I walk into the local bar, it is dark except for the bar and tables where people are sitting. The bar is decently crowded but I would define it as a local hole in the wall. Much different from the night life I am used to in L.A. I make my way to get a drink.

"Can I get a blue moon draft? Extra orange, please!" I call to the bartender as she starts to walk away to get my drink.

"Here you go hun. $2.75." she says in a deep drawn out southern accent. She is a cute little brunette with a genuine smile.

$2.75? For a Blue Moon? Wow, It would cost me about $8.00 in L.A.

I sit and sip on my drink taking in my surroundings and am discretely people watching. I see a group of people who look to be in my age range, early 20's. They are sitting around the pool table drinking and talking. I notice the blonde who is currently taking a shot at the pool table. She leans down with her stick, she is wearing a white tank top and light colored jeans shorts that have little frays at the bottom. She flips her blonde hair to one side as it cascades down while she lines up for her shot. The table light is illuminating her face. She begins to laugh at something one of her friends said causing a delay before she shoots at her ball. 10 ball to the corner pocket. She moves around the table eyeing her next shot all the while I am eyeing her. She is so beautiful. I can't stop staring at her. She then sinks the 15 ball in a side pocket. I am still staring at her, she briefly makes I contact with me as she walks around the table. I quickly divert my eyes as I realize how long I had been looking at her. I give her side glances as the night continues, not wanting to be caught staring at her again.

The country music is twanging out if the speakers. I laugh to myself 'this place is literally like out of a movie'.

My grandma was right. I would get a real "taste" for the town at this here good ole' "Gators Joint".

"Hi" I am brought out if my thoughts. I turn to the side. There she is, smiling away. Leaning against the bar waiting to get a drink. She's not looking at me.

"Hi."

"I know your grandma."

"Cool. Me too" I say smugly. "How did you know?"

"I work with her at the library a few nights a week. She mentioned that you would be coming to stay with her for the summer" I take a drink of my beer.

I hold my hand out to her. She doesn't take it "I'm ash..."

"Ashley, I know." She grabs her beer and looks at me "Well if you want to come over with me and my friends, you can." She turns and walks away.

I let my eyes follow her.

I get another Blue Moon and chug half of it before walking over.

I feel small and nervous. Not like I was in LA. All eyes are on me. I pull my hand out of my pocket and give a small wave "hey" I whisper out.

"Guys this is Lilly Davies' granddaughter. " she begins to smile which makes me less nervous.

"I'm Ashley"

They all collectively say hi to me and go back to what they were doing. Playing pool, drinking and being absorbed in each other. I make the connection that there are two couples amongst them. I lean back against the wall.

"Do you not remember me?" The blonde approaches me again.

I furrow my brow. No recollection.

"I'm sorry" I offer.

"Spencer. I'm Spencer" she brings her bottle to her lips. "It's fine. I guess it has been years since we've seen each other."

I'm curious.

"We live on the farm across from your family's plantation. My father has worked for your grandparents for years. Since I was born actually."

I feel bad that I'm not recalling meeting her before.

"I'm sorry. It's just been years since I've been down here to visit."

There is a silence between us.

"Yeah. I umm, I'm sorry about your grandfather."

"Oh, it's okay. It was a long time coming." I wave her off.

My grandfathers death has ultimately landed me here in Magnolia Springs, Alabama. My mom thought it would be good for me to keep my grandma company for the summer since my grandfather passed. I am on break from USC for the summer.

I suddenly don't feel like being out anymore. I drink the rest of my beer quickly and stand to leave. "I'll see you around?.." I half question and half say.

"You're leaving?"

"Yeah. Grandma wants me home at a decent hour." I lie.

I walk out to the truck my grandma has let me borrow. Its old and has some character, but It has nothing on my Porsche, but I flew down and didn't drive it. I start up the engine and lean my head back briefly and shut my eyes.

I then hear the passenger side door being wrenched open. It's Spencer.

"What... what're you doing?" I ask as I notice her making herself comfortable in the passengers side putting her purse between us on the bench seat.

She looks up as her blue eyes twinkle "Coming with you. Just drive." And I do. No further questions asked.

We sit in silence.

I finally turn on the radio which fills the truck with Blake Sheltons "Sangria" Before speaking. "So, did you want me to take you home or?" I pull up to a stop sign not far from my grandmas house, waiting for her answer.

She's looking at me, staring at me. Just then she lunges forward and plants her lips on mine. My eyes go wide. I don't even have time to react before she pulls away.

"Oh my god... I'm sorry. Wow, I am so embarrassing" she mumbles out.

"It's okay." I assure her before I start laughing

"No. No, it's not." She opens the truck door in a flash. She's starts walking away from the truck.

I step out and follow her.

"Stupid, stupid" I can hear her mumbling to herself as I trail behind her.

The moon is bright in the sky, the stars are out and the air is so fresh as I breathe it in, the crickets are chirping and there isn't another car in sight. Just the headlights blare from the parked truck. It's a nice change of scenery.

"Spencer!" I call out before jogging a bit.

I grab her wrist and stop her. "It's fine. It uh.. it isn't a big deal." I chuckle.

"Easy for you to say! You didn't just throw yourself at a stranger." She huffs out.

"I mean, at least you're pretty. It just makes it weird when they're ugly."

I see a smile break on her face.

I notice my hand is still on her wrist. I remove it and blush.

"So do you want me to take you ho.."

