For the person who guessed what small part of the teacher's rant came from last chapter, claps to you! I was watching Whitney C's stand up and was in deep laughter as I was writing that part.

To Siretha Elaine: IDK if you got my PM but yes you are correct! Those are the correct book titles. Trust me, you're going to love those books! Thank you for your kind words! They really warmed me!

This fic is rated M for future chapters, of course ;)

CHAPTER #14: What Is This I'm Feeling?

Italics means thoughts, emphasized word or action. Bolded is a flashback. (….) is an indication that time has passed

Laying on her bed, Spencer relaxes into a sitting position as she blankly looks at her computer screen in front of her; only with racing thoughts protruding her mind. Except her thoughts are more like a pep-talk with a mini Spencer.

What are you thinking, Spencer?

Seriously.

What is going on with you right now? Aria is your roommate. She's your-your friend! You don't have feelings for her. You don't have feelings for girls, period! You know what? You're just liking the friendship. You're liking the attention she gives you. As a friend. That's it. You don't like her more than that. And you're definitely not sexually attracted to her. Ugh, Spencer...You need to get out more. You're in this dorm with her all the time. You need to make more friends, meet new guys, and go on dates. Not imagine make out sessions with your roommate for a month and a half.

"Hey." Aria knocks on Spencer's door as she slowly opens.

More tense than usual, Spencer subtly jumps at Aria's sudden appearance, "Uhm-hi-hey! Hey." Spencer glances between Aria and her computer, "W-what's...what's up?"

"Nothing. Want some company?" Aria smiles as she hugs one of her newly gifted books tightly to her chest.

Nononono. No! You do not need any company, Spencer. Tell her NO.

"Uhmm, sure. I-I don't mind."

Spencer, c'mon! I raised you better than this!

"Good!" Spencer scoots over to the side as Aria jumps into the open space like a small child. "I think I'm going to start off this book first." Aria shows her the "Everything I Never Told You" cover causing Spencer to put on a forced smile and nod. "I'm a sucker for lies, scandal and secrets...when it doesn't involve me of course." Aria giggles as she gets herself comfortable on her stomach, laying side by side next to Spencer who is doing everything in her power to limit her eyes wandering anywhere past her computer.

Now look at what you did. Look what you invited in! You invited in the whole root of your problem! Didn't we just talk about this?! Ok, ok. Since you wanted to derail from the original plan, now we have to bring in phase two. Do not start a conversation. Only talk when she asks you a question. And with that, limit your answers to short and quick responses. If she's just talking, just grumble your replies back. No conversations. Like at all! Look at your computer, put in your headphones and just...do something. Pretend she doesn't even exist...

Spencer lets out a small sigh as she plugs herself into her computer. She opens her music study playlist, starts up a word document and begins to start on an assignment.

...

8:15pm. Spencer looks at the time on her computer as she uploads her assigned work on her school's blackboard site. Feeling a small brushing sensation on side, Spencer looks down to see Aria's bright pink ankle socks brushing against her as the smaller brunette's legs lift up and down as she laid, completely occupied into her story. Spencer closes her eyes and presses her lips inward as the mere touch was starting to send small shivers everywhere. Something that Aria normally did when she was reading, at that time had no effect on her, is now making her feel differently. Spencer closes her laptop as she swiftly swings her legs off the bed, causing Aria to look up at her.

"I'm just…going to the kitchen real quick." Spencer speaks up, shifting her eyes from Aria to the floor as she shuffles around the bed and out of her room.

Great, genius. If you couldn't be any more obvious.

Spencer walks into the kitchen and opens the fridge door to scan for something to eat. Instead of scanning for a snack, her brain scans with more thoughts from her bully of a conscience.

You know what? You're doing this to yourself. You never had a problem with any of this before. But now...now you're letting it bother you. You don't have feelings for Aria. You DO NOT have feelings for Aria. You and I both know this is ludicrous. That- that guy that works at the front desk of the College House...what's his name...? Anderson or something? Yeah, talk to him tomorrow. Talk to him to get your mind off this chick because you've now gotten to the point that her pink fuzzy socks are sending you over the edge if they touch you! Ridiculous! You need to get it together, Hastings.

