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Author's Note: Chapter two! Thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed, it means so much to know people still come back to this fandom after all this time. I want to be honest, I don't know how updating will go with this story. I have a bunch of chapters typed out already and I have a pile of paper with scribbles all over it somewhere so hopefully I'll be able to update more frequent than not. And once again, I don't mind if you throw comments my way. Always appreciate. So without further ado, let's jump into this story, shall we?
I'll Meet You There
Chapter 2
Ashley's POV
The door swings open and my mouth literally drops to the ground. "Glen?" My voice echoes through my head as a sharp pain inside my chest washes over me and it's all too overwhelming for me to bear at once. I can feel my heart shatter at the realization that Spencer isn't here. My search hasn't ended.
I haven't found her yet.
I stumble back from the door as I literally can't breathe. I can't believe that this is happening. Spencer wasn't the person my mother was referring to, Glen was. The realization hits me like a brick wall and I can't help but grimace at the growing pain still in my chest. It won't stop. I can feel my tears trying to sneak their way out, but I won't let them.
I won't let them fall.
I can't let them win. I can't let them turn me into that person I once was, the person who began this whole cycle. I can't go back to that place anymore, I won't let myself. Because even though she's not here, Glen and Kyla are. And those are two people that could bring me closer to finding her. And although I'm devastated that Spencer isn't standing on the side of the door, at least there's still hope.
Just maybe not in Glen.
"Hey, what's up," Glen throws me a casual head nod as he leans his body against the door and flexes his forearms tightly against it. I'm surprised he can pull all that off while thoroughly checking me out from head to toe.
It also builds on my 'there is no hope in Glen' theory; he doesn't realize how obvious he is being.
"You're definitely not my 12:30..." His eyes roll down my body, scanning me up and down like he's a predator and I'm his meal, "But lucky for you, I'm in a generous mood today. I'm Glen. " He throws me another head nod and I can barely stand not to at least smirk. I really hope I don't look like that when I check out people, let alone throw out a line like that.
I'd lose so much respect for myself. I don't understand why people think those lines work. I still find it humorous though. Humorous, yet oh-so-very-creepy when coming from Glen.
And yet, this simple moment with Glen fuels something entirely different in me and I'm forced to cringe at the unwanted memories that wash over me. Spencer memories. I want to throw up right now because if Spencer was here she'd have a little giggle about this and then playfully slap Glen in the arm while yelling at him to stop checking me out. I found the whole exchange adorable. And I will only admit to using the word, 'adorable' in the case that I'm talking about Spencer, otherwise the word does not exist in my vocabulary.
If that started getting around, my rep would take a huge blow. And that's the one thing that makes things a little bit easier in life... my family name.
After Spencer was done yelling at Glen, she would take my hand and guide me upstairs, stomping on each one of the stair a little harder each time as I just followed behind silently, trying to conceal my flushed face.
Those were the days. Back before everything started...
Now tears just want to fall because she's not here to tell him to stop. She's not here to take my hand and lead me away from people like Glen, away from people I don't particularly care for in our world. So much effort and hope I put into this one moment has been washed away when the blonde Ohio kid turned out to be Glen... when it was supposed to be Spencer.
She's not here.
He is... and I really wish he stopped looking at me like that.
I push him back as I enter the apartment, squirming at just the thought of Glen in that way. So wrong. "Ew, dude. That's just wrong on so many different levels." I shake my head as I glance around the apartment. My gaze stops when I notice Glen still checking me out, "And stop looking at me like that."
He snaps his head down and tries to recover smoothly by running his hands through his curly blonde hair. That trick will not work my dear Glen, only Spencer can run her delicate fingers through her silky long blonde hair as she tilts her head to the side and pouts in a way that melts my heart. Only she can make me do things that I would swear I would never do.
And only she can pull off that move with me. And not you, Glen. Never you.
I send him a serious look as I cross my arms and tap my foot to get his attention. "Okay okay, I'm sorry..." He rolls his head again and his eyes are finally off me.
"Is Kyla here?"
He looks around the room before he quickly catches my eyes, not lingering on them too long. "No?" He answers me uncertain as he takes a quick peek around the room again.
"Not in this room, Glen! In the apartment—is Kyla here in the apartment?"