"Your grandma said you're gay!" She basically shouts quietly in a hurry. Then slaps herself on the forehead.

And there it is.

"I Umm." I begin to nervously chuckle unsure of what to say.

"Wow. There I go again. Opening my big mouth." She balls her fists and looks away

"You're a very strange girl, do you know that?" I ask with an amused smile on my face.

She smiles at me "So I've been told. Are you gonna take me home or what?" She starts walking towards the truck.

I watch as she walks back to the truck and gets in. I can't help the grin on my face.

She gives me the directions to her house as we keep driving. The music is softly playing in the background.

I pull up to the front of her house. She opens the door to get out.

"Wait!" I again grab her wrist. I then have nothing to say. "Will I see you… again?" Oh my god, I am so lame.

"Perhaps I'll see you around" she continues getting out of the truck. And just like that, she is gone in a flash.

I make the short trip to my grandmas house. Recapping the events from this slightly bizarre but amusing night. I can't stop thinking about Spencer.

""""""""""""""""

I make my way into the kitchen to get my morning coffee.

"Hi honey, how was your night?"

"It was good grandma." I give her a quick smile

"Well you know I am going over to garden with Mrs. Smith down the way and then tonight I am working a short shift at the library."

"The library?!" Spencer said she works at the library

"Yes, you know I work there a few nights a week." I nod my remembrance

I continue moving around the kitchen getting myself a bagel before sitting down at the table with my grandma.

"Hey uh, grandma" She looks over the paper she is reading as I begin to speak. "Do you know a Spencer?" I ask nonchalantly

"Spencer Carlin?" She smiles, "of course dear, her family has worked for us on the plantation for years."

She takes a drink of her tea " you know, you used to have playdates when you were little and would come down for the summers with me?"

"She mentioned that she knew me. I don't remember her though ,Grandma."

"Oh honey! of course you don't. You were only about six or seven at the time." she motions her hands "then you stopped coming to stay with me for the summers." I can tell this saddens her.

"Well at least Im here now grandma." she places her hand over mine and gives it a little squeeze.

"You're right honey. Its going to be a joy having you." Her eyes twinkle like only grandmas eyes do.

"So grandma… is uh, is Spencer working with you at the library tonight?" I ask nervously rubbing my hand on the back of my neck.

"Why all the talk about Miss Carling this morning, Ashley?" She gives me a pointed look

"We met last night at Gators." I can't help the smile that creeps on my face.

"Ashley." My grandma begins. "You know I love you and am okay with your lifestyle, but I'm not sure Spencer would have the same interest in you as you seem to have for her."

"Grandma! oh my god. Not having this conversation with you !"I throw my hands up in the air.

"Ashley, honey, things aren't the same as they are in LA. Now you know I don't care, but it's a different world down here." She gives me a loving look. "I just don't want to see you get hurt."

I look away. She begins moving about the kitchen.

"Well, I best be on my way to meet Mrs. smith." She goes to walk out the door. "I think her shift is from 4-9pm tonight." she says nothing more before walking out the front door.

I have a smirk plastered on my face.

/

I glance at my phone, 5:23pm. I make my way into the front of the library. I don't know my way around so I just keep walking until I find what appears to be the front desk. I see Spencer busy checking books. She doesn't notice me.

"Hi." She jumps and puts her heart over her chest. "Remember me?" I give her a huge grin.

She eyes me suspiciously "mmm. no I don't recall." She goes back to checking the books in.

"Really? You look an awful lot like the girl who hopped in my truck and threw herself at me last night. That wasn't you?"

Her face turns red "would you keep your voice down!" She harshly whispers looking around. "What do you want?" she pointedly asks me.

"Just to see if you wanted to get a beer and catch up tonight, old friend." I smirk and lean over the desk waiting for her response.

Just then I hear my name being called "Ashely! What're you doing here?" I turn to see my grandma and take a step back from the desk where I was crowding Spencer.

"Grandma… hey. Just uh" I stumble and then pick a book up from the desk. "Just trying to find something to read." I hold it up half heartedly.

She gives me a knowing smile.

"Spencer. I was just telling Ashley here this morning that you used to have play dates when you were younger."

"I remember Mrs. Davies." She smiles at my grandma

"You must have quite the memory, dear." She pats me on the back "well I'll let you two continue your conversation here." she moves past us. I watch her until she is out of site before turning back to Spencer.

"go out with me tonight?"

"What?!" she gasps out again looking around the area for anyone who could hear.

"Well usually when a beautiful girl like you kisses you, the next step is to ask her out." I turn on my charm.

"Would you stop talking about that? It was an impulsive, drunken mistake." She narrows her eyes at me.

"Well thats too bad." I say. "I heard the drive-ins are the place to go tonight. I was hoping I would have someone to go with me."

She walks past me to take books to the correct shelves. I roll my eyes and follow her. She's in the back of the library. We are surrounded by books, magazines and wooden shelves.

"Okay, we can go somewhere else if you don't like the drive-ins." I say as I linger behind her.

"I like the drive-ins just fine. I just don't want to go with you."

I grab her hand and she turns around. I get a few inches from her. "well that is really unfortunate" She moves back lightly against a wooden book shelf. I don't skip a beat, following her and getting a few inches from her. I bring my hand lightly to the side of her waste. Our eyes are locked. I can feel her breath on my lips. "I really wanted the opportunity to be able to kiss you back." I turn and begin to leave.

"see you around, Spencer."

I leave the library.