His armed ached and his muscles were fighting against him but he was determined to finish. Apparently, back home, Mr. and Mrs. Dennison had a letter from the college had had applied to. He wasn't psychic, or egotistical, but he knew exactly what was in that letter.
There was a slim to nil chance they had rejected him, afterall he was one of the best; and you didn't get a scholarship being crap at what you excelled in. So, as soon as his mother had squealed down the phone he had jogged over to the gym and began to beat the shit out of the stuffed punching bag.
He wanted to go, he would be a liar if he said otherwise and made it convincing. Hell, his dad had ordered the college hoodie and was parading it around the Dennison household like it wasn't embarrassing for a forty-two year old man to be doing that. No, he truly was excited. What bothered him was telling Ashley, and now Kyla.
Ashley refused to even talk about college, claiming she had another year left of high school and such prospects weren't even on her radar. In a private conversation on the computer while, he assumed, Spencer was asleep; Ashley told him she was simply planning on following Spencer wherever she went. Ashley had no ulterior goals to reach, everyone talked about how she would go into music but Ashley argued that music was her hobby; her passion. Sure, it would be great to be paid for doing something you love; but if she was, and then what would be her hobby then? A job was a chore to bring in money and if playing music was all she ever did, what would she do for time out? For herself?
She, though, had a surprising ability in English and Art. The girl would bounce onto her feet and sail through any job interview they threw at her; she had confidence and wit and a new outlook on life thanks to Spencer. All that aside though, Aiden knew Ashley was going to take him moving out of LA hard. Probably harder than his parents or closest family members. He had just broken the news he would be leaving to his youngest cousin, Hayden, and she had proceeded to cry and lock herself in her room for two days. Aiden just wished Ashley would have some reaction, maybe not like that, but something instead of the indifferent mask she put on right before she pushed someone away.
Just because he was leaving didn't mean he wouldn't be coming back. But, he knew, Ashley would be frightened about that. And when Ashley became scared or frightened, the brunette tended to bolt out of the nearest door and hide away for weeks. He just hoped Ashley wouldn't push Spencer away in the process too.
Sweat trickled down his arm, rolling onto his elbow and finally falling off onto the hard floor. He shifted positions and focused on the bag in front of him, imagining it to be Spencer's mom; the woman who had made Spencer cry and Glen reclusive. Generally, Aiden liked to pick things wrong in Glen's game and in turn Glen would fight back and they would argue. A male bonding ritual of sorts. But when Aiden had earlier supplied that Glen should focus more on his game and less on his goatee, Glen just looked at him and thanked him for the tip.
Sure, there was probably a lot more to it; but Damnit, Aiden liked fighting with the guy.
"Hey handsome. What'ya doing?" Madison walked into the gym and ignored the whistles directed at her.
"Waiting for the bus. What does it look like I'm doing?" Aiden shook his head, knowing Madison was either there to cause trouble or to tell him that trouble was going down.
He wanted to know what happened to the Madison they used to know. The Madison who sat with Ashley, holding her little hand, as Aiden's mom cleaned up a nasty cut on Ashley's knee. Or, the Madison who taught Aiden how to ice-skate because she took to it quicker than the other two. He missed that Madison. Now, the one in front of him was more likely to cause a cut on the knee and laugh at people who couldn't stand up on the ice.
"I was just trying to strike up conversation, Aiden. Is that a crime?" She actually looked hurt he was avoiding her. He rolled his eyes at the thought. She hadn't given him a second thought when she kissed Ashley behind his back. At least his best friend practically camped outside his house, cried onto his shoulder and begged for his friendship and forgiveness.
"What do you want, Madison? My mom will be here soon." That was a lie. His uncle had let Aiden have his Toyota whilst he was away on a cruise and Aiden was driving anywhere he could in it whilst he had it. The car was outside ready to be driven home.
"It's been too long since we last spoke." She announced, watching as he unwrapped his own fists and put the cloth into his sports bag.
"Not long enough. Don't you have some Mathlete to torment or make-up to apply?" He lifted the large bag over his bronze shoulders and looked at the petite girl.
"Aiden..." Madison sounded pained and he almost felt bad. Almost. "Look, I just...I wanted to say I'm sorry. For everything. The past and how I've been acting towards you, and Ashley."
"Right. Where's Ashton Kutcher and his team of merry cameramen?"
"I'm being serious. I wanted to make it right with you before you go off to college." Her frown deepened when she saw nothing in his eyes to show he believed her.
