For the longest time, Spencer and Aria's conversation had simmered down to requests to pass one another things, but once everything was half-packed, the two girls took a little break for sustenance. Spencer boiled a pot of water and threw some linguine in while Aria shelled some king prawns. They refrained from switching the tv on - a habit developed during their high school days when every other week they'd wish to avoid the local news for one reason or another- and instead put on some music.
Aria picked an old rockabilly spotify playlist and reached her hand out for Spencer to take. Spencer lip synched into her wooden spoon as she took her friend's hand and started swing dancing with her through the kitchen. The Hastings house filled up with laughter and cheer, Elvis, and prawns, and as Spencer finished her rendition of "All Shook Up", she and Aria settled down into a comfortable silence which was broken over dinner when Aria asked the dreaded question that's been playing on her lips all day.
Emboldened by Spencer's high spirits, and the second glass of wine, she finally caved in and asked.
"I know this is out of line, but why exactly did you let her go, Spence? I mean, it's clear you still love her. I know you're acting like you don't, for Emily's sake but I can tell from the way you handled yourself in the barn that you didn't want to let her go, so why did you do it?"
"Isn't it obvious? I did it for Em. She was hers first and it wasn't right of me to step in the way I did."
"Yeah but they weren't together. You had no way of knowing that she'd want her back. That she was even still in love with her. It's not on you, Spence!"
"Maybe, but it still doesn't change anything."
"Let me ask you this though: In all your self effacing did you ever stop to think what Paige might have liked?
"She'll be happy with Emily"
"But does she WANT Emily or does she want to be with you?"
"I'm sure she wants to be with Emily"
"But how can you be sure if you've never asked her?"
"I did ask her!"
"But she didn't say she wanted to be with Emily, did she?"
"Maybe not, but she sure as hell didn't say she wanted to be with me! If she did, she should have just said and I would've fought for her. But she doesn't want me, Aria. How would she? She's in love with Em."
"Maybe she didn't exactly pick you but she didn't pick Em either. There's still hope, I just don't see why you're throwing in the towel."
"Because I should've never entered the ring in the first place. What was I thinking? It's Paige and Emily. That's like-"
"Hanna and Caleb?"
"Wow. You went there, huh?"
"Well, you went there first." Aria smirked. Spencer gulped down the rest of her wine and re-filled her glass. She had a feeling Aria was not going to leave things at that. She buckled down and got ready for a long night.
