Disclaimer: characters belong to Tom Lynch and Noggin.
"It Took Us Forever To Get Here"
Things had been building up inside Ashley, but only recently they had started feeling like they were going to explode inside her. Things she'd been avoiding as long as possible had started resurfacing inside her, whether or not she wanted them too. When Spencer had moved to LA, it seemed like the defining moment in Ashley's life. Here was a young, gorgeous girl, unsure about her sexuality…just begging for Ashley to help her explain it. That was how the situation seemed at first. Now Ashley was beginning to wonder how long she was still going to believe that she and Spencer were just destined to be just friends. Spencer was the first girl Ashley had real feelings for. This wasn't puppy love. This was the real kind—the kind that leaves you breathless, unable to eat or sleep. The kind that meant that forever after, Spencer would either be classified under "the one that got away" or "the best thing that had ever happened." But things had gotten complicated a lot sooner than Ashley could have imagined.
Ashley lay next to Spencer on the bed watching TV. She wasn't really watching; she was stealing glances at Spencer. Her eyes trailed down from Spencer's eyes to her full and tempting lips. They followed the curve of her lips down her chin to Spencer's neck…soft and inviting. Ashley wondered what Spencer would do if she just leaned over and kissed her neck, nuzzling Spencer's most tender place. The TV show ended and Spencer rolled over on her side and faced Ashley.
"What are you thinking about?" She asked.
"Nothing…" Ashley replied coyly. "And everything."
"Tell me. I want to know every little thought that runs through that brain of yours." Spencer said earnestly, looking deep into Ashley's eyes.
"Well…I was actually thinking that…I wanted to tell you…" Ashley started. She'd never told anyone she loved them before, anyone who wasn't related, and she wanted all the words to come out right. But there was a knock on her door before she could get any more words out. Aiden came into Ashley's room and ruined all her plans.
"Hey ladies." He said, sitting down in between them. "I just came to pick her up." He gestured to Spencer. "I'm having dinner with Spencer's family. I'm kinda nervous." The truth came crashing down around Ashley. Her self-constructed dream world crumbled again. Aiden had come and flaunted the truth in front of her.
"Oh that's right. Don't let me keep you guys any longer." Ashley said, sitting up. Spencer laced her fingers with Aiden's.
"I'm glad we can all still be friends…you know…with Aiden and I together." She leaned over and kissed Aiden's cheek. Ashley couldn't help but have her blood boil at the sight of the two of them together. Spencer and Aiden had been dating for four months now. They sat together at lunch, fed each other carrot sticks and utterly made Ashley want to vomit. Ashley felt like vomiting mostly because of their uncensored displays of affection, but also because she thought it was all for show. There was no way Spencer is really happy in that relationship, Ashley always tried to reason, you don't just admit you like girls and then date the biggest jock ever without lying to yourself. Spencer and Aiden said their goodbyes and left Ashley with promises of hanging out later. She watched them leave and then flopped down on her bed when the door finally shut. Ashley turned over, buried her head inside a pillow and screamed.
Spencer remained silent on the drive to her house. Aiden was rattling off news about the basketball team and Spencer was nodding along with him. Actually, she was thinking about Ashley. She had just been almost ready to admit something and Spencer wondered what it possibly could have been. She pulled out her cell phone, still murmuring responses to Aiden's ramblings, and text messaged Ashley. She asked what Ashley was just about to say, she felt bad that the conversation got cut off.
Back at her house, Ashley rolled over onto her back on her bed and concentrated on typing a message back. "Just that I hope you two have fun" was what Ashley responded. Spencer's phone made a beeping noise and Spencer checked for a return message from Ashley. She sighed when she read what Ashley had typed. She didn't want Ashley to wish that. She knew Ashley liked her; she'd known if for quite some time. What Ashley didn't know is how much Spencer liked her back. But their relationship could never work out, she thought to herself. She turned to smile completely at Aiden who was talking about basketball practice that afternoon.