Hey guys, first off, I'd like to say that I was completely overwhelmed by the number of you that were interested in PBM. I was hoping for maybe one or two people expressing a vague interest but nothing more, so I'd like to thank all of you for even taking the time to read it. Secondly, I'm so so sorry I'm only updating now, I've been smashed with deadline after deadline and as much as I wanted to get back to this, I had so little time - I hate excuses, but I just hope you guys can understand. Finally, I'm not 100% happy with this, I decided to halve it because I'm heading to Spain in a couple days and I don't want to leave this hanging until I get back, all the same, I hope chapter 2 manages to not suck too badly, if it does, I totally welcome criticism :) Anyways, on with the show I guess..
Chapter 2a: The Hills
Spencer yawned behind her hand. Her eyes rolled when she caught Glen's smirking expression as he pointed at a girl writing down her number. She smiled wider and mouthed the ever-winning phrase, 'Ashley's hotter.' He shrugged and replied, 'A girl's, a girl.' She turned away from Glen's exploits already bored with his less than lustre sex life. "So, what's with you and Ashley, anyways?" Carmen asked, beside her. Spencer blushed and replied as easily as she could manage, "Carm, we just met. What can I say?" "You like her," followed the blonde's words and it wasn't a question. "I barely know her." Spencer decided to take the safe route out and quickly excused herself to the bathroom, "Gimme a sec, Carm. I'll be right back." She watched Carmen shake her head as she walked away.
'Well, that was subtle Spence. Really, clap clap. Award winning performance.' She glanced at her cell phone, debating whether or not to text Ashley. "Get it together, Carlin. It's only been a half hour." She tapped her fingers nervously on the Formica top of the sink cover, her thoughts still on the stunningly beautiful brunette. She glanced at the screen of her cell again, "Fuck it," she muttered distractedly and, going with her newly-found courage, quickly tapped out a message. 'Hey. I had a lot of fun with you tonight; I know I sound eager but…think you could stand going out with me sometime? – Spence'. She shook her head as an amused smile forced the corners of her lips upwards, "I'm being an idiot." She looked at her reflection in the mirror and her smile dropped, "Guess I won't be getting that reply," her thumb pressed sharply against the 'send' button and, tucking her cell in her pocket, she left the bathroom without looking back.
Carmen held out a soda to her as she approached their table. "Sent the text?" she asked, smiling knowingly. Spencer blushed and hid her face behind blonde bangs, sliding easily into the booth to sit beside her friend. "Yeah, how'd you know?" her eyes fixed on her drink, refusing to meet Carmen's questioning gaze. "You needed privacy; I assumed it was for Ashley. It couldn't be to call her, 'cause you don't like talking on the phone ergo..." she waved her hand as if to indicate the conclusion of her sentence. Spencer looked up, blue eyes roaming around the room as she realized there was no escaping this conversation. "Good guess, Carm." Carmen moved closer to Spencer, wrapping a slim arm around Spencer's shoulder.
"Spence, I know you. Too well, some might say." Sparkling blue eyes mingled with soulful gray one's, the owner of the round blue pools sighed resignedly, "I know. I just…" she nibbled on her lip thoughtfully, "I like her. Maybe too much for just having met her, but it's like I get this feeling that just," she shrugged her shoulders hopelessly when she couldn't find the word to explain her feelings. Carmen smiled lovingly at the confused expression her best friend was currently sporting, "Carina," Spencer smiled out of habit, "Uh huh?" She snuggled into the embrace as Carmen pulled her closer, "Are you going to see her again?" Carmen asked, backing out at the last minute from a line of questioning that was perhaps not for saying.
"I don't know - it's up to her. I asked but…" she trailed off, and then spoke softer, more to herself than to Carmen, "someone like her would never go for someone like me." A soft kiss was bestowed upon her head and the silence between them stretched on causing the blonde to believe that her words had indeed gone unheard. Carmen's soft thoughtful tone broke it, "Maybe Ashley could be the one to have you see what we all see." The silence fell again as the two young women looked out onto the dance floor and observed Glen make a spectacle of himself. 'I hope she does' came Carmen's almost unwilling thought, 'one day, querida, you will see what we see, and on that day, no woman will be safe,' she smiled, amused by the thought and allowed her mind to drift to other places.
