Sorry for that previous chapter being a little short. I was going to do another scene, but I really liked the way I ended it so I decided not to.
Thanks again for all the reviews, keep em coming! I love knowing what you guys think.
So here's another chapter for you guys. Sorry it took me a few days to update, I've been really uninspired to write at the moment... but I made the chapter a bit longer so I hope it makes up for it.
Chapter 4 – You're Permanent
Ashley's POV
It was Taquito Tuesday, the day that Spencer would be decorating my car for prom. As well the whole Barbie thing worked last time around, I thought it would kind of be like cheating to do it again. I would have to be much sneakier this time around as I didn't have Aiden to help me distract Spencer. This whole distancing myself from him is becoming much more of a hassle than I thought it'd be, but if it changes the results of what happened to Spencer and I, then it's worth every bit of the hassle.
I didn't know exactly when before lunch that Spencer decked out my car, which created a slight problem for me if I wanted to do my proposal today as well, more importantly before she did hers. Odds are since we had first period together, it was second as third was our lunch. It's time like these where I find it very useful to have as many doctors as I do, it makes it much easier to skip class.
"Please excuse Ashley Davies from class today as she has a doctor's appointment." Hmm that will do, the teachers don't really give a crap about these things anyways.
I still had to drive Spencer to school though, even if I was skipping first period, which also meant I would need to think of something to tell her so she didn't catch on. Showing her my doctor's note was out of the question because she knows I use that excuse often to skip school. And since Aiden was out of the question to ask for help, that leaves only one person, Kyla.
"Hey Ky, can I ask you a big favour? I need your help this morning."
"Uh... I might have to hear this favour before I commit to it. Just from previous experiences I'd rather know what I'm doing before I say 'yes'." Kyla responded with a concerned look on her face.
"No, it's nothing like last time, I just need you to call me about fifteen minutes after I leave and pretend you need me to pick you up since Aiden didn't show up." I said giving her a fake big smile.
"Do I want to ask why?"
"I need Spencer to think I'm not in first period for a reason because I'm going to ask her to prom today and I don't want her getting suspicious."
"Awe Ash, that's so cute!" Kyla screamed while jumping a little and clapping her hands together.
Sometimes I really don't see the resemblance...
"I can't believe you're going to prom. I thought you didn't do dances?" Kyla asked still with a huge grin on her face.
"Well Spencer changed that for me. She's changed a lot of things for me." Like my life.
"I'm really happy for you, Ash. But if you want to be on time picking Spencer up, you might want to go. I'll call you in fifteen minutes." Kyla said trying to fix her hair and then walking into her bathroom.
"Fifteen minutes!" I yelled before running out of her room, grabbing my keys and heading out to my convertible.
I arrived at Spencer's house five minutes later, a drive that normally takes about eight but I drove fast because I was excited. Shit, Spencer has me excited about asking her to dance, I really have gone soft.
"Hey beautiful," I said as she jumped into the passenger seat, looking just as gorgeous as ever. She had her hair in a loose ponytail that she brought to the side and was wearing a light purplish white tank top with jeans, all of which I just wanted to rip off of her right then and there.
"Good morning!" She said back while leaning in and giving me a kiss, and then glancing towards the backseat. "Where's Kyla?"
"Aiden's supposed to pick her up, ever since he asked her to prom, he's gone all 'gentlemanly' on her." It was kind of pathetic... "Anyways I was thinking today we could skip out for lunch and check out this new Thai place that opened up. What do you think?"
"Mm... sounds good." Spencer replied while biting her lower lip and staring at Ashley's lips.
As I see her looking at my lips, I can't hold back a smile as I giggle at her and put my car into drive and make my way to school. Kyla should be calling soon, as I get out of the car slowly and grab Spencer's hand and intertwine our fingers as we make our way to our lockers. I feel her squeeze my hand tighter as Aiden walks by us and gives us a look.
Wait? Aiden... he was supposed to pick up Kyla.
Just as he passes, my phone goes off. Knowing it's Kyla I open it up right away.
"Hey, so I assume since I just saw Aiden at school, you need a ride?" I say loud enough so Spencer can hear me, not that I have to yell or anything since she's still standing beside me, fingers intertwined.
"Alright Ky, I'll be there in a minute."
I look at Spencer and pout, although really I'm smiling on the inside, knowing my plan is being put in motion. "I'll see you at lunch then? Kyla needs a ride so I have to go back and pick her up. I guess something happened with her and Aiden so I might not make it to first. Just tell the teacher I'm sick or something and I'll hand him a note later."
"Mmmk." She nods, kisses me cheek and heads off to class. As I watch her walk off I softly giggle staring at her, and go back to my car to go pick up Kyla.
