Disclaimer: I own nothing! Part of song used 'Sweetest Sin' Jessica Simpson

Author's Notes: Okay, I got the story all figured out now. Thank you for waiting and the reviews. Here is the next chapter… FINALLY! Hope you enjoy!

World Tour

Chapter 16 – Los Angeles

(Spencer's POV)

I just arrived back in L.A for the first time since our tour started. I'm not sure how I am feeling about it. I need this break but at the same time, I'm going to miss the older woman. We are both so busy during our break that we aren't going to be able to see each other until we are in New York. I hope we have time to at least talk on the phone here and there. I have a meeting with the label tomorrow afternoon. I'm not sure why. I guess I will find out tomorrow and I'm not going to worry about it too much. I haven't done anything yet. Once I got to my apartment, I open the door and Carmen is sitting on the couch. She turns and looks at me. I stare back at her. I didn't think she was still going to be here. I sigh before placing my bag down and walking into the kitchen.

"I would've moved out but with you on tour I thought I would've had more time." Carmen says lightly coming up behind me while my head is in the fridge.

"It's fine. You can have your time. I'll go stay in a hotel while I'm here. I will be coming and going though. I need to get stuff ready for the last part of the U.S tour." I tell her as I grab a beer from the fridge and move around the counter away from her. I don't want her anywhere near me. Especially after what happened in Ohio. This is awkward. This is my apartment and I feel so very uncomfortable. I look over at Carmen. She has her head down watching her fingers slide across my countertop. I walk over and take a sit at my table. I pull out my phone to text Ashley.

'How is L.A treating you so far?' I type out quickly before placing my phone face down on the table. I pick up my beer once again and take a big drink.

"Spencer?" Carmen says lightly still standing in the kitchen. I look over at her but don't say anything. "I'm sor…"

"I really don't want to hear it. I get you are mad or were. I don't know but you didn't need to act like that. You also didn't need to call that radio station. You can act like it wasn't you or say it wasn't, but I know your damn voice." I spat out. Carmen looks taken back. She nods her head before dropping it down to the counter again. I finish off my beer and go to grab another one. This time Carmen moves out of my way.

"What would you like me to do, Spencer?" Carmen says lightly.

"Be a fucking adult and except our break-up. You and I know it was never going to last. You have been cheating on me since I've started my career…" I pause meeting my eyes with hers. She looks surprised. "Yeah, I never brought it up, but I knew. I was just to scared to let you go. Now I can give too shit. In the last couple years, we've seen each other like maybe 10 times and only for a couple days. When we aren't in the same city, we barely talk once a week, most of the time it is only a few minutes. That wasn't a relationship. Neither of us should have been holding on this long. We should have ended it along time ago. I know you can not possibly tell me you thought we were going to last forever. Which is why I don't understand why you want to be so angry about it and fucking threaten me. It was over along time ago and…" I get pulled out of my rant by my phone going off over on the table. I grab another beer and go over to my phone.

'It's been good so far. I have been either sleeping or relaxing since I got in this morning. It has been wonderful. How are you? What are you up too? You free to talk?' I smile at Ashley's message before I look over at Carmen. She hasn't said anything.

'Give me like 5 minutes then I will call you.' I text back to Ashley before once again looking at Carmen. She is leaning on the counter facing away from me.

"So…" I sigh out. I want this conversation to be over with.

"I honestly never thought about any of it the way you just said it. You are right. I do and did love you Spencer. You have been the best part of my life for so long. I forgot exactly what you use to mean to me until you broke up with me. I'm sorry about the phone call to that radio station and for how I acted in Ohio. I will back off. I won't come after you about anything and I won't say anything about you being gay. I'm so sorry. I hope you can at least believe that. Thank you for giving me time to move out. I know this is your place." Carmen says lightly. I slightly nod at her.