Spencer let herself be lulled into a reverie that involved Ashley cuddling her as they sat on a promenade bench watching the blood red sphere sink delicately and gracefully into the gaping, wide-mouthed ocean; she was just snuggling into Ashley's warmth, allowing her nostrils to absorb Ashley's musky fall scent when she quickly returned to reality at the vibration of her cell phone against her leg. "Ashley?" asked Carmen as she watched Spencer trying to calmly get to her phone without appearing too eager. "Mmhmm, maybe, might be someone else." Carmen's eyebrow rose at the fake show of nonchalance from her dearest friend, "Uh huh. We'll see." Spencer's mumbled reply was unintelligible to human ears as she pressed her index finger heavily against the icon that would allow her to read the 'One New Text Message – Ashley'.
At the press of a button the screen disappeared and she greedily began to eat up the words. 'Hey back. Didn't think I'd hear from you, glad I did ;) Will I get to hold your hand? – Ash' "How is it possible she can be just as adorable in a text as she is in person?" Spencer whispered to herself, "It was her," she replied, giving her belated reply to Carmen's question. "From the look on your face I'm guessing she said yes, right?" There was a beatific expression on Spencer's face as she smiled adoringly at her cell like it was the girl of her dreams, "Mmhmm, something like that," she replied absent-mindedly as she replied to the brunette's message, 'Couldn't lie to a beautiful girl, goes against my morals ;) If you say yes, I'll throw in a goodnight kiss too – Spence' "There's just something about her, Carm; I'd like to at least give it a shot." The pair sat comfortably as the night wore on, Carmen's reply having been the last words spoken in what seemed like hours, but was probably only a few minutes, "If she keeps that smile on your face, I think you should allow her more than just a shot."
For Spencer the night seemed to dissolve into waiting for Ashley's next text and waiting for Glen to allow them to go. Fortunately, the former came first and she eagerly appraised the message. 'Sure you've got the right girl, 'bout half your height, brown hair and eyes? Can't wait for that kiss, or your hand in mine. How's your night going? 'And before Spencer could even consider a reply, Glen approached. "Spence, you and Carm 'bout ready to head?" Carmen gave Spencer a wry smile and then nodded her head, "Yeah I'm done, man. Spence?" Spencer nodded her head in agreement and allowed herself to be led out to Carmen's jeep. With her face pressed towards the gentle breeze brushing her hair backwards, she contemplated the reply she had sent Ashley. 'Yup, sexy as hell and adorable to boot. Are you free Monday? If that's too soon or a bad time, would Friday be better? Heading home. How's your night?'
Spencer stumbled through her front door, still clasping her cell phone protectively in her hand as she waited impatiently for Ashley's reply. To say she was surprised when her phone jumped into life ringing obnoxiously throughout the silence of her darkened, empty home was an understatement. She started dramatically before reaching for the offending object and quickly answering the call. "Hello?" she replied nervously, already feeling the sweat coating her palms as it always did when she picked up the phone. She sat down at the kitchen table, mechanically flicking the switch to bring light to the room and scrubbing her hands obsessively against her pants leg. "Hi." The sound of Ashley's voice brought her back down to earth and she chewed her lip shyly. "I wasn't expecting you to call," she whispered.
"Why are you whispering?" the voice on the other end of the line whispered back.
