-1AN: Hey, this was just a little idea that's turned into quite the spiel. Anyhoo, hope you enjoy my long winded fic lol. I'll update soon. R&R people.
Pretty Head
Spencer and Ashley sat in the latter's silver convertible staring at each other with goofy smiles.
"I hate that I can't just kiss my girlfriend goodbye." Spencer said as she slid her hand across to rest on the brunettes.
Ashley tried to give the most supportive smile she could muster. "One day, when your ready. But for now we get to be all covert. Like Alias. Except your hotter than Jennifer Garner."
"Aww! That's so not helping with the not kissing you."
Ashley shrugged, "What can I say, Carlin, I'm a charmer."
Spencer smiled. "You definitely are." She turned the conversation serious. "I'm going to tell my parents. My mom's working tonight so I think I'll talk to my dad. He can tell me how to break it to mom." she said with her resolve face one.
"I'm so proud of you." Ashley said as she pulled Spencer into a tight hug but unfortunately a short one.
Spencer got out of the car and closed the door. "I'll call you later ok?"
Ashley nodded. "I'll be waiting." she promised giving Spencer a final wave before starting the car and pulling out of the drive way.
Spencer watched until Ashley's car was out of sight before going inside. It felt different when she walked through the door. She felt like she could breath. Putting down her bag she headed towards the kitchen to find Arthur.
"Hey dad."
Arthur turned around and saw his daughter. "Hey honey. Dinner's in 40 minutes. Your mom's already gone. The boys aren't home yet. Just me and you kiddo. Want to help?" He asked.
Spencer nodded, "sure."
"Chop me some parsley?" He asked pointing to the chopping board.
Spencer began slowly chopping the herbs trying to make herself talk.
Arthur noticed how quiet his daughter was. "You ok? Did something happen at school?"
Spencer stopped and placed the knife on the board. "Yeah. I mean, I'm really good but- There's just-" She sighed and turned around to face him.
"Dad. Don't freak out but I'm gay." Ha! She'd said it! That was way easier than she thought it would be.
Arthur felt a wave of relief. Finally it was real. There was no more wondering, now he could stop feeling like there was some unspoken code between him and Spencer. They could stop all skirting around the fact and finally deal, as a family.
Spencer felt herself slowly panicking. "Dad? Why are you grinning?"
Arthur let out a cough laugh combination then tried to compose himself. Putting his hand on Spencer's flushed cheek he apologised.
"Sorry honey. I'm just- I'm so proud of you. That you can be honest with me." He hugged her. "I know that I'm meant to have all these profound things to say but right now I'm not a social worker, I'm just a father."
Spencer smiled and hugged him tighter. "I'm ok with that since I'm just a daughter."
Finally they pulled apart and Arthur turned off the stove and led Spencer to the living room where they sat down.
"Are you ok with this? How long have you known?" He asked.
Spencer looked overwhelmed. "Dad. They're tough questions. All I know is I'm into girls. I'm in love with a girl and it feels right. And I haven't really known for a long time. It just all clicked a little while after we moved."
"Ashley?" He asked. Although he didn't really need to.
Spencer couldn't hide her smile at the mention of her girlfriend and Arthur was well aware.
"How long have you been dating?"
"Umm, a few months. It took us a while to kinda admit how we felt." She admitted.
Arthur put his hand on Spencer's shoulder. "I'm sorry you felt like you couldn't say something sooner." Spencer opened her mouth to disagree but Arthur stopped her. "No. I just had to let you know that."
The two fell into a silence as they both knew what the one problem was.
"How do I tell mom? She's going to hate me."
"No. She couldn't ever hate you. Even her faith can't compete with you." He scooted closer and put his arm around her shoulder's protectively. "I'm not going to put words in her mouth, I can't understand how she can believe that being gay is somehow wrong but I do understand why it scares her so much. Your life is going to be different to how she always imagined. Your going to have to face prejudice but I raised a fighter and I know that your going to have a great, happy life. Regardless of who your with." He pulled her in and kissed her head.
