Author's Notes: Since I was gone for awhile, some ideas stuck to me. Anyway, I don't know where this fic is going (because my original idea was washed down the drain) but I really do want to finish this so… here is another chapter for you all!!! n___n This chapter is basically a continuity of where I left off last chapter. Again, I am deeply sorry that I was gone for too long. Also, thanks for all the reviews!! I heart you all!

By the way, the yellow notes thing that Ashley did last chapter was from my personal experience (minus the bear, flowers and stealth-ty moves XD) I actually did that for my best friend before because we had an argument. She wouldn't talk to me long enough for me to explain so when I asked her what do I need to do to get her to have a meaningful conversation with me, she told me that I need to say 'sorry' a thousand times. So the whole night, I cut 999 pieces of yellow paper (I know its 999 because I counted it a few times. Not an easy task!) and wrote 'I'm sorry' on it (after that I thought my hand will fall off. XD). The next day, I trailed the paper from her chair to her locker to the canteen to the quad and finally to the multipurpose hall where I was waiting at the end and I told her the last 'I'm sorry'. Of course she talked to me after that! So it was all good! n__n

Disclaimer: I do not own SON. WHY NOT????????? T____T

~Previously on The Plan~

Damn! I have to clear things up with Carmen. *sigh* I feel torn. I don't want to do it. I want to let her think that she doesn't have a chance. I want her to think that Spencer and I are already together. I want her to think that Spencer is mine. Shit! Get it together, Ash. You have already promised Spencer so you have to do it. You dug your own grave on this one.

Why does it feel so wrong to want Spencer?

Its not wrong Ash, It's just not rational.

Why?

Because you can't have her.

~Ashley's POV~

You ever have that moment in your life where you have no idea if what you are going to do is for the best or for the worst. That time when you need to do something completely opposite of what you want. That instant where you are torn from giving in and just letting go or facing the current and hoping to not drown.

I feel that I am in that situation right now. I promised Spencer that I will explain to Carmen everything but I honestly could care less if Carmen never finds out that I was just saying sorry and that Spencer is still a free agent. Is it so bad that I love Spencer and I want to keep her for myself? The answer – a big YES. It is bad when I know that I am hampering her happiness because of my selfishness. I hate this but I have to do it.

At the weekend, I actually already have a plan to set them up on a date. The place is reserved, the lies are set, Aiden, Kyla and even Chelsea are there to help me, all I need now are the confirmation of the ones being set up and Spencer's parents' approval. See, I have everything planned. All that's stopping me is my stupid heart which can't realize that Spencer is off limits.

My predicament leads me here, at my 8th period – study hall, sitting at the bench at the entrance hallway of King High. I am waiting for Carmen to pass by, all the while debating whether to tell her or not. After a few minutes of musing, the bell rang and I spotted Carmen coming out of some classroom, right behind her is Spencer. Carmen waited for Spencer to be beside her before they continued walking. They keep stealing glances at each other and they are both wearing goofy smiles. Spencer looks really flushed almost like a tomato. And Carmen looks shyly and also blushing…

…What the hell happened?

I walk up to them and I was taken aback that they didn't even see me come near them. Its like they have their own world where it was just the two of them. That hurts.

"Hello…" I said as I called both their attention.

Spencer looks on to me, surprised but then was able to respond, "Hey, Ash."

I looked at her curiously and raised my eyebrow. I guess Carmen got the hint that I want to know what happened because she said, "Hi, Ash. So, I guess I'll leave you two to talk. I'm gonna go so… bye. See yah Spence." She walked away from us and then at the corner she took a last glance at Spencer and continued walking down the hallway.

What the hell was that? That was sooooo cheesy! A last glance like in the movies. UGH! Gives me goosebumps and not is a good way. And did she just say 'Spence'. She actually called my Spencer, Spence. The nerve of this girl! I look over at Spencer and she looks like she is making moon eyes with the corner that Carmen walked through. I scrunch my forehead and was about to ask Spencer what the hell is wrong with her, of course not using those words, when she squealed and spoke.

"She told me she likes me Ash!" Spencer said, taking both my hands and jumping up and down and spinning us around like we are a bunch of 3rd graders. All I can do is let her drag me along and smile the most fake smile that I can ever muster. Spencer stopped spinning me around and she looked at me expectantly.

What the hell do you respond to that? I was shell shocked for a few seconds until I spoke, my voice slightly shaky, "That's really nice Spence. I guess I don't have to explain to her about the sorry that I did this morning." I then motioned to Spencer to move so I can walk her to her next class.

Spencer stopped walking a little then smiled at me then shook her head, "Well, I explained to her, but she was not really buying it or she was having doubts. So, I was wondering if you can explain it to her yourself. I mean, if it comes from you then she has no choice but to believe, right?"

"Yeah… I'll go do that then. I guess I'll see her at dismissal."

"Ok…" Spencer said, turning to go inside her classroom. I was about to leave too when she suddenly called out to me, "Hey Ash, you know where to find her at dismissal?"

I shook my head no then she came closer to me and said, "She has History at room 211. Thanks again Ash. I really owe you." Then she kissed me on the cheek and bounced away.

I went to my next class mechanically, a lot of thought rolling on my mind. First, now that Carmen admitted to Spencer that she likes her isn't my job done? I can stop now right? I mean, every time I see them together having their 'moment' I want to vomit so isn't this enough torture?