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Now that I had the whole issue with Spencer not being suspicious out of the way, it was time to go to work. Kyla agreed to help me seeing as we arrived back at school twenty minutes after first had started. I went back to my car and popped the trunk, revealing pink paint, a helium tank and a wide selection of balloons. I had seventy-five minutes to finish everything before Spencer came to my car and did the same exact thing, except this time around, my car would already be decorated with a prom proposal. Yes, I know, this might be considered cheating as well since I did technically steal her idea, but since I knew how she was going to ask me, I thought it'd be romantic to beat her to the punch and do the exact same thing. As I started writing the message on the windshield, Kyla began blowing up the balloons with the helium tank. It would go much faster with her helping me, so I probably wouldn't need the whole seventy-five minutes, but it was better safe than sorry to have her help out.
"So why are you decorating your OWN car to ask Spencer to prom again?" Kyla asked as she stopped the helium tank.
"I don't know... I thought it'd be creative and we're going out for lunch today so we'll come to the car and she'll see it and I don't know. I just wanted to." I couldn't really tell her that I knew she was going to do the same thing and I wanted to beat her to it and surprise her. "Just keep blowing up the balloons..."
Thirty-five minutes later, we had finished decorating my car, with balloons and paint and everything. I had also placed a soft, cuddly teddy bear on the passenger seat, knowing Spencer loves her stuffed animals. With twenty minutes left in first period, Kyla and I decided we might as well grab a coffee from the coffee cart since it wasn't worth heading to class. I was probably the least awkward around Kyla after this whole thing happened, I mean at the beginning I was completely confused, but now things were good.
I had kept in touch with Kyla for the whole ten years I was in Europe. She was the one who I was going to stay with when I got back to LA, but we all know how that ended up. She was heartbroken after prom, and I didn't blame her. Her boyfriend was in love with me, and as much as she hated me for that, she couldn't blame me because it wasn't my fault. Hopefully that will change this time around, and Aiden will realize how good he has it with Kyla, how good they are for each other.
"So have you got your prom dress yet Ky?" I asked trying to break the silence that had surrounded us for the last few minutes.
"Yup! It's so beautiful, I love it, but I still have yet to find the right shoes... How about you?" She asked as she took another sip of her coffee and cookie.
"Yeah, I bought mine like a week ago, it's white with spaghetti straps and the back is open."
"Awe that's great Ash, I'm sure Spencer will love it. I still can't believe you're going."
"Well I love to dance, and I love Spencer and this is really important to her so... there was no decision."
"I'm proud of you Ashley, you've really come a far way from who you used to be." Kyla said putting her hand on top of mine and smiling.
"Thanks, but I can't really take credit. I have to be better when I'm around Spencer. Without her, this person who I am doesn't exist." I actually believe that too since I was without her ten years, and I was never the same after that.
"We should probably go, the bells going to ring soon and I don't want to be late for class." Kyla said while getting up. I followed her lead, but instead heading towards my car as she headed towards her next class as the bell rang.
I knew Spencer would be coming to decorate my car as she had to have it done before lunch and that was third period. I stood just off to the side of my car so that I could see her coming, but she wouldn't be able to see me until I popped out. I figured I would surprise her with my presence too just to add the cherry on top.
A few minutes of waiting, I spot her coming this way with a bag full of what I only assume is the stuff she plans to decorate my car. Before she sees my car, I pop out and greet her, scaring her a bit as she wasn't expecting me.
"Hello beautiful, what's in the bag?" I ask, trying to be subtle.
"Oh nothing, just a bunch of stuff for a project." She replies giving me a soft smile. Project... haha technically that's the truth.
"Hmm... well did you want to stash it in my trunk for the day, I'd hate for you have to carry that around all day and it looks too big to put in your locker." I suggest while we continue to walk slowly towards my car.
'It's okay, it's not that heavy."
"So why aren't you in class? Spencer Carlin never skips class!" I'm so cruel since I know why she's out and I'm just making her squirm by asking all these questions that I already know the answers to.
"I just didn't feel like going. Why aren't you in class, you've already skipped one."
"Well I was on my way, but then I saw my beautiful girlfriend and I got distracted. Did you want to go for an early lunch since we're both not going to class?" Since she didn't bite the first time, I'll try anything to get her to my car.
"Sure, I guess since we're both skipping we might as well." Score!
I start uncontrollably smiling as we continue to walk to my car, knowing we're very close, but I know that Spencer hasn't noticed it yet since there's a van in front of it, blocking the view from us. As we reach the van, I mistakenly squeeze Spencer's hand tightly, throwing her a bit off guard and throwing me a confused, worried look. I smile back acting like I just wanted to squeeze it as we made our way around the van. She dropped her bags in her hand when she saw my car all decked out with balloons and paint. I had written in pink paint on my windshield, "Spencer Carlin, will you go to prom with me?" with a bunch of hearts on the smaller windows.
