A/N- Remember me? *nervous smile* Ha.. I KNOW I KNOW! It's been like 7 months! I'm horrible. Beyond horrible! But I wrote myself into a brick wall with that last chapter which you all hated! And it took me forever to get out of it! My friend Kristal actually helped me get out of it, and gave me some ideas to get me through the HUGE writers block I was suffering! So, THANKS KRIS! =) This chapter's dedicated to you! =D But anyways, please read and tell me what you think. I have a feeling a lot of you will be more then happy with the result of this chapter! =)
Oh, and I'm sorry if any of you get confused with the changes between Ashley and Spencer's POV's. With the time difference between them two, stuff seems off, but it all catches up. So don't worry too much about it. =) Everything is calculated correctly. I promise!
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Ok, FOF's for last chapter. (in order of receiving)
Oh, and some people I didn't comment back, cause I had nothing to really say.. Sorry if you're one of those people! =)
Birdseyeview57- It's not a problem dear. I know that this chapter has been loooonnnggg over-due. Hope your project is going well. =)
Lunarcycle- Ha, I'd say thanks for the congrats, but that was MONTHS ago, and you already know, that her and I are over now. xD lol. There's not much more I can say to your comment, cause well, we talk often on myspace, and about a lot of what your comment said already, lol. You already know my situation's! haha.
goshNyikes- Aww! That's the spirit! Yes, there's always going to be delay's but Spashley always prevails in the end! =)
somthgIlike2do- Ok, I know, I know. Benny sucks. Lol. There's no convincing I need to give you. Everything you've said is correct. And Ashley won't have to write any break-up songs at this point in time. Haha. No worries. Ok, so it's WAYYY longer then two months, and I sincerely apologize! I hit a brick wall on this story, after writing that last chapter. But I'm back with a bunch of new ideas, so hopefully I'll get back to posting a bit more regularly again. And you're welcome, but you're not ungrateful imps haha.
Sharaebebaby- I'm sorrrryyyy!!! Just read and then please forgive me..?!?1
rubi & R- Not a problem for the feedback =) lol
Life-Live-Love-Learn- I know, Benny sucks! He needs to get lost! =P And Ashley won't be hurt by any of it! Read and find out! =)
mnm- Gonna bug me till I post huh? It's been 6 months since you commented and I'm JUST now updating. Good job on that one sweetheart. =P
Tell-Me-the-Truth-24- Sorry it's not soon like you requested. But I know, Spencer did a bad thing! Hopefully she fixes it soon eh?
LovexIsxWar- I know, totally out of left field right? Sorry the soon part didn't happen, but here's an update! =)
IM GAY SO WHAT- You don't have to lie, you can hate Benny with the rest of us xD. Sorry for the soon part not happening, but Spashley will indeed be ok. Just read eh? =)
hugbuddy13- I know I know. But she fixes it! Read read read! =)
areader97- I'm sorry! Welcome to the story btw. =P ha. Just read, it gets fixxeedd =)
ashspence1987- There's always going to be a Spashley in the end! =) And I'm glad you're loving it, don't stop because of that last chapter ok? xD
standing on the hellmouth16- Thank you! =) Sorry it's taken so long for an update. I'd never leave it hangin for forever though. I'll eventually, always come back! =P
BBRlucky13- I did for a bit, cause I hit a brick wall. But I'm back now, and writing for this story again. =) Enjoy.
mutt009- BUDDYYY!!! Haha, I know I know, you're mad about the Benny thing haha. And you're obviously not dead, so I'm not the death of you and neither is the story! Rofl. And thanks dear! =)
satincanopy- Were you a reader on the-n or something? And the link is /lilnutmeg44 That's my fanfic myspace, so you can nag me to get some writing done. xD
southofnowhere2010- I know, and she will be with Ashley! I promise! Haha, ok ok, all of these things will happen in time, just read and see what happens! =)
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Ok, that's everyone who commented the last chapter! Sorry once again, for the super long delay. But I'm finally back, and writing for this story again. =) So ENJOY this chapter guys.
