Chapter 10
"Wow...so much for the season of goodwill" Aiden stated as he grabbed another beer for himself and Spencer. Kyla had called Ashley and demanded that she go there and Spencer was once again avoiding her boyfriend so was hiding at Aiden's.
"I haven't even spoken to Tyler for two days"
"You mean since the showdown?"
"That was years of pent up anger"
"It was pent up something and in my world we don't call it anger" Aiden giggled getting a pillow thrown at him in response.
"I guess he got the message..I mean he hasn't even called me or anything"
"And your sad about this?"
"No...not at all...I mean I feel bad that I flipped in front of his friends and that he thought I was fucking Ashley"
"But you are"
"I wasn't at that point which isn't the point"
"What is the point Carlin?"
"I have no point....in fact I'm pretty much clueless at the moment"
"You're not clueless you're just scared and calling Tyler out was the best thing you've ever done because it was selfish and it made you happy...right?" Aiden added sensing his best friend wasn't agreeing with him.
"It made me very happy actually but Christmas is only two days away and I can't deal with it"
"Don't go home for Christmas"
"That can't happen"
"Yes it can...you just need to make it happen"
"I can't avoid the whole day but maybe some of it plus you'll be there as my buffer right?" Spencer practically begged giving Aiden her best puppy dog eyes that she knew he couldn't resist.
"Yes I will be there but I refuse to be there all day"
"Same here my friend"
"So what's up with Ashley?"
"Kyla called her this morning and demanded that she go home but wouldn't say why"
"Are you two like an item now?"
"No we're just seeing what happens"
"That's open ended"
"She said she likes me...kind of" Spencer offered suddenly feeling under pressure to stick up for hpow much Ashley likes her.
"Lucky you" Aiden deadpanned.
"We've only known each other for a short while and well I do technically have a boyfriend"
"So you're going to play happy families with Tyler then?" Aiden asked getting a hesitant nod from Spencer."Are you going to tell Ashley this?" Aiden continued.
"Maybe...yes...I don't know" Spencer replied clearly flustered and unsure.
"Alright chill....let's go do this shopping crap and give your tiny brain a rest" Aiden joked pulling Spencer to his feet.
After an hour or so of wandering around the oversized mall Spencer managed to get most her present shopping out of the way and so had Aiden. Spencer had even picked out her own present from Aiden like they had done for the past few years after some failed attempts at surprises.
"I still never understand why you never liked the singing fish toy" Aiden said as the browsed the perfume department.
"Yea me neither it was just so lovely and not tacky at all Aid"
"Whatever....Spence?"
"Yea?"
"You getting Ashley a present?"
"Should I?"
"Don't ask me I've never had a boyfriend and a lesbian lover"
"I don't even know whether I should get Tyler a present....shit I hate Christmas"
"Screw Tyler but I think you should get Ashley a little something"
"Like what?!"
"What does she like?"
"Sex" Spencer said with a smile.
"Well you've already given her that slutbag so think harder"
"She used to hang out with musicians when she was younger so maybe she likes music?"
"You suck at this Carlin...."Aiden's insult as cut off by Spencer's phone ringing loudly.
"Hey you" Spencer gushed into the phone shyly.
"What you doin?" Ashley asked
"We're just at the mall about to leave I ?"
"Just seeing if you wanted to meet up now I'm free?"
"Definately...meet at mine?"
"No...I mean Tyler might turn up there and I don't wanna cause more drama than I already have. How about I meet you at Aiden's?"
"But Aiden will be there?"
"No Kyla is going to call him in bit to ask him out so we'll be alone"
"See you there"
"Kyla's going to ask you out" Spencer said putting her phone in her bag.
"What?"
"Also Me and Ashley are using your apartment tonight so you can't come home" Spencer explained further with a smile plastered on her face. As predicted Aiden's phone started buzzing and he quickly answered it.
"Hey Kyla...yea I'd love too....I'll pick you up in a hour" Aiden ended the call and noticed a text message from Ashley.
ashleyD: Hey pretty boy don't let spencer go home at all for the next 48 holding her hostage at your place 2nite....itll be worth it xx
Aiden closed his phone in confusion and really wished people would keep him more in the loop but trusted that this would be something nice for Spencer.
Spencer walked up the stairs to Aiden's apartment and saw Ashley sat on the floor waiting.
"Hey pretty girl"
"How long you being waiting?" Spencer asked as she let them both into the apartment.
"Not too long but it's totally worth it....wow did you buy the whole mall?"Ashley asked noticing the bags of shopping Spencer just dropped onto the sofa.
"Not exactly...I like buying people presents..it's an illness"
"Are these all Christmas Presents?"
"Yep...apartment from the dress I brought for myself to wear at Christmas"
"So will I get to see you in it over Christmas?" Ashley finally asked even though she tried to fight it as she didn't want to be too pushy with Spencer considering she didn't have idea where they currently stood. Spencer continued messing with her shopping obviously considering the question or proposition.
"I...well...I kind of do the family thing" Spencer finally answered not looking at Ashley.
"Does that mean you'll be with Tyler?"Ashley asked not keeping her cool in the slightest.
"I don't know...we haven't talked for days..well not since the other night anyway"
"Do you want to spend it with him?"
"My Mom will make me"
"Bullshit...you're an adult Spence"
"You know it's not that simple plus his parents are here for the holidays"
"Then why complicate things with this?" Ashley stated pointing between the both of them indicating that she meant their relationship.