Second, Spencer was acting really giddy. Like she won a radio contest kind of giddy. That actually happened a few months back, near Christmas. We were fooling around her room, no not the fooling around that I would have wanted; when the DJ from the radio said that they are giving away 2 tickets for a 3 days 2 nights ski trip. I dared her to call and she did, both of us thinking that she will not be the one to be picked since they are looking for caller no. 25. To our shock, she was caller no. 25 and she actually got to answer the DJ's questions. She won and she invited me to come because I was the one who dared her to do it. It was horrible! I was raised in LA so skiing or whatever it is that you call having two or one plastic boards on your feet is (I normally call it stupidity!), sucks big time! It seems like you have to glide on the snow and not dive in it! How should I know? Anyway, my skiing was terrible and the weather is fucking cold! The only compensation that I have is that Spence and I always sleep together by the fireplace in the living room.

But I guess we are getting off track, anyway, Spencer really is happy with this recent revelation by Carmen. It makes me happy… Of course, it makes me happy to see her smile. Why do I sound like a liar now? Maybe because I am.

Third, Spencer knows Carmen's schedule? What the? Stalkery! I mean, why does she know that? Does she like Carmen that much that she wants to know where she is at a given time? Huh… This is so screwed up!

Ok… Enough of this! I'll definitely stop with this plan when I convince Carmen that the show I pulled this morning was just me saying sorry and I just like to exaggerate. That's it… That's what I'm going to do.

After my last class, I raced down to the halls and waited outside room 211. I waited for Carmen to get out of the room and when she did, I took a deep breath and walked up to her.

"Hey Carmen, can I talk to you for a minute?" I asked her, motioning for her to follow me.

"Sure…" I hear her say, uncertain.

When we reached a rather empty classroom, I faced her and started to talk. "Look Carmen, I'll get right to the point, there is nothing between me and Spencer."

"But this morning…" She said, but then I immediately cut her off.

"Is just me saying sorry to her… I ignored her last weekend and felt bad so I did what I did."

"Isn't that a little over the top for people who are just friends?"

I laughed a little at that. Didn't Aiden and I had this conversation just a few hours ago? "Its not… well, not for me at least. I just, I am a kind of person who enjoys doing grand gestures. I often exaggerate so… that's why." I finished lamely.

"Oh… then what about the yellow notes?" She asked. Suddenly I felt nervous.

"What about it?" I asked, mustering the most innocent look and voice that I ever knew existed.

She looked at me suspiciously for about 20 seconds before dropping it and saying, "Nothing… I have to go." With that said she started walking towards the door.

She is still in doubt. Dammit! This is bad. Very very bad. I have to do something or else I might ruin this chance for Spencer! Ok… Change of plans. I would have to go through my original plan and set them up. That would be the only way to remove the remaining doubt in her mind. Ok… that's what I'll do. Here it goes….

"Carmen…" I called after her and she stopped and looked at me. Knowing that I have her full attention I continued, "I was wondering if you could help me in… uhm… art."

She raised her eyebrow as a response so I continued.

"I'm not really good with art stuff – drawing and painting and all. So, I was wondering if maybe you could, like, tutor me with the basics?... I really want to learn and when I saw the sketch that you have on Spencer I knew that you can be a good… uhm… teacher for me. So, can we maybe meet outside school at Wednesday?... Please…?"

I could tell that she was suspicious and at the same time amused at my proposal but it was a good thing that her reply was, "Ok… sure. I'll see you at Wednesday then."

"Thanks" I said, relief flooding through me. "uhm… I'll just text you the detail, is that OK?"

"Yeah, that's fine." She said and the turned around and started walking away again. Then when she was about to turn a corner, she looked back at me and was about to say something.

When she didn't continue, I asked, "Yes?"

She looked at me a few seconds more and just shook her head and disappeared at the corner.

When I was sure she was gone. I went to the parking lot so that I can get my car and leave this place. I feel tired.

At the parking lot I saw Spencer leaning on my car carrying the stuffed bear that I gave her. I smiled a small smile and opened the passenger door for her. When both of us are buckled in I started driving.

After a few minutes of comfortable silence, Spencer asked me, "So did you talk to Carmen?"

"I did. I did. No need to worry anymore." I said smiling the whole while.

The car ride is again filled with comfortable silence and the before I knew it, I was already in Spencer's driveway.

Before getting out of the car and taking the bear with her, Spencer turned to me, hugged me and kissed my cheek then said, "Thank you Ash. You're the best!"

I watch her enter her house then drove away. After a few minutes I was surprised that I was already at my house. I parked my car and entered the house. It was quite inside, looks like Kyla is with Aiden. I slowly walk to the stair and made my way to my room. Once there, I crawled to my bed, not even bothering to change my clothes. When my face hit my soft pillow, I felt my eyes become heavy and I fell asleep.

I didn't wake up until it was already 5:30 am the following day. It wasn't by all means the most comfortable or the best sleep that I have but it was the sleep that I needed. With this entire emotional and physical roller coasters that I am being put through, god, I needed that sleep.

This whole situation is getting to me.

I'm feeling tired.

I want to just let go and free myself from all these constraints that I have put myself into but I can't, I won't.

I want to do this for Spencer and as I said…

Nothing is too much for her.

A/N: My writing is becoming increasingly angsty. Huh… XD Anyway, hope you enjoy this chapter!