A/n: Well, thanks for everyone who continues to read. And people who review, much love. And I hope you enjoy this chap as always.
Spencer stood there, not really knowing what to say. She knew she couldn't tell her mother she did not want this boy at dinner, because then she would have to explain why. And then explaining things to her would get complicated and awkward and so she figured she had to let Aiden stay. Whether she hated it or not, the logical sane reason was to let him stay.
Ashley looked over at Spencer and knew exactly what she was thinking. Ashley wanted to shove Aiden down the stairs and hope to never see him again. But she figured that Paula would probably not like that too much. Ashley stood there clenching her jaw, trying not to pummel the ass hole right then and there. She wanted to scream at the top of her lungs just because Aiden was...just Aiden. She wanted to make up some lame excuse to tell Paula why he couldn't stay for dinner, but she knew this dinner meant a lot to Spencer so she didn't want to ruin anything for her.
"Uh, are you sure he doesn't already have something to do, Mom?" Spencer's voice hinted a slight annoyance with the situation.
"Why, honey you need to check on your manners. I'll ask him again. Aiden?" Paula smiled and looked over at him placing the couch randomly in the living room.
"Yes, ma'am?" Aiden smiled sweetly.
"We're not ruining any plans of yours are we? I mean, would you like to stay for dinner?" Paula played around with the place settings on the table, slowly making room for another seat.
"Oh, I'd love to stay for dinner. As long as it's okay with Spencer." Aiden smiled, he knew she wasn't going to say no in front of her parents. This was his chance, his chance to be apart of her life and try and kick Ashley out of it.
Spencer gritted her teeth and tried to covey how sorry she was through her eyes at Ashley, "Yeah, it's completely fine. Make yourself at home." Spencer resisted the urge to roll her eyes and deeply sigh.
"Great! Well, come on let's all sit down and eat." Paula clapped her hands and instantly everyone started roaming towards the dinner table. Suddenly, Spencer realized she wasn't that happy that her father came to her apartment. She was having mixed feelings at the present moment. She knew she was glad he finally came, but now that she is stuck in this awkward situation she wasn't so sure.
Spencer blankly stared at the food she scooped onto her plate and knew she had lost any appetite she may have had. She looked over at Ashley, and knew she felt the same way. Spencer figured it was best to lighten her own mood by talking to her dad. "So, dad what brings you out here?"
Arthur chewed on his food, took a sip of his wine, then answered, "I figured it was time to see your place. I finally got a weekend off from the morgue so I came by to see one of my favorite daughters."
"Aww, than--"
Arthur cut in, "And I wanted to congratulate you on that lifetime movie you scored. Your sister was telling us all about it, I am finally proud of you. That you are finally making something out of this career that well I definitely wouldn't chose or really approve of, but at least you are on your way to stardom." He went back to shoving food on his fork and eating off it.
Spencer wanted to start crying. Her father has never said that he was proud of her, since the day she told him that she wasn't going to become a doctor. She remember that he told her, "I'll never be proud of you if you don't become a doctor," and she had to live with that fact. But how does she tell her proud father that, she doesn't have the part anymore?
"Oh, thanks dad." Spencer realized it was better to lie at the moment. She didn't want to disappoint her father all over again. All Spencer ever wanted was acceptance of her career choice, and she thought she was finally getting that from the man she loved and adored. She couldn't let him down now.
Paula set her elbows on the table and smiled, "So enough about your part that we are all so proud of honey," Paula reached over and pinched Spencer's cheek, "let's talk about you Aiden."
Ashley choked on her drink as she was swallowing. She almost forget he was there, due to his lack of speaking. He was too busy ogling Spencer, to even say a word. Ashley wanted to punch the man who was looking at her girlfriend in such a manner. Ashley just set down her drink and decided to listen very tentatively to what he was about to say.
"Well, I plan on moving to New York in a couple of weeks for this new job I have." Aiden shrugged his shoulders and went back to eating.
Paula smiled, she looked so thrilled, "So, what's going on with you and my daughter, Spencer?"