Oh! And I made a few changes to the format and set-up and stuff. If there is anything in intalics, it's just an actual thought, that, that person is having. You'll get it. It's nothing confusing, I swearz! =) Ok, NOW enjoy! =)
-Mel
ps- I had this done and ready for posting on like Thursday night.. but the site wouldn't let me upload. -.- So don't blame me completely for the lack of postage! K thanks, ENJOY! =)
"THE UNWANTED AND THE WANTED"
Spencer's POV
I'm pacing around my hotel room. Freaking out might I add! My mind on over drive, more-so then usual. And to top it all off, I have a splitting headache.
Fuck you stress!
I pinch the bridge of my nose, hoping to ease the pulsing behind my eyes. It doesn't help, of course. Because it wants to add to my already stressful day.
As I continue pacing the room, there's a knock at my door.
???: "Ms Carlin, your manager's on the phone for you."
When did the phone ring?
SPENCER: "Thank you Ro, I'll take it in here." I say with a sigh
I walk over to my bed to sit, and pick the phone up from it's receiver.
SPENCER: "Hey CJ. What's up?"
CJ: "Hey Spencer. I was just calling to check up on the shoot and stuff. How's it all going?"
SPENCER: "It's going fine. Got here safely, quite obviously, and just been getting everything done. Nothing's behind schedule as far as I'm concerned and we haven't had any bad days or anything as of now. Nothing that concerns me anyways. It's running pretty smoothly."
CJ: "Good! You know that's what I love to hear." He compliments and I can hear the smile in his voice.
SPENCER: "That I do."
CJ: "Alright, well keep up the good work Carlin. I'll check back in a few days."
SPENCER: "Ok, bye."
He hangs up without another word.
Once I've returned the phone to it's cradle, I flop back onto my bed and take a deep breath as my eyes flutter closed.
I can't believe I did that tonight! How on Earth could I have nodded my head?? Seriously? I mean really?! Nodding my head in agreement? Ugh. .
This is bullshit.
As I lay there on my bed, I regain control of my breathing, and then do my best to relax. Ok. . idea.. I need an idea. . how can I undo what I've done? I need to undo what I've done. Think Spencer, think!
Just then my cell phone rings and I sit up to grab it off of the night stand.
Great, just who I'm trying to get rid of. Yet I still have no clue how to yet. I'll at least see what he wants.
SPENCER: "Hello?" I say into the phone, a little too irritated for any normal greeting.
BENNY: "Hey beautiful, what's up?" Not even having caught the irritated tone. And he claims to "know" me.
SPENCER: "Nothing. . just sitting here, getting ready to head to bed."
BENNY: "Oh, well then I caught you at the right time. I just wanted to call and say good night." He tells me, and I notice the wide smile in his voice.
SPENCER: "Oh. . well good night." I answer monotonously.
BENNY: "Night and sweet dreams." He says sweetly and I about gag.
I hang up the phone before anything else can be said, and lay back onto my bed.
I need to break this off before he thinks I really do want this. He already acts like I'm his girlfriend or something. I shudder at the thought, and decide to take a hot bath to relax me before bed.
Fifteen minutes later, I'm relaxing in my huge Jacuzzi tub, courtesy of the hotel, and I'm resting my head against a soft towel as a play list of my favorite bands filters through the air. The smell of my body wash fills my senses as well, and I feel the tension in my back start to ease just a little bit.
I stay in for a while longer, before deciding it's time I head to bed. As I slip into some boy shorts and a sleep tank, my cell phone rings again. I walk to my night stand and look at the caller ID. It reads Ashley, and I smile a little to myself, before a frown replaces it. I feel so wrong for what happened tonight. I may not be with Ash, but I've been dating her for long enough to not be dating other people on the side as well. I sure as hell don't want to hurt her, and I sure as hell want to be dating only her.