"Because I want you and I can't help it"
"Well that's selfish Spencer"
"You told me to be more selfish"
"Yea I didn't tell you to be a heartless bitch" Ashley snapped
"Great so I follow your advice and I'm a heartless bitch?"
"I didn't expect you to go this far with it....I didn't expect you to stay with Tyler"
"I'm not with Tyler"
"Have you sat down and had the conversation?"
"Not exactly but you were there the other night, you saw what happened"
"Yea I saw you have a drunken argument with your boyfriend where you had the chance to tell him about us but you denied it....you didn't even try to explain it"
"There was nothing to explain"
"Apparently there still isn't...look I'm going to go...it was fun" Ashley gave up and went to leave but she was stopped by Spencer.
"There was nothing to explain then but there is now and I'm terrified. I don't know what this is between us but I am willing to find out Ashley. I don't want Tyler...I want you"
"Then don't spend Christmas playing happy families with him" Ashley begged challenging Spencer's confession.
"I can't do that"
"Then I can't do this...I really like you Spence but I'm not hiding in the shadows while you play the perfect straight girl for the sake of a woman who doesn't even know you and doesn't want to know you" Ashley explained as she freed her arm from Spencer's grasp and she let herself out of the apartment using all her strength not to stick around and be the one that was hidden just so she could have something from Spencer.
Spencer watched as Ashley left feeling stupid for not going after but she didn't feel she had the right to. Spencer knew she was handling the whole situation incorrectly but she had always done the right thing no matter how much she didn't want to. She knew Ashley was right and she knew deep down that she would still keep Ashley hidden while she played her role perfectly which was unfair to both Ashley and Tyler.
Ashley stormed into Kyla's completely forgetting that she had Aiden over but was reminded as she walked in on them full argument. Ashley hung back for a moment not wanting to intrude but mostly so she could be nosey distracted herself from her Spencer dramas.
"Jesus Kyla....you just fucking left how was I supposed to know!!!"Aiden yelled pacing around the room clearly pissed off.
"I didn't expect you to know but you didn't call me or anything after I left"
"You told me not to"
"Look I'm sorry but after it happened I just got on with it"
"Kyla you should've told me" Aiden finally said slightly calmer than he was before.
"I know and I'm sorry Aiden...I was so scared and I fucked up alot"
"I could've been scared with you Ky...I would've stayed with you and made it work" Aiden said taking Kyla in his arms and hugging her. Ashley had a fair idea what they were talking about but Kyla had never confirmed that information to her before.
"You wanna meet him Aiden?" Kyla finally asked pulling away from the hug.
"Do you think I'm ready?" Aiden replied nervously getting a laugh from Kyla.
"Yes you're ready and he'll love you Aiden....he's just like you"
Kyla led Aiden to the play room where Bailey was messing around with his basketball hoop.
"Hey Bails" Kyla said as she led Aiden into the playroom further.
"Hey mommy wanna play basketball?" Bailey asked dribbling the ball around a stunned Aiden.
"Bails you know I suck but I'm sure Aiden will play....he used to be on the basketball team"
"Weally?I wuv basketball Aiden"
"So do I buddy"Aiden managed clearly very emotional. Bailey passed Aiden the ball and they continued to play.
Ashley stayed out of sight hiding in the study so she could away unnoticed not wanting to ruin the moment that was happening. Slipping back into her car she mindlessly drove around not really knowing where to go without being unwanted. As she pondered her options Ashley's phone starting ringing showing her Spencer's caller i.d. Ashley considered answering the call but no matter how she wanted to talk to Spencer she needed to make it clear that she wasn't a push over but Spencer kept calling and calling.
"What Spence?"Ashley shouted into her hands free set.
"I'm sorry please come back?"
"Why?"
"Because I need you to....please just give me this chance?"
"Fine"
Ashley hung up knowing full well that no matter what Spencer said on that call she would've complied because that girl already had a hold over. Ashley was practically already there anyway which she had done during her drive without realising. Spencer buzzed Ashley up and waited for her at the door way to Aiden's apartment. Ashley couldn't miss Spencer as she was wearing a slutty santa outfit which was extremely sexy.
"Thank you for coming..now close your eyes" Spencer instructed as she took Ashley's hands leading her into the apartment.
"Merry Christmas Ash" Spencer said removing her hand from over Ashley's eyes. Ashley opened her eyes as commanded and was stunned as her eyes scanned over the room. Everywhere was covered with twinkling fairy lights, delicate decorations and candles. On the table there was a selection of chinese foods and soft drinks. The floor was covered in what looked like snow and hanging from the ceilings was snow flakes that glistened against the fairy lights.
"What is this Spencer?"
"It's Christmas"
"But it's not Christmas yet" Ashley stated slightly dumbfounded. Spencer moved so she was in front of Ashley holding her hands.
"I want to spend with Christmas with you more than I've ever wanted anything but I need to deal with Tyler and my family so I've brought Christmas to us so you'll still be there for me once I've dealt with this. I know this isn't the same thing but so far we have done nothing conventionally so I figured it would fit in with whatever we are. I really like you Ashley...like stupid amounts so please just give me until the real Christmas day and celebrate our Christmas with me now?" Spencer finally stopped talking and waited for Ashley to respond.
"Merry Christmas" Ashley finally whispered pulling Spencer into a kiss that she had been holding in within seconds of seeing her. Ashley knew that she didn't need to hear Spencer's speech because her mind was already made up she wanted this girl and would wait an eternity for her.