"I do." And with that the priest declared them man and wife. The women smiled as she leaned forwards to kiss her husband. The crowd stood up, applauding the newlyweds. The bride turned to her right and hugged one of her bridesmaids. She then turned back to her husband and they walked hand in hand out the church doors.

After the ceremony everyone arrived at the reception to continue the festivities. It was held in the Carlin's backyard which was basically a large stretch of land on their farm. The band onstage played music while couples old and young danced along.

"Paula I'm so happy for you!" her friend latched onto her giving the new bride a monstrous hug. Paula, taken off guard by this, was sent spiraling onto the floor. Both of the women laughed and helped each other to their feet. For as long as they could remember Paula Carlin and Carla Davies had been best friends. Now Paula was remarrying and Carla was moving to L.A. They would soon be separated for the first time in their lives.

"Promise you'll come visit, aw how am I going to survive without you?" Paula cried as she clung tightly to her friend. Off in the distance a young blonde haired girl was slowly backing up towards a tree, three boys stood in front of her.

"Come on Spencer what're you so scared off? Just kiss him, you'll like it!" one of the boys teased as they backed the ten year old girl against the tree. She shoved one backwards and stuck her tongue out.

"Yeah right like I would want to kiss ANY of you! Go away before-"

"Before what? You can't do anything to us stupid you're a girl! Now just shut up," one of the older boys, he looked to be twelve, said as he pinned her against the tree. The other two complained and called turns after he was done. Spencer struggled but the boy was much stronger then she was, he had a hold of her wrists and his body pinned her tightly in place. Tears fell down her face as he licked his lips and inched his face forwards. Spencer closed her eyes and waited for it to be over but just then a sharp crack and the boy's scream filled the air.

Opening her eyes Spencer felt the weight disappear and the hands on her wrist let go. The boy holding her had fallen to the ground; he clutched his head where a rather large gash appeared.

"You little punks are disgusting, what the heck is wrong with you?!" a very angry brunette shouted as she landed a hard kick to the older boys ribs. The other two raced forwards to help their friend but were met with a punch in the face each. Seconds later they ran away back to the reception. The brunette sighed then flinched and examined her right hand, the punches hurt like no other!

"Ash, are you okay?" suddenly she was reminded that Spencer was behind her. Turning around Ashley sat down and she took Spencer's hands into her own. Her wrists were slightly bruised and other then the emotion damage she seemed to be fine.

"I'm fine Spence, they got lucky. I was going to do so much more to them; I can't believe they'd pick on you like that. I'm sorry I didn't get here sooner," she said with a hint of sadness in her voice. To her surprise Spencer's hands softly wrapped around her own.

"You're always protecting me you know that? Every time I needed you you're always there, I don't know how to thank you," she said flashing her genuine Spencer smile. Ashley couldn't help but smile back. The two had been friends since they could remember due to the fact that their mothers were best friends. Ashley was two years older then Spencer but the two couldn't think of a time they were ever apart.

Both never voiced it but they had no interest in boys and always found company in each other. Spencer was still a bit young to be thinking too much into that sort of thing but Ashley had been thinking about it for awhile now. The announcement that she and her mother would be moving devastated them both. Sitting beneath the large tree both girls looked down at the happy reception taking place.

"I take it your mom told you about us moving and that's why you're not down there celebrating with them?" Ashley asked as she turned to her best friend. She was taken back seeing that tears were threatening to escape her eyes.

"You should have been the one to tell me…" Spencer said as she sat forward away from her, hurt clearly in her voice," but instead you disappear for a whole week and let me find out like this…"

"…Spence I'm so sorry, I didn't know what to do. When mom told me…I was so angry at her. I didn't think it was fair. It wasn't the best thing to ignore you for a whole week I'm sorry, I just couldn't stand the thought of not being around you anymore…" she heard Spencer sigh and was surprised once more as the younger girl leaned back into Ashley, her hands reached over and laced themselves with hers.

"…it's not fair…" Ashley sighed agreeing with her. It wasn't.

The days went by and Ashley and Spencer avoided talking about the move anymore then they had to. Both would hang out everyday, away from Ashley's house where everything was being packed. Ohio didn't have much in the way of entertainment but living in the country where the girls did had its perks.

Both sat in silence on the grass, their toes dipped into the small stream. This was there hideaway when reality just got to be too much. Moving day was tomorrow.

"You know I'm going to come and visit right? Every chance I get," Ashley said as she tossed a small pebble into the water.

"Ash, please don't make promises you might not be able to keep…" Spencer turned to face her as Ashley placed her hands on top of her own.

"Spencer I swear…" Spencer smiled and moved closer, their foreheads slightly touching. She let herself believe it to be true, that Ashley would come visit, that she wouldn't completely disappear out of her life. Little did she know that she wouldn't see Ashley again until eight years later.