+SPENCER'S ROOM+

All the lights are turned off and Spencer is resting on her comfy pink "O"- chair. When all of a sudden, her laptop beeps. Awaken by the beep, Spencer sits up and staggers over to the desk. A window popped up that had Ashley's screen name on it. She opened it.

1sExYaSh: hey, r u still upset?

Spencer didn't know whether to reply or delete it.

scarlin07: yeah
1sExYaSh: spence, i didn't mean to hurt u. i just got wrapped up in the moment. im so so so sorry. please 4give me.
scarlin07: im not sure. how do i know that ur not lying 2 me again?
1sExYaSh: cuz i gave u my word. i love u spencer & i feel so sick w/out u. like a piece of me has been ripped out & stepped on
scarlin07: yeah, i feel like that 2. but times urs by a million and u've got exactly how i feel.
1sExYaSh: i know. im sorry. she left. actually, i kind of kicked her out
scarlin07: seriously?
1sExYaSh: hell yeah i did. i thought about what i said 2 u and i told her that she'd better go home. then she tried to convince me that she could give me things u never would be able 2 & i told her to stay away from us
scarlin07: us?
1sExYaSh: yeah, u & me. i hope there is still an us?
scarlin07: of course
1sExYaSh: sweet! i love u spencer
scarlin07: i love u 2, ash. now leave me alone, im tired!
1sExYaSh: whatever u want.

They both sign off and Spencer dramatically falls back into the center of her "O"- chair and quietly falls back asleep.

The next day was Sunday. The day of rest. While Spencer and her brothers are sitting during church, she feels her phone vibrate on her leg. She quickly flips it open and the screen told her that she had one new text message. She clicked "OK" and it opened a new screen.

+MESSAGE+

TO: - (Spencer's cell number)
FROM: - (Ashley's number)
SUBJECT: i need u!

: spence, i know ur prob busy right now, but i seriously need u! please come to my place ASAP!

Spencer's heart started beating rapidly. She gets up during her Father's speech and heads to the Gathering Room for some privacy. She puts her phone to her ear, waiting for Ashley to answer. Someone picked up, but it wasn't Ashley.

: (man's voice) What the hell do you want?

Spencer: Ahh, is Ashley there?
: Yeah, she's here. But -- she's learning her lesson right now.
Spencer: (weird gut feeling) What?

Spencer can faintly hear Ashley's voice in the background.

Ashley: Leave her alone!

Then she hears a loud slap and then the voice gets back on the phone.

: She'll have to take a message. She's a little -- preoccupied.

(DIAL TONE)

Spencer's knees went weak and all she could think about was Ashley getting slapped by some big guy.

She knew she had to help her, but what could she do? Ashley's house was more than 5 or 6 miles from the church and she knew that Glen... or even Clay for that matter, wouldn't drop everything just for Ashley. But she had to do something.

Just as she thought that, something silver caught her eye. Her stomach did a quick 360' turn, because she thought it was Lexi's Mini-Cooper. And she really didn't want to have to deal with her right now. She turned her full attention to the silver object and saw that it wasn't Lexi, it was her chariot.

Spencer went flying through the church door.

Spencer: Taxi!

+ASHLEY'S HOUSE+

Ashley had just been slapped down to the ground, when her mom came over to her.

Ashley's Mom: Ashley, are you okay?
: If I had it my way, both of you would be out of my life.
Ashley: (talking through her pain) Well, you don't have to stay! Just leave, Ted! (points to the front door) There it is!

Ted takes one step towards Ashley and her mom, when Ashley's cell phone rings again.

Ted: Who the hell is this Spencer girl?

Ashley gets up and wipes her mouth clean from the blood.

Ashley: (between gasps) It's Spencer? Let me have the phone!
Ted: No way! (throws the phone into the big fish tank next to him) You don't need a girl, Ash. You need a man to protect you. (puts his hands on her waist) And I can be that man.

He tries to kiss her, but she backs up and slaps him across the face.

He just looks at her; stunned.

Ted: I thought you loved me, Ashley.
Ashley: No! I told you once before, you're not exactly my cup of tea.
Ted: Oh, but this little slut Spencer, is?
Ashley: Don't talk about her like that! Don't you ever talk about her like that! Spencer's the greatest thing I could've ever hoped for!
Ted: Yeah, right. (rolls his eyes) I'm through with you, Davies. Both of you! (he goes to the front door, turns the knob and walks out. Just like nothing had happened)

Ashley walks back to where her mom was sitting and puts her arm around her back. Her mom lets out a loud "yelp" and looks up at Ashley.

Ashley's Mom: Be careful! He hit me pretty hard.
Ashley: Let me see, Mom.

Ashley lifts up her mother's shirt and sees a huge, nasty bruise already on her back.

Ashley: (touches it) Ahh, Mom. You need help.

Ashley gets up, but her mom stops her.

Ashley's Mom: No, Ashley. I don't need help!
Ashley: Whatever, Mom. You do too.
Ashley's Mom: (looks into Ashley's brown eyes) No, I don't. Just drop it, okay?

All of a sudden, Ashley's door comes flying open. Ashley and her mom both jump.