Spencer nervously smiled and shrugged. "Oh mom--"
Aiden cut her off, "Well, we are dating. We just got back from our little vacation in New York, where we had the most amazing time. I am actually thinking about not taking this job, so I can get closer to your daughter. She's holds a special place with me. We've become really close over the past few weeks." Aiden smiled and looked over at Spencer and nodded his head.
Paula was about to jump out of her chair in excitement. She was always so upset with Spencer and her boyfriend choices, but she finally saw hope in Spencer. All Paula ever wanted for Spencer was to meet a nice boy and get married and live happily ever after. Paula was the classic old school mother, "Ah, sweetie you failed to mention that you were leaving the state. But since you were with this boy I'll assume you were in good hands, so I obviously didn't have to worry."
Ashley was turning bright red with fury. She was just about to throw her entire plate of food at Aiden when she was addressed by Paula, "Ashley, are you feeling alright over there? You don't look so good."
Aiden smirked, "Yeah maybe you should lie down."
Spencer was about to throw her head in her hands, because she had a feeling this was all about to blow up in her face.
Kyla sat there just laughing at her surroundings, she felt like she was watching a soap opera. She was loving it.
Arthur just sat there blissfully unaware that anything was happening before his eyes.
Ashley tried to force a smile, "I uh, no Aiden I'll be fine here. Just got a little flushed that's all."
Spencer sighed with relief, "Anyways mom, do we really have to talk about me? Can't we like talk about something else?"
Paula shook her head, "No dear, I hardly get to see you anymore. I need to get caught up on your life, darling."
Arthur pointed his fork at Aiden and continue to chew his food, "So boy, you like to hunt?"
Aiden placed his fork on his plate, "Why me and my dad just went hunting a couple weeks ago, I love it! We own this shooting range, and as a boy I was always in that place."
Arthur smiled and shook his head, "Well, boy since you're dating my daughter we should go hunting. Have some man to man talking."
Spencer diverted her eye contact towards Ashley and mouthed the words, "I'm sorry."
Then a whole conversation erupted by them mouthing words back and forth, "Don't be." Ashley responded.
"Still, I'm sorry about all this."
"Can we get Aiden out of here?"
Kyla butted into their silent conversation, "You two are so fucked."
They both shot an annoyed glare, "Shut up!"
"I love you. Sorry."
"Love you too."
Kyla smirked, "Gag me."
Paula waggled her eyebrows, "What are you three doing over there? I see you mouthing words back and forth. What's going on?"
Spencer was starting to get annoyed with how intrusive her mother was being today, "Nothing mom, just sister stuff. How about me and Kyla clear the plates while we get dessert."
Everyone at the table said in unison, "Sounds good."
Kyla got up and started taking everyone's plates away, "It's going to be awhile, so just make yourself comfortable."
Everyone got up from the table and started walking around the apartment. Aiden went to go sit on the couch, but Ashley grabbed his arm, "Come with me, we need to talk." Ashley didn't wait for a response she just dragged him into her room.
"What the hell, what's up?" Aiden smirked as he raised a brow.
"You know what the fuck is going on. Okay, so me and Spencer are together now, so can you just please go?" Ashley stood there with one had on her hip, glaring into his stupid pretty boy eyes.
"Whatever, me and Spencer are meant to be together. Her experimenting with you isn't going to stop that." Aiden cockily smiled and tried to push through Ashley.
Ashley pushed Aiden back, "I need you to go, you're making everyone uncomfortable."
Aiden rolled his eyes, "Whatever, I'll go." Aiden raised his arms in defeat, "But you're just her gay experiment, you'll see. I heard it from the horses mouth." Aiden chuckled as walked out of the room.
"You're lying." Ashley said as she turned around to look at Aiden leaving.
He kept evilly chuckling, "Maybe I am, maybe I'm not, you'll see."
Ashley knew he had to be lying. He was just trying to drive a wedge in between her and Spencer. She wasn't going to allow that. But she couldn't stop thinking about it. What Aiden said, lingered in the back of her head, she couldn't seem to stop thinking about how she may just be a gay experiment. But she was sure she wasn't, but then again she just witnessed dinner and she knew Spencer was in no hurry to make their relationship public. Ashley tried to shake off her worries and doubts, but they didn't seem to leave.