In my moment of thoughts, the ringing stops and I realize that I've missed her call. I'll wait to see if she leaves a message and then I'll call her back. I put my phone down and continue getting ready for bed. I check with Ro to make sure everything's ok, and to see if he needs anything. He assures me he's fine, and I tell him good night.
As I walk back into my room, I see my phone blinking on my bed. I pick it up and see it says I have a voicemail and a new text message. I connect to the voicemail first and Ashley's melodic, raspy voice immediately hits my ears causing me to smile instantaneously.
ASHLEY: "Hey Spence. Just wanted to call and see how your day went. I'm about to head out to the gym with Kyla, she's right about this gym being nice, I love going with her now!" She pauses to laugh, and I do as well, knowing how long Kyla had spent, bugging her to go. "Anywho, I'll be there for an hour or so before heading back to the studio. I don't know if you're sleeping already, or still at the studio yourself, but call me back if you can. I'll talk to you later beautiful. Bye."
I hang up the phone with the biggest smile on my face and butterflies swarming in my stomach. Oh yea. . I have it bad. . and there's no other way I'd rather feel. Especially about her.
I look at my phone, and click into my text inbox, to see who texted me. I smile again at the senders name, it reading Ashley.
ASHTXT: "I know I just called and left a message, but I forgot to tell you I miss you. =) So, I miss you beautiful!"
As my eyes skim over the text again, I feel my face grow increasingly hot for a few moments. When I feel my blush subside, I decide to just send her a quick text back, and then head to bed.
SPNCTXT: "Hey gorgeous. About to head to bed now, thought I'd send you a quick text back. I miss you too. Wish you were here for me to cuddle up too and sleep."
I put my phone on the charger, and climb into bed, laying my phone down next to me. I set an alarm on the night stand clock, before snuggling into the pillows. After a few minutes, my phone beeps, signaling a response, so I flip my phone open as a smile starts grazing my lips.
ASHTXT: "Wish I were there too. Sleep tight babe."
It's become impossible to remove this smile from my face now, as I place my phone on the night stand before curling myself into a comfortable position. Sleep takes me quickly, with a beautiful, brown-eyed girl as the center of my dreams.
--
When I wake up the next morning, I get ready for the day and then head out into the small kitchen outside of my room, in Roland's and my suite. I grab a bottle of water, as Ro walks in from the main room, handing me a glass of orange juice.
SPENCER: "Thanks Ro. You eat already?"
ROLAND: "Yes ma'am, ready to go when you are."
I down the small glass of orange juice, before setting the glass in the sink.
SPENCER: "I'm ready." I say with a smile.
He nods his head in response and then walks over to the door. We go through our morning procedure and then head down to the lobby. It's only around six am, so not many people are up and about, but keeping up with safety precautions is something neither me, nor Roland fool around with.
Once I'm securely in the limo, we head off to the studio for my next day of shooting.
--
Today was a long day. I mean, don't get me wrong, it's not hard, but you get tired of standing sometimes, especially in the odd clothes they put you in on occasion. They took me out to a new location today, to one of the old churches in Milan to photograph some of the dresses. And tomorrow we're going back, because we'll be shooting a prop wedding, and adding a male model for their men's line.
Walking into my hotel room with Roland following behind me, I sit down on the couch and kick off my shoes.
ROLAND: "Would you like me to order dinner now Spencer?"
SPENCER: "In a bit, I just want to relax right now. You know of any games on tonight Ro?"
ROLAND: "I think the Denver Nuggets and the Dallas Mavericks played last night. The re-run should be airing tonight."
SPENCER: "Good match-up. You know what channel?" He nods, and turns the TV onto the correct channel for me.
SPENCER: "Thanks." I tell him with a smile. He nods his head and then walks into the kitchen.
Thirty minutes later, we're both peeled to the game, both of us rooting for the Denver Nuggets who are trailing by three points right now in the beginning of the second. Just as the game goes to a commercial, my cell phones rings. . and whaddaya know. . . it's Benny.
Great, what a mood killer.
