"Ashley, wait up!" Sean called from down the hall, the next day, in between second and third period.
Ashley grumbled angrily, but stopped nonetheless, turning to watch Sean approach.
She pulled on a false smile when he was close enough to see her clearly.
"Ah, I'm glad I caught you. I've been meaning to talk to you all morning."
"Oh, I'm sure," Ashley grumbled.
"So, I guess Spencer told you that she and I are…"
"Going out tonight, yeah," Ashley interrupted, sharply. "Did you come to brag about it or something?"
Sean struggled not to laugh at her tone. "No, no. I just wanted to know if you're okay with it."
Ashley's jaw flexed angrily, "Why wouldn't I be okay with it?"
"Well," began Sean, "I know it's weird when two of your friends start dating, and I mean, I always thought you sort of had a thing for Spencer."
"No, I'm fine with it," said Ashley, stubbornly, "I mean, whatever makes you two happy. I don't have a thing for her, so, you know, I hope you have a good time tonight."
"So, you have no problem with it?" Sean asked.
"No, now just drop it," Ashley snapped, her face drooping into a frown.
"Oh," said Sean, as the two began walking, "well, then I guess it wouldn't hurt to ask.."
"Ask what?"
"Well," Sean rubbed his wrist nervously, "I'm really nervous about tonight. I've never really gone on a serious date with someone I've liked so much so, uh, I thought you might tag along for moral support."
"Are you serious?!" Ashley almost laughed, but was still in too sour of a mood. " No way in hell. I'm not being your third wheel. If you're so scared, you should've thought about that before asking her!"
"I know, I know," said Sean, "but I didn't think about it before, plus I never thought she'd say yes... Oh come on, Ashley, do this for a friend. Please."
Ashley was going to tell him to go to hell when a wonderful idea entered her mind. If she agreed, she'd totally have a reason to spy on Sean and Spencer! She couldn't pass this up, but she also couldn't let Sean on to her plan.
"Fine," Ashley said, crossing her arms across her chest, " What do you want me to do?"
"Well, I'm going to take her to a movie. All you have to do is hide in the background and make sure I don't wimp out."
"Alright… when do you want me there?"
"Seven o'clock. Edward's. I'll pay for your ticket; just make sure you stay out of Spencer's sight. Girl, I owe you so majorly for this."
--
"I hope you understand, Sean, but I have feelings for somebody else," Spencer practiced, driving to the movie theater.
"Oh, man," said Spencer, hitting her head against the steering wheel on a red light, "I hope I don't hurt his feelings."
Five minutes later – seven on the dot – and Spencer was there.
Things started off normal enough, exactly the way Spencer had suspected. There was no awkwardness. The only thing that really bothered Spencer was this strange smirk that kept appearing on Sean's face. She kept asking him what was up, but he never gave her a straight answer.
As the movie progressed, another thing began to bother her. It was the most asinine, half-baked comedy she'd ever seen. It wasn't entertaining or funny in the least, and it was increasingly difficult to pay attention to the screen.
The only person paying less attention to the movie was the grumpy brunette hiding out in the back of the theater.
"Well, at least they seem to be enjoying themselves," Ashley grumbled, under her breath, "God, why am I even here?"
Sean leaned over and whispered, as not to disturb the other four people viewing the unpopular movie, "Hey, Spence, do you want something to eat?"
"I thought you'd never ask," Spencer said, patting her stomach, "I'm starving."
"I thought you might be," said Sean, pulling a twenty out of his pocket and handing it to Spencer, "Knock yourself out, and, hey, pick me up a drink while you're at it."
Spencer stared at him as if he'd grown three heads, "Um, maybe I'm old-fashioned, but isn't the guy supposed to do that?"
Sean shrugged, "Normally, I would. But it's just getting to the good part."
"Okay..." Spencer stood up and headed for the exit, somewhat glad for the chance to escape the awful film.
A broad grin made its way across Sean's face. Well, until he spotted the screen. "Damn, this movie really does suck."
He turned around and, upon spotting Ashley sulking in the back, waved her over.
"Ugh, what does he want now?" Ashley asked aloud, mostly to herself, "As if just showing up wasn't enough…"
Ashley walked over to where Sean was sitting, somewhere near the middle of the theater, and took a seat next to him reluctantly. "What is it?"
Sean ignored her irritated tone; "I need you to save my seat while I run to the bathroom."
"Save your seat?" Ashley looked around the theater incredulously, "There's nobody else here!"
"You're probably right," Sean admitted, "but I don't want to chance it. I'll be right back, I swear."
"But what if Spencer comes back?"
"I'll be back before she is," Sean promised.
"Fine, but hurry up!"
Five minutes later there was still no sign of Sean. Ashley was starting to grow impatient. "Be right back my ass! What did he do, fall in and drown?!"
Just as she said that, a dark form finally weeded back over to the seat next to her. Assuming it was Sean, Ashley didn't waste as second voicing her displeasure, "It's about friggin' time!"
Her eyes widened when an angry female voice answered her.
"Well, excuse me…wait, Ashley?!"
"Spencer! I...um… damnit…"
"What the hell are you doing here? Were you spying on us?"
"No! No, no! You, see… Sean…ughh…" Ashley blushed.
