Ashley's PoV

-8.2- Alexis Carlin – Musician … Spencer Carlin – Keeper of My Heart

Leaning against the doorframe, I watched as Spencer threw her dirty clothes in the hamper. "You know, they don't bother me." I smirked stepping foot inside her bedroom but she stopped me.

"Don't you dare set another foot in here," she finished packing in all of her dirty clothes and then started to make her bed up even more than it already was.

"Carlin," I laughed at her absurdity. She wouldn't let me in her room before she cleaned it up a bit. "I've seen messier rooms than this, trust me. Mine can get ugly and Aiden's is awful the nights you aren't around." My laughter died in my throat as I mentioned her boyfriend's name. She looked at me and sighed before continuing what she was doing.

"I just want it a little tidier, okay?" She sounded a little frustrated. I stepped back and replied 'okay' softly. I didn't want to make her uncomfortable.

I heard the bathroom door open from the hallway and noticed Alex walking out. She smiled shyly at me as she walked past and into her own bedroom. "I'm gonna go next door until you're finished," I gave Spencer my best smile and made my way towards Alex's room.

I knocked softly. The door was wide open and I saw her slip her headphones in her ear just before I knocked.

"Ash," she smiled quizzically at me, "I thought you were hanging out with Spence?"

I nodded. "I am," I grinned and rolled my eyes, "once she stops fussing over how clean her room is to let me in."

Alex laughed and took out her headphones, placing her iPod beside her. She patted the bed and silently asked me to have a seat. It felt weird. I've never really had a conversation with Alex before but somehow I knew that it was about to change.

"So, about what I said earlier," she began with a soft sigh, "I didn't mean for it to sound so pushy or forward."

I smiled softly at her and shook my head. "It's okay," I looked around her bedroom. Nothing like Spencer's. This bedroom had music posters all over it. Posters of guitars, pianos, music notes, guitar grids. Bands from Fall Out Boy and Evanescence to solo artists like Kelly Clarkson and Eminem, were scattered around her spacious room. I was impressed by her range of music genre that covered her walls. Phantom of the Opera jumped out at me from her closet door. "You really love music don't you?" I looked at her with a grin.

She nodded and blushed. "My escape," she stood up and grabbed a guitar case from her closet. "Spencer bought me this for my birthday" she pulled out a black raspberry electric guitar. She cradled it gently and smiled as she sat down in her computer chair and fingered the strings softly. "She said I was really talented. I ended up breaking her guitar so instead of getting mad at me or buying herself a new one, she bought me one." I watched her face light up as she spoke about her older sister's thoughtfulness.

"She plays guitar too?" I asked, tilting my head. She nodded but never answered me verbally. "So, play me something," I shifted on the bed and crossed my legs.

Alex laughed and shook her head. "No way, I don't do audiences," she placed the guitar back in her case and closed it up. "Plus, I've yet to break this baby in," she grinned.

"A Peavey right?" I asked regarding the brand of the guitar. She looked at me impressively.

"Yea, USA Peavey ST Limited," she grinned. "How'd you know?"

Did I forget to mention that I was a musician? Well, not famously or anything, but I knew my music. Which was why Alex got my immediate attention in that department. "I play," I shrugged and noticed an old acoustic guitar in the corner beside her bed. "May I?" I asked, grabbing the guitar by the neck and pulling it into my lap.

"That was Spencer's as well," Alex chuckled, "she said I had more talent than she did, and she wanted to focus more on her sport anyway."

I nodded and smiled, my fingers tuning her guitar. Once I had the strings where I wanted them, I strummed softly. We sat there for a good minute or two before Alex spoke.

"You are in love with her, aren't you," it wasn't a question that time. She knew.

I sighed and stopped playing, my chin resting on the guitar while looking at her. "I'm close," I whispered, smiling softly. "I know I shouldn't be but I can't help it."

"She told me about the kiss," Alex looked away and I felt my heart leap. For two sisters who didn't seem to be so close, sure shared a lot of important private detail. I raised an eyebrow at her to continue. "She doesn't regret it you know," she smiled sadly at me, "she's just-"

"With Aiden, I know." I sighed and placed the guitar back in its spot. I ran my fingers through my hair. "I just, no matter how hard she tries to push me away by ignoring me, a part of me wants to get that much closer to her, you know?"

She nodded and stood up, closing her door so no one would hear their conversation. "I know Spencer and I are just starting to get to know each other, but I know that what she's feeling isn't just curiosity. She's never made a fuss over her room when Aiden was over. She never blushed as much as she does when she's with you and she definitely doesn't look at anyone the way she does when her eyes are trained on you."

