A/N:

Hey everyone, wow it's been a long week.

I am soooooo tired.

It feels like i've been writing this update forever. Seriously, I just finished it.

I'm sorry if there are errors, I've just written and read and edited and re-read and re-written different parts so many times that I think I'm close to going blind at this stage.

I'm still not happy with this chapter, even post-editing.

I said this at the start of my story that i'm not a big fan of angst or drama and i'm also not a great writer of it.

In my own life I try to avoid confrontation as much as possible, i'm actually the problem solver in my group of friends.

I'm sorry if this update totally sucks, but I hope the next one will be better.

Read, Enjoy, Review!

P.S:

nirricles-happen: You never reviewed the last chapter...? Of course that's not to say you have to review EVERY single chapter of this story, it's just you usually do... so i'm just wondering... are you okay? I miss you and your lovely words. :(

Oh also on another note, big thanks to Fender18 for the shout-out, I appreciate it :)

The next day Aria and I were wandering around town when I got a text.

Hanna: We haven't seen you in almost 24 hours, we need to know how it went last night, you guys free? We're in the park.

Spencer: Yeah, we're just hanging out. Meet us at Apple Rose in 5?

Hanna: Cool, see you then!

"Who are you texting?" Aria asked.

"Just Hanna, we're meeting her and Em in 5 minutes for coffee, they want to know how dinner went last night."

"Oh okay cool, let's get going then."

We arrived a few minutes later and got a table for the four of us. Shortly after, Hanna and Emily walked in, sitting down across from us.

"So, tell us everything, what happened?" Emily said.

"You two are together so I take it the parents didn't kill you for doing their daughter then Spence?" Hanna grinned.

"Hanna, I haven't even 'done' their daughter yet, so no, unfortunately for you, I'm still alive."

"Shoot…" Hanna shook her head

"Excuse the pun?" I raised my eyebrows. She looked at me confused.

"What?"

"Nothing Han…" I smiled. I felt Aria kick me under the table: she acted like our mother sometimes. Then again I suppose we did sort of act like children…

"Come on, tell us?" Emily asked again.

"Why don't you tell them sweetie?" I asked Aria, and she smiled widely, clearly happy to oblige.

-XXXX-

"So, they knew about you guys?" Emily asked.

"I think that was probably the easiest coming out of all time, someone should call Guinness." Hanna said sarcastically.

"Very funny. It was still nerve-wracking; I mean I didn't know how they would react until they said they were happy for us. And even then I wasn't quite sure."

"She was so worried before we left for my house, I thought she was going to have a panic attack." Aria smiled and took my hand.

"Awh Spence, you're too cute." Emily said.

"Well, I just wanted them to know how much I love Aria." I said honestly, and all three of my friends looked at me adoringly. You'd swear I was a puppy or something.

"Hey Spence, isn't that the chick who hit on you the other night?"

"What?" I turned around slightly to see who Hanna was talking about and noticed Grace standing with two of her friends waiting in the queue for coffee. Neither 'friend' looked like they knew anything about Chemistry. They looked as if they were more interested in Cheerleading, and how flexible it would make them.

"Oh, yeah, Grace." I said passively.

"I still can't believe she did that right in front of you Ar." Hanna said shaking her head.

"I know, as if she didn't see what I did for Spencer outside school like 5 hours previously." Aria said in disbelief.

Just then, my gaze met Grace's and immediately I saw her eyes light up.

"Spencer, hey!" she beamed as she walked over to our table, friends in tow.

"Hey Grace."

"So, you never called me, I gave you my number right?"

"Oh, eh… yeah… I guess I must have… lost it…" I mumbled, not wanting to tell her what I had actually done with it.

"Oh, okay…" she sounded disappointed, but surely she knew I had a girlfriend, a very beautiful girlfriend, a girlfriend that was sitting right beside me, otherwise how would she have even known I was interested in girls?

"Sorry." I said awkwardly.

"No worries. I guess I'll talk to you later then."

"Okay, see you."

Grace and her friends moved towards a table and turned to one of the girls and asked her to mind her coffee, while she went to the bathroom. One of the girls got up and approached us again, walking confidently up to us and keeping her eyes locked on me.

