Covered under stacked up on lies

To cover hurt

That no one could see through

You played it down

Waiting for her last day to come

So you can breathe again

Oh Ashley, tell me

Have you been lost, have you been jaded

All you loved and all you hated

It's all on you now

Suddenly won, suddenly golden

To a world that you were sold in

Torn in two, now it's all on you

Ashley ~ Marla Sokoloff

I know you're in the crowd

So come and save me now

I'm standin' all alone

And I feel so exposed

I know you're in the crowd

So come and free me now

I'm standin' all alone

And I just want you to touch me

(touch me)

oooh, ooooh, oooooh

Those were the sounds of Hell that woke me from one of the few peaceful sleeps I've had in awhile. Ok, it was really a song from Heidi Montag, but when it rips you from slumber her voice sounds like that of a starving Succubus. I rolled over and slapped my hand down on my alarm with a groan. My back ached and I couldn't figure out why.

It came sliding back to me when I looked down and saw the numbers, 555-2783, followed by, 3 Sheryl scrawled across my shirtless chest in bright red lipstick.

Aiden.

Or more accurately the result of the party I went to at Aiden's frat house. I didn't remember much, but what I did remember involved me, a bottle of tequila and a rather poorly timed voicemail from Ashley telling me she wanted to see me.

Ashley and I hadn't seen each other in months. There were the few phone calls that led to silent awkwardness that spanned into moments where it was obvious we were waiting for the other to just breathe the right words to fix what lay broken between us. Neither of us had those words now anymore than we had them back then.

I rolled over and curled up with my pillow burying my face in its fluffy softness. I wanted to smother. It really was preferable to standing in front of my ex and trying hard to remember we weren't together anymore. Although, the alphanumeric code, that if used would more than likely yield nothing but a few short hours in bed followed by several long hours at the campus clinic, served as a pretty blatant reminder of that fact. I considered leaving the numbers where they were and offering to meet Ashley at the beach. It might keep us both in check.

I was still giving that idea serious consideration when Aiden barged into my room without so much as a knock.

"Aiden!" I yelled covering up my chest with the sheet.

"Please Spencer, it's not like I didn't see it all last night. I'm the one who drove you home, actually I'm the one who put your bra back on for you too."

"So where's my shirt?"

At that Aiden looked sheepish.

"You really don't want that back."

I could feel my eyebrow arch and I couldn't help but ask.

"How bad can it be?"

"Man, goat and things that are illegal even in the worst parts of Mexico."

It took a few moments before I could breathe again. Choking on your own saliva does that to you.

"What exactly does that have to do with my shirt?" I asked watching as Aiden smirked slightly.

"The goat was wearing it."

I flopped back on my bed with a groan.

"I hate frat boys."

I muttered, covering my eyes with my arm.

It wasn't long before I felt the bed dip next to me and Aiden gently lifted my arm off my face. He had on his serious face now.

"Spence-"

I cut him off before he could get any farther.

"No. We are not talking about it."

"Spencer she called me this morning to see if I could get you to see her."

I threw the covers off me and rolled out of bed.

"I don't want to see her."

"Lies." I couldn't tell if that was my brain or Aiden talking but I wasn't in the mood either way.

I stalked over to my closet to try to find something to wear.

Maybe I should wear the blue blouse with the capped sleeves, Ash always said it - I paused in my musings, having been brought horribly to the realization of two things.

1) I was unconsciously picking out my clothes based on what Ash liked

and

2) I was standing in front of my closet, shirtless and bawling my eyes out on the shoulder of my ex-girlfriend's ex-boyfriend who had since become my closest confidante.

My how things change.

"I should be over this." I whispered squeezing my eyes shut as tears sluiced down my face.

"You still love her. That doesn't just end Spence."

"Then why?" I asked him for probably the millionth time.

"I don't know Spencer, I really don't. But I do know if you don't go see her you're going to hate yourself."

"I miss her."

"She misses you too. Maybe you can rebuild your friendship." He said as he stroked my hair.

Aiden, such a sweet man. Really, he's been amazing to me these past six months. I don't know what I'd do without him sometimes.

"I'm going to go get ready. Do you think you could call Ash back and have her me meet at Caldere's at two-ish?"

"Sure, don't worry about it. Oh and wear that black halter of yours. You look awesome in it."

I considered that option for a second, then I spotted that white wristband he wore all through high school.

"Do you still have that silver motorcycle jacket?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah, why. You wanna borrow it?" He frowned slightly as I began to giggle.

"Hell no, I was just making sure you were still totally unqualified to give fashion advice." I breathed, still laughing softly, as I stepped passed him on my way to the bathroom.

TBC....

Touch Me ~ Heidi Montag