Alright I hope I didn't anger that many people. I felt like Drew was one of the dispensable characters, but his death will affect the main characters at the same time. Although my original plan was to kill Cameron, I realized I couldn't do that because he has become a major character in the story, and being Ashley's only true friend, it would have killed her.

So this chapter we are back in Ohio with Kyla, Josh, Ashley and Spencer. We're going to pick up where chapter 10 left off... It might be a bit slow at the beginning and I'm sorry.

Disclaimer: I do not own SoN or anything related... blah blah blah. Tom Lynch does.

Chapter 12 – You Told Me You Loved Me

In Ohio...

Ashley's POV

The girls were too caught up in the moment to notice a small knock on the door. As the door opened, Mrs. Carlin stood in the doorway.

"SPENCER?!? WH... WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"

"Mmmomm?" Spencer looked up towards the doorway before falling back off of Ashley and landing on the floor again. "Whatrre youug doing hurr?" She spat out while tripping over her feet trying to stand up.

"ARE YOU DRUNK? And why are you in your underwear kissing each other? Are you... are you GAY?" Mrs. Carlin yelled across the room, staring down Ashley in the process who remained frozen on the bed.

"Mmmmmmm," Spencer moaned while making her way over to the bed and falling back down onto it. "Ashlleyyyy girlfriendddush."

"I'm really sorry Mrs. Carlin, we didn't want you to find out this way... I mean Spencer was going to tell you, she's just drunk right now." Ashley who had finally moved, pleaded with the older women.

"Ashley, would you please leave. I need to talk to my daughter alone." Mrs. Carlin spoke firmly at Ashley while looking at her daughter rolling around on the bed. "You can go sleep in the guest room for tonight, and I'll talk to you about this tomorrow."

"Yes m'am..." Ashley complied, slowly getting off the bed and walking out the door, glancing back to see Spencer pouting as she walked her leave.

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I couldn't sleep all night. After being caught by Spencer's mom and being asked to leave the room, all I wanted to do was go back and crawl into Spencer's arm. This all seemed too surreal. I was a bit shocked at Mrs. Carlin's reaction, I mean after all the things Spencer has told me about her, I thought she would have pulled me out of the room by my hair or something. But she was calm and just politely asked me to leave, it was really weird.

I didn't bother going into Spencer's room that morning, I went straight downstairs into the kitchen where Mrs. Carlin was sitting having coffee. Soon after sitting down, Mrs. Carlin had put a plate of pancakes in front of me with some orange juice. She didn't look at me or say anything. It was beyond awkward and I just wanted this moment to end. Soon after, I heard steps coming down the stairs, turning around I saw a hung-over looking Spencer. Although to me, she still looked as beautiful as ever, she could really pull off the messy hair look.

"Sit." Mrs. Carlin said to Spencer firmly and pointed at the chair next to me. She got up and placed the same thing in front of Spencer, pancakes and orange juice before she sat down across from us.

"So... I thought about this long and hard last night. And I personally do not condone your actions with one another which is why you will not be returning to Highland Academy, Spencer."

"WHAT?!?" Spencer screeched at her mom's conclusion.

"I am pulling you out and you will be attending regular high school here. You will live under OUR roof where you will be supervised 24/7 so you can no longer act out and do these unacceptable things with your life." Mrs. Carlin spoke firm and direct while both Spencer and Ashley looked at each other and grabbed each other's hands.

"You can't do that mom!" Spencer raised her voice again, tears forming in those gorgeous blue eyes.

I just sat there completely stunned at what was unfolding in front of me. How could Mrs. Carlin pull her daughter away from the only high school environment she knows, away from me?

"This isn't fair! I don't want to go to school here. I want to go to Highland!" Spencer still screamed at her mother who was not barging an inch on the matter.

"Out of the question, this is not a discussion Spencer and do not dare raise your voice at me again!"

"You know what mom, you can bring me home or send me to Alaska but I'll still love Ashley no matter what you do or where you send me. And taking me away from her is only going to make me resent you." Spencer said as calmly as possible while standing up, "Come on Ashley, we're going shopping."

Spencer walked out of the house with Ashley following holding her hand still.

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Spencer's POV

When we got to the mall, Ashley and I split up so we could buy each other Christmas presents. I already had a few things for Ashley, but I went and looked around anyways, knowing Ashley would go all out. Her mom and her didn't really do Christmas, so I think she took it upon herself to make mine that much more special because of it. Although it didn't matter what she got me, having her here with me in Ohio was the best present I could ever ask for.

