Chapter 9

Finally, it's lunch time. Me and Ashley are going to work on our Chem homework together. I'm really excited but also very nervous because she expects me to know things about Chemistry. I don't know anything about Chemistry, so I'm going to look through my book and pretend that I do. I'm on my way out of class and my phone vibrates in my pocket.

Hey, Cutie! Meet me by the tables outside Mr. Walker's room. XO-A

I smile and head towards the tables.

Ash has beat me to the tables, as she is already sitting at one when I walk up and join. Her.

"Hi." I smile at her as I sit down.

"Hi, Spencer." God, that smile. That voice. The way she says my name.

"Gaining any progress on that homework?"

"Um, actually, about the homework... I have a silly confession to make," What's so silly about Chemistry homework and involves a confession? "I actually don't need help with the Chemistry work. I'm actually pretty decent at school; I just choose not to work hard because I don't need to. I have my music and that's all I see in my future. I have all the money I need, anyways," she starts to look down, "I just asked for help because I wanted to hang around you more." Aw, I think she's blushing!

"Aw, Ash. Since we're spillin' our guts, I have a confession, too. I suck at Chemistry. I'm in all honors except for Chem. I only told you I'd help you because I wanted to hang out with you, too. At least I don't feel as stupid now."

"Me either!" We laugh together.

"Ash, if you wanted to hang out, you could've just asked, you know."

"Hey! Don't blame me. I could say the same to you!"

"Yeah, I know, but I didn't want to bug you or anything."

"Spencer, you don't bug me. You're the greatest friend I've ever had." My face is burning. Silly Spencer is the greatest friend Awesome Ashley has ever had? I find that hard to believe, but I blush anyways. I hug her and I take out my Chemistry homework.

"Since you're the Chemistry genius here, then maybe you can tutor me with this crap."

"It's pretty cool stuff. I'll teach you all you need to know." She states proudly and gives me her 1000 watt smile.

~.~.~.

Ashley explained the Chem stuff at lunch pretty well to me. It actually seemed somewhat interesting. I love the way she talks. I'm surprised that I could actually pay attention to what she was trying to teach me rather than her voice, her teeth, her smile...

"Is this it, Spence?" She knocks me out of my daydream.

"Yeah, right there." I point to our left, slightly diagonal. She pulls to the curb and puts her car in park.

"Thanks for offering me a ride home, Ash. And thanks for helping me understand Chem a bit more. Something tells me that this year in Chem is not going to be easy." I finish, furrowing my eyebrows together.

"Don't worry, Spence. Keep me as your tutor and you'll be fine!" She laughs.

We hug again. Each time we do, it feels completely different than the previous time. It just gets better. Unfortunately, we have to let go sometime.

"Again, thank you, and if you ever wanna come by, you're more than welcome to." I motion to my house behind me.

"I'll keep that in mind. Bye, Spencer."

I walk up to my door and we wave to each other a final time until I watch her drive off. I wish we could have hung out after school again, but I don't want to get too clingy.

"Hello? Anybody home?" I call out as I step in my house. I don't hear anything, so I just make my way to my room. I really should call Deb back. I fling myself onto my bed and dial her number that I know by heart.

"Hey there. So I call you back and you don't answer? Are you trying to get revenge on me?" I laugh and try to act suspicious, jokingly. "I hope school's going well for you and everybody's doing good. Give me a call sometime; we haven't had much talking time in forever. I miss you! Byeeeeeee."

Sigh. Now what do I do? I guess I could begin my homework. But beginning my homework would involve my book which I just realize left in Ashley's car. Why the hell am I so irresponsible? Right then, the doorbell rang. Maybe it's Ashley with my book! I hope it is.

I run down the stairs then stroll to the door, trying not to seem too eager. I bet she's going to tease me about leaving it in her car.

"Oh, hey, Aiden." I hope my voice didn't sound as disappointed as I feel.

"Hey, Spence. I just came by to see if you were okay; I didn't see you at lunch today."

"Oh, yeah, I'm totally fine. Ashley and I just had some work we had to get done."

"Oh. Ashley." His smile fades.

"Yeah... What's going on with you and her? You can come in if you want to," He steps in and I lead us to my living room where he sits on one of our couches. "Do you want anything, a water, soda?" I say as I head into the kitchen anyways.

"Water's good, thanks." I grab us both one, tossing one to him when I get close enough.

"So," I sit down next to him, "Tell me about you and Ashley."

"Are you sure, Spence? It's a long, boring story and I don't want to ruin what you guys have."

"What we have? We're friends, Aiden, she's great. Go on, tell me."

"Alright. I'll shorten it up for you. Last year, our sophomore year, we dated. They were the best seven months of my entire life. This lead to that and that lead to her getting pregnant which resulted in her aborting our baby. I didn't even know about the abortion until word got around school. I wanted to keep it, I really did. She pushed me away, cheated on me, and switched teams. All she does now is party and hook-up. She left me heart-broken, Spence. All she wants in life is to have fun in the wrong ways and I don't want her to hurt someone as precious as you." He's kidding, right? This can't be true. My Ashley is not like this. I know her. She wouldn't lie to me about what she's going through. This isn't true. I won't believe it.

"Aiden, Ashley isn't-" Damn doorbell caught me off guard. Who could it possibly be this time? I storm to the door in anger.

"Hi, you left this in my car. I don't think you'll want to spend another lunch period doing homework. I don't want to hang out with some boring nerd." We both laugh and I forget about the boy on my couch.

"Thanks, Ash, for bringing that over. And hey, I'm not a boring nerd!" I shove her playfully.

"Are you home alone?" She asks innocently.

"Uh, yeah, but-" Crap.

"Look who it is. Ironic because we were just talking about you, weren't we, Spencer?" It's crazy how his tone can change depending on who he talks to.

"Spencer, what the hell is he doing here?" Angry Ashley is a cute Ashley unless she's angry at me.

"Ashley, I can explain-"

"Don't bother. I tried to tell you, Spence. Why couldn't you just trust me? I just wanted you to trust me." She stumbles back to her car and I throw my book down and run to her.

"Ashley, I do trust you, I promise, I do! Can you please just wait?" Too late. She shakes her head and zooms off.

"Aiden, you should go." He's outside now, and I'm making my way to my front door.

"Spencer, can we talk tomorrow at school?"

"I don't know. Bye, Aiden." I shut the door on him and walk back up to my room.

Ashley's mad at me. Ashley's mad at me. Ashley is mad at me. I promise her this one thing and yet I manage to screw it up. Why did I invite him in? I couldn't care less about Aiden, I want my Ashley. I want her to come back over and hug me and apologize. I want her to come back over and hug me and I can apologize. I don't think that's going to happen. I guess I'll just talk to her in Chem tomorrow, that is if she sits next to me.

I wake up to the sound of my front door slamming which startles me.

"Anybody home?"

"Yeah, Dad, up in my room!" I reply groggily.

I see my dad standing in my doorway.

"Hey, Sweetie. I was just at the store getting some last minute things for dinner. How was your day? Were you asleep?"

"Oh, yeah, I was asleep. Just a little tired is all."

"Okay. Well dinner will be ready in a couple of hours."

"Thanks, Dad." We exchange smiles and he's out of my site.