...

For about half an hour, Spencer finds herself in a YouTube loop watching from inspiration lectures and debates all the way to watching fan edits of her favorite TV shows; occasionally, taking a peek of Aria flipping pages right beside her.

Nearing 9 o'clock, Spencer's eyes begin to droop and she goes through the process of turning off her laptop and putting it on the nightstand next to her. Rubbing her eyes, Spencer feels that Aria's legs aren't moving nor is she hearing any rustling of book pages. The a lamp being the only source of light in her room, Spencer glances over to see Aria face laid sideways as she holds the open book still in her hands. In this situation, Spencer would normally wake Aria up and she'd go to sleep in her own room but, at this moment, Spencer is yet again conflicted.

Now, look what we have here. Aria is asleep in your bed.

Not hers but yours.

She would be asleep in her OWN bed if you'd never invite her inside in the first place. Now you have only one option. Very easy option. Wake her up and have her walk to her own room.

You don't want to do that?

What do you mean you don't want to do that? There is nooooo other choice, Spencer!

No. Nonono. You're not carrying her to her bed. She's not a child. She might have the height of a toddler but she's in fact a grown toddler. There will be no alternative where skin to skin contact would be made. Focus, Spencer, focus. Tap her on her shoulder and send her on her way!

WHAT? You don't want to wake her or move her so you rather just sleep with her?! Now you have certainly lost your mind. With the thoughts you're thinking and the scenes you're imaging, you are NOT going to be sharing a bed with her. You're beginning to sound like a teenage boy!

….Spencer stop…..

Why are you walking over to your closet?

What is that blanket for? Are you that col-why are you covering Aria with a blanket?

Spencer, stop. Stop this!

Turn that lamp light back on and kick her out of your room!

Don't get under your sheets!

Spencer! Spencer! You did not fall asleep that fast! Get up! There is still a body that doesn't belong in your bed!

...

Looking around in the dark room, Aria gets up from her sleeping position and groggily crawls higher up the bed next to Spencer. Feeling the sheets moving around, Spencer squints open her eyes to hear Aria adjusting herself more comfortably inside the bed. Being the double twin bed that it is, Aria scoots back away from the edge, faintly having her backside against Spencer front side. Spencer's widen although she can't see anything other than darkness. If she was to inch just a bit farther up, they would be in full blown spooning mode.

And how tempting her impulses were.

How tempting that thought was.

How simple she could easily inch forward.

Spencer switches her position from laying sideways to lying on her back. She looks up at the ceiling as she lets out a loud sigh.

The last thing is she needs is temptation.

...

As Spencer & Aria get ready for yet another day, looking in the mirror, Aria opens her makeup bag and begins to start applying her daily amount of makeup. Fully into getting ready, she doesn't see Spencer leaning against the bathroom doorframe. As much as neutral Spencer tried to convey outside, in the inside she was just filled with adoration. She walks into the bathroom and stands behind her,

"Looks like you could use a pair of extra hands. Need help with your hair?" Spencer asks in a friendly tone as Aria looks up at through the mirror, stopping her eyeshadow process with her hair in a ponytail, yet to be touched.

"Sure," Aria smiles as she hands Spencer her brush. "I'm kind of running late anyways. I should woke up when my first alarm went off.

As she unties her ponytail, Spencer takes the brush and begins to slowly brush her delicate brown hair, from scalp to ends, slowly and firmly. Cupping folds of hair in her hand and dreamily swiping through, Spencer runs her fingers deep into her hair and massage her scalp as she brushes. Aria stops mid-way of beginning to apply her eyeliner when she closes her eyes in relaxation.

"Wow...Someone over here has magic fingers." Aria breathes out as Spencer continued on.

Feeling her soft hair in her fingers and her sweet scent filling her senses, urges takes control and Spencer bends down and places a kiss on her neck. "I'm glad you like it."

Spencer immediately regrets her sudden move and was expecting a jump back from Aria but, instead, she just tilted her head more, beckoning another kiss. Hesitating what her gesture could possibly mean, Spencer duly obliges, although longer this time. She purses her lips into her neck, slightly sucking to draw the skin in. Still brush and caressing her hair, she remained kissing her neck, slowly moving to various places. Aria quietly sighs with pleasure as Spencer tilted her head to the other side, sweeping her hair over to get another clean kiss.