"I want to believe you Carmen, I really do. I hope you prove me wrong about having doubts about you. I have to make a phone call so…"

"Yeah, yeah. We are done. Thank you again." She lets out quickly. I slightly smile at her before I turn out around and start making my way to the balcony with my phone and beer in hand. "Spence?" Carmen whispers out as I open the sliding glass door. I turn to look at her.

"Yeah?" I question.

"I hope she can make you happy and feel so much love. I did a shitty job." Carmen admits lightly. I nod at her then walk outside and close the door behind me. I wish Carmen backs off now and does what she just told me. I want to come out publicly in my own time. I really don't need that stress of wondering when she was going too out me. I know I will still worry about it, but she did make me believe her a little bit. I feel a little better.

"Hey Princess! How are you?" Ashley says answering the phone. I smile at the sound of her excited voice.

"I'm alright. Just really tired but I have to pack a bag and go rent a room." I admit lightly.

"Why? What is wrong with your place?" Ashley questions with concern.

"Carmen hasn't moved out and she is here right now. I told her to stay and I'll go rent a room."

"Why is she not out yet? It has been weeks. Why would you let her stay with how she has been?" Ashley lets out sounding annoyed. I smile at her protective behavior.

"I'm not willing to get into a fight about it. I just want to have a relaxing time off. Plus, I don't need to be pissing her off. Maybe giving her time to get out of my place, she will back off." After I finish talking, pick up my beer and take another drink.

"You can always stay here Spence. You know there is tons of room. I will either be sleeping or busy, but you are more than welcome here. Always."

"I know, Ash. I would feel weird being there without you around. To be honest, I will miss you even more being there without you. I am just going to get a room."

"Should I let you go? You know so you can go pack and stuff?" Ashley wonders lightly. I sigh into the phone. I hear the sliding glass door start to open. I turn around and look at Carmen.

"Hang on a second, Ash." I tell Ashley then lower the end of my phone away.

"I'm going to go stay with a friend until you leave. This is your place. You are only back for a certain amount of time and you should be able to stay in your own home. Thank you again for giving me time to figure everything out."

"Alright. You're welcome and Thank you Carmen." I let out. Carmen smiles at me before going back into the apartment and reclosing the door.

"Hey Rockstar?" I question, hoping she is still on the phone.

"I'm still here Princess. Everything okay?" Ashley says curiously.

"All good. Carmen just came to tell me that she is going to stay with a friend until I leave for tour again."

"That's good. I really didn't like the thought of you staying in a hotel. I was going to come kidnap you." Ashley says giggling.

"I don't think it would be kidnapping because 1. I'm not a kid. 2. I would go with you willingly. 3. Well, I don't have a three, but you get my point already." I giggle at my own words.

"Well said." Ashley giggles also.

"I think you are still tired."

"Why do you say that?"

"You only giggle that much when you are tired." I declare. I hear the shorter woman giggle once again. "I can let you sleep more." I state hoping she doesn't want to get off the phone. I won't keep her though if she still needs more sleep.

"I'm okay for a little bit longer." Ashley admits.

"Okay. So, what should we talk about?" I ask changing the subject completely.

"What are all your plans while you are here?" Ashley asks. I walk into my apartment.

"Hang on a minute." I tell Ashley. I hear her say okay before I make my way into my room and quickly change into pajamas. I grab another beer then make myself comfortable on my couch. "I'm back."

"Where'd you go? You know you are on a cellphone, right? They go with you anywhere." Ashley is giggling once again.

"HA HA HA smartass. I changed my clothes and got comfortable on the couch if you must know."

"Oooo, that makes sense. Good idea but I am already in bed laying down so beat you to it."

"Anyways, I have a meeting with the label tomorrow afternoon. I don't have too much to do while I'm here. Just get things ready to leave again. Sleep, write. You know the basics. I think I have a couple interviews, but I haven't fully looked at the schedule my brother e-mailed me. What about you?"

