So this is just basically Chapter 9 but from Spencer's point of view. I thought it'd be good to get both views on such a soft and intimate moment. Hope you guys like it! Oh and thank you for all the reviews, you're amazing people!

Spencer's POV

I could hear the sound of shifting beside me. I figured that Ashley must've been having some trouble sleeping.

Back home in Ohio whenever I slept over a friend's house I'd always sleep in the same bed as them not even giving it a second thought. But lying beside Ashley felt different. It wasn't bad different but I wasn't sure if it was good different either.

There was definitely something about her that brought out a much more confident side to me. I was truly glad I had someone like her in my life. And I know that I had Aiden, but he was a guy, and sometimes he just didn't understand certain things.

I kept my breathing even so Ashley could get as much peace as she could, but unfortunately I don't think that it helped her. And, although I'm sure she tried to stifle her soft sighs, they were still audible and still conveyed that something was bothering her.

I didn't like the idea of my fast-becoming best friend being down or troubled over anything. Ashley was a good person, and our first meeting was proof of that where she let me use the bathroom before herself.

I was an excellent judge of character and I could tell that Ashley was a good person straight away; I just think that maybe she gets a little lost sometimes. She was one of those people with good intentions but unsure of the steps towards them.

I decided to take the laid back approach to figuring out what was bothering her. After all maybe she'd feel better if I made a joke out of it, you know to try and lighten the situation.

"Ashley turn it down" I said in reference to her thinking overload. I wasn't sure of the exact time because the alarm clock was on Ashley's side of the bed, but I knew it was late, and thinking that much at ridiculous o'clock in the morning was surely not good for you.

A few minutes passed and I wasn't sure if she was deaf of just ignoring me. So I decided to try my luck again. "Ashley, I know you can hear me. Turn it down please."

To punctuate my point I turned over and looked directly at the side of her face. She was busy staring at the ceiling, I wasn't too sure why though, they're not that great.

She eventually let her gaze fix onto my face and asked "Spencer, are you awake?" Her voice was slightly hoarse and I think it may have been because she hadn't spoken in a long time so it was still trying to find its audibility.

"Course I am, why would I have I said you name?" I made sure to sound as if I'd just woken up. Damn, I would've been great at acting!

She must've understood because she said "Sleep talking" in response. I just said "hmm" to make it seem like I was still tired.

"What were you asking me to turn down? There's no music playing" she said as she continued the conversation.

I genuinely smiled at her because I loved the fact that she had such a passion for music. Even if she never did give me a demonstration claiming that she wasn't that good with her guitar. I knew she was just being humble; the best ones always do that.

"I was talking about your brain. I can hear the cogs working overtime." I forgot to sound sleepy but I don't think it fazed her. I could tell that even though she was responding to my questions she was still in her own reverie, and the fact that she shrugged her shoulders was proof of it.

"Do you wanna talk about it?" I hoped it wasn't girl troubles. I'd never had a gay friend before and I wasn't sure if the advice I'd normally give about guys would work for girls. They're very different after all.

"It's nothing interesting. Just thinking about life and such." She was being vague so I took it as a sign that she'd rather not go into any more detail.

I just said "Okay then." But I felt like I should've given her more than that, so I did. "Just know that I'm here if you ever need me." It was the best I could do, and I hoped that it was enough.

"Thanks Spence." It was the second time she had called me that. The first time was when she and I were in a heated discussion about how I was getting home. But just then, she said it so softly the second time that I felt so deeply happy.

I only hoped I could return the favour "You're welcome Ash."

Ashley spoke again "Hey Spence, I uhh, well I just wanted to say..." she was fumbling with her words and I wasn't sure what she wanted to say, but I knew that it was going to be important. "I'm glad you're with Aiden" it turned out that it wasn't – at all.

"Oh well then, thank you." I knew she wasn't going to say that, and I think she knew that I wasn't expecting Aiden's name to come up either.

I didn't have anything else to say as soon as she mentioned Aiden so I turned over again on my side away from Ashley. It's not that I didn't like Aiden; I mean I was dating him after all. But I didn't understand why he was so important to tonight. And that's when it dawned on me. He wasn't.

"Hey Ash?" I felt bad for just turning my back on her like that but it was obvious that the conversation was over. However, I felt I should give her more.

"Yeah" her voice was so soft in reply I thought I might've imagined it.

"Will you hold me please? I'm scared of the dark." It was the first thing that came into my head, and I was glad that it did. Within seconds Ashley's arm snaked around my waist and pulled me into her tightly, protectively.

We were so close together I swear I could feel Ashley's heartbeat against my back. I really hoped that she couldn't feel or hear mine, because I know that it was going at a rate of knots.

A few moments passed and I found myself already drifting off inside her arms. I'd never felt so safe and sheltered before, and the feeling intensified as I drifted off into a welcomed sleep.