Note: Thank you to everyone who's given me feedback so far. You guys rock! Sorry this took so long. I'm in my second year of college and I have a full-time job, so my schedule is kind of crazy. I won't be able to update that often, but I have no intention of dropping this story. The updates will keep coming, however, there might be a week or so delay in-between each one, just until I get things under control in my real life. I hope you all will stick with me through this and continue to read. Thanks again for the comments!

Complicated.

10:

Corey was lying on the couch, her head on the arm, knees bent in front of her, history text book propped up against her thighs. Pete Yorn's smooth, relaxed vocals spilled out of stereo speakers and filled the living room. It was the only noise in the apartment besides the air conditioning unit. Everyone was out. For the first time since she moved in, she was all alone. It was nice. She was taking advantage of this roommate-free moment to get some much needed studying done.

Twenty-five minutes into it, a cell phone went off, interrupting her concentration. She sat up, stopped the CD that was playing with the remote, and plucked the phone up from the coffee table. She flipped it open to view the name that appeared on the display screen. Spencer. She hit the answer button and put it to her ear. "Hey, babe," she said, sweetly. "What's up?"

"I was just thinking about you, and decided that I'd rather be talking to you." There was a short pause. "Hold on." She heard the sound of a car engine starting. A moment later, her girlfriend was back, "Okay, what was I saying? Oh yes. I wanted to hear your voice. That's why I'm calling."

Corey smiled. "Where are you?"

"I just left my mother's house."

"How did lunch go?"

"It was... okay." Corey heard a little sigh on the other end, then, "Mom spent most of the time grilling me about my dad's new girlfriend, which I have to admit, I didn't mind too much. At least it took the focus off of my life and relationship for once."

"Wow, so, you and your mother managed to have a whole meal together without my name or our sinful relationship coming up at all? That's... unusual."

"I know. I thought so, too. She must be on something."

"Whatever it is, let's hope she stays on it."

"She did mention you when I was leaving."

Corey fell back against the couch, getting into a comfortable slouch position, putting her feet on the coffee table. "Ah, see, I knew she couldn't go without making one comment. What did she say?"

"Actually, it wasn't bad. She told me to tell you hey and that she hoped you could join us next time."

Corey wasn't expecting that. "She did not."

"She did, I swear. She had a pleasant attitude all day long. It freaked me out. I'm not used to being around a pleasant, respectful Paula. Normally when we're together, she goes into a verbal attack over the things in my life she disapproves of. But, today, not one inappropriate comment was made."

"Hmm. Maybe she's finally coming around."

"I doubt it."

"Maybe she got laid."

"Um, please, no talk of my mother getting laid. That's not something I want to think about. Ever."

A wicked grin formed on Corey's mouth. "Would it be okay if I thought about it?"

"Corey, she's my mother!"

"I know. She's hot, though."

"I'm hanging up now."

"Okay, okay, I'll be good," Corey chuckled. "Promise." She laid her head on the back of the couch, using her shoulder to hold the phone against her ear as she played with the drawstrings on her hoodie. "Where are you headed?"

"Home for a few minutes to check on Charlie. What do you have going on today?"

"Nothing much. Just some studying, but, uh, I think I've gotten enough done all ready. You want to come over and keep me company? I've got the apartment to myself."

"I'd love to come over and keep you company."

Corey grinned.

"Where's everyone else?"

"Topher and Jen went to the beach. They should be gone for a couple more hours. And Ashley went out with Aiden. I think they were meeting for lunch, or something."

"Aiden?"

"Yeah. I'm pretty sure that's who she said she was going with." Corey waited for a response, but nothing came, the woman on the other end of the line was silent. "Feeling left out?"

"Oh, no. Not at all. I just, I wasn't aware they made plans. Aiden didn't mention anything about it when I talked to him this morning..."

"Ashley told me they used to be close."

"Yeah, they were really close."

"I think it's good that they're hanging out together, rebuilding their relationship." She nervously pulled stray threads out of the drawstring she was picking at.

"I think so, too." After a short pause, Spencer said, "Hey, babe, I've got to let you go, my phone's about to die and I don't have the charger with me. I'll be over there in half an hour, okay?"

"Okay. I'll be waiting."

"I love you."

"Love you, too. Bye." Corey pulled the phone away from her ear and closed it. "That was... weird."

- - -

An hour later, the couple was curled up on the couch, watching an old Ethan Hawk movie on the television. Two half empty bottles of Corona sat in front of them on the coffee table. They didn't bother with popcorn since both had just eaten lunch.

Spencer laid her head on Corey's shoulder and slipped an arm around her waist, snuggling up to her girlfriend.

Corey had one arm draped over her shoulders; the other was at her side. She lifted it on to her waist, covering Spencer's, and pulled her girlfriend closer.

The warmth, the smell, the feel of the younger woman's body was comforting. Safe. Spencer could spend the day in Corey's arms. Blue eyes fell from the television set, landing on socked feet propped up on the coffee table, traveling up jean covered legs, stopping at a bare knee peaking out of a hole in the denim material.

Corey rested her cheek atop the older woman's head, inhaling the fruity shampoo scent lingering in the long, silky tresses. Since the phone conversation ended weirdly, she decided to bring up Ashley again, to see if she got a similar reaction. "Ashley and I had a talk yesterday," she whispered, lightly moving her thumb back and forth over Spencer's arm.