Spencer was sitting on her new couch with the rest of her family when Ashley finally emerged from her room. Ashley's face had worrisome written all over it. Spencer could tell something was up, but she knew it would have to wait until later. Paula saw Ashley, "Hey kiddo why don't you join us?"
Ashley shrugged, "Actually I think I'm going out for a bit." Ashley threw on her jacket as she grabbed her keys.
Spencer narrowed her eyes and jumped off the couch and whispered, "What's wrong?"
Ashley shook her head and barely smiled, "Nothing, I just need a walk is all. I'll be back once your fam is gone. I'm not big for family gatherings any how."
Spencer hugged Ashley and smiled, "We'll talk later, kay?"
Ashley wiggled out of the hug, "Yeah sure. Bye guys!" Ashley waved to Spencer's family and darted out the door. Spencer was left standing there like she had done something incredibly wrong to provoke Ashley, but she couldn't put a finger on anything. Spencer knew she had to shrug off all emotion until her parents left.
Paula frowned, "What is with you two today?"
Spencer snapped back to reality as she sat down, "Um, what do you mean?"
Paula looked at Spencer in the eyes, "You two...you two are just acting different. You just have this weird glow about you today to. Hmm, maybe I'm reading too much into the situation. Just saying, you two are acting strange...and I can't put my finger on it."
Spencer's face was turning red with nerves, she wasn't sure what to do. How could her mom tell she had sex? She was slowly freaking out in her head and it was starting to show, physically. Her palms were clamming up and she felt weak at the knees. She knew if she tired to stand up, she'd fall right back down.
"I don't know Mom, I didn't notice anything weird about us. Anyways, Kyla how's life?" Spencer would do anything to get the heat off her for a second.
"Oh, you know same ole same ole." Kyla was smirking, she was going to make as hard for her sibling as she could.
"She's just excited about becoming a doctor." Paula smiled and her face showed how proud she was of Kyla.
"Hmm." Spencer really didn't know what to say anymore, she didn't want to speak too much because she was afraid she would give something away. Her mother was already getting suspicious, so she didn't want to say much if anything at all. Spencer was glad her father had finally made an appearance at her apartment, she realized she should probably tell him that, "Dad, thanks for coming out here. It means a lot to me."
Arthur smiled, "Aww honey, well I like what you've done to the place, but well must be going. I have an early meeting." Arthur walked over to Spencer and gave her a hug and kiss on the forehead, "I mean it kiddo, I'm proud of you."
Spencer felt one stray tear that managed to escape her eyes. She was too shell-shocked for words, she just sniffled in his arms and embraced the heart felt hug. She didn't know why her father was being so fatherly all of a sudden, but she wouldn't have it any other way. She was trying to enjoy this moment while it lasted, because she knew she would eventually tell him that she no longer had that part.
The Carlin family scattered out and soon Spencer was left in the large apartment alone. She walked around the place looking for Ashley, as if she had snuck in when she had her back turned. Spencer tried to figure out why she was acting so distant the last few minutes before she left, but she was hoping she was looking too much into that. Spencer cleaned up the rest of the mess around the house and figured it was time for her to start worrying. She called Ashley a few times, but her phone went straight to voicemail. Then as she went to lay down, she saw Ashley's phone laying next to her bed. Spencer thought, great now I'll never be able to reach her.
Spencer laid in bed and just waited for Ashley to come home. She knew it was probably nothing to worry about, but she did worry. She just wanted to stay up and make sure Ashley got home safe and sound. She missed the warmth of Ashley's body next to her, even though she had just had it for one night, she already missed basking in the feeling. It all of a sudden felt lonely in her bed. Spencer slightly dozed off waiting for Ashley.
But she was awaken not a moment later, when she felt the weight of her bed sinking in. She smiled and smelled the air, "Ahh, Ashley I thought you'd never come home. I've missed you." Spencer smiled.
The voice spoke, "I'm not Ashley."
Spencer's eyes flew open and opened her mouth to scream, but it was soon covered by a cloth and a strong hand. Spencer started to struggle as the voice whispered, "Shh, it's going to be alright, you'll see."