"Uhmm, I don't know. Sorry." Spencer stood up and moved to the fridge, opening it and grabbing a bottle of water."No need to apologize. I was just lying in bed, and figured that since you'd left the club and all…you might pick up." The reply while appearing nonchalant was laced with the slight hesitation Spencer had come to associate with Ashley, "You're in luck. Usually I never answer the phone." Spencer absently played with the label of the bottle, "So uhm," she paused delicately, "was there anything in particular?" She shut her eyes, pulling her cell phone away from her face in the same movement, 'Stupid, Stupid' she mouthed. "Well," came the voice down the line faintly, "Yes?" Spencer quickly replied, grabbing eagerly onto the lifeline she'd been thrown. "I wanted to talk about Monday, or Friday or whatever, ya know?" There was a silence which was only punctuated by the slightly static sound of Ashley apparently drumming against something wooden. Tat ta tat tat a ta tatatatatatata tat tat ta. She had regular base beat going on, much to Spencer's amusement. "Drummer?" The incessant tapping stopped immediately to be replaced by the sounds of Ashley moving around – Spencer could practically hear her discomfort. "Uhm, sort of. Piano mainly."
"Hmm...", Spencer considered this while getting up to move to her room, absently grabbing the bottle of water and using its base to flick off the light, 'Musicians are sexy. Hold that. Ashley is sexy.' She grinned to herself, "So, anyway" Ashley began to speak again, "I know I already asked you out," Spencer smirked on the other end of the line and coughed nonchalantly; Ashley smiled and shook her head, "okay, okay, you already asked me out, but I was uhm wondering if, well, ." Spencer smiled, amused, at not having understood a word that had just come down the line. She moved over to her bathroom and began removing her makeup, rolling her eyes at what she saw in the mirror, "Ashley, I'm not quite sure I got that last thing you said. Maybe you should try again," she heard the sound of someone huffing in annoyance down the phone. There was a small pause and then another sigh, "I wanted to know if you'd like to get some lunch with me tomorrow?" Spencer smiled widely, trying extremely hard not to squeal down the phone, it was hard, but she managed it. Just. "That sounds fun." Ashley smiled as well, doing a victory cheer, adding a fake audience's reaction. "Ashley? What's that sound?" Ashley blushed and chewed on her lip, immediately stopping mid cheer, her arms still raised in excitation, "Uhm...sorry, static."
"Oh ok," Spencer wandered into her room, casually getting dressed into her pajamas while chatting to Ashley about tomorrow, as she entered the bathroom she remembered something. "Oh, you'll have to pick me up at school", there was a small silence, "On a Sunday?" Spencer nodded automatically before she remembered that Ashley couldn't see her, "Uh huh. I have to do some marking, finish some displays. That kinda thing."
"So, you're a teacher?" Ashley considered this as she rose from her bed to turn out the light and close her door. "Yup." Spencer rested the phone between her shoulder and ear while she readied her toothbrush, "Ashley can you give me a sec? Just brushing my teeth."
"Sure thing." Ashley took Spencer's momentary absence to settle down on her bed, rolling around to get a comfortable position before finally settling down. "I'm back." Spencer's voice replied a few minutes later, Ashley heard the sound of a light being clicked off and a person padding into a room, bed clothes rustled and then went silent. "What do you teach?" Ashley asked, once the noises had stopped. "English – 7th and 10th grade at the moment." Spencer yawned, her jaw almost coming apart. "Sounding pretty tired there, Goldilocks." Spencer smiled cutely and tilted her head, "Is this really the time for nicknames, baby Bear?" Ashley giggled, amused, "I don't know, but if you eat my porridge your ass is mine!" Spencer rolled over, pulling the blankets with her, "It's not my fault your parents make crap porridge."
"You talkin' 'bout my Mama?"
"You know it, bitch."
"Oh hell no. You did not just talk about my Mama!"
"I believe I did."
"You believe wrong, Rufus."
"Rufus?"
"Yeah, Rufus Wainwright."
"He sang Hallelujah, Smash Mouth sang I'm a Believer."
"Well, squeeze me for confusing the two. They were both in Shrek, all right?"
"You're pathetic."
"I hate you."
"With a passion?"
"Always."
"Night, Rufus."
"Night, baby Bear."