"Thanks dad. Will you be there when I tell mom?" She half asked half begged.
"Of course. We'll tell her calmly, together and we'll talk everything through. Ok?"
Spencer laid her head on his chest and closed her eyes. "Yeah. I love you."
"Love you too, Spence."
Ashley turned into her empty driveway. Her mother was, not surprisingly, not in the country. She was in Paris or London or some other European country with another random but rich guy. Kyla was probably out too or Aiden's car would be there. Seemed like she never saw one without the other anymore.
She sighed climbing out of the car, just another evening with an empty house. She'd go upstairs and fill the time just waiting for Spencer to call. Pretty much like most days.
When Ashley got inside she went to the kitchen and grabbed a can of soda the were straight up to her room. She threw her bag and can on the bed and went to her wardrobe, she felt like snuggling up in a big hoodie until she got Spencer back.
As she grabbed it from the shelf someone else grabbed her from behind - one arm pinned her to them while holding her arms in pace and the other was clamped over her mouth.
At first she didn't scream or move, she just kept thinking it had to be Aiden. It was definitely a man, his hands were big and rough. But she soon accepted that it wasn't Aiden - this guy smelt like booze, weed and sweat - 3 things Aiden never smelt of. She let out a muffled scream and tried to wiggle out of his grasp to no avail.
She felt his breath on her skin as he spoke, it made her skin crawl. "I'm not gonna hurt you. I just want to see where Raiff lived. I thought you would be in school." He went silent and his hand left her face as she heard him rooting around.
"School finished hours age, you moron." She spat at him.
He stopped what he was doing leaving them in silence for a moment before she heard a clang, then he pulled back both her arms behind her back, binding them with her studded belt.
He lead her back out to the room and told her to sit on the floor against the wall and not move. Ashley sat down and proceeded to scowl at him.
"I'm your dad's biggest fan and I want you to know I'm sorry. He shouldn't have died, he was a God."
Ashley shook her head in disgust. "Fuck you. You think having every CD and going to a few shows makes you HIS biggest fan? Fuck you. And he never lived here - he never even stepped inside, you asshole!"
His face was bright red from anger and embarrassment. "You shut up! His music was all I lived for! I had every collector's item from the past 15 years! And now its ended and the one person I thought might get it is calling me a moron!"
Ashley was frightened. The guy was obviously unstable but she was never one to say how she felt and instinct to answer back kicked in. "You are a moron, a pathetic loser."
He started on a 'spoiled brat' rant but she heard none of it. A movement had caught her attention - Kyla was in the door way looking like a rabbit caught in headlights. Ashley tried to subtly tell her to leave with her eyes.
Just as Kyla got the hint and started to walk away he stopped ranting and turned around in time to see someone. He ran after her.
Ashley shouted for Kyla to run while clumsily climbing to her feet and chased after them.
Kyla was at the bottom of the stairs when he caught up to her and grabbed her by the shoulders.
Ashley saw this and instinct kicked in when she launched herself at him effectively landing on his back piggy back style and clung onto his neck. She'd managed to get the belt off while running from her room but suddenly wished she still had it because this guy was strong and she couldn't hold him off forever.
"Call the police!" She yelled to the other girl. He'd let go off Kyla when Ashley had jumped his back.
Kyla dug her phone out from her pocket but before she was finished dialling the guy let out a grunt as he threw Ashley off of him.
Kyla felt sick when she heard the thud Ashley's skill made when it hit off of the banister stop. Her half sister was crumpled at the foot of the steps, eyes closed, not moving. There was an angry red smear on the white banister above her.
Everyone was silent and still, a complete juxtaposition to the racket that had been going on before.
Kyla looked from Ashley to the scruffy guy a metre from her. He was as stunned as her. Then he fled the house leaving the door open behind him.
Kyla still did not move. Like if she moved or spoke it would make it real. Then she remembered she was still holding her cell, the 9-1 already on the screen. She forced herself to finish the and was soon speaking to an operator.
She wasn't sure what happened after. It was like her mind was jammed on that one silent moment where she didn't know if she had lost the sister she never really had.