Sorry it's been so very long since I've updated this story- I kind of lost all inspiration. However, summer vacation has given me the time so I'm takin' it :] Thank you again to those who actually read this. If you get the chance, check out the song that is featured in this chapter (Fountain by Sara Lov) because it sure is a nice one. ;]

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"Fountain, fountain. We are the same. You with the water, and me with the pain, " Spencer wailed along to Sara Lov's, "Fountain", missing the pained expression upon her cat, Mikal's face.

She had been blasting the melancholy song over and over again for at least an hour, lounging on her couch and eating oh, so much junk. It simply was not pretty.

"Don't you wish you could throw your pennies back at them?" Spencer's voice was not quite on key and not quite at an appropriate volume. Her neighbor was expected to complain at any moment, a middle aged man whose tolerance for noise was not ideal.

Mikal was not the only one who had to suffer through her renditions of songs, as her neighbor had banged on the wall several times in the past in order to silence her.

I don't think anyone was disappointed when the phone began to ring and Spencer's song came to a halt.

She contemplated getting up to answer, but ultimately decided that there was no one she would want to be talking to at the moment.

After her own voice went through the generic "Leave me a message and I'll get back to you," Aiden's impatient voice entered the room,
thankfully not telling her that she was about to be a part of another double date.

"Hey Spence, I heard about what happened and I'm really sorry. There will be other jobs though. I know you were excited for this, but it'll be okay...which is why you and I are going out tonight and-"

Spencer was across the room and speaking into the phone remarkably fast. Her stubbornness outweighed her laziness.

"No, no, no, no," she interrupted, " Not tonight Aiden- just let me mourn [she was certain he had rolled his eyes at that] tonight and then tomorrow I can get over it."

"I can't even believe you didn't pick up the phone once you knew it was me," he whined.

"I...was...in the...shower," she tried lamely, but it came out more as a question than a fact.

"Mhmm. Whatever. Listen, be a girl and pig out on your couch-"

"That's NOT what I was doing," she argued hurriedly, clearly lying.

Spencer had a problem with accepting that he knew her all too well.

"Right then," he complied, "but tomorrow you're going to get back on that proverbial horse and take some pictures and do your job."

"I was just really looking forward to working with Lucas," she admitted sadly, finally voicing her disappointment.

"I know it." Aiden's voice has changed from stern to soft and comforting.

Lucas was an acclaimed photographer who had asked Spencer to work with him on a project. He hadn't even filled her in on the details of said project, but she had gotten her hopes up and they were crushed. He called earlier that day, giving her a legitimate excuse for why he was backing out on the plan, but she still felt betrayed.

After Spencer's conversation with Aiden had ended, she was feeling slightly better. Who needs Lucas?...is what her inner mantra became.

However, when her Mom (AKA Mrs. Carlin) called up overly concerned and overwhelming, the comforting words she had to give had a reverse effect.

"Mom! I'm really fine, " Spencer finally broke into her rant about 'being the best you can be.' -She was not certain how she got onto that topic, but to be fair she had been ignoring the woman for a while. "I mean, yeah, I am disappointed, but I'll get over it and it's not even a huge deal."

When that phone call was finally over, Spencer was relieved. Her relief was premature because Aiden called twice in a half hour just to check it.

He was a sweetheart and all, but it was borderline harassment.

So when her cell phone rang, Spencer didn't even bother to check the caller ID, waiting for Aiden's concerned voice. Before he could have the chance to speak she quickly sighed out, "You're sweet and all, but this is seriously getting obnoxious. Stop calling me!"

Her jaw dropped when the voice on the other line was revealed to be a husky female's chuckle rather than an annoying males...annoyingness.

"Aw shucks, you're gonna make me blush," Ashley gushed sarcastically.

"Ashley! I'm SO sorry. I thought you were Aiden!"

"I figured maybe you had already gotten sick of me, " she teased, letting Spencer know that she was not offended.

"Hm, not in the least bit," Spencer promised, suddenly quite chipper.

"Good, good...Alright, well, I was going to see what you were up to, but after that verbal assault, I'm not sure I even care."

"So dramatic!" Ashley's only response was an exaggerated gasp. "Yeah, you heard me."

"See if I ever call you again! In fact, I don't ever want to hear your voice or see you again, got that?" Ashley's fake angry voice was actually menacing enough for Spencer to make a mental note not to make her actually angry. She also noted that angry Ashley was still somehow adorable, but this note was discarded instantly.

"Soooo...wanna hang out tomorrow?," Spencer asked as if Ashley's rant had no bearing whatsoever.

"Sure," Ashley replied without missing a beat, her voice back to its usual friendliness.

Spencer giggled (which she herself found horrifying) at how absurd the other girl was. "Well... I was actually just asking that to prove that, despite your claims, you would jump at the chance to see or speak to me again," she explained.

"Oh..." Ashley said thoughtfully, "...Do you wanna hang out tomorrow?"

"Sure," Spencer replied happily.

"You know I was just asking you to prove that you're obsessed with me, right?" Ashley joked after they had already spent five minutes planning what they were doing the next day ( they would be going on a picnic- both were quite eager about this).

"Ashley?" Spencer asked slowly, voice serious.

"Yes, Spencer?"

"Want to hang out tomorrow?"

"Goodnight Spencer."

"Okay, then I'll see you tomorrow!"

She only hung up when Ashley's soft laughter was cut off.