Aiden shook his head and began to walk out of the gym. He glanced back to see a dejected looking Madison and swore at his inner Christian values. He motioned with his head for her to follow him and she quickly caught up. They walked in silence to the silver car and he unlocked it, throwing his bag in the back and narrowly missing crushing the flowers Kyla and he had bought to cheer up Spencer. If he had killed them it was likely Kyla would hurt him.
"Why now? Why, after all these years, do you want to make it right now? I mean, God Madison, you've had forever to say your sorry. Yet all you seemed to do is put Ashley down 'cause she's gay and verbally assault her daily." He opened the car door hoping to show he wasn't up to talking for too long.
"Aid, I've...I miss the friendship we once had, you know? Me, you and Ashley. It's like, I'll look over during lunch and it's almost as if Spencer has taken my place..."
"Yeah, but at least Spencer owns up liking Ash and dosen't fuck with her head." He muttered knowing telling her wouldn't harm anything. Everyone practically knew now and Ashley and Spencer hardly hid the innocent kisses before each class.
"It's not...That isn't..." She faltered and Aiden took pity.
"Look, I get you. I miss it too but you've changed too much for us to be 'best friends' again. I'll accept your apology and, yeah, I'll be your friend. Life's too short to hate someone. But if you're serious, about being sorry, I'm not the one you should be apologising to." He got into the car and watched as Madison mulled over the information.
"Ashley won't look at me..." She was almost talking to herself. "Aiden, I do want to change. I'm sick of pretending someone I'm not; you know I'm not really like this. I'm just...sick of it, you know."
"Then go to Ashley. You'd be surprised how much Spencer has changed her, for the better." He closed the door and started the car. Once more, Madison was looking lost and he sighed before rolling down the window.
"Hey Madison." Green eyes looked to him and he popped open the passenger side door. "No time like the present, right?" Madison hesitated, looking a little more than scared and a lot like the old Madison he used to know. Slowly, she joined him in the car and gave him a tentative smile.
"What if she throws me out, or something?"
"I wouldn't blame her. But at least you can say you gave it a go."
--
"So, what did your mom say?" Ashley asked tracing patterns on Spencer's stomach with her finger as she laid her head on the taller girls chest. Spencer had promised she would go and talk to her mom during her dinner break, considering she had a free period afterwards. It gave her plenty of time.
"I couldn't see her. I stopped her outside an examination room but she said she was busy so..." Outside they heard a car pulling up but both knew it was Aiden. "Anyway, I don't want to talk about her. College letters have been sent out today, has Aiden heard anything?"
"Dunno." The brunette replied shortly, perfecting her invisible name on Spencer's taught stomach. One day, she planned, she was going to actually write her name on the tanned belly and see how much trouble she got into.
"Glen got into UCLA and Ohio but he's talking about not going." Obviously the blonde didn't pick up on the tone used by Ashley, or if she did she wasn't saying anything.
"Why?"
"He wants to go into Sport's medicine and therapy, or something. Figures he would learn better hands on than in a classroom." They both listened to Aiden on the stairs. He was talking to somebody and Ashley furrowed her eyebrows. It couldn't be Kyla, she was with her mom sorting out schooling options for next year and Taylor had been avoiding Ashley like she had a disease.
The door opened in a flash but neither girl moved, Aiden knew about them and whoever he was with would have to deal with it. Plus, Spencer made for a comfy pillow and Ashley wasn't giving that up any time soon. Aiden walked in, looking a little worse for wear and dropped his sports bag near the couch in Ashley's bedroom. He began to walk to the drum set when he must have realised something. Turning around, he waited in the doorway until a significantly shorter girl walked in.
Ashley's eyed widened and a storm blew behind chocolate eyes. Spencer must have felt her tense, because the hand that was softly stroking the skin on her lower back stopped suddenly and instead pulled her closer to her body. Together, they watched as Madison tentatively walked into the room and stood near Aiden.
"I'll make this real simple, Madison. Get out of my room, get out of my house and get away from Aiden."
"Ashley..." Aiden started only to stop quickly when the glare sent his way all but made his stomach drop. He should have known this was a bad idea.
"If you even think for a second I'll accept this...this...reunion of sort you're sadly mistaken. Aiden, what about Kyla?" She sat up but didn't move away from Spencer. "God, this is a joke right? I mean, Madison wouldn't be here voluntary unless it was to piss me off."
"Ashley, I'm not here to piss you off."