I sat there as I looked at the raven haired girl. I didn't know what to say. Was Spencer feeling everything I was feeling? The woman had a boyfriend, and let's not forget he was my cousin. I was so confused. "Your sister confuses me." I mumbled as I stood up and stretched. "Alex," I turned around and looked at her, "I wasn't supposed to come here and fall in love. I definitely wasn't supposed to be falling in love with Aiden's girlfriend. Back home, I didn't have many friends that would really just listen to me. Spencer is everything in a best friend and more and she's driving me fucking crazy!" I flopped back down on the bed, my head hitting the mattress. I covered my face with my hands and groaned. "I was just supposed to come here, graduate while my parents are away, go home and live my life like I used too."

I felt the bed shift and hands pry mine away from my face. "Maybe you should just talk to her and then start figuring out what should have or shouldn't happen in your life," she smiled softly. I'll admit, I loved that smile. It was Spencer's smile. She turned around and grabbed her acoustic. I sat up and she looked at me. "I love to play music but I haven't really written a lot of lyrics. I don't usually play for anyone but since you're the kindest person I've ever met, I'll play you a little something."

My grin grew as Alex made herself more comfortable on the bed with her guitar in place. I watched her fingers strike each chord perfectly as her tune started coming together.

Alexis Carlin was a born musician.

A knock at the door made her quickly stop. "Come in," she called out as my blonde beauty poked her head through the door. "Hey Spence!" Alex put her guitar aside and stood up quickly. "I uh, we were, uh… I was just…" she stuttered and I rolled my eyes, chuckling.

"After begging for the past ten minutes to have her play something for me, she finally did," I covered and patted Alex on the back. "You are really good. Maybe you could give me some of your sheet music and I can help put some words into your songs?"

"Really?" Alex's eyes grew wide as she hugged me. "Okay!"

I smirked and looked back at Spencer, who had a slightly confused look on her face. "You actually got the twerp to really smile."

I shrugged and walked up to her. "I have that effect on people," I whispered and walked past her. "See ya later Alex."

Spencer's room was completely clean. Nothing was out that shouldn't have been. I looked at her as she closed the bedroom door behind us. "You didn't have to clean everything up," I said softly, taking her hand in mine.

She shrugged and rolled her eyes giggling, "Call me quirky."

"Okay," I laughed, "quirky," she poked me in the rib as we laughed. "So…"

"About last week," her blue eyes were a lighter shade this time. They were almost pleading for me to listen. "I understand that the kiss was a big deal."

"Why run?" I asked softly, cocking my head to the side. I smoothly ran my thumb along the back of her hand, silently letting her know that it was okay to say whatever she needed too.

"Well for one, I'm confused and scared," she let her eyes drop down and bit her lip, her golden hair falling lightly in front of her face.

I stepped forward and tucked the loose strands behind her ear. "It's okay Spence."

"Is it?" Her voice was so broken. "I mean, Aiden…"

I dropped my head and sighed. "I know."

"I don't regret it Ash," she assured me with a soft smile, "and I know that there's a change that needs to be made and I also know this," her hands squeezed mine which brought my eyes back to hers, "I don't want you out of my life. I won't run because the thought of you walking away from me already breaks my heart."

I swallowed as my heart swelled with love for her. "Well I'm not going anywhere unless you ask me too." I whispered; the room all of a sudden quiet.

I could tell that the subject of Aiden was still on hold. I figured I'd let Spencer sort out her feelings before I pushed. I felt bad, extremely bad for putting her and him in that position, but I couldn't help but reach out to her, cousin's girlfriend or not.

So, the Aiden talk would definitely be left for some other day.

And I was okay with that.

"You and Alex seem to be getting along well," Spencer smiled and bit her lip, breaking the silence. "I think she really enjoys that you pay attention to her, even though you two don't see each other often."

"Alex is a very talented person," I breathed, "I thought I had a passion for music."

Spencer grinned and sat down on her bed. "Didn't you say your father used to be in a band back in the 80's?"

I nodded. "Neckties," I smiled and sat next to her, "they were famous for a while. One of the biggest bands in North America and once dad met my mom, things kind of died down for him. He still plays at clubs and stuff, but he's not making it a career anymore. He owns a karaoke bar too."

"My dad has their album," Spencer laughed, "well, I think Alex has it now."

"So you used to play guitar?" I raised an eyebrow, my fingers made their way to her thigh. I made light circles while I continued to look at her.

She nodded and grinned. "Not nearly as good as Alex, plus I'd rather concentrate on hockey. I plan to be in the Olympics on Team Canada, you know. By 2010 at least."

"Really?" I was amazed. I never knew she had that much passion for the sport. Okay, I knew she breathed it but that didn't mean she wanted to make it a lifetime career. I guess the thrill of being body-checked and body-checking was appealing to her.

Interesting.

"Yea, my mom doesn't see that as a normal choice. She wants me to go to University and get a degree in something, anything. And my dad? Well he runs his own Social Services program, mainly in the department he works in, he deals with Foster Care. He'd like to see me with my foot in there one day." Spencer smiled as if she'd considered her father's option. "It'd be something I'd do if hockey totally flaked out on me."