After shopping for two hours, we met back up and headed up, trying to not peak at what the other had bought. When we pulled up to the house, I noticed my dad's car in the driveway which was a good sign. My dad was always the understanding parent out of the two of them, and I knew he wouldn't stand for me being pulled out of Highland. When Ashley and I got inside, both of my parents were sitting at the kitchen table, we put down our bags and without being called slowly walked towards them and sat down.

"Spencer, Ashley... Your mother has filled me in on the situation, and I have talked it over with her. I want to apologize for my wife's actions earlier this morning. Spencer, you will not be pulled out of Highland because of your relationship with Ashley. Although I do want to say that I would appreciate if you two behaved yourselves in the house for the remainder of the break and take under consideration your mother's feelings towards the subject."

"Yes father..." Spencer acknowledged, trying to hide a small smile from her mother who was intensely starting her down.

"Okay you guys are free to go now."

Ashley and Spencer got up slowly from the table and walked upstairs, without holding hands or saying a word.

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Two weeks later...

Ashley's POV

With the dreadful confrontation behind us, Spencer and I had enjoyed the last two weeks together. She showed me around her home town, showing me all her favourite stores and places and made me feel at home. Cuyahoga Falls was a small town just outside of Cleveland, populated at about 50,000. We spent most of the time alone together, with the occasional day with Kyla and Josh or some of her other friends. It was a completely different settling to what I was used to back in LA, but it was nice.

Christmas was only a week away and Spencer and I had agreed to give each other or presents ahead of time. I spent the whole entire two hours at the mall that just walking around because I had bought Spencer's present a while back.

We both sat on the bed with our gifts in front of each other, me holding a box and a bag while Spencer had my one big bag. I insisted that she opened hers first, as I had bought these over a month ago now and it was killing me to see her reaction.

As Spencer removed all the tissue paper, she picked up the first box and opened it to reveal 50 of her favourite chocolates. Spencer had a huge sweet tooth, but never let herself indulge all the time, so Ashley normally ended up buying them for as temptation.

Tilting her head and smiling, Spencer leaned over and gave Ashley a soft kiss while thanking her. She pulled out the next small box and opened it to reveal Ashley's favourite perfume on Spencer, "Very Irresistible" by Givenchy.

As Spencer pulled out the last tiny box, Ashley couldn't help but grin. She had spent two hours in this one store trying to find the perfect gift, and after a long search she came across this one and instantly fell in love with it. Spencer undid the ribbon, and lightly lifted the top while Ashley's anticipation grew. Spencer looked inside and gasped while dropping the box, landing on the bed.

"Ashley! You bought me a DIAMOND NECKLACE! I can't accept that, it's way too expensive." Spencer screamed, still having the shocked looked on her face when she opened it up.

Inside the box was an Elsa Peretti open heart diamond pendent necklace.

"Spencer, you deserve it, and I had the best time picking it out for you. Do you honesty not like it?" Ashley pouted as she picked up the necklace out of the box and looked into those blue eyes she loved so much.

"Ashley... I love it, but it is way too expensive. How much was this? You can't just go around spoiling me because you can." Spencer responded while taking Ashley's hand and caressing it with a smile.

"But I love spoiling you, and the price doesn't matter as long as you love it and it makes you happy." Ashley leaned in to kiss her.

"Ashley... I would be just as happy with a plastic ring from those vending machines. All that matters is that it's from you. But seriously I want to know how much this was, I can't accept it otherwise." Spencer said batting her eyelashes knowing Ashley wouldn't be able to resist.

"Fine... but do you promise you will not get mad after I will you?" Ashley sighed while pointing at Spencer and scrunching her nose.

"Yes, I promise Ash." Spencer answered tilting her head once again and

"$23,000..." Ashley mumbled under her breathe, and rolling her eyes knowing Spencer would probably be yelling soon. But before Spencer could open her mouth Ashley yelled, "Remember you promised no getting mad!"

"Ashley..." Spencer looked at her with frustrated eyes before leaning in to kiss her. "You're too good to me... my presents are going to be super lame following that." She said gesturing towards the box and bag sitting in front of Ashley.

Ashley destroyed the wrapping and quickly dove into the box. As she opened it up, it was upside down, but she could tell it was a frame. As she turned it over, she glanced at a wrinkled piece of paper that had been flattened and framed. Seeing her own writing on the piece of paper, Ashley started tearing up. It was her song "Hero/Heroine".

