A/N: So here's another update. I was feeling really uninspired today, but then I read Ambeezy's and ItsMeCharlee's review for the last chapter and it got me out of my funk, so thanks guys. I really do appreciate all the feedback you give me :)

Ambeezy: The girls' personalities aren't really based on one person, but more like bits and pieces from some of my friends. Ashley's tree-talking habit was made up though, so yeah. I just thought it went well with the Ashley I had in mind.

Disclaimer:I don't own the show or the characters.

Spencer's POV

My mom dropped me off at school and waved me goodbye. I was still in a good mood from yesterday and it definitely showed, judging by the way Madison was looking at me.

"Did you get laid last night?" Madison asked bluntly, her eyes sweeping my body.

"What? No! Why would you even think that?" I shrieked, quickly walking to my locker.

"Because you, chica .." She pointed a finger at me, "… have some weird glow on you."

I rolled my eyes. "Just because I'm glowing doesn't mean that I had sex."

Madison was very experienced in the sex department. I wouldn't call her a slut because, well, she's my friend and I kinda liked having her around. But truth was, she got around - a lot.

"People don't glow that bright if they didn't have sex, hell, people don't glow unless they had sex." Madison stated with a 'duh' look on her face.

I opened my lockers and got out my books, trying to waste time so the Latina would drop the subject.

Oh god if I looked like this because I spent a small part of my day with Ashley yesterday, I would be the fucking sun if I actually spent a whole day with her as friends.

I closed my locker and turned back around to Madison. Her eyebrows were raised and a smirk was in place.

"Shut up, I did not have sex last night and that is not for up for argument. Now come on, we're gonna be late for our first class." I linked arms with Madison and dragged her down the hall.

I just finished my lunch and I'm now making my way to Music class. After Madison and I went to our first class together, she wouldn't let up on the sex talk. It felt like that awkward sex talk your parents give you. I shivered in disgust at the memory.

I walked into the room and saw that I wasn't the only one in there. Two of the other pairs already arrived and the teacher was writing on the board.

"This won't take too long. From now on, the other students who are working with me will go directly to the other music room, as will I. The 4 pairs will still come to this class and work on the lesson I planned for you. Don't think that you can fool around because there will be teachers checking in on you." She said pointing at Valerie and Melissa. She picked up her suitcase and walked out of the room.

As the teacher left the class, Ashley walked in. She stomped all the way towards me and left her guitar against a desk. I tried to smile at her but all that got me was a scowl.

"What the fuck is this!?" She nearly shrieked, pulling out the hat I returned the day before. I was confused for a second until she showed me the band on the inside of the hat.

Sometimes you put walls up not to keep people out, but to see who cares enough to break them down. - S.C.

Oh.

I looked down towards my hands. "Uh, I kinda wrote that during last period yesterday ..." I explained.

I couldn't help myself. I was in Philosophy class and they were talking about the mysteries of life. Ashley was a mystery. According to my teacher, a mystery was something that was difficult to understand and explain. Yup, just like Ashley. I was thinking about how she isolated herself to the point that she didn't crave contact with anyone else. But then I got to thinking to why she even wanted to isolate herself in the first place. The curiosity overpowered my brain which led me to ask my teacher one question: 'Why would anyone choose to be alone?'. His answer was simply, "It doesn't matter if they choose to be alone, just know that no one wants to be alone'.

"I don't care when you wrote it! I only care that you wrote something in the first place!" She fumed.

Woah, I didn't think she'd get this upset over what I wrote. I was just trying to tell her that I wanted to be her friend, that I wanted to get to know her.

I took a deep breath. "I was just try-"

"You know what? Just don't write on any of my hats again." She grumbled. She grabbed her guitar and walked to the corner.

I followed her and took a seat in front of her.

"Look I'm really sorry about what I wrote ... I didn't think it would upset you so much." I apologized, looking at her anger-clouded eyes.

"I already told you. I don't give a damn about what you wrote. I care that you even wrote on it." She gritted through her teeth.

She didn't seem to acknowledge what I wrote, but continued to mumble on about the fact that I vandalized her hat. I didn't know if she ignored the message on purpose or if she just didn't understand it.

"Wait a minute, did you even read it?" I asked her. There was no way that she didn't read that. It was kinda hard to miss.

Her eyes looked away as she clenched her fists. "It. Doesn't. Matter. What. You. Wrote. That's the last time I'm saying it," she growled.

"What I wrote was a message. You know for a fact that it matters because it means that someone might possibly want to be around you." I informed her.

She sat there glaring at me.

My eyes narrowed at her in confusion. "I don't know why you won't let anyone in. I'm trying here but you won't let me budge." I accused her, letting my thoughts out.

Her eyebrows scrunched together, looking like she was taken back by what I said.

She quickly composed herself and looked me right in my eyes. "Look Spencer, you don't know anything about me so don't go around acting like you do. I don't know what your motive was with writing that on my hat, but it means nothing to me. Got it?" She fumed.

"Just give me a goddamn chance, Ashley! I don't know where you got the idea that being friends with someone was so horrible or how being alone beats having someone to lean on." I shot out.

I saw something flash in her eyes then quickly disappear - guilt.

"You know what, I've had enough of this," she mumbled as she grabbed her stuff and headed for the door.

Oh no you're not.

I quickly ran after her and grabbed her arm, swinging her around to face me.

She didn't say anything and just stood still. I sighed, running my other hand through my hair.

"I meant what I wrote. I will break down your walls. One way or another, no matter how long it takes." I promised, looking directly into her eyes.

Her brown eyes softened for a few seconds before clouds of fear and anger covered them up.

She clenched her jaw and removed my hand, looking like it hurt her to touch me. She then turned around and walked out the door.

It was 6:00 pm and I already knew why Ashley didn't show up. After today, it wasn't so much of a surprise.

Deciding to get some fresh air, I grabbed a sweater and walked out the front door. I noticed it was a bit chilly, with a small breeze blowing through the air.

I continued to walk down my porch when the sight I saw stopped me in my tracks. My jaw dropped as I squinted my eyes.

Ashley sat there faced towards the tree on my front lawn, her back to me, with the guitar by her side.

I can't believe she actually came.

I carefully made my way over to her, acting like I was walking on ice - which I kind of was. One step in the wrong direction and I'll fall right through before I even get to know the real her.

I sat down beside her, and started pulling grass from the ground. It was a nervous habit.

"Hey ..." I said quietly, taking in her appearance. Her clothes were wrinkled and clung to her body. "...How long have you been out here?"

No answer. She sat there in silence, playing with the grass. I watched her close her eyes and take a deep breath.

"This doesn't mean anything ..." She said weakly, focusing her eyes on the tree in front of her, "... I'm just here to teach you today's lesson," she whispered. She sounded like she was trying to convince herself than me.

I used two of my fingers to turn her face towards me so that I could see her eyes.

I dropped my hand and nodded my head, giving her a small smile. "You have my full attention."

A/N: Tell me what you thought about this chapter. What you liked, what you didn't like, what you want to see happen between them. Whatever you feel like spilling, please do.