chattering? You two want to look like ugly pandas tomorrow morning when you meet the Chesters?" His loud disapproving voice gashed Roxy and Ashlyn's ears.

"Mister Valentine, chill." Ashlynn said, chuckling with amusement. "Like you said, it's only ten."

"You know, I wouldn't worry about you. But Roxy, you should go sleep as soon as possible. You know you are the Human Water Sucking Machine- Roxy, Roxy? Are you listening?"

Roxy was looking through a fashion magazine, a lame attempt to ignore him.

"Roxy!"

"Arg, Dad, I know, I know." Mortification seemed to underly her flushing eyes.

"My ass," Mr. Valentine sneered with a hiss of crudeness. "You never listen. No wonder your face is as puffy as a pig's!"

"Mister Valentine, can you please lower your tone?" Ashlyn asked.

"Why is there a need to when I'm talking to a rock head?"

"I'm not a rock head!"

"What else can you be? A head full of stones?"

"Come on," Ashlyn had a hand to her forehead, clearly feeling a headache sauntering through her head. "Not again."

Roxy slammed the fashion magazine close and turned around to face Mr. Valentine at the door. Both of their faces held a striking resemblence. Swollen face, a nose that would seem taller if it weren't for the puffy cheeks, and huge, round eyes. Unlike the both of them, Ashlyn held a smaller face with a well defined jawline and almond-shaped hazel eyes. If weren't for her last name, no one would have guessed she belonged as one of the Valentines.

"I sleep whenever I want. Stop pestering me!" Roxy screeched indignantly.

Someone entered the room a second later, his face a befuddled expression. "What's up Doug? I can basically hear crows and bears all in one place."

"Get lost, Samsom." Mr. Valentine snarled. "We don't need another one of your sermons when it's not even a Sunday."

"Why do you think everything that comes out of my mouth a sermon?" Samson quirked his eyebrow questioningly.

A heavy sigh escaped Ashlyn. It was ten thirty and already she was in a bad need of peace and sleep."Uncle Sam, Mister Valentine, and Roxy. If you three don't need sleep, I do."

"Ashlyn dear, are you okay?" Mr. Valentine slicked his tone into a concerned one, the quietness from his voice whales apart from that bellowing yells earlier.

Roxy rolled her eyes. "I'm getting out of here." When she scuttled out of the room, she accidentally smashed into Mr. Valentine, who took it as a deliberate vent of anger.

Samson shook his head solemnly. "Doug my brother, when will you ever learn?"

"Learn what? Didn't I tell you to get lost?"

Samson sighed submissively and left the room. The disappearance of his presence seemed to lighten up Mr. Valentine as he approached his daughter and sat on the bed. The magazine still was there and when he saw it, he shoved it off the bed angrily.

"I'm sorry Ash."

Ashlyn rose a confused eyebrow. "What's there to be sorry about, Mister Valentine?"

"I know Roxy has been giving you a hard time. But she just needs time to adjust to things, that's all." The fact was Mr. Valentine recently divorced his recent wife. It was hard for both Roxy and him but he knew Roxy had it worse ever since she moved into their new home. And now, they were moving once more which really threw everyone off the line of regularity again.

Ashlyn grabbed her father's hands and gave them a reassuring squeeze. She still felt a bit strange around him, having lived most of her life without a father, but still his wretched face was more than enough of a reason to shove that unfamiliarity aside. "You know I understand."

Mr. Valentine sighed. He was only in his late thirties but he looked ten years younger. Despite his trademark of a swollen face, Ashlyn still considered him handsome. "So, are you excited for tomorrow?" He attempted to drive away from the topic.

"Well, there's nothing I'm not excited about," Ashlyn enthused, clasping her hands together. "But I'm afraid the Chesters might not like me."

Mr. Valentine laughed. When he laughed, it reminded her of her own laughter. Loud and full of enthusiasm. "Are you kidding me? Everyone loves you."

Ashlyn smiled. "Not everyone," she replied, thinking of a certain girl.

"Well, I'm sure we're just going to like it there. The Chesters are just like my family. We've been through thick and thin together, and it's only right they take us in when we turn stray," he joked. "Once I have financial stability, I'll buy us a house, okay?"

"You know I don't really care about those things. I just want our family to be together."

"Your mother taught you well."

Again, Ashlyn gave him a smile. It was a smile she knew he loved because it reminded him of her mother. "Of course." Ashlyn wanted to hug him, to shower him an affection that she hadn't had a chance to, but the same unfamiliar vibe was drawing her back. She could only fill the awkwardness with a swap of topic. "Um, I'm a bit afraid though. What if rumors start to flame? You know the Chesters are well known and everything-"

"Don't worry about it. The media doesn't know where they live."

"Oh." Still, it wasn't assuring enough. She remembered when her mother discreetly dated a famous actor back then, and god, it was horrible.

"It's getting late. You should go to sleep soon."

Ashlyn hopped onto bed and her father tucked her in. It felt new and strange to her even though it wasn't the first time, but it gave her warmth and love, the kind she lacked when she was little. "Can I read a bit though?"

Mr. Valentine smiled and nodded. "You little bookworm."

When he left, Ashlyn grabbed a big book that she was halfway through. But much to her surprise and discontent, she wasn't able to concentrate at all. She found herself thinking deeply about tomorrow's event. Ashlyn could easily make friends given her outgoing and happy nature, but she wasn't sure if she could get along with the rich and snob, considering how she experienced that before where it turned out horrendous.

It'll be fine, she assured herself.

The big book ended up on the floor, but her mind was at anywhere but sleep.

This is my first story on FP. Please, do drop a line before you leave and tell me what you think. Thanks! :)