"Do you ever go to class
"Do you ever go to class?"
She smiles and puts her sunglasses on, "Sometimes. But sometimes it's better if I just don't go… keeps me out of trouble."
I look up at her questioningly, "What kind of trouble?"
"My mouth has a mind of its' own sometimes, and my teacher doesn't always appreciate my umm… constructive criticism." Shrugging, she plops down next to me and sprawls out. "Plus, I'm starting to think you're making up this whole art class thing. No teacher would ever just let me hang outside on my own."
I set my sketchpad down and smirk, "Yes but my teachers also know I don't skip class and will come back."
"Details Spence."
"How are you even passing?"
Ashley frowns slightly, "Just am."
"Oh." I can't help but let out a small sigh, after a while it gets frustrating when she won't talk about certain things.
Catching the sigh she looks at me for the longest time before turning away, "When I was gone, there wasn't much to do, so I'm ahead in a few of my classes… and the principal kind of just lets get away with a lot these days, as long as I don't cause any trouble."
Deciding it'd be better not to push; I leave it alone, but get lost in thought about all the rumors.
"Umm… Spence?"
"Hmm?" I say distractedly.
"I asked what you're working on…"
Shaking my head, I glance down to find my sketchpad and pencil in hand again. "Oh umm… well…" I look down again frowning at the half drawn distorted image, "I'm not sure. I've been kind of blocked lately."
"I know how that feels; I haven't been able to write anything in the past month. It's beyond frustrating."
"How come?"
"Huh?" She props herself up by her elbow and I can see her eyebrows scrunch together over her sunglasses.
"Why are you blocked?"
She sighs, "Not sure. Ever since I've been home, I just can't convey the emotions I'm feeling in my music… so it turns out to be crap."
"Yeah… for class I have to draw myself… how I see myself. And it's just not going well."
"Well how do you see yourself?"
"That's the problem. I have no idea these days."
"These days?"
I shrug and look down at her, "Weird times, you know?"
She nods. "Can I see what you've been doing?"
I nod and hand it to her nervously biting my bottom lip as she sits up and looks through the various pictures. "Spence these are great… but why is half of you like distorted?"
I just shrug.
She's looking at me now, I can't see her eyes, but I can feel them on me; scrutinizing me. "These distorted images are much too ugly to be you Spence."
Feeling a blush form on cheeks I look away, "I don't think so."
Suddenly I feel a soft tugging on my arm, "Hey… look at me."
Turning my head back, I see that she's pushed her sunglasses up on her head, so I can see her eyes. "Hmm?"
She locks her eyes on mine, and doesn't look away. "You're beautiful Spence. Inside and out. You shouldn't think anything different."
I smile, and she smiles back. We sit there just smiling at each other, getting lost in our own little world until the bell rings, breaking us out of our trance.
She's the first to stand and holds out her hand to me, "Come on." Reaching out, I grab her hand and let her help pull me up. Instead of letting go, she grips my hand tighter and starts pulling me toward the parking lot.
"Umm, Ash? Where are we going?" I stop walking and tug her arm back.
"I'm buying you lunch."
"But won't we get into trouble?"
She shakes her head, "Details Spence. Like I said before…"
I frown and look back and forth between the school and her. "I don't know…"
Sighing, she takes a step closer to me, "Trust me."
I can't help but smirk as I recall one of our first conversations, "I thought I wasn't supposed to trust anyone here…?"
Ashley rolls her eyes and tugs on my hand softly, "Please?" The question was so soft and vulnerable, sending a shiver down my spine.
I swallow hard when her eyes meet mine; just nodding because I'm afraid my voice will fail me. She smiles, and once again starts heading for her Porsche.
--
Ashley's POV:
I don't know what I was thinking when I dragged Spencer with me for lunch. Clearly I wasn't. But when the bell rang, I didn't want our conversation to end or be interrupted during lunch with our friends. And I definitely did not want to go back into school and have to pretend everything is fine.
So here we are now, at the beach eating sandwiches and staring out at the water. I have to admit, I do enjoy Spencer's company. She's very chill. She doesn't feel it is necessary to always be talking and never pries too much with me. Just lets me talk when I need to and lets me be if I don't want to.
She's looking at me now, I can feel it. She's been doing that a lot lately, just watching me, as if she's trying to figure me out. "Like what you see?"
She just shrugs, not even fazed, "I've seen better."
"Please. There's nothing better than me."
Instead of responding she just smiles and takes a bite of her sandwich. When she's finished chewing she kind of holds her sandwich up, "Thanks for lunch."
"No problem."
We finish our sandwiches and I pull out my phone checking the time. "I should probably get you back."
"Are you not coming?"
I shake my head, "I don't think so."
She lets out a groan and rests her head on my shoulder, "I don't want to go back."
"I thought you're not the type to skip…?"
"It's just so relaxing here."
I nod. "Then stay with me."
She eyes me for a second, as if she's waiting for me to tell her I'm kidding. "You don't want to be alone? I know you like to get away from everyone for a while sometimes." She does?
"Nah, I think I can tolerate you… besides, if you start talking too much I can just throw you in the water."
She smirks, "Your puny ass couldn't even lift me, let alone throw me."
My mouth drops open in fake shock, "Why Spencer Carlin! Did I just hear you use a cuss word?! What would your mother think?"
Lifting her head off my shoulder, she rolls her eyes, nudges me with her elbow and smiles. "Shut up."
I smirk, but say nothing.
We fall into a comfortable silence for a few minutes, both lost in thought until Spencer decides to break it.