"I am really busy. I have several songs to record. I need to re-record two, I have already recorded. I don't like the way they sound. I need to finish my album. They are pressuring me to get it finished and out. I have 3 tv appearances and 2 radio interviews. In between all that I'm getting as much sleep as I can. At this point it seems like I won't get any at all." Ashley rants out.

"Let me know when you want me to let you sleep and I will. I know you are a very busy woman."

"I will, Princess. I promise. Do you… uh… have any… um… personal plans while you are here?" Ashley stuttered then rushed out.

"Just visit family as much as I can. What about you? Hot date?" I giggle out. I don't know why I asked that question. I do not want to know if she is going to date someone. I heard Ashley let out a weird giggle.

"I don't." Ashley lets out a hefty laugh. I shake my head at her response. "You know that was a hard question to ask." Ashley laughs again.

"Ha. Ha. Ha. Laughing ass."

"Aww, don't be like that, Princess. I just need to focus on me right now and this tour. If dating comes into play it will be with someone totally worth it. I don't have time to break someone in on my life. I am going to go visit where I scattered my dad's ashes. Talk to him. He has always been someone I could talk to. It helps to let things out even if he can't talk back." Ashley pauses. I open my mouth to respond but Ashley starts talking again. "Okay, on to a different subject."

"Well…" I start out. "You've been doing this for awhile now. You think you will ever retire? If you do, you have any idea what you would do after?"

"Hm, After… Maybe start my own record company. I have enough money for do it. I can produce and write. I am thinking of one day getting a business degree. It would help with my future goals. Maybe, when I'm 30 or meet someone that I want to settle down with and have a family. I want to be around when my child… or children are growing up. I don't want to raise my kids over the phone. You?"

"I don't know. I haven't thought much about it. I feel like my career is just starting. I know I don't want to be doing this the rest of my life."

"You're only 20. You have time. Just enjoy this now. No need to rush. You'll figure it out in time." Ashley advises. "You ever thought about having a family one day?" Ashley asks.

"I have."

"That's all you're going to give me. I have given you a like 10-year plan and all I get is 'I have'. Really, Princess?"

"I want one maybe two kids. I want to get married one day. I want a lot of things that I don't see happening any time soon. Maybe when I'm like 40."

"Are you crazy? You want to have kids when you're 40?" Ashley gasps out, shocked. I laugh at her.

"No, definitely not." I let out a giggle. Maybe in like 6, 8 years. I don't want to be like 50 and have kids under 18."

"I wouldn't want to be that old either." Ashley tell me. We spent the next two hours talking about what we want to accomplish out of our careers, where we see ourselves living after our touring is over, what city we would want to settle down and raise kids in, and then talked about random things that came to mind. We were on the phone laughing and having a great conversation for about 3 hours. It slowly started to die down after that and Ashley started to fall asleep on me. I let her off the phone to get some sleep. I still am not tired. I got up from my couch and walked over to my piano in the corner. I start playing around with different tones and sounds for awhile before finding one that drew me in. I stop playing and turn my voice recorder on, on my phone. I start playing once again. I close my eyes and all I can see is the brunette Rockstar, I just spent the last 3 hours on the phone with. I smile to myself before closing my eyes and trying to concentrate on the tone I'm playing.

"All night I lay awake

'Cause it's too much to take

Dreaming about the love that we could make" I smile to myself once again. I keep my eyes closed as flashes of Ashley fly through my mind.

"All day I think of schemes

To get you next to me

I want you so bad I can barely breathe" I think I have something very good coming along here. I spent most of my night at my piano working on that song. My phone recording is over 4 hours long. I did finish the song completely before going to bed in the early morning.

(5 Hours Later)

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

What the fuck? I throw my pillow over my head. It is probably just my damn brother. I pull the pillow from my face and glance at my clock. It is only 11 o'clock. Why? Why would he want to wake me up right now? I don't have my meeting for a few more hours. He's an asshole. I slowly climb out of my bed and walk to my door. I fling my door open.