"Oh, yeah? What about?"

"She wanted to clear some things up about what's been going on with her this week, why she's been spending so much time away from the apartment."

Pulling away, the photographer sat up, tilting her head to one side as she stared at her girlfriend's face, wanting to hear more details of this 'talk.'

Corey sighed at the loss of contact and tore her eyes away from the television after setting it to mute. She could tell by the look on her girlfriend's face that she was expected to continue. "Look, for Ashley, I think seeing you again and living with me was a lot to take on all at once. And she needed to step away from everything for a little bit. Regroup."

Spencer nodded. "So, you were right, she was avoiding the apartment."

"Well, yeah, I guess, but she seems okay now; more comfortable. I think that little get-together you guys had Friday helped. We hung out for a couple of hours yesterday. It was fun."

"You hung out with her?"

"Um, yeah." Corey stared at her girlfriend with narrowed eyes, wondering why that was so shocking to her. "We're going to be hanging out a lot, Spence; we live together."

"I know that." Spencer flicked her gaze away from her girlfriend and picked at her sweater, removing a piece of nonexistent lint. "It's just, it's weird. My girlfriend and my ex hanging out, becoming friends, living together... I know you've been here over a week now, but I still haven't gotten used to... all of it."

Corey rested an elbow on the back of the couch and idly began running her fingers through her short hair. "I know it's weird for you, Spence." She watched her girlfriend carefully. "It's weird for me, too. Really weird."

Spencer frowned slightly, "I know."

"I'm living with my girlfriend's ex. I think anyone would consider that an uncomfortable situation. What makes it even more uncomfortable, for me, is how little I know about your relationship with Ashley. I'm in the dark about so much, but--"

"Corey, listen," Spencer said, twisting around to face the younger woman, "if you want to know about my relationship with Ashley, just ask me. I'm ready to talk about it."

Corey shifted, sitting up more. "Are-are you sure?"

Spencer nodded. "Yeah. I mean, I've been avoiding the topic of Ashley since Sunday night, but now, after Friday, after having coffee with her, I think we're going to try to work something out, try to form a friendship, and I don't want to do that unless you know the whole story. You deserve to know."

The younger blond placed a round, decorative pillow over her middle and hugged it to her body, almost like a shield, protecting her from what she was about to hear. Now that she had finally gotten to this point, she wasn't sure if she wanted to learn more about Spencer's past with Ashley. "I guess, I guess what I'm most curious about is who ended it."

Spencer turned away from Corey, sinking further into the sofa cushion, eyes darting back to the entertainment center, focusing on the television. "She did; three months after I moved to New York, over the phone." She stared at the muted characters on the screen, watching their faces and mouths move as they spoke to one another. "Back then, my life was so crazy. Every day I felt like I was in a race that I could never keep up with. I had so much going on, a whole new list of things to take care of, and after just a few weeks, Ashley was at the bottom of the list. With the distance and everything, I couldn't give her the attention she wanted, or needed. I wasn't there for her."

The shorter haired woman lifted her head. Spencer did the same and met her gaze. "Was she supportive of your decision to live in New York before you moved?"

"Yes. Completely. I probably wouldn't have left if she hadn't been."

Corey found that interesting. "Really? You would've stayed in L.A. for her?"

"Yeah, I think I would have. She was really important to me." Spencer turned away, staring down at her hands, which were tucked between her knees, thumbs poking out towards the TV. Mouth suddenly dry, she licked her lips and stared at her beer sitting next to Corey's on the coffee table but made no move to reach for it. "After she broke up with me, I thought about moving back to L.A., to see if I could get her back somehow, but I was too scared. I could barely stand being rejected by her over the phone, I didn't want to know what it would be like standing right in front of her." Spencer couldn't believe she was saying all of this to Corey. "I also didn't think I meant the same to her as she did to me."

"Why did you think that?"

"I don't know, just by the way she ended it. Even though things weren't great between us, communication-wise, I still thought we were okay. The break-up came out of nowhere for me."

Remembering the conversation she had with her roommate the other night, Corey said, "Ashley told me she's only been in love one time."

Spencer uncomfortably smiled. "There have been a lot of people in Ashley Davies' life. A lot of people." She pulled her hands free and tugged the sleeves of her sweater over them before wrapping her arms around her waist, closing herself off to the woman beside her. "She may not have been talking about me."

"I know she was talking about you. She had to have been. Who can have a two-year relationship with you and not be in love? It only took me two months to fall for you." Corey reached for one of Spencer's arms and pulled it over to her lap, where she gently pushed up the sleeve, uncovering Spencer's hand, and laced their fingers together. "You're easy to fall in love with, Spence. I have a feeling anyone who's ever been with you knows this."

Spencer stared at their clasped hands. "Even if I am the one Ashley was talking about, it doesn't matter. What we had is in the past. There's nothing between us anymore." She lifted her head, catching Corey's gaze, making sure their eyes remained locked before repeating, "Nothing." She brushed away the bangs in Corey's eyes with her free hand and leaned forward, pressing her lips against her girlfriend's.

- - -