I've tried not to think about it too much, but when I have, the best thing that I could come up with to break this thing off that I've started, is to be honest with him. I can't do any more or less, because that's just who I am. So I opt to answer the phone. I need to get this done as soon as possible.
SPENCER: "Hello."
BENNY: "Hey Spence." He says cheerfully and I sigh.
SPENCER: "Hey Ben." I say, exasperatedly, no less.
BENNY: "What are you up too?"
SPENCER: "Just watching a game with Ro."
BENNY: "That's cool. I was actually wondering if you'd want to grab some dinner with me?"
SPENCER: "Uhm. . actually, would you come over?" I tell him, not answering him, and not making it sound like dinner here at the hotel.
BENNY: "Yea, sure. What time is good for you?"
SPENCER: "How about in an hour, around eight?"
BENNY: "Ok, sounds great. What room are you in?"
SPENCER: "I'm on the fourteenth floor, room fourteen-twenty-seven."
BENNY: "Ok, I'll be there soon." He says, that huge smile quite obviously on his face.
SPENCER: "Ok, bye." I say and hang up before he can reply.
SPENCER: "Roland, Benny's stopping by."
ROLAND: "Ok, Spencer, I'll listen for the door."
----
Ashley's POV
As I walk from my home studio, towards my bedroom to change, I check the time and decide to call Spencer, to see how her shoot went today. It rings a few times, before her voicemail picks up. She must either be asleep already, or she's in the shower. Mmm. . Spencer in the shower. . hot, naked, water running down her. . . GAH! Mind out of the gutter Davies! I hear the beep go off, and start talking.
ASHLEY: "Hey Spence. Just wanted to call and see how your day went. I'm about to head out to the gym with Kyla, she's right about this gym being nice, I love going with her now!" I stop and laugh, knowing how long Kyla spent bugging me to go with her, and now I love that I did. "Anywho, I'll be there for an hour or so before heading back to the studio. I don't know if you're sleeping already, or still at the studio yourself, but call me back if you can. I'll talk to you later beautiful. Bye."
As I hang up the phone, I realize that I forgot to tell her something important, so I decide to just text it to her instead.
ASHTXT: "I know I just called and left a message, but I forgot to tell you I miss you. =) So, I miss you beautiful!"
I smile at my own words, as I head into my bedroom and start changing for the gym, Kyla will be here any minute, and I'd rather not hear her bitch.
As I'm finishing up, and throwing a light, work-out zip-up over my tank, I hear my phone beep from my vanity and walk over to it, my stomach swimming with anticipation as a smile starts to tug at the corners of my lips.
SPNCTXT: "Hey gorgeous. About to head to bed now, thought I'd send you a quick text back. I miss you too, wish you were here for me to cuddle up too and sleep."
Awe, she's so cute! Man I can't wait to give her, her surprise! I smile to myself as I send a quick text back to her.
ASHTXT: "Wish I were there too. Sleep tight babe."
I close my phone, not expecting a response from the beautiful blonde again today. And then I make my way downstairs.
Just as I'm walking into the kitchen, I hear my front door beep, signaling someone coming in. It must be Ky.
KYLA: "Ready to go Ash?"
ASHLEY: "Yea, just grabbing some water, want one?"
KYLA: "I got one in the car." She replies as she walks into my kitchen.
ASHLEY: "Ok, well then I'm all set." I say with a smile and we make our way out of my house.
An hour and a half later, I'm walking back into my house, after a nice work-out at the gym. My body is twinging in all the right places, and I know I got just the right amount of work in for today at the feel. As I head over to my kitchen, to grab another water bottle, I check the time. It's going on three o'clock. Which leaves me with just enough time to shower and pack up a small duffel bag of clothes, so I can catch my flight that leaves at nine tonight.
I had already talked to Kyla about taking me to the airport, and as I get there at seven-thirty, she steps up onto the curb where I'm standing. I already have my shades firmly in place, and the hood to my sweatshirt pulled up, so that I can stay as unrecognizable as possible.
KYLA: "Ok, you have everything you need?"