"WHAT" I yell as I'm being knocked on my forehead. "Are you fucking kidding me? What the hell is wrong with you?" I angerly let out while rubbing my forehead.

"I tried calling your phone several times but no answer. They moved your meeting up to noon. So, let's go." Glen says. "And sorry about your forehead… Again." Glen adds with a laugh. He is an idiot. I don't know how I put up with him every day. And why on earth did I let him oversee my daily life? I'm the idiot. I walk into my room and quickly grab clothes before walking into the bathroom to take a shower. I get ready quickly and we are out the door by 11:30. The label is about 15 minutes from my apartment so I make Glen stop so I can get a muffin and coffee. My phone buzzes in my pocket as we walk into the label.

'Morning Princess. I hope you have a good day.' Of course, it is from Ashley. She is so amazing.

'Good morning Rockstar. Just starting your day?'

'No, I have been at the studio since 7. I didn't want to wake you texting you that early. I wasn't sure what time your meeting is at and knowing you, you didn't go to sleep until early this morning.'

'They moved my meeting to noon, so I am just walking into the label now. You are right. I didn't go to sleep until this morning. I don't even know what time it was. Are you still in the studio now?' After a few minutes I didn't get a reply from Ashley so put my phone back into my pocket take a sit in the waiting room while Glen lets the receptionist know we are here. I feel like it I haven't been here in so long. I think the last time I was here was when I met Ashley. That was a wonderful day. That day brought an amazing woman into my life.

"Mr. and Ms. Carlin conference room #2." The receptionist calls out. Eww, why must she call us like that?

"Call me Spencer. Thanks." I tell her as we walk by her to go to the conference room, we need to be in.

"Aww you still butthurt about her winking at Ashley." Glen says teasing me. I swing my arm back and hit him in the gut. "Ouch." My brother whines out.

"Shut up, Glen." I sternly let out as we walk into the conference room. I really don't know how I put up with him. He drives me crazy. We sit down at the table. No one else is in here yet. I don't even know who I am meeting with today. Hm… I wonder if Ashley is still in the studio. If she is maybe I can pop in and see her. I miss her so much already. We have spent basically everyday together the last two months. I don't want to count the two weeks; she wouldn't talk to me. In my mind that never happened. I start to grab my phone out of my pocket because it buzzed again when Ethan and Travis come walking it. I push my phone back into my pocket and look up at them. There is a lady following them. She has light brown hair. She is about Ashley's height. Maybe give or take an inch. She has on a mid-thigh length skirt with a cream-colored blouse on with 2-inch cream colored high heels. Hm… Never seen her before. I wonder why she is here. Shit, I wonder why I am here. She is pretty. She doesn't hold a candle to Ashley though. My gosh Ashley is drop dead gorgeous. That woman could kill you she looks so good and yummy… hmmmmm…

"Good Afternoon. How's touring been Spencer?" Ethan asks pulling me from my thoughts. Why'd he come in and ruin my happy thoughts? I could waste my days away thinking about Ashley. Probably a good thing he interrupted my thoughts. I would have sat through my meeting without hearing anything at all. I could agree to do a porno or something incredibly crazy and I wouldn't even know I did. Okay, I should answer him.

"The tour has been good, wonderful even." I say happily.

"You aren't having any problems with Ashley?" Ethan asks with a raised eyebrow. I look at him confused before glancing over at Travis and the still unknown woman in the room.

"Um… no. Should I?" I ask still confused about the question.

"No, no. Some artists have had problems touring with her in the past. Just wanted to make sure everything is fine." Ethan lets out quickly.

"I'm not other artists. So, why exactly am I here?" I ask to get the subject off my favorite Rockstar. That man is not very bright. Doesn't he think they would all know if Ashley and I aren't getting along. Plus, hello she is the one that handled everything with them when I got sick. I swear people can be so dense.

