Disclaimer : South isn't mine.
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UPDATE: EDITED.
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Just Barely Breathing
Chapter One : If Tomorrow Never Comes
(Spencer POV)
Port Columbus International Airport : 6:18 P.M.
My father grasps onto my other luggage bag out of the trunk, lowering it onto the curb beside the car.
"Alright, that's everything."
I felt myself nodding blankly at his words, too caught up in my thoughts to form an answer. It'd only taken us a few minutes to drop off my duffel bag into the cargo drop and find the gate where I was instructed to board, which was a feet considering there must have been hundreds of people inside the airport. As we stood at the end of the long line where I'd give the stewardess my airplane ticket, I couldn't stop myself from looking back at the colossal entrance of the airport. I spent a good five minutes just looking past all of the people speeding past in search of their flights and bags in hopes of seeing the only person I wanted here.
"See someone, Spence?" Dad asks, breaking me from my thoughts. I turned my head up to meet my father's eyes, and sighed.
"Ashley said she'd be here," I tell him, strapping my backpack over my shoulders. "You know, to say goodbye."
"What if she got hung up somewhere?" He asks, taking his place at my side. "It's okay, if she doesn't make it, sweetie. You'll see each other soon."
"But she promised me, Dad," I murmured, the question striking a chord in my heart. "Ashley will be here."
"Attention Flight 183 to Baltimore will start boarding in ten minutes. Flight 183 to Baltimore will depart in ten minutes," A woman's voice says over the intercom.
I rolled my eyes at the voice, crossing my arms in defiance. What, you can't give me at least another half hour? Bitch.
"You better get moving kiddo," Dad urges, but I still don't budge from my stance. "Spencer."
"I know, I know," I whispered, hating the tears welling up in my eyes. "Bye Dad. I'll call you as soon as I land, okay?"
I threw my arms around my father in a tight embrace before reluctantly stepping towards the ticket station. I walked away from my father, proceeding down to the desk and handed over my ticket to one of the attendants. The woman's movements become a blur as she quickly types something into a computer before ripping the stub off of my ticket and giving it to me.
"Thanks," I mumbled, barely acknowledging the stranger's fake smile.
My fingers clenched tightly to the straps across my shoulders as I entered the door to her right, leading me down a gray long hallway. Glancing back, I could see the attendant let the last of the passengers through before they start preparing to close the door. In that moment, everything turns in slow motion as the door swung slowly across the air.
I turn back around, too scared to see it actually close.
(Ashley POV)
"Come on!"
I screamed, swimming through the sea of rushing people. But somehow, amongst the chaos, I spot Arthur's face out of them seconds later.
"Mr. C!"
Spencer's Dad stops in his spot, snapping his head around to find the origin of the voice. When he sees me sprinting over, I couldn't help but notice the joyous glitter in his silver eyes.
"Where is she?" I half yelled, trying to ignoring my burning lungs. Spencer's Dad opens his mouth to say something, but quickly closes it, the happiness in his expression quickly fading.
"She just went through the gate," She supplies, solemnly.
My eyes widened. "What?" My adrenaline peeks, head shaking left and right. "No, dammit, not this time. Which one, Mr. C?"
"Gate 7, around that corner, but you only have—" I nodded, smiling in determination, and patted him on the shoulder as I darted in the general direction he'd pointed me in. "—less than seven minutes till' it leaves!"
I pushed my way harder, faster through the strangers around me until I see the gate I'd been looking for, with a woman in the process of closing the door Spencer had went through only seconds up my pace running at the woman. I make my way through a line of already angry people to get to her, seeing her twirl around just as my feet skidded to a stop at her feet.
"I need you to open the door," I breathed, clutching a hand to my heaving chest. "Please, please? You have to open the door!"
Seeing her face, I realized how crazy I must have seemed.
"I'm sorry, Miss," The woman apologizes, almost without emotion. "Departure time as expired for this flight. You'll have to catch another—"
"No, dammit, you're my only chance!"
I nearly growled at the woman, throwing my hands up in desperation.
"Look, I know it's against a lot of fucking rules if you do," I continued, taking in a deep breath to compose myself. "And you don't know me, I get that, but I'm not some terrorist, I swear. My friend, she just walked through this gate not even a minute ago. I really have to talk to her. You don't understand, I have to. Please?"
As I looked into her eyes, I noticed the woman's professional expression faltering briefly before she's shaking her head. My eyes followed her retreating form as she walks back to her station, pushing myself past the first few people of the line to lean over the counter.
"Five minutes, please," I urged, catching her eyes once more. "That's all I need, and you'll never see me again."
The woman sighs, stepping closer to me. "I'm sorry, Miss, but I can't."