"Hey." She said simply.

"Hey… erm, did you lose something?" I asked.

"No, but you're about to gain something." She leaned down, resting her hands on our table as she moved closer to my face, her low cut top riding extremely low, so low in fact that I could see her illuminated pink and yellow spotted bra.

"I… am?" I stumbled, over my words, this girl was way up in my personal space and I could barely speak.

"Yep, you don't want that loser's number. You want mine, so here." She handed me a small piece of paper with digits clearly written on it.

"Call me." she said and smirked, still invading my bubble of space

"I… eh… sure, okay, yeah."

"Good." She moved away suddenly and turned back, walking to the table her friend was sitting at.

"What the hell was that?" Aria asked.

"Holy shit, more like who the hell! Spence do you know who that was?!" Hanna squeaked.

"No? Should I?"

"Of course you should! That's Lisa Shepherd!" She was getting squeakier by the second and I was puzzled as to why.

"Is that supposed to mean something to me?" I asked.

"It should mean EVERYTHING. She's captain of the gymnastics team, and she organises drama club!"

"So?" I was getting tired of Hanna assuming I knew what she was talking about and why this chick was so spectacular.

"She's amazing. She's so popular, and she just hit on you. You should feel good right now Spence." I really thought it was hilarious when Hanna got so serious about things like this.

"Thank you Han, for telling me I should feel good about this when this chick just hit on me right in front of my girlfriend. She's gotta be kidding, right?"

"It didn't look like she was to me." Emily said.

"Whatever, it doesn't matter." I picked up the piece of paper and crumpled it up, throwing it in my cup.

"Okay, you guys ready to go?" I stood up and took Aria's hand, she smiled at me again and we headed for the door.

-XXXX-

The next evening we were waiting in line at the theatre. We all decided that we should go and see the new Spiderman movie, since Hanna wouldn't stop talking about Andrew Garfield.

"I mean, he was amazing in The Social Network, and he's British, his accent is totally hot."

"Hanna, we get it, he's super-hot and a really good actor, we're already here, we don't need any more convincing to go and see this movie." I said sarcastically

"Jeez I'm just making conversation." Hanna just rolled her eyes at me.

"I heard this version is supposed to be a lot darker than the ones with Toby Maguire." Emily said.

"Yeah, it will be, I can't wait I love Spiderman." Aria said excitedly.

"You guys are talking about a Marvel Comic and I'm the nerd here?" I laughed.

"You're a smart nerd. That's different." Aria explained.

"Okay, sure, whatever you say." I said.

The queue seemed as if it wasn't moving at all, and we still had to get food.

"Guys, this line is crazy, and we still have to get drinks and popcorn, we should split up instead of us all waiting here, we'll get in there quicker."

"Good idea Spence." Emily said.

"Aria and I will wait here; you and Em go get the popcorn." Hanna said.

"Okay, we'll be back in a bit."

I watched Aria and Hanna walk away and get in line across the room.

-XXXX-

"Why is it so busy in here?" Aria asked, as her and Hanna stood waiting for the line to move.

"I have no idea; I guess everyone really wants to see this movie."

"Oh my god Aria!"

"Oh, Stacey, hey." Aria said, greeting the girl who had just walked up to her.

"What are you guys seeing?"

"The new Spiderman, Hanna here has a sick obsession with a certain Brit."

"Hey, he's hot okay, there's nothing wrong with my obsession." Hanna said.

"I totally get it, he is really good looking, and that's saying a lot coming from me, I don't even swing that way. I'm actually here to see that too, is it just you two?" Stacey asked.

"No, we're actually here with our other two friends; they're in line to get tickets." Hanna said, pointing over to where Spencer and Emily were standing.

"Oh cool… the one in the blazer is really cute." Stacey said, quite obviously checking Spencer out.

"Yeah, that's Spencer, she's my…" Aria started.

"Woah, is she gay? She's so hot."

"Yeah, she is, she's my…" Aria tried explaining calmly, but it was no use.

"Guys, she's your friend, could you introduce me? I'd really like to get to know her better, if you know what I mean." Stacey laughed, which was only fuelling Aria's now obvious fury more, which Hanna quickly picked up on.