"Have you ever had one person in your life whose opinion mattered too much to you and wished it didn't?"
Nodding, I glance at her, but her attention is on the water. Her brow is scrunched together, clearly frustrated about something… or should I say someone. "Yeah, but eventually I figured out that in the end it really didn't matter. That I wasn't being myself in the end because I was trying so hard to please that one person."
She finally looks at me, her eyes betraying her and showing the sadness in them. "I don't think I could ever do that."
"How come?"
Her eyes meet mine and she sighs before looking back at the water, "I'm not brave like you."
I can't help but snort at this. "I am far from brave Spence; selfish and a coward maybe, but not brave."
She sighs and once again rests her head on my shoulder. "Maybe one day you'll see yourself how I see you and maybe you'll believe me." She's quiet for a minute until I faintly hear her whisper something as we both stare out at the water, "maybe one day you'll understand what I mean."
--
As we're pulling up to Spencer's car I can't help but let out a groan as I see my best friend standing there not looking too pleased, with Carter next to her smirking.
"So busted! Do you think if I just keep on driving she won't notice?"
Spencer lets out a small chuckle, "I think you're screwed either way."
I slow down, and practically crawl up to Spencer's jeep, "Spencer Carlin! This is not the time to have your mind in the gutter! This is serious!"
She blushes, and I can't help but smile. Seriously! How is someone always this cute no matter what they're doing? She shakes her head, "Will you just pull over already?"
I shake my head adamantly, "Spence she scares me."
This elicits another small laugh, "I think she scares everyone. Don't worry, I'll take the blame." Like that'll work, I swear Ellie can read my mind.
I put the car in park behind Spencer's jeep and immediately the scolding begins. "ASHLEY DAVIES! SKIPPING AGAIN?! ARE YOU TRYING TO GET KICKED OUT?! I HAD TO COVER FOR YOU AGAIN!"
Spencer grimaces and looks at me apologetically, "Thanks for today," she smiles at me now, causing me to smile back, "I had a lot of fun." She pulls me into a quick hug and has let go of me before I have any time to react. She hops out of the car and walks over to Carter, pulling him into a hug and whispering something in his ear. He laughs and nods before they give us a quick wave and start walking back toward the school; most likely to get Spencer's books.
Feeling someone staring at me as I stare at Spencer's retreating figure, I turn back toward Ellie. She no longer looks angry, but is smirking. "What?"
Getting into the car, her smirk only grows bigger, "Oh it's nothing… it's just that… I've just confirmed that my best friend has a crush on Spencer Carlin."
"WHAT?!"
"You know her and Carter are kind of together."
"They are not, I asked her a while ago and she said no."
Her eyebrows rise at this, "You asked her?" Damn it!
Deciding to ignore her, I put the car in drive and peel away.
She's looking at me still, "She's also straight."
"First of all, when has that ever mattered? And second of all, I do not have a crush on Spencer, I just like hanging out with her."
"Yes you have been hanging out with her a lot lately, and if I didn't know you like her, I would be totally jealous right now."
"I do not like her! I'm with Brennan, remember?"
She rolls her eyes, "Ah yes. How could I forget? Oh yeah! Maybe because you barely ever mention her or talk to her these days… that's right."
Annoyed now, I pick up speed, "It's a difficult situation."
"Oh believe me, I get that. I couldn't even imagine what I'd do if I had a girlfriend in rehab that's completely dependent on me and that I think I love… and a girl I like here that's pretty perfect for me, but she's straight. Really… that sucks."
"I don't like Spencer, ok? I can't." I screech to a stop in front of her house.
Used to my driving by now, Ellie isn't even fazed. "You can't or won't let yourself?"
Not responding, she smirks, "Exactly." With that, she grabs her bag and gets out of the car, "Thanks for the ride, call me later love!"
--
Spencer's POV:
"Oh please Spencer, I'm not buying any of this garbage you're trying to sell me."
Carter and I are at the mall now, deciding neither of us wanted to go home just yet. "It's not garbage; I do not like Ashley like that. She's just fun to hang out with."
"You skipped half of school today to hang out with her… I think there's a little more to it than that." He holds a red Ralph Lauren polo up to his chest. I shake my head, grabbing a royal blue one. He nods, and takes it from me, tossing aside the other one.
"I didn't feel like going to class."
He rolls his eyes. "Right. You're a nerd! You love school. What is the big deal anyways? You're a big les, she's a big les. You're both hot. It would be hot."
"I can't be a 'big les' remember?"
"Sorry to break this to you babe, but I don't think you have much choice on this one." I'm looking through polo's now, pausing I hold up a bright green one. Scrunching up his face he shakes his head, "try this one."
"I'm not getting the same color as you!"
"Why not? It'd be cute!"
"People already think we're dating as is, imagine if we both wore it on the same day!"
He smiles, "We'd be an adorable couple."
Deciding the focus has been on me long enough, I smirk. "You know who would be an adorable couple?" He says nothing, just waits for me to tell him. "You and Noah."
Shaking his head, he tosses the royal blue one at me, "Get this one. It will do amazing things to your eyes."
"Avoiding the subject much?"
"I can't date Noah."
"Why not?"
"Umm, let's see how'd you put it before? Oh yeah… I can't be 'gay' remember?"
We both walk up to the cashier, Carter getting rung up first. "You can too. You just have to make sure your dad doesn't find out."
"Hmm…" He smirks as he hands the cashier is credit card, "Well if we're going with your logic, then I guess you can too, as long as your mom doesn't find out. Speaking of which, how is Sam these days anyways?"
