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Chapter Two
Spencer is in a hallway, alone, when Ashley spots her, arms crossed in front of her, half in shadow, leaning against a corridor wall.
Ashley doesn't want to intrude, but she's already stepping into the hall before she can give into the urge to turn away.
The sound of footsteps in the hall tells Spencer that she is no longer alone. She swipes quickly at her tears, but makes no moves to acknowledge whoever has joined her, hoping that their shared pathway only serves to aid them to a destination anywhere else, but where she stands now.
When a voice does breaks through a once refreshing silence it is both soft and familiar to Spencer. Ashley.
"Hiding isn't going to help, you know." The brunette's informs her as she draws near. The tone of her voice suggests that perhaps she's been here before too. Cowering in a corner. Spencer tries not to wonder. To not care. But fails. In fact she wants to tell herself to ignore the brunette, she cant. "Who says I'm hiding?"
"Aren't you?" Ashley asks pinning her with a stare a little too intense for Spencer's liking.
Ashley's tone reads of judgment or at least Spencer thinks it does, and she doesn't like it. She hates to be thought of as weak. Spencer looks away, but nods her head, hesitant to openly acknowledge what they both know to be true.
"So I'm guessing this place isn't anything like Ohio?" Ashley asks and with a few tentative steps she bridges the gap between them.
A brief but guarded smile appears upon Spencer's face. Though it's a guarded smile, its a smile nevertheless, and its one Ashley is eager to see more of . "Well the kids are a lot nicer in Ohio, that's for sure" , Spencer replies.
There's a look in Spencer eyes as she talks that has Ashley regretting
not being more friendlier to the blonde, for not extending her friendship when they first met.
"I'm sorry about your locker Spencer, those guys are real jerks."
"Yeah, tell me about it," the blonde agrees. Voices drift down the corridor. Its only a matter of minutes before lunch is over and everyone is heading to their next classes. Spencer wonders if she will be able to endure the stares and the pointing fingers again. She knows they haven't forgotten. For a moment she contemplates going home, but lately even there she feels unwelcome.
"So are you?"
"Am I what? Spencer asks, her brows slightly furrowed, not quite understanding.
"A lesbo?" The brunette smirks playfully. "You know, a queer?"
Spencer looked up at her, realization dawning on her. She sports a frown, though the question weighs unexpectedly hard on her. "That's just a rumor," she finally voices in reply.
"Is it?" The brunette asks, a well manicured eyebrow quirked in question upon noting the slight waver in Spencer's voice.
Spencer drops her eyes and lowers her head, hair falling forward around her face. "Do you usually believe everything you hear?"
A moment of silence hangs between them before their eyes catch again. Ashley shrugs casually in response, though she knows all too well what it feels like to be on the receiving end of cruel and unfounded rumors.
"You didn't exactly answer the question," Ashley presses tucking her hands into the back pockets of her jeans.
Spencer reaches for her book bag, where it rests on the tile floor, slings it around her slender shoulders.
"I'm not like you," the blonde retorts pointedly. The contempt she hears in her voice Spencer is sure mimics that of her mother when she speaks sternly against anything she disapproves of - like gays.
Though she's only been a student at her new school a mere few weeks, Spencer has learned a lot, like who's in and who's not. She's never cared much about that before, but she finds herself caring now. Maybe it has something to do with being the 'new kid' and wanting to fit in. Maybe.
A flicker of some unidentified emotion travels across Ashley's face.
A tense moment of silence stretches amidst them. There is just enough silence for Spencer to feel the sting of her own words. She has an urge to take them back, but doesn't. Their purpose, to create a boundary between them. She cant fathom exactly why she needs to establish boundaries with Ashley so soon, but something tells her that she does.
The words from Spencer's mouth wound Ashley, but it's a truth that Ashley wont deny. Perhaps the Carlin girl is just like everyone else she thinks. Either way, she forces herself to ignore the insult.
Spencer watches as Ashley begins to walk away, watches the space widen between them. With a quick turn of her feet, the pair are face to face again. "That's too bad", the brunette voices curtly. There's a smile on Ashley's face when their eyes lock and it's a little too big for comfort.
What is that supposed to mean? Spencer finds herself wanting to ask, but she doesn't. It shouldn't matter, but soon she is considering the smear on her locker and wonders if it's true after all, if maybe they all know something she doesn't.
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