Thank you all again for the reviews xxxx

Chapter 7

Spencer had gone straight home after leaving Ashley's even though it took all of strength to not turn around to go back there. She knew that telling Ashley that she wanted to kiss her was a mistake because she recognised that hopefully look in her mesmerizing eyes. Spencer couldn't wait for the Christmas break so she could have some time to put this behind her and carry on with her life. As she pulled up to drive she noticed that Tyler's car wasn't on the drive way and the house looked deserted which was a change but then again it was 11pm.

Walking through her building site of a house Spencer couldn't help but think about what Ashley had said to her about being selfish which was something she had never really done. Making her parents happy was always a high priority for Spencer but they never really showed the same consideration especially her Mother. Moving her from state to state made Spencer's teenage years a living hell but then she met Aiden and he made it all better which is why she keeps him around dispite his pure hatred for her boyfriend. At first she thought it may have been jealousy but Spencer knew it ran deeper than that but Aiden always kept the bad stuff from her. Picking up her cell phone Spencer rang Tyler to find out where he was only to get no answer which annoyed her more than anything. She eventually gave up on the day and went to bed hoping that tomorrow would be a better day or least less stressful.

Arriving at school Spencer knew she would have to deal with Ashley and had already decided to use to denial her main tactic. She watched as Bailey ran into the play area followed by a hungover looking Ashley. Spencer admired the girls fantastic figure that was truely complimented by the skinny jeans she was wearing. Remembering where she was and who she was looking Spencer composed herself and put on her best teacher face.

"Hey Miss Carlin" Ashley greeted with a hug smile on her face which caught Spencer off guard after what had happened last night.

"Ermm hi Ashley how you doing?" Spencer replied not really knowing what to say to the bright and bubbly girl in front of her.

"Yea I'm great thanks....Bailey's Mom will be doing the school run from now on so I'm officially excused from getting up at the ass crack of dawn"

"You not a morning person?"

"Apparently not but I find that copius amounts of coffee helps" Ashley replied holding her starbucks cup up for Spencer to see although the girl just looked confused.

"So you around for the holidays?"

"I think I'll be around for some of it, you know for Bailey but then I might go stay with some friends in New York for new year"

"I hear it's amazing there on new years" Spencer finally said rather lamely she thought to herself as she searched Ashley's happy expression for any emotion other than what could only be described as cheer.

"Yea...anyway I've gotta go meet a friend. Have a nice holiday Miss Carlin" Ashley gave a slight wave to Spencer and then one to Bailey as she got into her car speeding off leaving Spencer speechless. She didn't know how she felt about Ashley's apathy, in a way it made things easier but it made Spencer consider the fact that maybe Ashley just wasn't that interested. Either way Spencer wasn't happy and she was more confused now than she was last night as she sat at home wanting Ashley but waiting for her boyfriend that never came home.

The end of school finally arrived which meant a few weeks off for Spencer and also the joy of Christmas. She watched as one after another parents arrived for the children and she secretly prayed that nobody came for Bailey again so she could take him home and talk to Ashley but she spotted his Mother that she had only met a few times. She looked similar to Ashley but more all american and less sexy.

"Hey little man come here" Bailey's mother called as she spotted the young boy who had clearly missed his Mother.

"Hi Miss Carlin sorry I'm late but my plane was delayed" Miss Davies said as Bailey climbed all over her.

"Don't worry about it"

"Yea Ashley didn't come at all yesterday"Bailey added with a giggle.

"What?"Miss Davies added clearly annoyed.

"Yea she was sick so I just took Bailey home. Did Ashley not tell you?"

"I haven't seen my sister yet but I may kill her when I do"

"I don't want to get involved but she was quite upset so maybe save the anger for another time" Spencer suggested.

"Oh God have you two...you know"

"No...we're just friends....well we're not even friends really. I have a boyfriend" Spencer answered feeling quite embarrased.

"Okay well have a nice holiday Miss Carlin"

"Oh Miss Davies... Bailey has left his Christmas gift in the classroom"

"Please call me Kyla...Bails go grab you Christmas gift please so we can go home and hurt Aunt Ashley" Kyla said with a smile getting a high five from her son.

"Ok Kyla...have a nice holiday and you be good Bailey"

"Bye Miss Carlin"

Spencer watched as the small family walked off and hoped that Kyla didn't think anything did happen between her and Ashley. Getting into her car to head home Spencer was stoppsed by her cell going off again looking at the caller i.d she rolled her eyes.

"Glad you're alive"

"My phone died baby"Tyler moaned into the phone clearly expecting the verbal bashing.

"Then why did it ring out?"