"Eh, she actually has a girlfriend." Hanna said.

"Haha, they all do, that's never stopped me before. Is your other friend going out with her? The one she's with over there?" Stacey laughed again. Aria was clenching her fists to try and control her anger.

"No. She's going out with one of our other friends." Hanna said.

"Really? Hahaha, who is it?" Stacey asked, clearly amused by the idea of monogamy.

"It's me." Aria spat.

"You? And Her? Are….? Oh my god." Stacey wasn't shocked; she still seemed pretty amused by the situation.

"Yeah. You think that's funny?"

"Well, she's one fine looking chick, you're gonna have some competition on your hands Ar. I mean, she is so out of your league. Do you really think she's gonna stick around?" Stacey laughed loudly.

"Well, at least I know I can definitely knock out one of my competitors." Aria said, laughing now.

"Yeah? Which one?" Stacey asked, confused.

"You."

Before she even knew what had happened, Stacey was on the floor, her nose now bleeding freely. Aria shook her right hand, trying to relieve some of the pain from punching someone in the face.

"Aria!" Hanna yelled.

"What the hell!" Stacey yelled.

-XXXX-

"So, you and Aria are doing really well?" Emily asked me, smiling widely.

"Yeah, we really are. I love her so much, I just can't believe it took me so long to realise it."

"You guys belong together."

"Thanks Em." I smiled, looking over at her and Hanna.

"Hey Em? Who is that she's talking to?"

"I'm not sure what her name is, Stephanie or something like that, I think they're in the same art class."

"Oh, okay…"

"So, when do your parents get back from New York?"

"They should be back on Saturday, but who knows really, they pretty much always extend their trips so it could be another week before they get back."

"Do you miss them? I mean you must get lonely being by yourself for weeks like this."

"I do sometimes, but Aria's parents told me I'm welcome at their house. I think I'll be having some nice dinners this week."

"That was nice of them. I really am happy thy accept you guys."

"Me too, if they didn't I really don't know what I would do."

Suddenly I heard a very loud yell and gasping coming from around us. I looked at Emily to see an open mouthed expression on her face, and when I turned around to see what was going on I saw Hanna grabbing Aria's arm and Aria with a pained look on her face, I then saw the girl she had been talking to lying on the ground, holding her face.

"Holy shit!" I ran over to where they were standing, running into people as a crowd had now gathered.

"Aria, what happened?" I asked as I grabbed her other arm, though my grip looked like it was gentler than Hanna's at the moment.

"I… I…" Aria stammered. The girl on the ground spoke up.

"She punched me in the face! That's what happened!"

"You WHAT?" I asked, dumbfounded.

"She, she was asking for it!" Aria yelled, and ran out of the theatre.

"Hanna, what the hell is going on?" Emily asked.

I felt hands on my shoulders and saw 3 large men surrounding us.

"Sorry ladies, I think you should leave."

"What?!" Hanna yelled.

"Come on Han, it doesn't matter."

"Hell yeah it does! This is all YOUR fault!" she yelled at the girl on the ground.

"Come on let's go."

Emily and I grabbed Hanna's arms and we pulled her outside, and stopped where Aria was sitting on a curb.

"Seriously, someone better tell me what the hell is going on. Right now." I said sternly, looking between both of them.

"Aria, why did you punch that girl? And Hanna, how was it her fault?"

"Do you wanna tell them?" Hanna asked, looking at Aria.

Aria just shook her head and looked away.

"Stacey came up to us and we were just talking, we told her we were here with you guys, and then… she saw you…" Hanna said.

"She saw me?" I asked. "What did I do?"

"You didn't do anything. She was saying how hot you were and Aria tried to tell her you she was your girlfriend, but this chick… she kept interrupting and saying how she wanted us to introduce you guys. And then when I told her you had a girlfriend, she just laughed. Aria said she was your girlfriend and she… Stacey said you were too good for her and… that she'd lose you."

"So Aria punched her." I said, taking in what Hanna had said.

"I'm sorry." Aria said quietly. "She was saying all that crap and I just… I lost it, she made me so mad and before I even knew what I was doing she was on the ground."