Spencer smiled to herself as she disconnected the call staring at the display in clear thought before reluctantly putting it on her bedside table. She lay back on her pillows, looking up at the ceiling. A happy smile crossed her face as she slowly drifted into slumber. At around this time, Ashley was also falling asleep; she cuddled up to her pillow and imagined she could smell Spencer. Her eyes slipped closed and visions of holding Spencer at night came to her, and a slow smile appeared on her face. With a quick twist, the blankets tangled up in her legs and she was out like a light.
Spencer blinked owlishly as the light assaulted her eyes; she licked her dry lips stretching out her arm to blindly reach for her alarm; upon feeling the cold plastic beneath her palm she soundly slapped it, knowing full well it wouldn't resist the urge to blare obnoxious heavy metal music at her within the next few minutes. She felt a ridiculous sense of pride at yet again having beaten her evil foe, or clock radio, as it was sometimes also referred to as, in her morning ritual. It wasn't lost on her that winning meant waking up early, yet to her, this was not much of a trial as she had been born with the most bizarre desire to be up and moving in the mornings, unlike other members of her family who regarded it as one of the most heinous of chores. Tentatively opening her eyes, she glanced at the clock surprised to see a seven and two zeros glaring back at her, it was far earlier than she'd expected.
It wasn't until she was halfway towards the bathroom, towel in hand, that she realised today was Sunday, which meant that she'd be seeing Ashley – again. Although, in reality, it had only been a few hours since they'd last seen each other, it felt much longer and she was relishing the fact that today she'd be able to see the brunette outside the harshness of the neon lights. A huge part of her was beginning to grow a little nervous, anticipating that Ashley might call it off, as she faced her decision in the light of day, or that she might not be so enamoured with her now there was no alcohol to cloud her brain but she defiantly gave that part of herself the finger and decided that all there was to do was hope for the best.
She paused in the doorway having unwittingly caught sight of herself in the mirror. She ran a shaking down her face, her fingers resting gently on her lips as she considered the events of last night. Her lips still tingled at the memory of Ashley's lips pressed against her, a shiver rolled down her spine and she leant against the door frame for support. Spencer believed in love at first sight, she believed that everyone had someone out there looking for them, she just couldn't believe that one kiss could affect her so magnificently that her body still quivered slightly at the memory. It was ludicrous! Her logical mind could simply not compute the information the rest of her body was feeding it. She was a grown woman for crying out loud, one who had responsibilities and duties of care for young people and here she was acting like a love struck teenager. She sobered at the thought, "Perhaps this was a bad idea," she muttered out loud to herself. She gave her reflection another glance, it appeared to challenge her. "She can't want me; we have absolutely nothing in common." She paused, "I hardly know her," and bit her lip, still contemplating her actions. A short silence followed, the birds happily chirping outside alerting the world to the start of a new day. "I could get to know her, I suppose." She half nodded, this made sense, and her brain could get on board with that.
Indecisiveness was not a trait Spencer liked about herself, and generally, it wasn't one anyone ever saw her enact yet in the privacy of her own home, alone, she was struck with a heavy blow of self-consciousness. What if Ashley really didn't like her in the day light? "Screw it," she mumbled to herself as she finally entered the bathroom. She smiled at her reflection and, perhaps it was too early, but it seemed to smile back at her making it clear she had made the right decision. She ran a hand through her hair freeing it from a hair tie and allowing it to ripple around her shoulders. She wondered what Ashley had in store for her today; they hadn't exactly gone into definite details about what they would do. There was a promise of lunch but little else. She absently considered calling Carmen and asking her advice as she reached to switch the spray on and directed it away from hair. "That might be a bit much," she reasoned, after all it was only lunch. Everyone knew that lunch was the date you went on when you needed a getaway plan. It was a plan she'd employed countless times when women had approached her and she'd been unsure of their intentions. Lunch was always a sure fire way to weed out the duds and feelings were most definitely spared by a quick goodbye. Lunch created no expectations for further conversation, for further activity and especially not the dreaded dinner. Lunch was escapable, dinner was a potential mine field, and as a girl who enjoyed her food, she preferred not to endanger herself during a meal.
