A/N: Well, I feel like a hypocrite right now, because I am one. I totally hate it when people take a long time to update, but that's what I did. I'm kind of justified in taking so long because I had finals last week, but not really. Well, I don't think this chapter's all that great, it seems kind of like filler stuff, but I felt like I needed to put it in. This delayed updating might happen often, especially since I'm leaving on vacation in the beginning of July and I'll be gone for a little more than two weeks. I'll try to update more than once before I leave, but I won't promise anything. Thanks for reading.

Paula gently shook Spencer awake. "Spence, honey, wake up." She said softly.

Spencer's eyes fluttered open and she smiled. For a moment the events from the night before felt like a dream, then she remembered they had actually happened. She couldn't believe that it had all happened less then twelve hours ago. Ashley's confession when she had snuck into Spencer's room stuck in her mind though. "I love you, Spencer." It repeated in her mind over and over. She remembered the desperation in her voice.

"Spencer," Paula said. She didn't respond. "Are you okay?" Paula asked, sincerely concerned. She knew that the shooting last night could be traumatizing, especially since Spencer's brother had been shot.

"Yeah," Spencer looked at her mom, "is Glen okay?"

"Of course, honey. He needs to be here a little longer, though." Paula paused. "Good news, though. Your doctor thought you'd be discharged by ten this morning, but he said you can leave now. It's only eight forty-five." She smiled and rubbed her daughter's arm comfortingly. Looking at Spencer at that moment, Paula knew that she'd love her daughter no matter what. It didn't mean she approved of the decisions she had made, but she realized hurtful she had been and felt ashamed. Nevertheless, she had not changed her mind about Ashley. "Are you sure you're okay?" she asked one more time.

Spencer looked at her hands and paused before replying. "Yeah, just ready to go home."

"Alright, let's get you out of here then.

Ashley was pulled from her sleep by her shrieking alarm and sat up. Unlike Spencer, Ashley couldn't get the reality of the past night's events out of her head. She shook her head as if to shake of the memories as they all came flooding back again. But above all of the tragedy and drama, the most prominent on her mind was her relationship with Spencer.

"What am I gonna do?" she asked herself and fell back onto her bed. She ran through the possibilities in her mind. She could go to Spencer now, and have her still be angry with her. Or she could talk to Spencer later, and have her probably be angry with her. Ashley sighed deeply. "Why do I do this to myself?" She thought about it and slapped her forehead. "What am I saying, why do I do this to Spencer?" she rolled over in her bed and thought some more. She decided just to leave the whole situation alone for a while. Spencer and her family were dealing with the drama from the shooting, and she knew they didn't need anymore.

Feeling somewhat satisfied with her decision she sat up. "Dammit," she thought, "I have to talk to Aiden."

The car was silent on the way home. Paula wanted to talk to Spencer and see how she was feeling about the shooting the night before, but she didn't want to push her. Spencer just didn't want to talk. She had too much to think about. The shooting, Ashley, her brother, Ashley, Aiden, Ashley. She mostly had Ashley on her mind.

Spencer, what are you going to do? She thought to herself. You know you love Ashley, so why aren't you going to her right now and telling her that? She nearly smacked herself in the forehead, but stopped herself when she remembered she was in the car with her mom. She sighed. You know why you have to wait. Ashley really hurt me this time. I know a lot of it is on Aiden, but if Ashley had been more decisive, I wouldn't feel like this. I mean, she looked like she had to think about it, like maybe she still felt something for Aiden. Spencer sighed again.

"Spencer?" Paula said.

Spencer snapped out of her thoughts and realized that the car was stopped and they were parked in the driveway. She looked at her mom.

"Are you okay?" Paula asked, she had heard Spencer sigh multiple times and was worried by the troubled look on her face.

"Yeah, mom. Fine." Spencer said, trying to reassure her. "I'm just going to take a shower and change before we go back to visit Glen, okay?"

"Okay." Paula said, as Spencer opened the door and got out of the car. She remained in her seat, watching Spencer go into the house. She sighed and leaned back into her seat. She didn't know what to do. Glen was in the hospital with a gunshot wound to the leg, Clay was expecting to be a father, and Spencer had questioned her sexuality and ended up with a girlfriend. Not only that, but Glen was now sober after a drug addiction and she knew that he'd have to be on meds again, Paula knew he was strong, but the temptation would be stronger now than ever. Clay and Chelsea were getting ready to go off to college, but now with a baby coming, didn't know what to do. And she couldn't even talk to Spencer. She knew it would take a long time to fix things with Spencer and she was more than willing to try, but until that happened, she knew she would never really know what was going on with her. With that final thought, she heaved another sigh, and got out of the car. She walked to the front door with heavy footsteps, and opened the door. She walked slowly into the kitchen, feeling exhausted.

Paula—

I had to go to work, there was an emergency case. So sorry I couldn't be there when you got home, I tried to get out of it, but I really couldn't. I'll be home as soon as possible. I love you.

Love,

Arthur

Paula smiled a little. She heard footsteps, and turned to see Spencer enter the kitchen with her hair still damp. Spencer opened her mouth to say something when the phone rang. Paula turned around and answered it.

"Hello, Mr. or Mrs. Carlin?" a woman's voice came over the phone.

"Yes, this is Mrs. Carlin." Paula answered.

"I'm just calling to inform you that school will resume on Monday."

"Yeah," Paula said, a little thrown off, "okay."

"Thank you." The woman said, and hung up before Paula could respond.

"Spencer, you have school on Monday." Paula said.

Spencer sighed. "This sucks."

An hour after deciding to let things cool with Spencer and deciding she needed to tell Aiden, Ashley willed herself out of bed, took a shower and got ready. She desperately didn't want to go talk to Aiden, but she knew she had to.

On her way out, she stuck her head into Kyla's room.

"Hey." Ashley said. "How you doing?"

Kyla had been lying back on her bed. She sighed as she sat up. "I've been better." She laughed bitterly. "Gosh, I hate Aiden so much right now." She looked down. "The worst part is, I don't know if I can keep hating him."

Ashley smiled knowingly. "I know how you feel, little 'sis. I really do. I felt the same exact way before, but right now, I totally hate him." Kyla nodded. "But," Ashley said, "I'm not saying that it's bad to feel that way. Aiden's a really good guy, he can just be a freakin' idiot sometimes." They both laughed, and then there was a quiet moment. "Kyla, I'm sorry." Ashley said.

"For what?" Kyla asked.

"I've been like the worst sister ever. But I'm really glad things have changed. And I'm really sorry about the whole Aiden thing." Ashley's apology was sincere, and Kyla could see that.

"Ashley," she said as she stood up, "it's okay. I mean, the sister thing, it was hard for both of us, and it's not like I was so nice." Kyla and Ashley laughed, "But about the Aiden thing, it's not your fault. Really."

"Thanks, Kyla." Ashley said as they hugged each other. After they released each other, Ashley made a face.

Kyla laughed, "What?"

"I have to go talk to Aiden." Ashley said, obviously unhappy about it.

"Oh," Kyla said, "I know understand what the face was for."

They laughed. "I so don't want to do this, but I have to." Ashley stayed put for a second, then sighed. "Okay, I'll see you later."

"Later." Kyla said. "Good luck!" she called out after Ashley.

"Thanks!" she heard Ashley yell, already going down the stairs.

Kyla sighed as she fell back onto her bed. I feel like what's going on with me is way less important than everyone else, but it really hurts. She thought to herself. She groaned and rolled onto her stomach. The best thing for me to do is wait. If it ends up that I don't hate Aiden anymore, then whatever, but I have to wait and see what happens.