In light of the new Anberlin album coming out, I've decided to write another story. Seeing as how the album hasn't actually been released yet, this is more of a teaser chapter. Unlike my last story, Retrace, I'm not going to include the lyrics between paragraphs so if you want to know the song, look it up.

(I do not own South of Nowhere.)

Pray Tell Pt. 1

We had been best friends since high school, three years ago. As the shadow of college loomed in the distance we decided on the same university, even choosing to be roommates. Somehow, I still didn't feel like I knew her as well as I should have.

She had this past she'd never told me about. Every time it came up, she'd weasel her way around it. I felt like she was hiding these huge secrets from me and just wouldn't ever open up about it. I was just waiting around for her to spill one day, I had no idea what it would take for her to actually do it.

"Okay Ash, what do you think of this shirt?" it was green and sparkly. I thought it was atrocious, just like almost everything else I had pulled from the depths of my closet. Really, I was just fucking with her until she agreed to get off her ass and help me.

"Oh my god Spencer, are you serious? I mean at least the granny sweater had some nerdy charm to it but whatever gay man attacked you with his fairy wand should watch where he's swinging that thing. I'm just going to have to pick your outfit for you aren't I?" score! I know she knew exactly what I was doing, but that was part of the joy of doing it. Despite the fact that this practice of me bothering her endlessly until she helped me get ready seemed inherently selfish, I really just wanted her to get up and do something. She'd always seemed to be a little on the depressed side, but lately the bags under her eyes had darkened and her smile had dimmed. I don't think I'd heard her laugh in weeks.

"There, you look exactly like the college student begging to have her drink drugged that I know you really are. Have fun," she said as she flopped back down on the couch and turned the TV back on.

"Are you sure you don't want to come with? I mean I know you don't like parties but this isn't a drinking and sex party like they usually are," she half-smiled and shook her head, again. I nodded sullenly and waved as I stepped out of our apartment. This was the way it had always been, I had to force her to get out or talk about herself. I felt like I was the only reason she ever even spoke.

We met sophomore year in high school. God, I was awful and awkward with glasses and braces and no hand-eye coordination. Obviously, I was a loner. Ashley Davies was a transfer student that was in no way remarkable. She wore jeans and t-shirts just like everyone else, medium-long brown hair, brown eyes, slightly short build. The only thing that put her into the loner category with me is the fact that she never spoke to anyone, not even teachers. Ironically, we were a perfect pair. She never spoke and I would never stop if someone would listen. Through a fateful pairing in gym class, we became friends. In short, she saved my life from a painful death by basketball and I wouldn't stop thanking her until she was forced to come to dinner with my family. Ever since then we just stuck together. Except now, without braces or glasses, I was actually kind of popular. She still wouldn't speak unless directly spoken to.

After about half an hour of nursing my super virgin daiquiri at this stupid church group party I had agreed to go to, I made a lame excuse to leave. My friend Erin whined and made puppy eyes trying to get me to stay but there was no way in hell I was going to stick around for how many hours playing 'adult' versions of kids' games. I was actually looking forward to Ashley's satirical view of the world after being around so many homophobe pro-war Republican Jesus enthusiasts.

Strangely, the TV wasn't on when I entered the apartment. Neither was the radio or shower. It was a rare occasion that there would be complete silence. I knew Ashley hadn't gone out because she never would without me so I wandered to her room, just in case she had gone to sleep. Oh if only the expressionless look on her face was that of sleep.