Home Sweet Home

A loud clap of thunder struck through the dim Texas sky, as I ran faster to keep up with the blonde streaks in front of me. "Come on Spencer wait up!" I gasped through my shallow breaths.

She tossed her head to the side and smirked. "What's a matter darling? Got some rocks in your socks?" I shook my head and pushed harder to catch up with her. Spencer grinned at my efforts to catch her but pulled ahead of me once again. I knew I couldn't catch her; she was the varsity football team's halfback. Our school's star player. Most people wouldn't believe a girl could compete on the same level as boys. Those people however haven't met Spencer Carlin.

She hopped over a fence and trailed into an open field. I knew exactly where she was going, our spot. I followed her to an old truck parked under an oak tree. We climbed into the bed of the truck and laid down in our usual spots; watching the starfilled sky form as the sun melted away. I felt Spencer slip her fingers between mine, smiling down at them I laced our fingers together. I tilted my head up, her sapphire eyes shining at me. "What," I whispered.

She simply shook her head and smiled. "You're beautiful." I felt my face flush and the uncontrolable grin that usually followed. Spencer chuckled and leaned down taking my lips in with hers. I slid my hand up her neck pulling her closer to me . Her lips glided across mine nipping at my bottom lip every so often until a couple of minutes later she pulled away. I groaned in fustration which earned another laugh from Spencer. I poked out my bottom lip, pouting. "Awe is something wrong," She asked playfully.

I nodded and kissed under her chin, up her jawline and recaptured her lips. She ran her fingers up and cupped my cheek, kissing me back slowly. I loved this. These moments when it was just us. When we could be ourselves and not have a single care in the world. I slowed down our kissing then pulled back slightly. "I love you," I whispered against her lips.

I felt her smile form against mine. "I love you too Ashley." There was a quiet moment, where you could only hear the crickets in the grass and the leaves ruffling from the wind. "Will you answer me now," she asked softly.

I giggled and shook my head furiously. "Nooooo."

She arched an eyebrow. "No you won't answer me or no you won't marry me?"

I smirked. "Spencer Carlin, we are seventeen years old, what do we know about marriage." She simply shrugged her shoulders. "Exactly," I stated.

She took my hand and kissed my fingers. "I don't need to know anything about marriage to know I want to marry you. I do however know that marriage is about love and wanting to embrace that love forever; I know that I only want you Ashley. Now and forever, nothing will ever change that. So why can't forever start now?"

I sighed and gazed down at the bed of the truck. She made my arguement tougher to defend when she put on her Carlin charm. Don't get me wrong I did love Spencer, but I didn't think we were ready for such a big commitment as high schoolers. Well I didn't think I was. "Spencer we're in high school. What will our friends say? Hell how about our parents for that matter?"

"Ashley," she called calmly. I looked up at her. "Do you love me?"

I smiled slightly, "Of course I love you Spencer, you know that."

"Then marry me," she exclaimed sporting a cheesy grin.

I stared at her while she bounced her legs up and down with excitement. She was such a dork but atleast she was my dork. I shook my head and smirked. "Why would you want to be married to me for anyhow?"

She stopped bouncing long enough to lean forward and whisper, "So I can kiss you anytime I want." She leaned even closer to my lips.

BANG!

I shot up from my pillow and looked around my bedroom. The lighting from the storm was making the room somewhat visable to see. Everything looked fine. I looked at my side and saw my boyfriend, Aiden was still asleep next to me. My throat was feeling dry so I slipped down from the bed into my house slippers. I ducked out of the room and down the stairs to the kitchen.

While making myself a glass of water I couldn't help but to keep replaying that dream over and over in my head. It was so odd to me that I would have a dream about her. I haven't thought of Spencer Carlin like that in years, eight to be exact. I sipped my water in front of the backdoor, watching the rain fall. For some reason in that moment I found myself wondering if I was ever going to free myself from that past. A past I've ran and hid from for years. When was it going to be enough?

I walked into my office and sat down at my desk. Turning around I pulled open my drawer and took out a folder. I opened the folder and took another drink from the glass. My divorce papers laid out in front of me with one signature missing. Spencer's. I've sent them numerous times to her, only to have them returned without a signature. She was so infuriating to deal with at times. I set down my glass and leaned forward on the desk. I started rubbing my temples. Gosh when was this going to end? When was I going to finally escape that life?

"Ash," Aiden called coming down the stairs. Quickly, I fumbled to hide the papers and folder in my desk. He opened the door and poked his head inside. He looked worried. "Hey babe what are you doing up this late?"

I stood up and met him at the door. "Nothing the storm woke me up then I was thirsty, so I came down and got a glass of water."

He smiled and kissed my forehead. "Oh okay. Would you like me to give you a minute?"

I shook my head and hugged him. "No lets go back to bed." I felt him pick me up and walk us up the stairs, back to the bed.

He laid me down then covered me with the blanket. "I love you Ash," he whispered softly as he rubbed his thumb across my cheek.

I turned my face and pressed my lips against his thumb. "I love you too." There was a shocked expression on his face that made me curious. "What's wrong?"

He jumped up from the bed. "I almost forgot something," he said after entering the closet.

I sat up and turned on the nightside table light. "Aiden?" I waited a moment and heard nothing. "Aiden what did you forget?"

He popped his head out from the closet. "Close your eyes," he ordered. I cocked my head to the side and gave him a confused look. "Just do it." I closed my eyes and felt him sit next to me on the bed. He took my left hand," Ash?"

I took a breath, my heart was pounding in my ears. Was this really happening? "Yes," I squeaked out. Not knowing if I was answering him or my own thought.

There was a pause as I felt a cold metal being place on my left ring finger. "Ashley you can open your eyes," he stated. I blinked down at the beautiful diamond engagement ring on my finger. I couldn't breathe all I could do was stare at the ring until he lifted my chin. "Ashley Davies, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife," he asked with a charming smile.

A dazzling smile formed on my lips. "Yes, yes, yes. A million times yes." I leaned forward and kissed him softly on his lips. He kissed me back for a moment then started chuckling so I pulled away. "What," I asked furrowing my eyebrows together.

He grinned and shook his head. "Nothing I was just thinking about how our parents are going to react when we tell them."

I felt my eyes almost bulge out of my head. Oh lord. In all of the excitement I forgot about our parents. My parents, whom I haven't seen in years. Since I left Spencer. Oh God Spencer. Our divorce. Ugh! "Um Aiden? Can i ask a favor?"

He frowned at the tone of my voice. "What is it honey?"

"Do you think we could keep our engagement quiet until I have a chance to tell my parents first?" I asked sincerely. If I go down there I could get Spencer to sign the papers in person and have this all taken care of for good. Then finally I could leave that life behind.

He raised his eyebrow in confusion. "Why?"

I smiled and kissed his cheek. "It's nothing against you baby. It's just-well you know how my folks are, you can't just spring information like this on them."

A look of awe covered his face, "Ah...its not because I'm not a southern farm boy is it?"

"Well there's that," I teased. He grinned and shook his head. "Baby you have nothing to worry about I promise. I'm just going down there because I need to tell them in person. It's the right thing to do, I mean I haven't seen them in ages."

He nodded and kissed my head. "Okay sweetheart. Sleep tight then you have a big day ahead of you;" he said before turning off the light and returning to bed. I laid back down. The feeling in my stomach told me tomorrow wasn't going to be at all easy.