I swallowed hard at the lump in my throat, feeling the tears threatening to spill over my eyes as they pleaded out to the stranger. It was then that I thought if I told her about Spencer, anything about her, maybe it'd help my case.
"Spencer—Her name. She's my best friend," I explained, the words rushing out of my mouth before I could stop them. "My best friend since I was five, who I love more than anythingin this world. She's leaving today, okay? Leaving for what will seem like an eternity if I don't see her one more time. I promised her, okay? I would say goodbye. Now I've broken too many promises to her in the past that I can't take back no matter how much I want to. It'll break her heart if I break this one too. So, please. Open the gate."
I took in a deep breath, watching the woman's eyes flickering in panic behind me. It was then that my ears had registered the people in line behind me, who seemed to all be shouting for the woman to open the gate. I almost smiled then, glancing over my shoulder at the majority of the strangers ruting me on while the others probably just wanted to board their flight. The stewardess stayed silent for a moment, squeezing her eyes shut as she fought internally with herself.
"Alright, alright," She murmurs, opening her eyes. My heart stops in anticipation. A faint smile traced her face as she jogs over to pull the gate door open.
"Five minutes," She warns, and waved her arm at me expectantly. "Well? What are you waiting for? Go!"
"Thank you, thank you, thank you," is already tumbling out of my mouth, a smile breaking across my face.
I practically jumped for joy, scrambling past the counter, and throwing my arms around the strangers neck before sprinting past the doorway and down the long isle. My legs are burning as I rushed past a dozen seemly passengers on the way, ignoring the security guard the stewardess had sent after me just in case. When my eyes find the looming entrance of the plain at the end of the hallway, I'd started to think I had lost my chance. But then, out of the strangers, a familiar head of blonde hair is also getting closer and closer to the entrance.
"Spencer!"
When it seems as though she hadn't heard me, I suck in a deep breath, bellowing it out louder than before.
"SPENCER! WAIT!"
Spencer's body stops instantly, and I sigh in relief.
She looks over her shoulder then, and deep blue orbs meet with my dark brown's, which strikes huge smiles across our faces as we each took small steps towards each other. As our distance decreased, I could see my name escaping her lips and I smiled another cheesy grin. Spencer drops her backpack a few yards from me, and picks up her pace into a sprint, soon colliding our bodies with a sweeping embrace. You know what, yeah, I realized how deeply, deeply corny the whole situation may have seemed, but I didn't care. I'd made it, and that's all that mattered.
Spencer soon breaks the hug, smacking my arm. "God, don't ever scare me like that again, Ashley Davies."
"Sorry, Spence, I won't," I managed, trying not to laugh as I held my stinging arm.
Spencer crosses her arms. "What took you so long?"
"It's too long of a story, Spence," I sighed, taking her hands. "But it doesn't matter right now, only you and me." She gives me a reluctant nod, letting me lower our hands to our sides so I could close the gap between us. "Now, give mama a kiss," I purred in her ear, resulting in Spencer's adorable giggle.
Spencer's hands leave mine to cradle my face, pressing our lips together in a lip-bruising kiss that left us very, veryout of breath. A few minutes passed, and we're having to pull away to a guy watching us almost crashing into an old woman. Then, said guy getting bludgeoned hard with her purse. Honestly, I'm surprised he even got away.
"Last call for Flight 183 to Baltimore," A woman's voice echoes over the intercom, reminding us that time was running out. "Last call for Flight 183 to Baltimore."
"I guess that's my cue," Spencer whispers, turning her head to the plane's entrance. I felt her body shiver then, tightening her grip on my waist. Without a seconds pause, I shrugged off my leather coat, and wrap it over her shoulders.
"Ash, no," She protests, shaking her head at the unspoken meaning of this. "Your dad gave you this. I mean, it's your lucky jacket."
"I know, but you need it more than me right now," I replied, pulling her closer against me. "And you'll have it, when you think of me. Besides, I won't be there to protect you. Maybe it'll help, you know?"
Spencer smiles, pressing a delicate kiss on my lips. Which in turn, results in more kisses, until we're once again forgetting time all together.
"I better go," She whispers, untangling from my grasp seconds later. Taking her hand, She leads me back to where her backpack is, slinging it over one shoulder.
"I'll call you when I land okay?" Spencer says, when we're only feet from the entrance. "Don't worry, Ash. I'll come back."
I shook the tears from my eyes, lifting her chin up to press one last kiss to her lips.
"I'll be waiting," I murmured back, before watching her disappear into the plane and out of sight.
(Spencer POV)
Two Months Later.
Baltimore, Maryland : BSA Institute : 6:49 P.M.