"ASHLEY!" Spencer yelled ecstatically as she turned to me and jumped into a hug. "Of course I'll go to the prom with you! I can't believe you decorated your car, I was just about to do that!"
"Really? That's pretty funny." Or not since I knew that you were. "Well how about we go get some stuff to clean that paint off my windshield and head down to that Thai place? I've got some paper towels in my trunk."
Spencer nodded and looped her arm around mine as I popped the trunk and brought out the paper towels.
Yes, I'm lazy... I knew I would be cleaning off my car so I threw in a roll of paper towel before I left in the morning. Sue me.
Once we had my car cleaned off completely, we headed out for lunch where we had a nice meal, just the two of us before heading back to school.
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A week and a half later...
So it all came down to tonight, the moment that I had been waiting for, prom night. Tonight would be the night I would discover if coming back and trying to change things really had an effect. If you change the past, would it really change the future, or I guess right now the present? I had gotten ready a lot earlier than Kyla and decided to drive myself over to the Carlin's house instead of waiting for her and Aiden. Last year, Aiden spent way too long looking at me when he arrived and this year, I do not want that.
When I arrived at the Carlin house, Glen and Clay were already dressed and ready to go. They both looked really handsome, except I found it a bit odd that Glen was wearing a quilt. It didn't really suit him, but whatever, it's not like I had to dance with him. I had to wait like twenty minutes for Chelsea and Spencer to finish getting ready, but Mr. C. kept me company along with Clay and Glen. Aiden and Kyla arrived just shortly before Spencer and Chelsea came down the stairs, so when they finally did, the whole gang was here and ready to take some pictures.
As Spencer declined the stairs in her navy blue spaghetti strap dress, it still took my breath away seeing it all over again. She did her hair the same way and everything, but looked nothing less than perfection. Spencer Carlin was nothing but perfection.
Mr. and Mrs. C. took all the standard pictures, a few with the whole group, and then individual couple shots before we left for the dance. We arrived at the school five minutes later with everyone getting out of the limo and moving to the line to get pictures before making our way to the dance floor.
"Hey Spence," I said, grabbing her wrist gently as we got up from the table to go dance. "No matter what happens tonight, I just want you to know that I love you, forever."
"I love you too Ash, but you're talking like something bad is going to happen tonight or something..." Spencer replied coming closer to me and putting her arms around my neck and playing with the peach fuzz.
I'm hoping something bad doesn't happen...
"It's just prom, and it's a big night and everything. I just wanted to you know that no matter what I'll always love you." Even if I leave for Europe and don't return for ten years.
"You don't have to put so much pressure on tonight Ash, it's not like a movie and prom is the first night we're going to have sex." She said while laughing at the end.
Spencer laughing, good sign... Aiden coming this way, bad sign!
"Uh, let's go to the washroom before we dance, I have to pee!" I scream as I see Aiden coming this way, I quickly snatched Spencer's hand and dashed into the nearby washroom.
Avoid Aiden at ALL costs tonight. Cut the chances of him confessing his love for me. I don't even know why I thought about that decision... Spencer or Aiden? Like that's a hard decision... Damn I was stupid back then.
I didn't really have to pee, and Spencer kind of suspected that when I pulled her into the stall too, and began devouring her lips with mine. We didn't do anything more but kiss as we didn't want to screw up our hair or dressed, but we didn't need to. Just being together was enough for us.
Fifteen minutes we arose from the stall, getting evil glares from the girls waiting in line. I checked out the door to make sure Aiden had patiently waited for us outside the door before we walked out and hit the dance floor. I knew he wouldn't approach me and confess his love if I was with Spencer, it would have to be first said with just me. I was pretty confident that it wasn't going to happen since I had been pushing him towards Kyla for the last few weeks and he seemed to be enjoying it.
As we begin to dance again, I bring my hand up to Spencer's face and cup it gently while caressing her cheek with my thumb. She looks down and kisses my hand lightly before looking back up at me and smiling. Her eyes quickly leave my eyes and glance back down at my wrist.
"What is on your wrist?" Took her long enough to see it...
"A tattoo." I replied, giving in to a full out smile.
"A script 'S'? Ashley!" She yelled in excitement, and gently moving her thumb over the tattoo while holding my wrist with her remaining fingers.
"Of course, what else would I get? Skull and bones?"
"Ashley, this is like permanent."
"So? You're permanent." There was nothing in my life I was so sure of.
"Ash..." Spencer moaned while tilting her head slightly to the side and smiling at me.