"I don't know sweetheart"

"Where were you?"

"I stayed at my place...figured you weren't coming home"

"Well I came home because I missed you which you would've known if you had answered your goddamn phone"

"Look I'm sorry Spencer....how about I come over tonight and we can do something?"Tyler offered more out of duty than dedication.

"Sure...meet you at mine"

"Love you"

"Yea you too" Spencer lied as she dropped her phone hating herself for been so stupid and gullible but her self pity was interrupted once again by her cell ringing making her roll her eyes again.

"Hello"

"Hi Honey where are you?"

"I'm trying to leave work Mom"

"Well you're supposed to be meeting me at the mall remember?"

"That doesn't sound like something I would agree to"

"Well I left a voicemail on your machine at home...I guess if you were there rather than at Aiden's then you would get your messages"

"Leaving a voicemail on my machine doesn't mean that I've agreed to something"

"Well I'm here waiting for you so you may aswell come now"

"Why do you want to meet at the mall?"

"So we can go Christmas shopping together like we used to"

"Have you not heard of amazon?"

"Look Spencer I haven't seen you and I would like to so we can make arrangements for the holidays"

"Alright....fine I'll come but I'm not staying long"

"Wonderful I'll be at the front"

Spencer wanted to scream in frustration but the few parents, teachers and pupils on the premisis stopped her but only just. She headed over to the mall where she was meant to be meeting her Mother for their mystery shopping trip but Spencer was already dreading the outting and really just wanted to hide away from the world. Walking into the over lit building she spotted her Mother stood beneath a sign for a store but this wasn't any normal store this was a bridal store. Spencer felt the anger and dread building inside her and she tried to push it down.

"Spencer sweetie...finally"Paula moaned as she air kissed her daughter.

"Yea well I'm here now... so where do you wanna go?"

"Well I was thinking we could just pop in here....just to look not that there will be a reason why you should look" Paula replied clearly knowing something that was surely going to make Spencer's life more painful than it already was.

"Jesus Christ Mother....is Tyler going to propose?"

"Don't swear and I'm not giving away the surprise"

"Well considering we're standing outside a bridal shop a week before Christmas I would say you've already given away the surprise"

"I'm sorry Spencer but I was so excited and so is Tyler"

"This is ridiculous"

"Why?"

"Because I don't want marry him...I don't even think I ever want to get married"

"Don't be silly of course you do...every normal girl wants to get married"

"Well colour me abnormal because I have no inclination to get married" Spencer yelled as she stormed off leaving her mother dumbfounded outside the bridal shop. Spencer power walked back to her car huffing and puffing at the joke that is her life hoping that her one saviour was at home or at least willing help her forget that everything sucks this much.

"Hey Spence"

"Aid my life has become a joke in the past week and I need saving please"

"What's happened?"

"Oh I just met mommy dearest to do some shopping and she decided to let me know that Tyler is going to propose to me"

"What?"

"Yea she tricked me into meeting her and then made me meet her outside a bridal shop"

"Wow she just gets crazier"

"Can I come over?"

"Erm not right now but I'll meet you at Gray in an hour?"

"Ok strange boy....I guess I'll go home....oh wait I don't have a home because my so called boyfriend has taken over it and turned it into a fucking bombsite. Oh yea and then there's Ashley...."

"What about Ashley?"

"She's acting all ok and fine....but I told her that I couldn't be around her last night and then today she was all fine and cool and hot...."

"Maybe she was just trying to save her pride"

"Or maybe she was using me to entertain herself while she was here"

"Look you focus on driving and we'll discuss Ashley later....oh by the way look hot when you meet me" Aiden added as he turned laughing to the other person in his apartment.

"Dude she so likes you" Aiden shouted as he high fived Ashley.

"How can you tell?"

"Trust me I speak great girl thanks to Spencer but there is a slight issue that may work in our favour"

"What?"

"Tyler's going to propose to her"

"What? How's that a good thing?"

"Well she's already screwing about it plus she doesn't really believe in marriage"

"This is madness" Ashley exclaimed as she took another sip of her beer not really understanding why she was getting involved in this mess.

"Look I love Spencer and I just want her to be happy which is never going to happen unless she finally gets rid of this loser. I know you like her Ashley so you can either come to Gray tonight or just give up"

"I'll see you there" Ashley finally said leaving the apartment calling her sister as she got into her car.

"Hey Little Sister"

"You're dead" Kyla snapped straight away.

"I've missed you too"

"You didn't show up to pick up Bailey from school?"

"Who told you that?"