I had stopped myself from thinking about that day weeks ago, since all it did was make me miss Ashley more. The past few weeks have been amazing with all sites, and the new experiences, don't get me wrong. I just wish she could be here to experience them with me. We've talked through messaging, and phone since then, but tonight's I'm going to be able to make a video for Ashley. It'll be the first time she's seen me in two months, all thanks to Leisha. She's one of the other program students across the hall, who was kind enough to let me use her web cam.
I'm haunched over her computer now, thinking of what to say.
I'd been staring at the button on the screen flashing "start video message" for the past half hour, and I finally gathered up the courage to move the pointer and click it. At first, it was kind of weird talking into a camera, but I soon found myself thinking how happy Ashley was going to be when she saw it, and how the smile on her face would be so worth it.
About ten minutes had passed...
"Well, I better go. "I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I'm using a friends computer, so she'll probably be needing you use it soon. Alright, Ash, I'll talk to you soon—"
"Hey, Spencer, you done? Shit, sorry," Leisha's voice rings in from the doorway. I glanced over my shoulder, giving her an impish smile as she mouths an apology and starts backing away.
"No, no, it's fine," I dismissed, waving her over, and turning back to the camera. "Ash, this was the girl I was telling you about. The reason why this whole video is possible. Say hi, Leish."
Leisha shrugs, setting down the basket of laundry she'd been holding, and steps beside me into the web cam's view.
"Hello, I'm Leisha. I'm a Leo, and I like long walks on the beach," She jokes, winking into the camera. I suppressed a chuckle, swatting her arm. "So, who's this for anyway?"
I cleared my throat, still amused, and let my eyes flicker back to the screen. "It's for my girlfriend, Ashley, back home."
Leisha nods, raising an eyebrow at me in curiosity. "Well, she must really love you to let a very fine girl, like yourself, get on a plane and come all the way out here."
I rolled my eyes, watching her pull up a chair, and lean into the camera. "And I bet you do, huh?"
Leisha's silent then, waiting a few seconds, before continuing. "Thought so. Hey, and don't worry, I'm already taken. My girl, Allison, has some trust issues, so she's transferring out of here in a few months. You know, hating long-distance relationships and all that jazz. Anyway, I'll leave you alone before it gets all lovey-dovey in her. Peace out, Ashley!"
With that, Leisha's gone, and I'm alone again in the dorm room.
"Okay, I guess I'll go now," I say, smiling into the tiny camera. "But I'll call you tonight, I promise. Oh, tell everyone I love them, okay—" That's when I hear my roommate, Jen, screaming my name from across the hall. "Just a sec, Jen! Gotta go, Ash, but I just wanted to say that I love you, and I miss you. Bye, Ash."
I quickly waved at the camera before shutting it off. With a sigh, I stood to my feet and jogged out of Leisha's room and across the hallways to our dormroom. As soon as I entered the room, I gathered from my clothes being scattered about, that Jen was freaking out while trying to find a top out of my closet.
"What are you doing?"
Jen freezes in midair, holding a mound of shirts to her chest. "Um. Nothing." I roll my eyes, and crossed my arms. "Okay, geez! I need something hot to wear, and my clothes don't quite exactly scream it, you know."
"And mine do?"I asked, attempting to shove my jeans back into the dresser shelves.
Jen scoffs, like the answer was obvious. "Spencer, you may not have seen it yet, but you're hot. Therefore, you must have hot clothes."
"I'm not hot," I deadpanned, snatching a prized leather jacket out of her arms. The very jacket that Ashley gave me, and one that I would rather die for, than let someone else wear to a college party.
"Yeah, right, and I'm Lindsey Lohan," She huffs, eyeing the leather jacket being held dearly to my chest. "What's with you and that thing anyway? You haven't let it out of your sight since you got here. Hell, since I met you."
I just shook my head, sitting down on my twin bed. "It's just very important to me, Jen."
"What, did your boyfriend give it to you?" Jen cracks a coy smile when I don't answer, settling down beside me. "Oh my god, Spencer Carlin! How come I didn't know you had a boy?"
"Because it's none of your business," I shot back, dreading that me not telling her about the gay thing was finally biting me in the ass. "Besides, it's not something you just spill over breakfast, Jen."
She just rolls her eyes, squealing like a ten year old. "So, how long have you two been dating?"
"About two and a half months," I riddled, figuring the question was easy enough.
"Awh, wow!" She gasps, eye huge with all these romantic montages of me and my mystery guy. "Young love, huh?"
"You could say that," I replied, amused by the term. I couldn't help but laugh, thinking of how long we really did love each other. "In truth, we've liked each other since we were five, but never really...acted on it until awhile ago."
"That is so romantic!" Jen coos, eyes widening in curiosity. A second passes and she's pressing on. "Well?"
"What?" I questioned back, not entirely sure what she's getting at.
Jen rolls her eyes. "Duh! What's his name?"
I bite my lip. "Um."
R&R.