"Aria… It's okay…" I said and moved to her side, sitting down beside her.

"No it's not, I can't just go around hitting people."

"She was being a total jerk and you were just protecting our relationship."

"You think so?"

"Of course. But you need to know that I love you, I don't care if Mila Kunis walked up to me right now and asked me on a date, I'd tell her 'no thanks I have a girlfriend.' I'm not about to leave you for some chick who thinks she can say what she likes."

"I love you so much." She kissed me softly and cuddled into my side.

"I think we better leave before those huge men come back, I don't feel like being arrested because you can't control your temper." Hanna said.

"Good idea, let's get out of here." I stood up and took Aria's hand as we laughed at Aria's insanity.

-XXXX-

"Morning Spence." Hanna said cheerfully a few days later the as she stood waiting at my locker for me, as she did every day.

"Hi Han. Where's Em?"

"She went to the bathroom with Aria."

"Oh okay, so yesterday was pretty crazy right?"

"Pretty crazy? More like full blown psychotic. How does Aria seem?"

"She feels stupid to be honest. I mean, that chick was totally out of order saying that stuff but Aria totally flipped, I've never seen her like that."

"Yeah, me either. I hope she's okay."

I felt arms around my waist and turned around to kiss the person those arms belonged to.

"Hey" I said happily.

"Hey, you." She said quietly, and rested her head against my chest.

"Are you okay?" I whispered to her.

"Mmmm hmm, I love you." She said. I smiled.

"I love you too." I said, and I kissed the top of her head.

-XXXX-

Later in the afternoon, as Hanna, Aria and I sat down for lunch; we all noticed something weird was going on.

"Why is everyone staring at us?" I asked as I looked around the cafeteria, noticing all sets of eyes were on us.

"I'm not sure Spence, and I'm just spit-balling here, but it might have something to do with the fact that you guys came out 3 days ago." Hanna said sarcastically.

"Oh, yeah… sorry, it's just we're used to it by now so it's still a little hard to remember people have only just found out."

"They'll get used to it." Aria said, smiling at me and taking my hand.

When I took my eyes off of the other side of the room, I noticed Emily entering the cafeteria with a pretty blonde haired girl I'd never seen before.

"Hey guys, this is Laura, I asked her to sit with us I hope that's okay." Emily said as she pulled an extra chair to our table.

"Of course, Em." I said, smiling at Emily's friend.

"So, how do you guys know each other?" Hanna asked.

"Laura's on the swim team, she's the year below us. We got talking today and realised we have a lot in common." They looked at each other and smiled. It seemed as if there was something Emily wasn't telling us, and I thought I knew what it was.

"So you guys have been hanging out? That's cool…" I said.

"Yeah, Emily's amazing." Laura smiled at her again and Emily blushed.

"Not really…" Emily said modestly.

"Em, you are one of the most amazing people I know, you need to give yourself more credit." I said.

"That's what I keep telling her. You're so sweet and I'm so glad I met you." Laura said, slowly reaching over and placing her hand on Emily's arm. They looked at each other for a long moment and I could see how much Emily liked this girl already.

"So, I heard about how you came out the other day, brave move." Laura said to me.

"Actually, that was all Aria, I just stood in awe." I turned my head to the side and smiled at Aria.

"Seriously, that took guts. You guys are braver than me." Laura said.

"And me…" Emily said.

"It's not about being brave and telling as many people as you can find, it's just about showing that one person you care about them more than anything else." I said.

"That's really sweet." Laura said.

"You know Spence, Laura was telling me about how she's thinking about joining the Field Hockey team next year."

"Really? You definitely should, we could use some new faces."

"Yeah I'm thinking about it, I mean, I love hockey I go to every game. I actually watch you to study your posture and your swing and try and repeat it when I get home. You're so good at it." She said nervously. I had to smile at how much this girl clearly admired me.

I looked around at Hanna and Aria with a smile on my face, Hanna had the same look on her face as I did while Aria, well, she looked like she was angry and thinking about something else.

"You do?" I said, grinning like crazy now, and feeling pretty smug about it.