It finally dawns on him. "Oh... okay, just a sec," His eyes are gone just like that, and Glen rushes past me towards what I can only assume to be Kyla's room, "KYLA!"
I don't think anyone needs to yell that loud, but apparently Glen thinks it's required. He screams my sister's name one more time at the top of his lungs before returning back to me like a dog and a bone. Boys are way too easy sometimes... at least I think so.
Maybe it's because people know not to cross my path that they bend at my every whim. Either way, it comes in handy sometimes.
Thank you badass rep. I'm sorry, but if being the daughter of a rock star had any perks, it was that. Respect from everyone. It's what's got Glen here shaking in his boots. He's timidly trying to make eye contact with me to deliver the bad news. Of course, he isn't aware that I've already been rocked with my fair share of bad news already today and right now I'm pulling at strings. Kyla is my only real hope.
"So apparently she's not in right now but you can stay and wait. I'm sure she'll be back soon from wherever she is."
"I'll just come back."
"You sure? I can keep you company-"
"And miss off your 2:30? Even I wouldn't deny you that Glen," I joke as I pat him softly on the shoulder. I try to hide my nervous laughter as I slowly ease away from Glen and make my way towards the door. "Really, it's fine. I'll just come back later, thanks."
I manage a sincere smile at the blonde even though all I see when I looked at him is Spencer. And although that thought usually brings a smile to my face, today is different. Because today I was supposed to introduce myself back into her life and her into mine, and that didn't happen.
That didn't happen at all.
My only choice is to leave the apartment and come back with the hopes that Kyla can give me something that will help me find her.
-o-
I've tried to keep her off my mind on my drive home, but it's impossible. I should know that by now. What I can't believe is that I didn't find her, after being so sure that Spencer was on the other side of that door...to just be completely, wrong. As hard as I try to not show it on my exterior, I am devastated behind belief.
The only glimpse of hope I have lies in my sister.
I jump in the elevator before it closes and quietly push the top floor before slinking back against the wall. I watch the numbers slowly change as the elevator climbs, beeping after every increased level. I'm just waiting for the doors to open so I can fall back into bed and pop in my Ipod.
When the doors finally do open, I step out and pause when I see the first door. I glance further down the hall and back to the first door again. I shake my head, knowing that I should continue down the hall but decide to take the first door. When I enter the room, I immediately notice the blonde at the mini bar as I continue to walk into the main area. I smile as I see the side of her head turn slightly to the right. She knows I'm here but I make no effort to make my presence more known than it already is as I flop down comfortably on the couch.
"Way to knock, whore." I hear her voice softly echo from the kitchen before I see her emerge in front of me with a drink in hand.
"Someone shouldn't have given me a key if they didn't want me in their room."
It's just become a habit coming in here before I go back to my room. I almost feel like it's rude of me to not stop in and say hello. And for some reason, Taylor has been the one thing that has kept me sane through all of this.
Well as sane as one can really be...
"Someone seems to remember having said that key's for E-MERG-EN-CIES."
"And I believe that person was me. Besides this is an emergency," I snap playfully back as if the comment was absurd. "I just got back from Kyla's."
"And you need a drink?" Her eyebrow quirks in curiosity as a smug smirk wipes across the blonde's face. She waves a half empty cocktail glass in the air for enthusiasm, spilling some liquid on herself but not caring in the slightest.
"Tay."
The blonde pouts dejectedly, "Just one?"
"No."
"Can't blame a girl for trying," Taylor shrugs as she pops a cherry in her mouth casually and jumps over the arm of the chair, falling down on the cushions as her legs stayed propped up on the arm. "So shall you dish the dirt then Davies? How is the lovely Spencer, doing well I hope?"
"I wouldn't know." I let out a defeated exhale and drop my head back against the headrest of the comfy couch.
"Chicken out?" She cackles with as she shakes her head and places another cherry in her mouth. "I knew you wouldn't have been able to pull the trigger." She closes on of her eyes and points of her hand towards me, pretending it's a gun. "Pew, pew."
"Glen answered the door instead of her."
"Oh." The girl deadpans and remains silent, other than sipping her drink carefully.
"And that's bad." I add as the girl continues to look puzzled.
"Right..." Taylor nods agreeably with a skeptical face, "Who's Glen again?"
"Spencer's brother."
She stares at me blankly before she contorts her face and asks, "Right and how exactly is that bad?"
