Spencer walked down the street, the darkness washing over her. The air was growing chilly even though summer was right around the corner; street lamps were the only light on the road. She didn't know why she ran but that she did, not wanting to deal with her mom probably was a good chunk of that but feeling guilty was the biggest reason, guilty that she was happy her parents were splitting up, guilty that her mom had heard her say so.

"Spencer..." Was that his voice, no it couldn't be. He was back in Ohio, back in her old life. Her chest rose and fell rapidly and she licked her lips which suddenly felt dry. Turning her mind shut down, it was him. The same brown eyes she'd gotten lost in on the first day of junior high, the same sly smile that made her feel like jelly and although it didn't compare to the way Ashley made her feel or the way she smiled at her, he still held some power over her.

"Cal, hey...what are you doing here?" She asked backing up a few steps, her hands began sweating but she just wiped them on her jeans.

"My dad got offered a new job and so here we are," He closed the gap, every time she took a step he did the same, "So what have you been up to?"

Spencer swallowed, "I-I just been going to school. You?" she twisted the ring on her finger wishing someone would show up.

"I've missed you a lot Spencer," He grabbed her and forcefully kissed her. All the memories of their time together rushed back, the kisses were never great. Rough and hard, forced on her like some wild animal and then the night, in the barn...she'd cried and he only laughed and mocked her.

"Stop..." she pushed him back, "I have some one else in my life."

"Who is this guy?" Cal's voice rose in anger that another guy had taken the only girl he liked.

"Not...not a guy, my girlfriend..." She said, she would have said fiancée but she didn't want him to misinterpret the meaning.

"Yeah right, come on I'll give you a ride home." He threw his hand around her waist, her mind was numb. Cal scared her into doing what he wanted. His car smelled of beer and fast food which made her stomach turn over, "What happened to your arm?" He tightened his grip on the steering wheel, out of the corner of his eye he could see the way she cradled her left arm.

"I was shot...at prom." Those words still caught in her throat but at least no one ever brought the subject up when she was around.

Cal side glanced her, his eyes burning with anger, "Didn't I tell you this would happen. God your parents are such idiots, bring some one like you to this fast pace city."

"Some one like me?" Spencer sat as far into the door as possible, making sure not one inch of her body was close enough for him to interpret that she was still into him.

"Yeah baby, a good girl. Shy and naïve, but that's why you have me...is this your new house?" He turned the car off and stared at the Carlin family home, Spencer saw Ashley's car and thank God she was still here.

"Thank you." Her voice sounded weaker than usual, he unbuckled his seat belt and hopped out of the car along with her, "What are you doing?"

"Saying hi to everyone," He grabbed her hand causing her to flinch, "Chill baby!"

Inside the Carlin Family Home

Glen was in the tenth level of his new video game, blowing and killing things up was fun and that was why he had decided to join the military but when UCLA offered him a scholarship and a place on its basketball team the military idea was put in the back seat.

"Yo Glen man!" Glen knew that voice; he paused the game and looked up.

"Cal, no way. When did you get here?" Glen stood and they did the whole man thing by bumping hands and going wild. Like they had to ask everything right then and there or something bad was going to happen.

"Cal?" Clay walked in wiping his hands on a towel, Ashley and him had been doing dishes. The two guys hugged then pulled away quickly.

"Spence..." Ashley came out, "You okay?"

"Yeah..." Spencer pulled away from Cal and rushed over to Ashley and yanked her into a strong kiss. Know one had time to think, the three guys staring on and Ashley was losing her breath so she finally laid her hand on Spencer's shoulder's to push her away.

"Whoa, Spencer...I think I'm going to like the new you!" Cal grinned while running his hand through his thick black hair.

"And you are?" Ashley wondered.

"Cal Ronald, Spencer's boyfriend." Cal sounded so sure of him self and he wasn't about to let anyone take her away.

"Cool, you are definitely the man to get my sister back on the right track." Glen patted his buddy on the shoulder.

"Well I got to go...so I'll see you at school right Spencer?" He asked while walking to the door, "Oh and um...don't tell your parents I'm here. I want to surprise them in a couple days." Then he was gone, Glen and Clay walked him out.

"Boyfriend?" Ashley asked, her mind still trying to come up with how her fiancée came home with an old flame.

Spencer shook her head violently, "No..." but her mouth didn't want to continue explaining, "Can I stay at your house?"