"You don't like it?" Of course she does, we've had this chat before, me getting a script 'S' on my wrist and her getting a script 'A' with a heart on her inside thigh.
"I love it."
"Good because it hurt so bad!" I whined giving her a pout before a light kiss. "And I know how ridiculously cheesy it is to get a tattoo with your partner's name on you, but there is no doubt in my mind that when I look at my wrist and see this 'S' that I will be reminded of how lucky I am to have you in my life." I also know how ridiculously cheesy what I just said was...but again I don't care if I have her.
"Well then I want to get that 'A' I was talking about then!" Spencer replied, throwing her hands around my neck as a slow song came on. "So whenever you look at it, you're reminded of how much I love you."
"I don't need to be reminded." I said while leaning in and kissing her gently. Her hands grasped my neck tighter as I tried to pull away, and I was pulled back into a deeper, more passionate kiss, one that was more desired than rehearsed.
I moaned as she brought herself out of the kiss and as she licked my bottom lip with her tongue. Nothing felt greater than being in her arms. Nothing.
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Aiden tried to approach me a few more times within the night, but each time I managed to pull Spencer close to me which made him back off. It was nearly time to go to the after party, so I was almost out of the woods on the whole Aiden front. I don't possibly know how he could tell me he loves me after the last few weeks I have been avoiding him, but I wasn't going to take any chances. As the girls collected all their purses and guys their coats we headed towards the limo awaiting for us out front. The guy from the basketball team was throwing the after party, normally I wouldn't be caught dead at a basketball player's house, besides Aiden and Glen's, but I figured it was prom so what the hell.
"So did you want to dance some more or are you all danced out, beautiful?"
"Let's take a break for awhile, my feet are killing me." Spencer replied, while grabbing onto my shoulder and she bent over and took off her shoes.
"I know something that involves you being off your feet." I whisper into her ear while nibbling on it a little.
"Mmm I could go for that, but I think I need I'm going to go grab us some drinks first, I'll be right back." Spencer says without me really thinking about her leaving me alone with Aiden somewhere around in the house.
While Spencer went to go get drinks, I was left alone on the edge of the dance floor. Aiden soon spotted me and headed towards me. Shit, this is not what I need right now. I tried to escape, but he had already caught my wrist by the time I had thought to run.
"Ashley, you've been avoiding me all night. What the hell? I want to talk to my best friend and you're running away every chance you get." He says while giving me that look in his eyes he used to when we were dating.
"No Aiden, I don't need this right now. Don't look at me like that, like before. It's not going to happen. I've seen the way you look at me the past month or so and I'm telling you right now, that I LOVE Spencer. I tried and tried to get you to back off because I saw you falling back in love with me, but you... confessing your love to me here at prom, IS NOT going to happen. I love you as a friend, Aiden, that's all. I am IN LOVE with Spencer and don't you dare even think I will doubt that. Go back to Kyla now, before she comes in here and sees me yelling at you."
"Ashley, wait! We need to talk about this." Aiden yelled trying to grab my arm as I dashed out the door.
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As I'm flying out the door, Aiden is running after me which only makes me run faster to the curb. I didn't want to have a fight with him publically in front of all these people, but he was giving me no choice not listening to me when I told him to go and find Kyla.
"LEAVE ME ALONE AIDEN!" I yell, trying not to get too angry, but it is way too late for that.
"Just let me say something!" He shouts back, gaining more ground on me and gathering a crowd of people outside the house. With the loud yelling, Spencer runs out of the house with two cups in her hands, obviously hearing one of the yelling voices to be mine.
"Ashley?"
"GO AWAY AIDEN!" I scream again, trying not to say anything beyond that.
"No, Ashley, not until we talk about this." Aiden says, lowering his voice as he caught up to me. He grabbed my arm and flung me back around so we were facing each other. "Ash..." He whispered as he gave me the look again and tried to cup my face with his hand before I slapped it away. Spencer had also caught up with us and was looking more confused than ever.
"Aiden, no." I simply said, still not wanting to elaborate more as he knew what I was telling him.
"What's going on you guys?" Spencer asked looking back and forth between the two of us.
"Nothing. Aiden is going to go back inside and find Kyla while I stay out here."
"Ashley... come on." He pleaded one more time, this time trying to grab my hand.
Thinking of nothing else, I turn to Spencer, grabbing her face and bringing her in aggressively into a kiss. I deepen it as much as she allows, knowing Aiden is standing right there staring at us. As we continue to passionately kiss, I hear the screeching of tires and pull away in curiosity.
"GET DOWN!" I hear as a car slows down and guns are pulled out from the windows and shots are fired.
The drive-by... how could I have forgotten?
"ASHLEY!"
Her angelic voice calling out my name would be the last thing I would hear before everything went black.
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