ASHLEY: "Yea, I did a triple check at the house."
KYLA: "Ok. Well then call me when you get there. No matter what time it is. What time will it be when you land?"
ASHLEY: "It should be around eight pm there."
KYLA: "Ok. Well be safe and I love you." She says with a smile.
ASHLEY: "Love you too Ky."
We hug and then I pick my bag up off the sidewalk by my feet.
I keep my head down as I walk through the airport. Not wanting to draw attention to myself. It'd be all I need, especially when I don't have Theo with me, to attract a crowd of people who want autographs. He'd kill me if he knew I was going off without him. Even more angry, if he knew where and how far from him I was.
An hour later, I'm sitting on my plane, waiting for take off. I settle in and wait for the announcement that I can use my computer and other electronics.
After watching a DVD on my laptop, I fall asleep until morning. Shocking myself that I even managed to sleep a solid amount of hours on a plane. When I check my watch, it says that I have three hours till we land. It's approaching evening time at my destination, exactly how I wanted it.
--
After landing and getting my luggage, I head out towards the exit, where I know a car will be waiting for me. The driver finds me among the mass of bodies coming and going and leads me to the car.
DRIVER: "Where to Ms Davies?"
ASHLEY: "Grand Visconti Palace please."
DRIVER: "Yes ma'am."
Checking my watch, it reads eight-ten. The flight landed half an hour ahead of schedule, so it won't be as late as before, which is good. Man I hope she's surprised though. I think to myself with a smile.
----
Spencer's POV
I'm still sitting, watching the game, when there's a knock at the door. Checking my watch, I see that it's just a few minutes before eight. Meaning Benny must be here.
SPENCER: "Coming, one second!" I call out and straighten my shirt as I stand from the couch.
I check the peep-hole, just to make sure it's Benny.
SPENCER: "It's just Benny, Ro."
ROLAND: "Ok Spence. Go ahead then."
When I open the door, Benny's standing there with a bouquet of daisy's in his hand and a nervous smile on his face. As he steps into the open doorway, he kisses my cheek and holds the flowers out to me.
BENNY: "I picked these up for you. Daisy's, your favorite." My face falls more, then I'm sure it already has at just his presence, not that he noticed either times. And I step back from his hand.
SPENCER: "I'm allergic to daisy's Ben." I tell him, trying to get a safe distance from them before the sneezing starts. And they're definitely not my favorite.
BENNY: "Since when?" He asks confused.
SPENCER: "Since always." I reply and cover my nose and mouth with my hand.
BENNY: "Oh.." He seems disappointed at this and steps back outside the door, and begins looking left and right. I see him disappear for a minute, before returning with empty hands. "Where's your sink so I can wash my hands?" He asks me sincerely.
I point him in the direction of the kitchen and he walks over to the sink.
When he's done, he approaches me again, and I lead him into the small dining room. Both of us taking a seat.
BENNY: "So where's the ape tonight?"
ROLAND: "Watch yourself little man." Ro's deep voice responds from the door, a stern look in place on his face. I see Benny visibly swallow. "Just came to make sure everything was ok. And to tell you that I'll be in my room. My door will be open. Call for me, if you need anything Ms Carlin."
SPENCER: "Thanks Ro. I will." He nods and then shoots a warning glance at Benny before walking away.
BENNY: "Is he always like that?" He asks, his attitude now back in place.
SPENCER: "Yea, to people he doesn't trust. Besides, it's his job to be like that."
BENNY: "Right. Well anyways," he plasters a smile back onto his face, "how was your day today beautiful?"
I feel my stomach churn when he calls me beautiful, and I can't help but instantly compare it to how I feel when Ashley says it.
SPENCER: "It was fine. Same old same old when it comes to my job. But look Ben, we need to talk."
BENNY: "We are talking Spence." He says with a light smile, reaching for my hand, but I pull my hands back, and place them in my lap. Under the table. This causes him to frown.