Her hand stilled halfway through spreading soap suds across her body, "Date?" she questioned aloud, was this really a date? Had they clarified that? She didn't think that they had. She had assumed but, well, as she was always quick to point out to her class, everyone knew what happened when you assumed and the last person she wanted to make an ass out of herself in front of, was Ashley. "Maybe I should call her to clarify?" She spent several minutes contemplating this as she continued to lather her body and it was only when she allowed the warm water to run over her body that she conceded it was probably far too early to call. "Just because I'm an early bird doesn't mean the rest of the world is as well."
Several hours later, Ashley Davies greeted the morning with a loud groan once she accepted that her body was going into motion well before dusk. On a Sunday. And then it hit her. Sunday. Sunday was Spencer day. Spencer! Ashley's eyes flew open as she realised that she was meant to be taking Spencer out for lunch – today! She was unable to stop herself from leaping out of bed as she began tearing around her room looking for something to wear before she realised that perhaps, just perhaps, considering where she'd been last night, a shower was a better course of action. Slapping herself comically on the head, she wandered to her bathroom flicking on the light as she went. The bright lights overhead assaulted her tender eyes and she winced reflexively before reaching for the button that would start the water running.
She had just begun to shed her clothes when a knock came at her door. She glanced desperately at the shower with it's delightfully warm running water that would be sure to cradle her in a loving embrace, then at the door before quickly pulling up her boxers and padding over to open the door. Aiden's smiling face greeted her and he pulled her into a hug, his arms wrapping securely around her, "Hey, Ash." She managed to choke out a greeting once he had released her from his secure grip, looking at him oddly, "What are you doing here?" His expression morphed from one of welcome to that of surprise, "You asked me to come? Something about making food for you...? I still don't understand why you didn't just ask Marta for help." Ashley scratched her head trying to recall the invitation yet she was coming up a blank. "Did I? Oh, well, actually, I need some help making brownies. And you're the cake guy. So...help me out?" she wheedled, putting on her most pathetic expression. It was all for show, she knew he'd jump at the chance to bake, she could hardly drag him out of the kitchen most days, especially her kitchen. Christine liked to impress clients and had had it modeled on a show kitchen she'd seen on some show, it was all beyond Ashley. Cooking included microwaves, kettles and occasionally, on days when she felt extra adventurous and brave, a frying pan. Any other utensils beyond the standard knife, fork, spoon or chopstick implements made little or no sense to her and she didn't see any point in changing that.
Marta, the Davies' housekeeper had tried to teach her to cook. Aiden had tried to teach her to cook. He'd even equated it to music to put it on her level but it had the opposite affect with Aiden storming out when Ashley had filled all his pots to different water levels and proceeded to bang out Soulja Boy's latest hit. Ashley had wanted to film it for YouTube but apparently Aiden had seen it as her mocking him and had not appreciated it in the slightest. It was still a touchy subject with him but then Ashley had accepted that Aiden could be rather tempestuous over, what she regarded as, the stupidest things. In a sense, it was what made them so suitable for each other. He had major mood swings over minor issues, whilst she would fly into a rage at, well, everything. Music, on the other hand, music made sense. Music relaxed her in a way that nothing, and she meant nothing, had ever managed to succeed. Music had an answer for everything, an explanation for every mood and feeling that flowed through her body; an expression for each and every situation she had ever been in. She could connect with a suicidal artist in Australia, a twitchy junkie in England, a hyped up political activist in France without ever moving from the privacy of her room, all she needed was music to soothe her. Touching instruments, feeling their strings, their keys, their very essence flow underneath her fingers and straight into her veins, sent a rush of adrenaline that fueled her very being that made her heart race. When she felt at her most alone, music helped her remember that somebody, some where felt exactly the same way she did.