"Well..." Ashley contemplated. She wanted an answer and she knew Spencer knew she didn't like waiting but some thing was off. I'll probably get more out of her if she stays at my house, "I guess. You've been over there for the past two days all ready. Why don't you bring some cloths though and your school books."

"Right," Ashley saw that Spencer wouldn't meet her eyes not something the blonde did often, "I'll just..." she trailed off and went up stairs to pack.

Cal's House

Cal strolled into his house, threw his backpack down on the floor before grabbing a beer from the fridge. Adjusting his belt and opening the drink he opened a door which he kept locked, inside pictures of him and Spencer lined the walls and tables. Pictures of just Spencer cut up and glued to those with just him so it looked like they were together. Chugging the beer and throwing it in the garbage can he sat at the desk and pulled out a leather bound notebook. The first page held a photo of a couple at their wedding, he'd cut their heads out and replaced it with Spencer's and his.

"Soon..."

Ashley's House

"I'll be right back down," Spencer smiled and ran to put her stuff in Ashley's room.

Ashley went to the kitchen, she knew the refrigerator was full because her mom stocked it but never cooked. There wasn't anything she really wanted so she opened the take out drawer and thumbed through several take out menus. Finally she decided on pizza, simple and fast.

"So what now?" Spencer asked sitting on the couch, putting her legs underneath her.

"Boyfriend?" Ashley asked again. She wasn't jealous or she didn't think she was, the thought of some other person holding Spencer in his arms made her flesh begin to crawl.

"Cal...He isn't, I broke up with him about two or three months before coming out here." Spencer pretty much whispered, she didn't want to talk about him but knew she owed it to her.

"Than why does he think your still his girlfriend?" Ashley sat far enough away from the blonde so nothing was touching, telling Spencer she was upset.

"He was...my first time." Spencer looked everywhere but at Ashley, that was one of the reasons she didn't want to tell her first time having sex in the camera Ashley kept pointing at her.

"Oh."

"I...he wasn't very nice to me. But I was a cheerleader and he was a football player," Spencer shrugged her shoulders, "So it just seemed right to be with him."

"What do you mean he wasn't nice to you?" Ashley scooted closer, needing to see the blonde's face.

"Everybody liked him, mom...dad...my brothers. He got good grades and was on the honor roll." Spencer stared into space.

"Spence, what'd you mean he wasn't nice to you?" Ashley scooted closer and made her fiancée look her in her eyes.

"He drank a lot, especially if our team didn't win." Tears slowly ran down her cheeks, "Cal liked the attention and he liked it when I...cried."

"Spence..."

Spencer wiped the tears away and gave a shy laugh, "I don't know why I'm even talking about him when I have the love of my life in front of me."

The door bell rang breaking the small silence that had been building up, "Pizza!" Spencer shot up thankful of the distraction.

Ashley had to giggle when Spencer jumped up so excited and skipped to get the food, "So horror or fantasy?" Ashley called out as she searched the DVD's around the downstairs television; she secretly wanted Spencer to say horror. The blonde hated watching scary movies even though she was the one that usual picked them out. Ashley loved watching the younger girl jump or hides her face when the music began to get higher so you know something bad is coming. Ashley just scooted over, pulled her girlfriend close to her for comfort and Spencer would just hide her face in Ashley's shoulder. "Spencer?" But the blonde didn't answer.

Ashley sighed and went to see what was taking so long, get the pizza...pay and than eat. The door was wide open but Spencer wasn't anywhere, scrunching up her eyebrows she looked out side. A car she didn't recognize was parked right behind her, was that the pizza guy?

"I said no!" Ashley heard Spencer scream, she took off toward the car. Glass shattered making the brunette's breath catch in her throat. Please don't be hurt...please, please, please. Spencer was shoved up against the driver side door, Cal positioned himself so one hand was on each side of her blocking any getaway path. He must have gotten mad and smashed the window while trying to trap her.

"What the hell, leave her alone!" Ashley screamed at him pushing him away.

"Get away bitch, she's mine. And no chick is going to change that!" Cal took Spencer by the arm, "Get in!"

Ashley didn't like when any one messed with her baby, she placed her hand around his arm and yanked him off her. He swung around and laid one right across her face, pain raced up her jaw to the middle of her nose. The ground met her with harden arms, the last thing she heard was Spencer screaming her name, the last thing she saw was Cal slamming Spencer into the car and her passing out. Ashley tried to move, tried to help but the sleepiness of the punch rolled over her till she lay unconscious on the pavement.