Author's Note:
The following chapters take place immediately following the season finale of South of Nowhere, the episode "What Just Happened?"
Disclaimer:
I do not own any of the characters portrayed in this story. They belong to Tom Lynch and the people of South Of Nowhere.
The final bell of the day had just rung, and I was on my way to the parking lot to meet up with Spencer when I heard a familiar voice behind me.
"Hey Ash! Wait up!"
I turned to see Aiden jogging toward me. I stopped to wait for him, knowing what it was he wanted to ask.
"So, did you ever get things figured out with Spencer?" he asked with a smirk on his face.
"Ha, I don't think that's any of your business," I teased.
"Aw, c'mon Ash. I gave you advice about it. Since when did it become none of my business?" he pleaded.
"Get a check on your lesbian fantasies, Aiden." I looked at him as he started to blush. "Everything's good between me and Spencer."
"How good?" he questioned with a cocked eyebrow.
I rolled my eyes and started to walk away. "Why don't you ask Spencer?" I called back over my shoulder. "She's meeting me at my car."
He grabbed on to that opportunity, caught up with me and walked the rest of the way to my car.
I saw Spencer at a distance and repressed my urge to take off at a run to meet her. She eventually caught my eye as well, that classic Spencer smile spreading across her face.
"Hey babe," she said as we reached each other. She leaned in as if to give me a hug, then noticed Aiden behind me.
"Hey Aiden," she said, stopping mid-lean. "How are ya?"
"I'm good, Spence," he replied. "I'm guessin' that you're doing pretty great," he said, glancing between me and Spencer.
She looked down at her feet, a shy smile on her face. Then she reached out and grabbed my hand and looked Aiden straight in the eye. "Yeah, things are pretty much perfect," she said glancing at me. "Thank you, really Aiden, for helping me reach this point. You've been a great friend."
Aiden sighed, "Yeah, a friend. But remember our agreement, Spencer – this WASN'T my fault," he said grinning.
Spencer laughed as I gave them both a confused look. "What are you guys talking about?" I asked.
"I'll tell you later," Spencer giggled. "Let's get outta here," she said as she wrapped her arm around my waist.
As we turned to get in the car, another male voice boomed from behind us. "What the HELL is going on!" pretty boy Glen's voice yelled.
Spencer jerked her arm from my waist in reaction and took a step away from me. All I could do was shake my head and wait for the homophobic speech from the homophobic jerk.
"You wanna tell me what's going on, Spencer? Why are you all over this dyke? I thought I told you to stay away from my sister," he hissed at me.
"No, your exact words were to stop 'hitting' on your sister. And I did."
"It doesn't look like it to me," he retorted. "Now, let me talk to my sister."
"No, I don't think so," I said, stepping protectively in front of Spencer. "Why don't you mind your own business?"
Glen was getting ready to state his case when Aiden stepped in and grabbed his arm. "C'mon man," he said. "We've gotta get to practice."
"Hell no man," he said shoving Aiden away. "Spencer, tell me what's going on. Now."
I turned to look at Spencer and noticed a whole new look on her face. While Aiden and I had attempted to fight her battle, she had gained her composure and confidence. With her shoulders back and face set, she stepped up to Glen.
"Ashley and I are together," she stated.
Glen stared at her in silence for a minute. He couldn't seem to process what Spencer had just told him.
He finally spoke. "What do you mean?" he barely whispered.
"You know what I mean, Glen," Spencer spoke very slowly. "Ashley and I care about each other. We're together."
"Spencer, you are not GAY," Glen was no longer whispering. "You're just confused," he seemed to plead.
"No," Spencer shook her head. "I was confused for a while. But I'm not anymore. Things finally make sense," she said as she took my hand.
I couldn't believe that Spencer was being so brave and confident. I gave her hand a little squeeze to let her know that I still had her back.
Glen shook his head as all the color drained from his face. I would have been enjoying this if it was in any other situation, but I knew that Spencer was hurting.
"Spencer, this is disgusting and it's WRONG," Glen said. "Do you have any idea how mom and dad are gonna react?"
"Well, I'm pretty sure that Dad already knows, and he seems fine with it," Spencer said. "And mom has pretty much walked out on us, so I really don't care what she thinks. And since when is this disgusting to you? Half of the porn on your computer is girl-on-girl action."
I had to laugh at that, but repressed my laughter when Glen glared at me. Then he looked back at Spencer.
"You're my SISTER," Glen replied.
"Yeah, I am, so support my decision," Spencer said calmly.
Glen shook his head yet again. "No way, I can't. You're throwing all your values out the window for some lesbian whore!"
I opened my mouth to make my own response to that, but Spencer beat me to it.
"Screw you, Glen!" she yelled with a red face. "You don't even know her! Ever since the day we came here, all your opinions about anyone in this school, especially Ashley, have been totally based off rumor. Grow up!"
It seemed like Glen was shaking all over. "Aaauugh!" he yelled. "I can't deal with this now! We've got enough problems going on in our family without you bringing this…this…" he couldn't even finish the sentence.
"Just go to practice Glen and try to cool off. Take your frustrations with me out on the court," Spencer said sarcastically.
Glen just glared at Spencer and then turned and stormed away. Aiden gave us a sympathetic look and turned and ran after him.
I turned to Spencer and noticed the troubled look on her face. I wasn't sure what to say, so I just hugged her. She wrapped her arms around me and squeezed me tight while she buried her face in my shoulder. She just sighed in my arms, but she wasn't crying. I thought that was a good sign.
"It's gonna be ok," I whispered in her ear.
"I know," she whispered back. "I know."