"Well you should because your doing a damn good job at it, even if your not trying. Seriously, leave before I do something I'm hardly going to regret." She felt a soft hand on her forearm and unconsciously leant back into Spencer, knowing the blonde wasn't going to let her go and do something stupid.
"I'm sorry." The Latina mumbled behind Aiden who was pushing her forward to continue. "For, you know, threatening you and Spencer. And, for all the other stuff."
A moment passed and then another before anyone said anything. Spencer sent her an appreciative smile and Aiden muttered for her to 'go on' but she was waiting for Ashley's reaction. What she didn't expect was for the girl to start laughing.
"I'm asleep, right? This is a dream. I've had sex and collapsed, or something."
"Ashley!" Spencer reprimanded before flushing the most perfect shade of red anyone in the room had ever seen. "Just...listen to what she has to say."
"No, Spencer, she's made my life hell since I was young and now she wants to apologise? What about when you were spreading rumors about me? What about saying you were sorry when I was being beaten by your friends for being gay?" She heard Spencer gasp but she wasn't going to go back there and relive it.
"God, Ashley you know I had nothing to do with that. I - I wouldn't. I'm not...It's not who I am."
"Fuck, don't come in here and lie. You knew exactly what was going on. Jesus, I know I'm not perfect but I didn't deserve all the shit you served me for being gay." Ashley stood up and Spencer followed, quickly flanking her so she didn't lash out.
"We make mistake, Ash. I want to make it right."
"Because you're little Miss. Holier than thou? Don't make me laugh." She stepped forwards but Madison hardly batted an eyelid. "Oh, or have you finally realised you're into girls and need friends? I'm not some toy you can just use, Madison."
"I don't like girls." The taller girl defended, closing her eyes. She knew what was coming.
"Really? I got the distinct impression you did at Kyla's party when you practically jumped me in the guest bedroom. If Aiden hadn't had walked in..."
Ashley stopped herself before she could launch into the juicy details and looked at Spencer. She saw confusion behind the blue eyes she loved so much and kicked herself for not telling the blonde sooner about it. Thankfully, Spencer seemed to shake it off.
"We weren't together, Spence." She spoke softly, hoping Spencer wouldn't run screaming from the house at the confession.
"I know. I kind of figured you two had something anyway." The blonde smiled. "Don't worry, I know you're mine." Together, they turned back to Madison who was shifting uncomfortably.
"I do want to make it right, Ashley. Please, I want my old friends back. I miss you."
"One chance." Aiden suggested softly, to which Spencer nodded to and Ashley simply glared. "I know she's hurt you in the past, Ash, but you're no perfect person."
"Fine." She snapped. "But only because Aiden said so. This dosen't make us close or even remotely 'best friends' again, understand?" Holding onto Spencer's hand, she looked to her girlfriend and raised an eyebrow. "Wanna go call your mom and see if you can stay over?"
"Sure."
"Perfect!" She started to drag Spencer out of the room before stopping and looking at Aiden and Madison. "Aid, Kyla said she would be around before dinner so you can stay."
"Cool." He knew full well dinner would consist of Pizza and Coke, but dinner with Ashley and Spencer, probably making out, was better than dinner with his parents and the college acceptance.
"Madison..." The brunette started before stopping. "Uh, we're having take-out for dinner. You can...stay, or whatever." Aiden smiled as he walked to the drum set. She was trying at least, for his sake and Spencer's.
"Is that okay?"
"I wouldn't have offered." She shrugged and made her way out of the room with Spencer.
Together they walked down the stairs, where Spencer stopped her and hugged her tightly. She returned it with a confused look, but reveled in being in the girls arms for no apparent reason. When the blonde pulled away, she saw a gentle smile on her face.
"You've given me hope, you know?"
"For what?" Ashley questioned, refusing to let go of Spencer just yet.
"If you can forgive Madison, maybe my mom can forgive me -- not that I'm sorry for anything. So, technically she wouldn't have to forgive. You understand, right?"
"Yeah. But, baby, I haven't forgiven her; I just can't be bothered with anymore drama. If being civil means me and you can relax, then I'll be civil." She kissed Spencer's forehead and then nose. "It'll take time and so will your mom."
"I know. Let's forget about that though and convince my dad I'm staying over to study."
"And by study you mean..."
"Make out, of course."
"I knew I loved you for a reason, Carlin."
Spencer rolled her eyes and went in search for her school bag with her cell in it. She knew it would all take time but she was only seventeen. If Ashley Davies, of all people, could swallow her pride and put issues into the past then maybe, just maybe, so could her mom.
Time would tell.