Aiden grinned ecstatically and rubbed his hands together gleefully, "Okay! I'll get on that and you," he indicated her rough state of attire with a dramatic wave of a hand and scrunched up his face, "you, get on...that." She stuck out her tongue at his back as he made his way to the stairs; he paused with his foot hovering over the top stair, "Ash?" She raised her eyebrows in the international sign for a silent question, "why am I making you brownies on a Sunday morning?" Ashley couldn't help it, she blushed. Her eyes rolled automatically at her body's defiant reaction. It was Aiden's turn to appear surprised, and then suddenly it clicked. "You met a girl!" He yelled accusingly, adding a pointed finger to further dramatise the situation. Ashley rolled her eyes again and nodded, cursing herself for being so obvious, he would never shut up now. Aiden lowered his hand and looked at his friend carefully. For a minute, he could have sworn he saw a hint of vulnerability flash across her face, but it was gone immediately and replaced by her token scowl. He studied her face and decided that, maybe just this once, he would allow Ashley her secret. He nodded as if to finalise his decision and smiled before turning to head downstairs, "Okay," he tossed over his shoulder.
Ashley watched after him stunned speechless at his minimal reaction. She shifted from foot to foot uncomfortably, chewing her lip thoughtfully. "Well, that went well," she deadpanned. Shrugging her shoulders, she turned away from the door shifting it shut with her foot and disappearing into the bathroom.
The wonderful smells already beginning to waft from the kitchen were testament to Aiden's masterful skills in the kitchen. Ashley followed her nose and couldn't help but smile as she listened to Aiden attempt to belt out the hook from Kelly Clarkson's recent release. She wouldn't be surprised if she walked in on him performing the actions, and sure enough as she popped her head around the door way she saw him strike a muscle man pose. She shook her head, "too easy." She moved into the doorway and waved to him, "Hey Aid! Aid!" attempting to get his attention; he jumped at the sound of her voice and span around, whisk still held up to his mouth, he blushed prettily and batted his eyelashes, "It's a great song, yanno," she raised her eyebrows but refrained from commenting, instead choosing to hum along to the chorus – she had to acknowledge that it was catchy.
She checked her watch and started at the time, it was almost 12. She looked up and gestured towards the lit up door of the stove, "how are the brownies doing? Think they'll be ready to go soon?" Aiden eyed the clock speculatively and then glanced at the baking tray resting on the middle wire rack. "I'd wager another 10 or so minutes, is that okay? Remember that they have to rest for a good 15 minutes or so after that, though." She nodded, he'd drilled that little fact into her head countless times and she wasn't about to allow him to harp on at her again. "I know, I know." Ashley picked up her phone and rolled it over in her hands, wondering whether she should text Spencer yet. Chewing her lip, she reasoned that she probably should given that she had no earthly idea where Spencer worked, or even, more importantly, whether Spencer still wanted to meet up, a thought she wasn't willing to entertain just yet.
"You should text her, whoever she is. I'm assuming you haven't yet," Ashley looked up to meet Aiden's knowing eyes. "Is it safe to say it's not Paige?" Ashley rolled her eyes and nodded as a small smile formed as she thought of Spencer. Aiden's eyebrow rose in interest, he'd never seen that look on his friend's face before, 'Interesting.' He did worry about Ashley, especially after the fall-out from the Paige fiasco but perhaps, he was worrying needlessly in this case. Maybe this one would be different. "I asked her to lunch," Ashley offered, uncharacteristically, and completely indirectly, asking for his advice. "Oh? And this lunch would be...?" he allowed his words to trail off hoping that Ashley would fill the silence. His eyes panned the kitchen pointedly, "I didn't see anything made, and if lunch consists of brownies, even if they are orgasmic brownies, I'm not sure how willing she would be to ask you to dinner." Ashley huffed exasperatedly, "I didn't say I'd make lunch, I just asked her if she'd like to get lunch, there's a difference, you know." Aiden turned away to hide his smile knowing that it wouldn't do him any good, "Okay, so where are you taking her?" Having successfully managed to rid his face of a smile, he turned round to face his friend again and was surprised to see her beaming. "That's a secret, buddy." She tapped her nose conspiratorially and tuned him out by focusing on her phone.
Aiden eyed Ashley once again, 'Very interesting,' he thought, 'very interesting, indeed.' He gave another small smile and bustled towards the stove to take a quick peek at the brownies.