SPENCER: "Last night, when I nodded at dinner. I didn't mean it. I was lost in my thoughts as you were talking. And lost in new feelings and old feelings, and I nodded my head when I shouldn't have."
He's quiet for a moment, when suddenly he shakes his head.
BENNY: "I don't believe that."
SPENCER: "Well it's the truth. I don't want to be with you Benny."
BENNY: "But yet, you nod your head and invite me over?" He asks, his voice raising an octave higher.
SPENCER: "I invited you over so we could talk about it. I wasn't about to drag you on when it's nothing close to what I want. And I already told you why I nodded my head. I hadn't even realized I nodded until you got excited and were hugging me!" I tell him pleadingly.
BENNY: "But you just said you were lost in old feelings. Which means that you still have feelings for me!" He says fighting me on this.
SPENCER: "Yea, because I keep remembering the kind of guy I loved when we were in high school. And all of that kept blinding what I see you as now. Hence being lost in new feelings."
BENNY: "What new feelings?" He asks, and I can see the hope in his face, that they're good feelings I'm going to speak of.
SPENCER: "You've changed Ben. And not in any kind of good way. And I don't know why I kept giving you the benefit of the doubt. You've become mean, and judgmental and selfish. Not caring about other people's feelings, only your own. You fight to get what you want, but don't care about what that could cost the people around you, who it also effects. And that's not the Benny I knew and loved in high school. You could have gotten me fired with the crap you pulled the other day. And you didn't even care. You stood in my front yard in LA, with me standing right there, and said malicious things about me. And you expect me to want to be with you after all of that?"
He looks down, gathering his thoughts I'd assume, before looking back up. His eyes look more moist then before, and I take a deep breath. I don't want to lose my cool right now, and let his victim card work on me. Even if they are real tears. He deserves to know what he's done. And to feel the repayment of it all.
BENNY: "I don't know what to say." He says quietly. "I don't even have an excuse for more then half of it." He says and hangs his head down.
SPENCER: "I'm sorry to be so blunt about it all Ben," No I'm not. "but there was no other way to get you to listen to me. I can't be with you, and I don't want to be with you. Besides that, I'm already seeing someone."
BENNY: "I get it now, and why didn't you just tell me that before?" He asks looking into my eyes.
SPENCER: "I had, you just refused to listen. And kept fighting, and being selfish."
He just nods his head as a response and then brings his hands up and scrubs them over his face a few times, before dropping them back into his lap.
BENNY: "I don't want to lose you Spencer." He finally says after a few quiet moments go by. "I don't want you out of my life." He continues.
SPENCER: "I think right now, it'd be for the best Ben. Eventually, we can be friends, but I think, right now, you need to just take some time away from me, and find yourself again. Plus you need time to get over this, and get over me."
BENNY: "I don't want you out of my life though Spencer." He tells me again, looking intensely into my eyes.
SPENCER: "I think it'd be for the best. You need to move on. You need to forget about this and find who you are again. I don't need drama or stress Ben. I need people in my life who are going to be there for me, and who are going to support me and the things I do in life. Not people who are going to tear me down and make my life more stressful. And when you can be that person, then we can be friends. Just friends."
He hangs his head down and just sits there quietly.
I hear the hotel phone ring, and then hear Roland answer it a few moments later.
SPENCER: "Ben, you know I love you. And I will be here, whenever you need anything. But I'm not in love with you, so this is for the best right now. If you truly want to be a part of my life, then you need to make some changes in yours, or this is the end. I'm sorry it has to be that way, but it's the way I need it to be."
He nods his head, and then I hear a soft sniffle.
BENNY: "Ok. Then I'll change. Because if I can't be with you, then I at least want to be your friend. I've missed you, and I've missed us as friends. But I'll respect your wishes, and take some time away for myself. I want to be good enough to be in your life Spence." He tells me honestly.
SPENCER: "Ok. Sounds good."
There's another short pause, before Benny stands up.
BENNY: "Ok, well I think I should go. I have some packing to do, and an early plane to catch."
