-Ashley's POV-

As I sit here I search my heart for the words to express my inner most thoughts, my hand glides across the paper in short strokes, it all seems so trivial and ordinary compared to what I feel for you. I crumple the paper and start over seeking for 'that word' that will say it all, 'that word' that when you read it you will instantly know how I feel.

It's so close I can almost touch it. It's on the tip of my tongue but I cannot find it, no matter how hard I search it escapes me. I will have to be a thief stealing age old words shared by millions. They are not original but as I think of them it feels as if I created them.

I treasure you as a person and I cherish you as a soul. I long desire to hold you near for as many days as God allows me to breathe. I immediately realize that my last thoughts as I write this were the same as my very first, I started this letter because I Love You. I sought for words to express that, but I decided to choose the three very words that have been chosen for centuries. They are simply 'I Love You' and forever will.

Shay

I re-read her letter for me for hundredth time trying to figure out what went wrong, where did I go wrong? I can't really say it was a bad breakup but I can't say it wasn't either. We've been together for a year and 9 months and somewhere sometime we just fell downhill. If this was a movie we'd have our happy ending this sadly it isn't. I thought I had my fairy tale, my perfect love story but it ended up in tragedy. She left. Why did she leave?

"I hate you. I hate you so much. I hate you" I yell at her drenched in tears.

"Ashley listen to me. I love you but…" She tries to get hold of my arm but I wave her away

"But what? Why can't you just say you love me without the buts? I will never understand." I feel my knees weaken and I crash down curled up on the floor. She bent down wrapping her arms around me and this time I didn't resist. "Stay" I said to almost a whisper

"I'm sorry" She said and kissed my cheek gently before leaving. That was the last time I was able to talk to her or see her or be held by her.

It was a year after the PLL Movie was released when she decided to end up everything. She didn't even bother to get her things at our place. I always hoped that she would come back to that door and we'll get back together. I was even planning on asking her to marry me on our second anniversary.

I was busy going through my things on my purse when I bumped into someone. "Sorry" I said without looking at who it was. The person in front of me stood in place and I slowly scanned the figure in front of me. A tall tanned toned brunette stood in front looking ever more beautiful. My heart stopped beating for a split second.

"Sorry" she said. Her eyes have never changed, it was still the most admirable brown eyes but I could see it lost its sparkle.

"It's okay. How have you been?" I ineptly asked

"I'm good. How about you?" She asked looking away at me

"I'm doing great. Nice to see you Shay" I let out a sly smile.

"Nice bumping into you too. See you around Ash" Just like that I continued walking on an opposite direction from hers.

I looked back at her. 8 or 9 years ago that girl right there used to be my best friend. I used to be so crazy in love with her. I used to wear her clothes, hug her, hold hands with her, kiss her and whatever sweet stuff and now it's just polite hellos and goodbyes on department stores. I can say you can never really be back to being friends again with your best friend if you've been in a relationship before. Things will never be the same, our lives continued in different directions and here we are back to being strangers again and everything we had are now fragmented memories. That stranger right there was once the most important person in my life. We're now strangers with memories. How did we even get here?

1 year and 8 months ago…

-Sasha's POV-

Shay made me read the letter she made for Ashley. I'll be honest that was the sweetest thing I've ever read.

"So what do you say?" She asks looking nervous

"I…wow…this is really sweet Shay" I say folding the paper and placing it on the table.

"You think Ashley will like it? I'm planning on giving it to her on our first month. It's a few days away from her birthday so I think it's a good timing" I felt quite uncomfortable hearing Ashley's name

"I'm pretty sure anyone who has a heart would melt in this" I respond to her honestly

"Look Sash don't think I didn't notice you and Ash. What did I miss?" I breathe deeply. You can't evade this Sasha. I've been trying to avoid this for almost a month now.

"Don't take this the wrong way okay. When she ditched you at the airport I went to her house and ranted on her. She looked so broken you know but I was so pissed at her for doing that to you. I really like you Shay, for real. I see you as a big sister and I adore you for just being you. If ever you might just have noticed before I tried to compete with her but I see how totally happy you are with her." I confessed and I'm sure my face is turning red right now.

"Aww. I like you too Sash maybe not that into you like but like you as my little sister. Thank you for stepping up for me Squasha." She says with a smile. I love how understanding she is.

"It's what you call friendship my darling" I joke around and we both laughed and she then wrapped me on a hug. Just then coincidentally Ashley came in to the door.

"Ahh am I interrupting something here?" She says with I'm sure on a jealous tone.

"Nothing babe. Come here." She says motioning for Ashley to come closer.

"Hey hefty" she raised a brow at me "I'm kidding. Come here Ash." She walked to Shay and me and I wrapped her in a tight hug.