"You have to know Glen..."
Taylor downs the rest of her drinks and shrugs with a perplexedly nod, "You're sure you don't want that drink?"
"Taylor."
"Just double checking before you jump into this story." She gives me a comforting smile before turning back and lying back down.
"How thoughtful of you..."
"Well, I also need a refill so I had alterative motives behind my question but we can go with thoughtful." She lifts her empty glass in the air and twirls it between her fingers delicately as I can just barely hear her light laughter.
I sigh and reluctantly push myself up off the couch, grabbing the twirling glass from the girl's hand just as the doorbell sounds. "Figures. Fine, You grab the door while I make you another drink..."
"Hey, maybe it's Spencer." Taylor quips as she remains comfortable in her position on the couch, making no sudden movement to get up for the door.
"Funny... just go answer the damn door."
"You know, you're already up and if you were a really good friend..."
"Seriously? I'm going to get you a drink. The least you could do is get up off your ass and get your own door... it's probably just Marcus."
"But I just sat down..."
"I'm a guest."
"Oh please..." She scoffs loudly, "You're over here enough you hardly count as a guest."
There wasn't going to be an end to this knowing less-than-sober Taylor. I drop my shoulders in a defeated sigh, "You are ridiculously lazy."
A smug smile wipes across the blonde's face, "Or am I so ingenious that I'm able to make everyone bend to my every will."
"No, you're lazy. You've got to be one of the laziest people in the world."
"If you weren't all the way over on the other side of the couch, I'd slap you."
"Please, even that would be too much effort for you. You'd order me to slap my face for you." I roll my eyes as I back up towards the door, opening it slightly before our friend Marcus slides in.
"Party people, what is happening!"
"Hey Marcus," I unenthusiastically greet the boy as I glare at Taylor happily sprawled out on the couch. "Long story short, Taylor has once again decided to live the lazy life with alcohol and I have found out that the 'blonde Ohio kid' living with my sister is actually Spencer's brother, Glen."
"Whoa, major buzz kill. Sorry, kid." He sincerely pats me comfortably on the shoulder, "I know how hard you tried to find your girl."
"It's only a small setback, a roadblock to temporarily delay me."
"Nothing's gonna slow you down!" Taylor sings from the couch behind us, throwing her arms above her head and swaying them to her own beat.
Marcus lets out a laugh as he walks further into the apartment towards the blonde on the couch as I go to the bar to refill Taylor's much needed drink. "Startin' like a champ I see there, huh Tay?" Marcus ruffles the blonde's hair as he walks behind her and the couch.
"It's happy hour somewhere in the world."
"Well ain't that the truth." Marcus quips as he jumps over the couch and flops himself down beside the blonde. His head falls back as he turns towards me, "Hey Ash, wanna double whatever you're making for Tay? Triple if you're going to join us."
"After my day I totally should but I wanted to head back to Kyla's later so probably not the best call."
"Every party needs a pooper that's why we invited you." Taylor belts out piercingly at the top of her lungs as Marcus chuckles delightedly beside her. I can only shake my head and smile as I continue to make the drinks for two of my closest friends. I laugh to myself that these days I'm now the responsible one.
-o-
It doesn't take nearly as long to get to Kyla's place this time around, seeing as there was no need to sit in my car for fifteen minutes prior to work up the nerve just to walk to the door. None of that hassle this time around.
Plain and simple; just how I like things now-a-days.
When I reach the door, I let out a soft sigh as memories of this morning flash through my brain. Visions of Spencer run rapid as I clamp my eyes shut to get them to stop. I need to be strong and living in the past is no way to do that.
It doesn't help that my body is telling me otherwise. I swear I can even smell her perfume. One of many cruel games my mind likes to play on me. I try to shrug off the feeling by taking a step closer to the door.
For the second time today, my shaky fist hits the cold metal door and knocks a few times. The pressure is not nearly as on this time as I'm here for Kyla, but my mind is still lingering on that smell. I can't help it. Still, I'm here in the hopes that Kyla knows something about Spencer's whereabouts.
I just need that one chance.
I hear faint footsteps before the door swings open and I can't help but erupt in the biggest smile known to man. Because when the door opens, I'm met with the blue eyes I hoped to have greeted me this morning. I smile because for the first time in a month, I can breathe again.
I've found her.