"Wow," I breathed. My fingers were still drawing the same patterns on her thigh. I watched her as she was entranced with my movements. Then there her eyes were, targeted on mine.

"Ash," she breathed as she leaned forward, her mouth just millimetres away from mine. I was just about to capture those sweet lips when my cell rang. I would've ignored it but Spencer was already sitting back, looking at the wall. I sighed and pulled out my phone.

Aiden.

"What?" I bitterly answered the phone and immediately regretted it. "Sorry," I muttered.

"Okay, don't know what I did to deserve that but anyway," He was laughing so I knew he wasn't offended. "Mom and Dad want to know when you'll be home. It's a school night and they both have early shifts so they want to lock up and I noticed your house keys on the bench beside the door. I can come get you…" Which I was sure it was an excuse to see Spencer.

"Crap," I whispered. "I knew I forgot something," I looked at the clock and it was already going on 11pm. "Um," I covered the phone and looked at Spencer, "I'm just going to have Aiden pick me up."

"What?" She spun her head around and frowned. "You can't go!" She pouted.

My heart raced.

I doubt I'd be allowed to spend the night on a school night, and Spencer had early practice. "I'll come over after school tomorrow?" I smiled my best smile.

"Fine," she huffed and stood up, "but I can drive you home. Tell Aiden he can get some sleep."

"Aiden, Spencer offered to drive me home."

"Okay, well then I guess I'll see you two in a bit," he yawned. Once Aiden was tired, he was out like a light. With any luck he'd be in bed before we pulled into the driveway.

"You ready?" Spencer asked me as I hung up the phone. I nodded and grabbed my bag, following her down the stairs. "Driving Ashley home!" She yelled towards the kitchen where her parents were having a late night snack.

Again, the ride was idle chit-chat. Mostly about school work. Spencer and I had two classes together. English Lit, which I hated but Spencer loved and Civics and Careers which I loved and Spencer wasn't too fond of. She really didn't like someone telling her how her future should go. That all 'goals' in life should be made realistically.

I've seen that girl play hockey. It was real and raw and she played it better than anyone on all the teams she played against.

Pulling up behind Aiden's vehicle, Spencer looked at me. "Forgive me?" She pouted.

"For what?" I tilted my head and smiled.

"For running away from the very thing that makes my heart feel alive," she whispered. "For ignoring you."

"Hey," my fuzzy gloved hand cupped her chin, "I get it okay? I'm not mad at you. I just really wish you'd talk to me before you decide to ignore what is happening between us." I gave her a warm smile which she returned and at sent my tummy into somersaults.

"What is happening?" Spencer put on the most adorable frown and quirked an eyebrow.

I didn't know, honestly. We had a connection and we both couldn't deny that. A strong attraction, obviously sexual, but emotional as well. Why else would she run away every time feelings were involved?

I knew I was in love with her, but did she feel the same about me?

"I think we'll just have to take this one day at a time," I couldn't believe I was encouraging her to 'cheat' on her boyfriend.

Spencer smiled lightly and nodded. "You should get in there before they lock the doors and my parents start to wonder what's taking me so long," she leaned the side of her head on her seat looking at me. A relaxed smile graced her beautiful face.

I leaned forward boldly and licked my lips. I hoped I wasn't pushing it with her. I was able to quickly look around to see if anyone was up in the house and all the lights were off. Before I knew it, I felt a pair of hands cupping my face and the sweet scent of Spencer surrounding my every sense.

Lips pressed against mine and I sighed softly against the gentle mouth, adding pressure. She moaned quietly and it sent an electrical shock right between my legs. Her lips parted and it was my turn to moan, plunging my tongue into her sweet mouth, stroking every inch softly. Her fingers tangled into my hair as she pressed me closer and I clasped my hands behind her neck, keeping our lips melded together.

Spencer pulled away, her lips swollen. Even in the dark, the intensity of her blue eyes stood out. She curled her lips into a half grin before pulling me back in.

God I could kiss her for hours.

I broke the second kiss, planting little ones on her cheeks and the tip of her nose, which made her giggle.

"It's hard to say goodnight," she confessed, a breathy whisper.

"Then don't," I replied, tucking hair behind her ears. "I'll be seeing you tomorrow," I moved my head forward again and captured her lips in a slow kiss.

She smirked at me. "Definitely," she sighed and kissed me again.

I matched her smirk and opened my door. I had to get out of that vehicle before my body exploded of sexual tension. We shared a silent goodnight as I ran to the front door. I watched as Spencer pulled out of the driveway.

I was on cloud nine.

Spencer had my heart in the palm of her hand.

And frankly, it scared me.

I've never had my heart broken before.

My heart was never given away.

Until I met Spencer.

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