"I'm so glad we're okay now queen bee. Are we?" She pushed me gently to look at me.

"We are. Now I need to get going because queen bee has to mess around with the other girls" I stood up and picked up Shay's letter on the table. I'm sure she wouldn't want Ashley to read it before she intends her to. I wave at them goodbye before leaving.

-Shay's POV-

When Sasha left I immediately pulled Ashley by her waist. "We're alone now" I whisper seductively as I kiss her neck.

"What are you implying my lady?" She tilted her head making way for me to easily do what I'm doing

"Whatever" I kissed her jawline "you" I kissed her cheek "want to do" and I turned her head finally placing my lips to where I wanted it to be. Our lips move in synchrony. Her tongue traced my lip and I parted it slightly for her to have access. We pulled away as soon we needed to catch for air. She bit her lower lip turning me on.

"So what do you want for your birthday babe?" I trailed her neck with kisses. She slowly sinks herself at the couch lightly pulling me with her.

"Surprise me" I gentle nibble her pulse point and kissed it afterwards. I could hear her moan.

"You don't have to ask" I moved my lips from her neck back to her own lips. Our lips connected again and we kissed slower and more passionately this time.

"Are you going home for Christmas?" She said in between the kiss. I pulled back and sat straight. I know this was gonna be a long talk.

"Sadly yes. I'll leave 2 days after your birthday" she pouted her face and I caressed it.

"But we're spending the New Year together right?" I nodded. It had been our tradition to spend Christmas with our respective families and spend the New Year together. It's going to be our first Christmas and New Year as a couple. "Well I'm kind of thinking of starting a new tradition actually"

"Go on" I eyed her suspiciously. Sometimes Ashley's plan (no offense meant) is severely insane.

"If you would agree to it I want to spend Christmas with you and your family and we could spend the New Year with mine. Since it's our first Christmas and New Year as a couple it would be nice to spend it with our loved ones together." She said somehow anxious.

"Seriously? That's like the best idea you ever had! Of course!" I said overjoyed with her plan.

"And hopefully…next year…we could…maybe…probably…spend the holidays together…in our own place?" She said the words as slow as possible biting her lip as she finished. She bit it not in a seductive way but in a way when she gets nervous.

"Sounds like a plan" I went on kissing her again.

Today's December 18, Ashley's birthday. I typed on my phone 'Happy birthday to the best girl in the world, my baby bear Ashley. I love you. See you later xoxo –Buttah to your Benzo' and sent it to her. It was a busy day for me. I had to ask everyone's help to pull up my surprise. The PLL movie was beyond halfway from finishing so everyone was hard on their asses at work. I had to ask Marlene to reason out that I had to shoot a scene outside Warner Bros. Studio with Sasha, Keegan and Tyler so we could set up Ashley's house for my surprise party.

After hours of preparing everything was now set. I distracted Ashley so everyone could make it before she gets home. I told her to meet up with me in an Italian Restaurant but when everyone arrived I told her I couldn't make it and I'll meet her up at her place instead. She surely sounded disappointed, I feel bad for letting her down like that but I'm sure it'll be all worth it once she gets home. I see her parking at the garage so I made everyone go to their hiding places. She heavily walked inside the house.

"Surprise!" I said to her and opened my arms widely. She must have been so upset because she was so startled when I greeted her.

"Oh my God Shannon is your gift to me a heart attack?" She walked towards me and placed a gentle kiss on my lips. I guided her outside to her backyard. Candles were everywhere placed on creative candle holders like the once Jenna made on her class at Hollis. Petals were on the ground guiding her way. I purposely dimmed the lights and played soft music to match up the ambiance.

"Thank you so much for this babe" She said when we finally stopped walking. I gave her the letter for her to read. Her face showed so many emotions, she looked like she was gonna cry at the same time she was gonna smile. After reading she gave me a lingering kiss which made me forgot in a while that our friends and family are waiting for my cue for them to get out. I pulled back and secretly pressed the play button. A short video montage played on the projector showing pictures of her when she was younger, her photos from different movies and series she had appeared on and photos of us together. After the pictures were videos of everyone saying their birthday wishes for her. She was tearing up watching it. Just as the whole montage finished everyone went out from their hiding places.

"Happy Birthday Ashley!" Everyone shouted in unison. They then took turns hugging her and giving her presents. I watch her smiling from ear to ear. She mouthed 'thank you' at me. I was proud of myself for successfully making my girlfriend's birthday special. I love you Ashley. It would break me to pieces if I ever lose you.

A.N. I know they just got together and now this chapter starts with them breaking up but I promise there's more to it on the next chapters. Find out what happened in between the years. I hope you still enjoy reading this and please keep reading. :) You can leave reviews for your suggestions or ideas.