"I hope you aren't mad, but I kind of got Cameron to rummage through your room to find it..." Spencer admitted, biting her lower lip as Ashley was still staring at the frame.

"You got it framed?" Ashley questioned, still really emotional over the sentiment.

"Of course, it was the first song you ever wrote and sang for me. You have no idea how important that night was for me." Spencer answered bringing her hand up to Ashley's face and wiping away the tears that were escaping her eyes. "Now come on, you still have more to open."

"They aren't all going to make me cry like this are they, I don't know if I can take that..." Ashley chuckled as she reached into the next bag. She pulled out mittens, a toque and ski goggles. Beyond confused, Ashley lifted her one eyebrow, "What are these for?"

"Well they you're going to need them if you want to use your final gift. It's under the bed." Spencer smiled while jumping up and helping Ashley off the bed. As Ashley bent down to look under the bed, she pulled out a snowboard.

"SPENCER! Seriously?" Ashley screamed as she looked back up at Spencer who was standing there holding a light blue parka. "You are teaching me to snowboard? No way!"

Spencer just stood there smiling as Ashley jumped up and started frantically kissing her everywhere.

"Yup! Just you, me, and Alpine Valley for the next three days, what do you think?"

"I think you are the best girlfriend anyone could ever have." Ashley said, not being able to stop smiling as she threw her arms around Spencer's neck and gave her a loving kiss.

"Come on, I want to see how cute you are in this parka!" Spencer yelled while grabbing Ashley's hand and running out of the room.

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Two weeks later...

Spencer's POVS

Teaching Ashley to snowboard was hilarious, the girl had very little balance so we'd often end up falling flat on our butts. But after two days of being on the slopes, she finally did manage to get it somewhat right. Even if she couldn't snowboard, she looked damn fine in that parka I got for her.

Christmas had gone over smoothly with the family. Ashley actually surprised me by getting my parents an all exclusive pass to this nearby spa for a weekend as a thank you for letting her stay with us during the break.

It was New Years Eve and Ashley and I were just finished getting ready before heading over to Kyla's.

"You look really beautifully tonight, Spence." Ashley commented while coming up behind Spencer, who was in front of the mirror, and putting her arms around her waist.

"Ash, I'm wearing jeans and a hoodie. I wouldn't exactly call that sexy attire." Spencer chuckled turning around and putting her arms around Ashley's neck and kissed her.

"I know, but you always look beautiful and that necklace brings out your eyes even more." Ashley said while fiddling with the necklace around Spencer's neck. "Are you almost ready? We told Kyla we'd be over a bit early."

"Yup, I'm good. We have to tell my parents that we're staying at Kyla's tonight and won't be back on our way out." Spencer said while grabbing her purse and Ashley's hand before heading out the door.

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We got to Kyla's just as people were starting to trickle in. We made our way to greet Kyla before grabbing some drinks and making our way to the dance floor.

Ashley and I danced for most of the night, stopping every now and then to grab drinks or chat amongst people, but for the most part, tonight was about us. As midnight approached, we stopped dancing and found a quiet place off to the side.

"I'm going go grab us some drinks before they start the countdown. I'll be right back okay Spence," Ashley whispered in Spencer's ear while kissing her cheek and heading towards the kitchen.

Spencer stood there watching the brunette walk away and all she could think of was how happy she was, and how amazing Ashley was.

"Hey Blondie," a familiar voice shouts out behind Spencer's back. She knows the voice well, Chloe... her ex-best friend.

They hadn't spoken since the end of august, almost four months ago. Spencer was leaving for Highland again and they ended up getting in a huge fight which ended the friendship.

"Chloe, what are you doing here?" Spencer asked the petite blonde who was now standing right in front of her.

"Well hello to you too. It's New Years, what do you think I'm doing here. I really wanted to talk to you, I've got some news, but who was that with you, I've never seen her around here before?" Chloe nodded her head over to where Ashley had exited.

"That's Ashley, she's my girlfriend from back at Highland. She came home with me for the break." Spencer responded back smugly, not being ashamed of admitting she was with her.

"Girlfriend? I thought... I mean, you've only been gone for months Spencer." Chloe said in a confused manner. "YOU TOLD ME YOU LOVED ME!" She yelled at Spencer.

"Spencer?"

Spencer turned around to find Ashley standing right behind her, close enough to hear everything. As she looked at those brown eyes, all could see nothing but confusion and heartache.

"...5...4...3...2...1... Happy New Years!"

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