"Bailey but don't worry his teacher tried her darndest to cover for you. Oh yea stop fucking his teacher please"

"I'm not fucking her...trust me when I say that. She just helped me out and I'm sorry about Bailey but Mom really upset me"

"Did you drink?"

"Yes but I went straight to AA today and I have a sponser here now. I'm sorry Ky I know you trusted me and everything"

"Look don't worry about he's fine and his teacher said how great you are with him"

"Let me make it up to you?"

"How?"

"Let me take you out tonight?"

"Ash I have a child I can't just go out whenever I feel like it"

"Yes you can I've arranged with Tanya to look after him so you have no excuse plus you've had a tough few weeks so you deserve it"

"Ok as long as you don't drink"

"Promise"

3 hours later and Spencer had made herself feel better with a bottle of wine and nice make up. She was heading into Gray to meet Aiden who was sat at the bar already chatting up a girl who Spencer recognised from around town.

"Hey sexy...wanna buy me a drink?" Spencer whispered to Aiden making him smirk.

"Sure but do you promise to put out?"

"Oh yea for sure" Spencer giggled as the girl scampered away.

"Smooth Carlin....what you drinking?"

"Everything"

"Apparently so...hey Joe can I get two vodka and cranberry please" Aiden ordered passing one to Aiden.

"Oh my god"Aiden said quite loudly. Spencer followed his gaze to where Ashley and Kyla were walking into the club.

"Shit...did you arrange this?" Spencer asked angrily pointing towards the two sisters who looked as if they were having the same conversation.

"That's Kyla"

"Yea it's Ashley's sister"

"That's the Kyla.....from high school" Aiden explained as every emotion rushed through his veins.

"You didn't say she had a sister"

"She didn't go to our school and they never got on"

"Well lets go say hi" Spencer said dragging her best friend over to the Davie's sisters.

"Hey Guyssssss....apparently you both no Aiden here" Spencer slurred not picking up on how pale Kyla had gone all of a sudden.

"Aiden....it's been a while" Kyla said firstly ignoring Spencer.

"Yea....you look great Kyla" Aiden replied genuinely.

"Hey Spencer why don't we go get some drinks?" Ashley asked picking up on the 'leave us alone vibe' that both Aiden and Kyla were giving off.

"So you're drunk?" Ashley noted once she was away from her sister and Aiden.

"You're smart"

"What's up?"

"Nothing"

"Liar"

"Tyler's going to propose to me" Spencer announced clinking two glasses together in faux celebration.

"Congratulations"

"Congratulations?"Spencer asked confused by the other girls reaction.

"An engagement is a good thing right?"

"Yea..you're right...I just can't wait"

"Thanks for trying to cover for me today"

"What do you mean?"

"Kyla said that Bailey dropped me in it about yesterday but she said that you made a very noble effort to defend me"

"Yea I didn't think she believed me but I'm lame at lying so it's not my fault"

"So why aren't you at home with your soon to be fiance?"

"He's busy with work stuff"

"Liar"

"How do you know I'm lying?"

"Because your eyes flicker like crazy when you lie....just a little but I noticed it the other day"

"What else have you noticed?"

"That when you're nervous you play with your fingers"

"What else?"

"You watch my lips when I talk"

"I do not"

"You so do....look you're doing it now" Ashley giggled pointing out with her fingers.

"Well you have nice lips" Spencer confessed without even realising the words had left her mouth but she didn't feel embarrased or regretful that she had said it.

"My lips are very happy that you've noticed" Ashley smiled.

"Good I'm glad....so what's the deal with those two?"

"You don't know their saga?"

"Well I met Aiden just after they broke up...in fact we went on a date"

"You two dated?"

"No we went on one date that my brother set up and it was horrible but that's how I met my best friend. Anyway he told me that she just left and cut off all contact with him" Spencer explained as she watched her best friend interact with Kyla.

"They were great together but we moved a few towns over and she thought it would be best for Aiden to move on so she called it off. She was heartbroken but she thought she was doing the best thing for both of them"

Spencer suddenly realised that she wasn't listening to a word Ashley was saying because as pointed out by Ashley she was watching her perfect lips as she spoke.

"Earth to Spencer....hey pretty girl" Ashley shouted waving her hands about trying to get Spencer's attention.

"I'm sorry.....I just"

"What?"

"I really want to kiss you" Spencer announced once again with no regret which mostly induced with ducth courage.

"Then kiss me" Ashley encouraged moving closer to the girl that she had spent the last few days constantly thinking about. Spencer leaned in and pressed her lips against Ashley's tasting the sweetness of her lipgloss, taking in the bubble gum scent of her hair. Spencer didn't want this kiss to end but whoever was pulling on her arm had other ideas.