SPENCER: "Ok. Call me if you need anything at all. But just find yourself Benny. And when you do, everything else will heal as well." I tell him with a friendly smile.
He gives me a small smile in return and I walk him to the door.
As he steps outside of my hotel room, he turns around and gives me a hug. I hesitate at first, but grant him this last unspoken request. We hug for a few brief moments, before he pulls back and gives me a lingering kiss on the cheek. Then he turns and walks away without another word, and without another glance back over his shoulder.
As he disappears out of my line of sight, another person catches my eye.
----
Ashley's POV
When I arrive at the hotel, I pay the driver and tip him. Then tell him I'll call him when his services are needed again. He agrees and then he's gone.
I walk into the hotel, once again being careful of my appearance to surrounding passerby's. I approach the front desk and I'm instantly greeted by the receptionist.
RECEPTIONIST: "Hi, may I help you?" She asks in a thick Italian accent, and an over-eager smile.
ASHLEY: "I'm here to see Spencer Carlin." I tell her quietly.
RECEPTIONIST: "I'm sorry, but any information regarding Ms Carlin is prohibited, unless we've been otherwise informed."
Expecting this response, I then take my sunglasses off, and put my hood down. I run my fingers through my hair before looking back up at the receptionist.
She immediately recognizes me. Of course.
RECEPTIONIST: "Ash-Ashley Dav-v-vies. . . I m-mean, Ms Davies." She stammers.
ASHLEY: "Yes, hi." I say with a smile. "How about now? I'm here to see Ms Carlin."
RECEPTIONIST: "I can't, uhm, give you any informa-mation on her room. But I can put a c-call up to her room, and authorize you being sent up-p-p."
ASHLEY: "Well it's really supposed to be a surprise, but I guess if you need too. Then that's fine." I tell her with another smile.
RECEPTIONIST: "Ok, one moment." She says, and I see her take a slow deep breath.
She types on her computer for a minute or so, before picking up the phone and dialing what I'd assume to be Spencer's room number.
RECEPTIONIST: "Hi, I'm calling to authorize a visitor to Ms Carlin's suite." She says quietly, seemingly scared as well.
She pauses as whoever picked up, speaks.
RECEPTIONIST: "A, Ms Ashley Davies."
Another pause.
RECEPTIONIST: "Ok, I'll send her up then. Thank you Roland. And since I got you and not Ms Carlin, this is apparently a surprise from Ms Davies, so please don't inform Ms Carlin of her upcoming arrival."
Another short pause.
RECEPTIONIST: "Ok, thank you Roland. Bye."
She hangs up the phone and gives me a polite smile.
RECEPTIONIST: "Ms Carlin's body guard cleared you to go on up. Her room is fourteen-twenty-seven, on the fourteenth floor."
ASHLEY: "Thank you ma'am. Have a great night." I tell her with an excited smile.
RECEPTIONIST: "Thank you! You too." She tells me back just as nicely.
I head over to the elevators, and make my way up to the designated floor. Once I step off the elevator, I follow the arrows in the direction her room is. As the room numbers grow more near to her room, I see her. She's standing outside, in an embrace with some guy I don't recognize. His face is covered. Then he pulls back and kisses her cheek as I take a couple more steps and then stop a few feet from her door. I feel hurt and angry all at once. But I take a deep breath as I then take in Spencer's posture. It's rigid and uncomfortable, alerting me it's nothing of that nature. And as the guy stands to his full height again, I realize who it is. Benny. Her prick of an ex-boyfriend. What the hell is he doing here?!
I wait patiently as he turns and walks in my direction. He keeps his head bowed, seemingly upset. GOOD! He deserves to be! So he doesn't even see me as he walks by.
When I look up again, my eyes lock on Spencer's and I see the shocked look on her face, and I can't help the smile that instantly covers mine. One immediately spreads across her own face as well, and before I can even move a step forward, I'm practically being knocked over as Spencer flings herself onto me.
ASHLEY: "Hey you." I whisper as I drop my bag and wrap her tightly in my arms.