Before Spencer could move anywhere else, Aria turned to face her, wrapping her arms around the taller brunette's neck, drawing her close. She kissed her full on the lips, no hesitation with her tongue intertwining with Spencer's.

Feeling the electricity flowing through her, Spencer moaned into Aria's mouth and broke from their kiss. Aria looked deep into those dark, hypnotically beautiful eyes as she tenderly ran a finger down the back of her neck, doubling up the amount of electricity Spencer's feeling.

"Everything okay?" She asked, stroking her fingers through her hair.

"Perfect..." Spencer replied in a hushed whisper.

Just then, the bathroom was filled with angelic sounding music, causing Aria to look around. "Where is that coming from?"

"Where is what...?" Spencer asks half concerned, half wanting to continue on the path they were going as she slides her hand down the small of Aria's back, not even caring if they do miss their first morning class.

Aria takes an arms away from Spencer's neck and stops Spencer's hand from sliding any farther. "That noise." She asks a little more seriously than before.

Spencer shakes herself out of her daze to hear the sound Aria is referring to. Her eyebrows raise as the sound becomes louder and louder. "That...that sounds like my phone alarm."

"You mean you're still sleeping?" Aria confused eyes stare into Spencer's as she is still wondering why her alarm is so loud.

"Huh?"

"You're still sleeping." Aria reiterates with a nod of confirmation.

Spencer's eyes shoot open as her phone alarm rings loud and early. Spencer throws a lazy hand out to her night stand and swipes the alarm off before it wakes up the whole floor. Realizing that everything, every single thing, was yet another fabric of her imagination causes Spencer to groan out in frustration. Stretching out her body, Spencer leg brushes against another leg, causing her to immediately turn her head.

Aria is sleeping next to her.

That part wasn't a dream.

…

"I once saw a poster that proclaimed that "Every man should build a house before he dies." The poster attributed it to Plato. When I was 35, I did it. I designed my own house. A great builder helped me build it. Our family has enjoyed the house for many years. Designing a house or even outfitting an apartment or a room of your own in which to live is certainly a time to become philosophical. It is a time to consider ones beliefs about the constructed environment. Whether we rent, purchase, or build a place to live, we reveal our belief system by the choices we make. Two important branches of philosophy, aesthetics and ethics, often come home to visit each other during the choices we make when designing the place in which we live."

As Dr. Hasleberger started off with his lecture for the day, Spencer couldn't help but take sneak peeks at Aria sitting ever so attentively next to her. Completely ignoring everything her professor was saying in front of the class, Spencer scribbles meaningless shapes and signs in the corners and sides of her sketch book all while she replays the last moments of her dream.

Aria looks up at through the mirror, stopping the end of her eyeshadow process with her hair in a ponytail, yet to be touched.

Over.

As she unties her ponytail, Spencer takes the brush and begins to slowly brush her delicate brown hair, from scalp to ends, slowly and firmly.

And over.

Feeling her soft hair in her fingers and her sweet scent filling her senses, urges takes control and Spencer bends down and places a kiss on her neck. "I'm glad you like it."

And over.

Before Spencer could move anywhere else, Aria turned to face her, wrapping her arms around the taller brunette's neck, drawing her close.

Again.

She slides her hand down the small of Aria's back, not even caring if they do miss their first morning class.

Turning her head with her eyes leaving her notebook, Spencer's heart skips a few beat as she makes eye contact with Aria who has been already looking at her. As Spencer gave a small smile, Aria looked down as if she was caught looking at something she wasn't supposed to, blushed then smiled with her eyes brightened as her cheeks raised, causing her eyes to wrinkle in the corners with happiness.

Three little things that made Spencer's heart drop.

I'm done. I'm so done. Fuck.

…

Leaving their art course, Aria and Spencer walk out of their building into a freshly white campus and people waddling, stuffed in their winter gear.