"Yep, you're amazing. I've been watching you like a hawk." Laura laughed and I felt Aria's grip on my hand tighten.

"Well, thank you. It's nice to know someone sees my talent." I said sarcastically.

"Oh, I definitely see your talent." Laura said nodding and agreeing with my statement.

"Emily, I really really like this girl." I said, and I heard a loud sigh behind me in response.

"Thanks, I like you too." Laura said smiling as wide as me now.

"You just like that's she's feeding your ego." Emily laughed.

"Think what you want Em. You know, if you want to get on the team, I could help you out if you'd like? Maybe we could train together sometime? I'll help you with your swing." I said to Laura.

"Really? Thank you so much! That would be amazing!" she moved closer and pulled me into a tight, appreciative hug. I heard a loud screeching and then a door slam, and by the time I had turned around, Aria had disappeared.

"Where did she go?" I asked, looking at Hanna and waiting for an answer.

"I don't know, she looked pissed though." Hanna said, putting her face back into her Blackberry.

"Excuse me guys, I'm gonna go check on her." I said, as I stood up to leave.

"Sure Spence, let us know if you need us." Emily said.

"Thanks Em, Laura it was really nice to meet you."

"You too Spencer."

"Oh, and hey, here's my number, give me a call sometime, we'll set up a time to train and do some drills okay?" I wrote down my number on a napkin and handed it to her.

"That's great, thank you so much." Laura said and smiled at me.

I grabbed my bag from the back of my chair and headed off in pursuit of Aria.

-XXXX-

I found her in the first place I thought to check. It just goes to show how well I know her.

I looked through the window of the classroom door and saw her sitting in front of a piece she was working on.

"It's beautiful." I said as I sat down beside her, admiring her work.

"Thanks." She said simply, no emotions apparent in her voice, making me even more worried. I had no idea what kind of mood she was in.

"Are you okay?"

"No."

"What's wrong Ar?" I asked, moving to place my hand on hers before she pulled it away.

"Did you really think you could flirt in front of me and I wouldn't get upset?" Aria turned to look at me.

"What are you talking about?" I asked, confused as to what she meant.

"You and Laura."

"What?!" I laughed. "In case you missed the obvious signs, I'm pretty sure she and Em are heading in the loved up direction."

"Well, I case you missed the obvious signs, she was clearly flirting with you. Saying how she was always watching you."

"During my hockey games? So she could learn how to play?"

"Ugh, as if. That's a lie, she was checking you out. And hugging you like that? Right in front of me?"

"Ar, you're overreacting, calm down." I said.

"I am not! She was clearly flirting and you were encouraging her. I can't believe you would do that, and right in front of me."

"I really don't know why you're so upset." I said honestly.

"And if I hadn't stopped Stacey the other day you probably would have been all over her too. You just can't help yourself; you just have to have everyone's attention. I poured my heart out to you; you wanted to come out so I did. I came out for you. I made it clear to everyone that we were together, but that still wasn't enough. Now girls are falling all over you and you're not even telling them where to go. You're not telling them you have a girlfriend, you're just standing there taking it, loving their attention and laughing about how many girls are giving you their number. You just want to take everything from everyone. You stole Melissa's boyfriends, and now you're going to steal people's girlfriends too, just to show everyone how great you are at everything!"

I was blinking back tears at Aria's words, each and every single one as she spat them at me. I could taste the venom as I swallowed what she was saying to me. I couldn't believe how hateful she was being towards me.

"So that's what you think of me then?" I asked, trying to steady my voice.

"Yeah, that's what I think." Aria said.

"Well, I'm glad you could finally tell me the truth." I said, wiping the tears from my cheeks.

I quickly picked up my bag once more and threw it over my shoulder, as I stood up and walked out of the room. I didn't go to my locker. I didn't go back to the cafeteria. I didn't go to the bathroom. I walked outside and got into my car.

My mind was blank and my body was numb. Aria had paralyzed me and I felt empty. I just found out that the only person I thought loved me for me, doesn't even like me. My whole world doesn't mean anything anymore.

I put the key in the ignition and turned on the engine.

I started to drive.

But without Aria, I had nowhere to go.