Review Section

His Keno Waitress: Hey, don't worry. Spencer's not too beaten up.

Caitlin: Thanks. I was worried about keeping them in character, but it looks like I've done a good job of that.

Hbob: Thank you so much for your review. I'm ecstatic that you like my story. And, yes, here is the remedy to the situation.

MistyRiver17: Merry Christmas to you, too.

Justlikeyou: Duh, you're loved. And I had to have a really good cliffhanger in here, somewhere. It would've felt empty without one.

Author's Notes

I'm still looking for a beta reader for my next story. Because there will definitely be a next story. That's really all the news I have. Merry Christmas, everyone. Or Happy Whatever-Holiday-You-Celebrate. Enough of my ramble. On with the story.

It's Where You're Going

Chapter 7

By Persephone's Nautical Nun

My heart shattered. That's the only way I know how to explain what happened to me the moment I saw that bitch hit Spencer. My heart shattered into a million, tiny pieces, and they were strewn everywhere. They were scattered to the far corners of the world, and there was no way that I was going to be able to find them all to put them back together. There was no way my heart could be whole again.

I forgot all about school. It wasn't important anymore. All that was important was taking care of Spencer. I ran to where the girls were. I pushed them out of the way. I got a little roughed up doing so, but my body didn't seem to notice.

When I found her, she was awake, but it was like she wasn't really there. I pulled her to her feet and made her lean on me, and I helped her slowly to my car. The nurse wouldn't do anything. Especially if I brought her in. She's such a homophobe, she would have thought that Spencer got what she deserved.

No one deserves this.

I laid her down in the backseat of my car before getting into the driver's seat and taking off. Every few seconds, I would look back at her and make sure she was okay.

Damn it, why didn't she just listen to me when I told her not to talk about that then? Did she really not notice the crowd gathering?

We got to my house, and I gathered her in my arms as best I could. We slowly made our way up to my bedroom where I helped her lay down on the bed. I disappeared into the bathroom for a few moments to grab a damp towel and assorted first aid items.

While I was in there, though, I started to cry. Because this is what I was trying to protect her from. All of this hate. But, I couldn't sit here and cry for long, because Spencer needed me. And I needed to be strong for her. So with an angry, frustrated punch to my leg, I sucked it up, and went to her.

She had a black eye, a split lip, and random minor cuts and bruises covering her body. The damage wasn't all that bad. But, the fact that there was damage at all...

I cleaned her lip up and put ice on her eye. I was busy putting bandages over a few of her worse cuts when I noticed her free eye looking at me. I looked back. I felt her hand grope for mine, and finally grasp it, giving it a squeeze.

I reached up with my free hand and smoothed her hair. I had to say something. "Spencer, this is why I wasn't letting you be with me too quickly. This is what I was trying to protect you from. This isn't your world."

She closed her eyes for a moment before opening them and looking deeper into me than I think she ever has before. "You're my world."

She reached a hand up to my face and traced the outline of my lips with her finger. Then she asked me a question. A question I knew would be coming sooner or later. "Did this happen to you?"

I raised my shirt a little bit to reveal a small scar below my breast. And I nodded, and I felt tears sting my eyes. But, I couldn't cry. I had to be strong for her.

"I guess this is our initiation, huh? We're not really gay until we've been beaten up for it."

I couldn't help but smile at her attempt at humor in this situation. She hadn't given up hope.

"Ashley," she started. "I want to be with you. You said you want to be with me, too. Don't deny me. You're only denying yourself."

"I know, Spence. I know." And with that, I brought her hand to my lips, and kissed each of her fingertips gently. We sat in comfortable silence for a long time before she broke it.

"How are we going to explain this to my mom?"

My eyes met hers and I realized that she was joking. It was a serious question, but we didn't need to think about it yet.

And so we laughed.

And we were happy.

The End