"He let us out a little later than usual…" Aria notes as she texts on her phone, trying to avoid any ice that might be left for her on the ground.

"Really? I didn't notice." Spencer replies as neutral sounding as she could, "Class in there just goes so fast. I don't even remember half the things he said."

"Yeah because you were over there doodling in your book." Aria teases as she bumps Spencer to the side.

SHE KNOWS. SHE KNOWS.

"I was just brushing up on my sketching skills." Spencer quickly covers herself before Aria could press on, "You know an assignment like that is coming soon. I just want to be ahead of the pack."

"Well look at you...trying to outdo all of us. That's not a fair way to play, you know that right?"

"Grades are never fair."

Aria giggles as she looks back at her phone, turning to Spencer, "Well, I have to run to my next class before Dr. Adams pitches a bitch. See you at home?"

"Yeah." Spencer nods with a smile, "I'll see you later."

Aria reciprocates the gesture, putting a hand on Spencer's shoulder before she walks off in a different direction, shuffling a little quicker than normal.

…..

From the moment they left Art class, Spencer's mind continued to stay warped throughout her other classes. Mindless tapping, thoughts taking their own control and drifting off, completely missing the valid points of the day's lectures from multiple professors. All she could think of is her rapid imagination.

Aria's hands wonder up to Spencer's cheeks as she opens her mouth for a gradual passionate kiss…

She kissed her full on the lips, no hesitation with her tongue intertwining with Spencer's….

Gently sucking on Spencer's bottom lip when the two separate, Spencer slowly opens her eyes to see Aria's big hazel eyes. Aria smiles as she continues to stroke Spencer's flustered cheeks….

Aria looked deep into those dark, hypnotically beautiful eyes as she tenderly ran a finger down the back of her neck, doubling up the amount of electricity Spencer's feeling….

And going back when Sarah seemed to foreshadow the very thing that has possibly lead up to everything she's feeling now

"Aria came for you earlier today." Sarah tells Spencer, lying back down.

Spencer puts the cereal away, "I don't know who that is." Then she mutters under her voice, "And I don't want to know who she is."

x

Sarah nods her head in the direction of the leaving brunette as she steps closer to Aria. "So you're taking Spencer away, huh?"

"Yeah…I hope you're not upset about that or anything." Aria cautiously responds to Sarah, realizing that her only roommate is leaving her alone like how Katherine left her.

Sarah chuckles as she downs the last remains of her drink, "Honestly, I thought you were going to move in here. You basically lived here in the last week of school, helping Spencer and all. But, looks like you two lovebirds are heading to the Montgomery suite upstairs."

Aria awkwardly laughs, "Lovebirds?"

Just then, Spencer emerges from the back room and enters the open area with an open, medium sized box. "Who's a lovebird?"

"Apparently, we are." Aria pushes herself off the counter. "Well, according to Sarah."

Spencer rolls her eyes as she walks to the corner of the kitchen bar. "Anything according to Sarah, you can bet is significantly off." She continues into the kitchen where the other two are huddled.

"What would we call that, Spencer?"

Spencer quickly look up from her laptop and into the eyes of her Criminal Justice Professor standing in front of her, waiting on an answer.

"Oh-uhm…" Spencer puts a strand of hair behind her ear as she looks onto her document of notes, or the lack thereof, "Yeah, uhmm…I…I didn't quite hear the question since I was still behind jotting down notes," Spencer clicks her tongue as she puts on her fake yet concerned smile, "Could-could you repeat the question, please?"

"What Supreme Court case mandated that states provide lawyers for defendants who are unable to pay for them?" The professor reiterates the question for the second time.

"Oh, it was Gideon v. Wainwright, ma'am." Spencer answers with a slight sigh of relief in her voice.

"Hm." The professor gives the eyebrow as she writes the correct answer on the board, "You seem out of it today, Hastings." She remarks in front of the whole class which causes all eyes to shift towards the brunette.

"It-it's the cold. It's never been my friend."

"A little Theraflu before class might help bring down the fogginess." The professor continued with her lecture with, this time, Spencer trying her hardest to stay focused.

…..

Fuck.

fuckfuckfuckfuckfuck….

