Spencer was feeling a little under the weather today. She'd woken up sniffing and coughing but she was determined not to let that get in the way of her daily duties. She washed her face, put on a warm sweater and ate her breakfast before finally bracing herself and boldly entering the Barn in her backyard.
It was chilly. The place had fallen into disuse after Melissa went back to England and her renovation plans were stalled with Paige's absconding. They were going to spruce up the place together and move in there for good. They'd get to be close to Spencer's parents and call 'shotgun' on the barn during family get-togethers. They were gonna make love on the loft and skinny dip in the pool on quiet nights. But that's all gone now.
Spencer reminded herself of what they say about 'the best laid plans of mice and men' as she braved the chilly barn's embrace. She tentatively put one foot on the ladder, adding a little pressure and checking if it can handle any weight. She wasn't sure if there was termite damage, and if there was, it'd be too dangerous to test the loft, but she was determined to get this over with today.
In retrospect, she should have checked the dampness as well before heading up, because not even two rungs up, she slipped, her foot going through the ladder and tipping her off balance, the ladder tackling her to the ground. She had to laugh at her misfortune. To add insult to injury, a few moments later, she heard a distinct 'clap clap clap' of footsteps and the distinct laugh of one of her three best friends.
"Aria? What are you doing here?"
"Thought I'd come visit my best friend while I'm out here" Aria smiled. "What are you up to, Spence?"
Spencer sighed. She didn't want to dwell on this, just do it and move on. "When Paige and I... when Paige was living with me, we put some of her things in storage in the loft part of the barn. I figured now that she's no longer living here, I'd mail them along to her."
"Spencer, your nose is dripping like a faucet. I'm sure packing Paige's belongings can wait a day or two." Aria tried to discourage her old friend from rushing into things in the state she's in but she knew it'd fall on deaf ears. Spencer is almost as stubborn as Emily.
"I can't have these things be here while she's over there with her. I can't have any part of her. It's not right. I have to give her back. I mean, I have to give her things back."
Aria took the taller woman in. She had clearly not been sleeping well, which for Spencer wasn't saying much -she was sure she majored in insomnia- but there was something different about this exhaustion. It was kind of like Spencer just gave up. Like she lost whatever battle she was fighting. She didn't know how to help the other woman feel better so she did the only thing she knew how and offered her her help in packing Paige's belongings away. Spencer smiled a rare smile and gave her a warm hug. Aria couldn't stop whatever Spencer was feeling, but at least she could make sure she wasn't going through it alone.
"So where do you want me to put that blouse?" she asked, picking a discarded blouse off the floor. Spencer smiled again and pointed at a luggage bag she'd hauled in from the main house. They worked in silence for a while, Spencer trying to detach herself from the task at hand and speed through it while Aria stole furtive glances at her friend.
