Ashley sat down on a bench in the middle of the mall, she sometimes liked to just sit and watch people walk around. Families with kids would come and go, boyfriends and girlfriends would walk hand in had, and friends would walk around and talk and gossip. She didn't really have any of that. Her parents had died years ago and then her boyfriend dumped her for her best friend, then kicked her out of the apartment so she could live there. She would give up whatever she did have, just to have a few close friends.

After Rick had finally found something that Tina might like, the two of them continued through the mall. Savage was glancing across the mall at the Old Navy, when he saw Ashley.

"Hey Rick! There is your checker friend!"

"Who Ashley!"

"Ya! The one we just saw at Denny's! She kinda looks lonley!"

Rick looked over to see Ashley slumped over on the bench.

"You right! I wonder what's wrong! I'm going over to find out!"

Rick walked over to behind where she was sitting and tapped her on the shoulder. Ashley kinda jumped.

"Hey Ashley! Did I scare you?"

"Hi Rick! Fancey seeing you and Sav here!"

"What are you doing at the mall this time of day by yourself?"

"I'm just hanging out! Got nothing better to do! What about you?"

"Shopping with Sav!"

"That's nice! find anything good?"

"A few things! How about you?"

"Nothing!"

The three talked for a while longer, Ashley then noticed it was getting late. Sav noticed her fidigeting with her watch.

"Hey Ashley! What are you doing tonight?"

"Nothing besides heading back to the motel!"

Before Sav could say anything else, Ashley realized she said she was going to the motel. Both Sav and Rick noticed too.

"Motel?"

She decided she might as well tell then everything before she slipped up again.

"Do you live in the motel?"

"No! I actually live in my car!"

Her face turned bright red with embarassment. She tried to hide it, but couldn't.

"I really don't make a whole lot of money at the store and can't afford an apartment! So I live out of my car and if I have money left over at the end ofthe week, I treat myself to atleast one night in a motel!"

Rick and Sav just looked at her in shock. How could this sweet kind girl be homeless?