"Our first order of business is…" Ethan started then looked over at Travis. Everyone looks over at him also.

"I want to know how many songs you have right now for a new album. If you had thought about working on a new album or maybe even just recording a couple new singles." Travis explains to me.

"I have quite a few songs. Maybe 3/4th of an album. I can record 'You don't do it for me anymore' and make it a single for now and add it to the album when I get that far. Fans seem to love it."

"That video made from the concert when she sang it has over 50 million views. The comments on it are mostly great. There are always sour people though." Glen adds. I smile over at him. I guess he is good for something sometimes.

"We will start with that. You need to get that song recorded before you go to New York. Think you can do it? Do you have time?" Travis asks. I nod my head and look at Glen.

"She has a few things to do while shes here, but she won't need long to lay the track down." Glen cuts in before I can say anything. Travis nods his head at him before writing a couple things down on his notepad.

"If I have some free time do you mind if I record a few songs?" I ask.

"Of course. Record as many as you can while you are here. The more you can get done now the less time you have to try to squeeze in later. We don't need you to get sick again. We want you to be healthy." Travis says nicely. I think that is the nicest thing I have ever heard him say. Usually he is such a tight ass. "How are you feeling after the hospital? Everything going okay. You are good now?" Travis adds.

"Yeah. I feel great. Most of that happened because I got sick. I am fine though. Thanks for asking." I say with a smile.

"No problem. Spencer, this is Lindsey. We hired her to be your PR."

"Why?" I ask cutting Travis off.

"Well, we know you have been being questioned a lot about being gay and it is one of the things we want to talk to you about today. We want to get ahead of this in anyway we can. So, we hired her to cover just you." Travis explains.

"You are telling me I will have a babysitter?"

"Not exactly. She won't always be with just during interviews. She will be on the rest of your tour."

"So, a babysitter." I state. "Do you think this would be something anyone questioned if it wasn't for me being on tour with Ashley and us getting along so well. This is just fucking ridiculous. Does it actually matter if I am gay or straight?" I say annoyed. I just want this meeting to be over now. They have pissed me off.

"Gay or straight, it really doesn't matter to us. We just want to make sure everything is covered for you and you have no bad publicity. That's all. We do need to know though… Are you gay?" Travis asks looking me in my eyes. I look over at Glen and his face tells me that he has my back no matter what I say right now. I sigh and look back at Travis.

"I am, but I'm not ready to come out right now. I will when I am fully really. I don't want this out until I am 100 percent ready." I tell them making sure they know how serious I am about it.

"Whenever you're ready Spencer, we will all have your back. Lindsey is just going to make sure interviews stay about your music and about the tour or fans. Nothing more. So, no babysitting." Travis says with a smile. I nod at him.

"Alright. Anything else or are we done here?" I ask. I just want to leave now. Travis looks over at Ethan. Ethan nods his head. They get up from their chairs and say their goodbyes then leave Glen and I in the room with Lindsey.

"I would like it if we meet up within the next couple of days when you have time so we can go over a few things. Just so we are all on the same page going into this. I don't want to be stepping on any toes or anything." Lindsey says sweetly. I smile at her and look at Glen.

"Of course. I will call you when I look over her schedule fully. I don't try to book too much for her when shes on break during a tour. I want her to have as much down time as she can." Glen says. I think he is flirting and if he is, he sucks at it. Fucking kiss ass.

"Thank you. Glen, right?" Lindsey asks sticking out her hand to my brother.

"Yes." Glen says standing up and shaking her hand. I look between them before letting out a snicker. Glen turns and glares at me. I cover my mouth and turn away from him. I let them have their small talk while I pull my phone out.

'Yes, I am still in the studio.' That is all Ashley's text says. She must be busy right now. I will just let her be and hopefully she and I have time to talk on the phone again tonight. I should go see my parents for the rest of the day. I have nothing else planned and I miss my parents dearly.