Spencer placed her drink in a cup holder and a giant bag of popcorn in her chair before crossing her arms across her chest and giving Ashley a stern glare, emulating her mother full-on. "What are you doing here?"
Ashley bit her lip and sunk down a little, and when she finally did answer, it was rushed and nervous: "Well, um, I… Sean was really nervous about going out with you and he asked me to tag along to make sure he didn't chicken out and he asked me to save his seat 'cause he had to pee and he said he'd be back before you would but he was obviously wrong…."
"I see," Spencer said slowly, not quite sure if she bought the story. She picked up her popcorn and took a seat.
"Wait," said Spencer, thoughtfully, "If he was going to the toilets, then why didn't he get his own soda?"
"Well, maybe he…"
The girls' eyes widened simultaneously. Ashley was the first to voice her anger.
"Oh, that little…"
"We've been had!"
In the meantime, Sean was exiting the building, whistling smugly.
"I can't believe he did this," said Spencer, shaking her head.
"We both should've seen this coming. That Sean is devious… This is just his style."
The girls sat for a moment, admiring his ingenuity.
"Why did he pick such a shitty movie, though?" Spencer wondered aloud.
"Probably because he knew we wouldn't stay and watch it," said Ashley, smiling and standing up. She offered a hand to Spencer, which was happily accepted.
Ashley pulled Spencer up.
"So, wanna come grab a bite to eat with me?"
Spencer smiled widely, "hell yeah. You know, I think I've been seriously neglecting you lately."
Ashley gave Spencer a strange look, swinging their clasped hands as they exited the theater, "I think it's been sort of mutual," she admitted.
"Yeah, well, no more. I miss hanging out at your house."
"Hanging out?" Ashley grinned, fishing her keys out of her purse, "Dorkus, you practically live there."
"Well, I like it that way," said Spencer, taking her seat.
"Me too," said Ashley, meeting Spencer's gaze. Their smiles widened.
Spencer looked away suddenly, blushing a little. Ashley got the message and started the car, quickly navigating them to a small café.
"So, how was your date with Sean?" Ashley teased.
"You know, it wasn't so bad," Spencer admitted, "but I was going to let him off easy at the end, anyway."
"Ooh yeah?" said Ashley, scooting into a booth. "Why's that?"
"Well, I sort of like somebody else," Spencer said, her cheeks flushing.
"Aw, Spence, who's the lucky guy?"
Spencer's blush deepened.
"It's not Aiden, is it?"
Spencer shook her head, "No way. No offense or anything."
Ashley laughed, "I like girls, you can't expect me to have good taste in guys…"
There was an uncomfortable silence and the waiter came and took their orders.
"Um," said Spencer nervously. Ashley looked up and, for the second time in the night, brown eyes met blue ones.
"You know, you have gorgeous eyes, Spence," said Ashley, quietly, "I don't think I've ever seen that shade of blue before. I, I guess I feel a little honored that they're looking at me. Has anyone every told you that before?
Spencer looked down again, blushing, "Yeah, but not anybody who's opinion mattered,"
"Does my opinion matter?" asked Ashley before taking a sip if her water.
"Maybe," said Spencer, smiling playfully.
"Hey, I got a 'maybe'. That's a lot more than I expected," Ashley joked.
"Well then maybe you don't expect enough from yourself."
Just then, both girls ran out of things to say. It was as if they realized what they had been doing and became shy all of the sudden. Not that either girl was sorry about it. In fact, they were both a little thankful that Sean had set them up.
"Wanna go for a walk or something?"
Ashley nodded and paid the bill. Spencer waited outside impatiently. When Ashley finally made it outside, there was a moment of hesitation between the two girls. Ashley didn't let it bother her, though; instead, she took Spencer's hand into hers and the two walked off into the night.
"Um, Ashley," Spencer said, breaking the comfortable silence.
"Yes, Spencer?"
"Um.. I… nevermind," Spencer lowered her head.
"Spencer, what is it?" Ashley said, glancing over at Spencer.
"It's nothing," she said, somewhat ashamed of herself.
"Spencer," Ashley said, irritation mounting, "I know it's not nothing. You've been standoff-ish all night. Why won't you tell me?"
"I'm sorry," said Spencer.
"Don't be," said Ashley, "just tell me what's wrong."
Spencer shook her head and, using their clasped hands, pulled Ashley to a halt. The two faced each other.
"No, no. I'm sorry… for not facing this sooner. I… I noticed that you had feelings for me a long time ago and…well, it's just that… I'm…"
"Not interested, I know," said Ashley, sullenly.
"No, it's not that," said Spencer, feeling terribly brave, "I lied to you earlier, Ashley. This is still so new to me, though. I'm terrified… of the way I'm feeling, I mean."
"The way you're feeling?" asked Ashley, shakily.
"I've never gone through this before, Ashley…And usually, when I go through something huge like this, I have my family to talk to." Spencer shook her head, smiling weakly, "God knows I can't talk to them about this. So, what I'm trying to say is that… I really like you, but I need to figure this all out, so if you could just wait a little longer…"
Ashley didn't even need time to think about it.
"Okay," she agreed, "I can wait for you, but you should know by now I'm not the patient type."
"Don't I know it," Spencer giggled, "Thanks for listening, I really needed to get that off my chest."
"Oh, it's a load of my shoulders too," said Ashley.
She didn't wait for a response before covering Spencer's lips with her own.