Author Note:
This is my first post on this board. I have written stories on other boards but Spashley is my fav so I figured I would give it a shot. Pairing is mainly Spashley.

The definition of bittersweet:
1. Bitter and sweet at the same time.
2. Producing or expressing a mixture of pain and pleasure.

The story is an account of their bittersweet relationship.

I dont own anything.

I have completed this story. No worries IF you end up liking the story about it landing in the graveyard.

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Chapter 1

The limo pulls up to my parent's home. Nothing seems to have changed. I wonder if my mother is home, or out saving the world. My father is at the clinic, (his second home) trying to help troubled youth.

I am taking a sabbatical to get inspired. They say home is where the heart is, so that's where I am at.

I have traveled the world. My documentaries have won every award that could be won in 4 short years since I left. Money was so not an issue. I had money to buy houses, cars, and everything my heart desired. Well almost everything. I had been working non stop and I decided it was time to come home and plant some roots.

The driver brought my bags to my room and I called out for my Mother.

The house was empty. This house was a gift to my parents. I bought it for them complete with pool. The pool I was about to pay a visit to.

I grab a suit and begin to swim. The radio is playing and the song Bittersweet Symphony comes on and I find myself lost in a memory.

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6 years ago

Junior year

Another boring Saturday night. I thought that I was so cool. So damn cool.

Getting invited to a college party? Cool. Getting hit on by college guys and girls? Cool. Acting without consequence officially for the first time (sneaking drinks from Dad's study doesn't count)? Cool. Nearly falling head over heel's at first sight. Not cool.

And I didn't 'nearly' fall either. That's a little white lie, I tell quite a bit. I fell hard.

It was so hot that night. I was waiting on Glen, who is a mega popular jock in his first year of college, as he got ready for yet another party. He's my big brother and never tires of pointing out that fact. Another party that I was NOT invited to since I am still a junior in high school.

"Gleeeeeeeeen" I moaned again as I rolled around on his bed, covering my head with his pillow. From the sound of it you'd think that I was dying. I was. Dying of boredom. Well back then I thought that I was. I was beyond sheltered. Not only by my parents but by Glen too, though he chose to show his "sheltering" by scowling at me and calling me a dork when ever he could. I still idolized him and he knew it, and I knew he loved his little sister.

"I said NO Spencer! Now stop bugging me already and get out of my room!" He didn't mean it though. After our brother Clay was shot at Prom, Glen and I have been inseparable. Hence why he was humoring me as he got ready. The doorbell rang as he slipped into the bathroom again. I swear he takes longer than any girl. My face lit up. It could have been only one person. I was proven correct when Glen stuck his head out of the bathroom and told me to get the door and let Madison in.

I ran from the room already planning my begging and pleading in my head. Madison bounced into the house asking if Glen was ready and then asking me why not. I ignored her questions.

"Madison! Tell Glen to let me go to this party with you!" She laughed at me. She flung her arm around my neck as we walked quickly upstairs.

"You still trying to get in on our nights huh?" When I pouted she smiled in sympathy. "I'll tell him. I mean, what are you now? 17?"

"Couldn't I pass as a college kid?" I sat up in the bed excitedly running to the mirror as she touched up her lip gloss. She studied me for a minute and her eyes lit up then glinted mischievously.

"You know what? You Carlin kids are lookers. You are actually really gorgeous Spencer; you just hide it in your wholesome school girl attire." I blushed as she looked pointedly at my chest. "I bet we can have you spruced up in no time." I squealed and hugged her. I was a little intimidated by how gorgeous and curvy Madison was but the excitement of transformation had me beaming.

Glen came scowling out of the bathroom and into my bedroom.
"Madison, what are you doing?" Glen ran his hand through Madison's gorgeous golden brown hair. Glen and Madison had been together since we moved from Ohio to LA and are a perfect match.

"Spencer's coming with us."

"What?! Are you crazy?" Glen took the dress from Madison and threw it on the bed.

"My dad won't let her go anyway. Not to mention mom."

"The only reason they don't let me go is because you don't want me to go." Arms crossed defiantly, I glared at him.

"For good reason! These aren't little high school boys Spencer." I stood up and walked over to him but he had a hand in the air. "Spencer this isn't about me not wanting you to have fun-"

"That's exactly what this is! Jesus! You're only two years older than me and everyone treats me like a little baby." Madison sat on the bed watching us at a loss.

Glen sat down too and sighed. He looked at me then at Madison then back at me and sighed again. "You better stick with me the whole night Spencer and I mean the WHOLE night and you better tell mom and dad, 'cause I so am not." Madison laughed as I practically strangled her in a fierce hug then ran from the bedroom. "NO alcohol either."

"Yeah, sure thing, no problemo!" I shouted back.

Mom and dad weren't thrilled but they loved the idea of Glen watching out for me the entire night. Glen never came home drunk...or got arrested. For them that was good enough to grant my request.
I however, recalled quite a few nights when he'd call me to tell me to open the back door for him. Madison and I would help him into his bedroom and mom and dad wouldn't be the wiser. I think this gave me some leverage that night, though I'd never bring it up. I was much too grateful.

The students at school were a bore. Actually, I just didn't like any of them. I've had my share of compliments and guys asking me out but I just wasn't interested in any of them. That's when I began to listen to Glen's stories. Then when I'd subway into the city to Glen's school sometimes to meet him or Madison for lunch I'd see all those mature students who looked so worldly and...and hot.

I knew what I wanted. And it wasn't in my high school.

Madison found a little dress that I had at the back of my closet. It was a little smaller than I liked, but she said it fit me perfectly. It was a color I never wore before or ever would have picked out for myself, fire engine red, but it was clingy and thigh high with a scoop neck. It really emphasized my cleavage.

"Fucking hot." Madison mumbled as she fixed my makeup and found me some
heels. She told me to quit staring at her shoes and let the world see my ocean blue eyes. I looked in the mirror before we left and saw the face of a stranger. A very attractive stranger. She was right. I looked hot.