Spencer looks at herself in the mirror, drenched in cool water she had splashed in her face.

What the hell is going on with me?

Is-is this lust? This has to be lust or-or something.

Yeah…that's all it is. This is pure lust. Not actually romantic feelings but just lust.

I don't have feelings for Aria. I have lust for a person because the lack of romance I've had in my life at this point.

Aria could have been anyone. She just so happened to live here.

I don't have feelings for her.

Just then, Spencer hears the sound of jingling keys followed by a click of the front door being unlocked. She grabs the hanging washcloth on the wall and dries her face to greet Aria.

Except…

It seems like Aria brought company.

"Hey, Spence!" Aria smiles as she turns around and locks the door behind her.

"Yeah. Hey, Spencer." Noel waves at the somewhat confused Spencer standing in the hallway.

"Hi…" Spencer squints her eyes with a slight hanging mouth as she watches Noel pull up a seat at their kitchen bar. "Aria. Can I talk to you for a second?" Spencer waves Aria into her room.

"Be right back." Aria places her hand on Noel's shoulder. "Make yourself at home." She leaves his side and walks towards Spencer as she begins to unbutton her coat. "Yeah?"

"I thought we had a system..." Spencer whispers as she crosses her arms with a hint of jealously in her tone. "No inviting people over without letting the other person know?"

Aria turns her head to the side with a confused smirk on her face, "I texted you earlier, telling you I was going to invite Noel."

"...You did?" Spencer checks her phone in her pocket and indeed, Aria sent her a text about an hour ago.

"Yeah. Don't worry." Aria laughs, "He'll leave soon and you'll be able to have me all to yourself."

...

"So, Aria tells me you're planning on trying out for the Lacrosse team." Noel tries to strike up a conversation with Aria sitting by his side and Spencer digging inside of the kitchen for something to eat.

Spencer narrows her eyes, "She told you that?" Spencer answers with dryness as she looks down at her plate, tossing her Chef Boyardee can into the garbage.

"Yeah." Aria swivels from side to side in the kitchen stool with her leg brushing against Noel's, "Just trying to develop our own little cheering squad for when the season starts."

"How long have you been playing?"

"For a while now." Spencer faces away from the duo as she closes the microwave door and sets the timer.

"She's been playing since she was small." Aria adds onto Spencer's lack of a response, "She's really good."

"How can you say I'm good when you've never seen me play...?"

"Because you're Spencer and everything you do you're golden at. Seeing you in action will only solidify my theory." Aria winks causing Spencer to shake her head to disguise her sudden blush.

Noel interrupts the moment by turning to face Aria, "Do you play anything, Ar?"

Ar?

"Nah. Only the Blitz Society. Other than that, this girl doesn't participate in many injury prone activities."

"And you're really good in our Society. I'm not going to lie…." Noel rubs his hand over his chest as he flashes a smile, "Seeing you run around, taking out people...It kind of gave me a rush."

"Uh!" Aria gasps and slaps Noel on the thigh, Noel grabbing her hand in the process as he laughs, "Stop Noel!"

"Yeah, please." Spencer remarks facing away from the duo once again to retrieve her food, "That's gross."

"Oh don't worry, Hastings." The brunet turns back to Spencer who had turned to face him as well, "You were also very hot taking command as well. Made me feel like a man inside." He taps his chests in a suggestive manner causing Aria to playfully slap him again. Spencer gives him a fake, mocking smile before she reaches inside the drawer for silverware. Spencer walks over to the couch and grabs the remote to watch some TV, anything to drown out Noel's annoying laughter. Out of the corner of her eyes, she sees Aria leading Noel into her room with him closing the door behind him. The unexpected image makes Spencer stare at the door for, what felt like 5 minutes, 10 seconds.

Why is Noel in her room?

What are they doing in there?

Why did they close the door?

What are they doing in there?

Why couldn't stay in the Living Room?

What are they doing in there?

Why do they need to be alone?

What are they doing in there?

Why is Noel over here in the first place?

WHAT. ARE. THEY. DOING. IN. THERE?

Yikes. What are Noel and Aria doing in there?

Does Spencer have the right to feel jealousy?

What is going on?!