+SPENCER'S 3RD HOUR CLASSROOM+

As Spencer's English teacher is telling them all about the wonderful world of Prepositions, the office secretary comes over the room's intercom.

Secretary: Mrs. Martin, will you please allow Spencer Carlin to come to the office to be checked out?
Mrs. Martin: Of course. (looks at Spencer and points towards the door) Miss Carlin?

Spencer takes her teacher's hint by gathering her things and she makes her way through the door and down the hall to the office.

Once she walks through the office doors, she sees her mother awkwardly standing there with nothing but her purse.

Spencer: (surprised) Mom... what are you doing her --

Paula rudely cuts Spencer off and grabs her by the forearm and leads her through the doors.

Now in the hallway on their way to the parking lot, Spencer is struggling to get loose from her mother's grip.

Spencer: Mom, jeez! Let me go --
Paula: Spencer... (chuckles) I have some (looks off to the side) really good news.
Spencer: (fixes her shirt's sleeve) Really?

Paula simply shakes her head: up and down.

They reach their car and they both simultaneously get in and go back to their conversation.

Spencer: So, what's the (air-quotes) 'really good news'?
Paula: You know how we've been talking about 'the-Ohio-days'?
Spencer: (hesitantly) uh-oh! Yeah.
Paula: Well, I've been thinking...
Spencer: (under her breath) This can't be good.
Paula: ... and, I bought the family a couple of tickets back to Ohio. (smiles big)

All of a sudden, Spencer's stomach dropped and all she could think about was Ashley.

Spencer: (shaking her head) What? When?
Paula: This Friday. Since you kids are out of school until that next Wednesday, I figured that it seemed -- (pauses and smirks) I don't know, rather... (taking her time by picking her words carefully) picturesque!
Spencer: picturesque? no picture is perfect without Ashley! But -- what about my friends?
Paula: (frowns) You mean, what about Ashley?
Spencer: Well... actually, yeah. But, I mean like, Aiden and -- jeez, I don't have that many friends, do I?
Paula: Look, Spencer. I'm sure that you can live a couple of days without Ashley --
Spencer: oh, yeah right
Paula: In fact, (points her index finger) I think it'll be good for you.
Spencer: (sarcastically laughs) Oh? And how do you figure that?

Paula: Well, all your old friends are in Ohio and it'll be good for you to remember where you came from.

The way Paula said "old friends" made Spencer think that that was just a cover-up. Like, instead of her saying "your straight friends", she could just simply say "old friends" and call it a day. But Spencer had a good ear and was always able to catch her mother's innuendos.

Spencer: (repeating her mother) 'Remember where I came from'? -- Mom, we've only been in L.A. for like... not even a whole school year. (closes her eyes and moves a piece of stray blonde hair behind her ear) You make it sound like I've completely changed and you want me to go back to the way I use to be. (looks at her mom like, "Is that it?")
Paula: (shrugs) Well, level with me here, Spencer. Ever since we've moved here, you've been really... aggressive. And you spend all your free-time with that Ashley girl.
Spencer: (thinking about her mom's new interest) Oh, so... I can't spend time with one of my friends, but you can with your Ben-guy?

Paula got a befuddled expression on her face and she gave Spencer one of those mean-motherly looks.

Paula: (shakes her head) We're not talking about this right now.
Spencer: Why? Because you know that you've just been called out?
Paula: (raising the tone in her voice) That's enough, Spencer! We're going to Ohio -- and that's final!

Spencer was now out of energy to fight back, so she just dramatically threw her back to the seat and hypnotically looked out the rolled down window.

Once home, Spencer hastily ran upstairs and childishly slammed her door.

She got to her phone and punched Ashley's number into the receiver.

Ashley: Hello?
Spencer: (depressing tone) Hey, Ash.
Ashley: Spence... what's wrong?
Spencer: Well, my mom just bombarded me with some -- pretty retarded news.
Ashley: How retarded?

Spencer: Really retarded. She said that Friday, my family and I are going back to Ohio --
Ashley: Please tell me you're coming back?
Spencer: Yeah... on Wednesday.
Ashley: (sighs with relief) Good.
Spencer: Yeah.
Ashley: Why does your mom want to go back to Ohio? Does she want to catch up with some relatives, or something?
Spencer: I'm not sure. But, she said that I need to get back in touch with where I came from.
Ashley: What the hell does that mean?
Spencer: Who knows? All I know is that... I'm really going to miss you.
Ashley: why does she have to be so great? Well, I think it's pretty safe to say that, me missing you is going to have to be the understatement of the year.
Spencer: (laughs softly) Well, it'll only be for like six days.
Ashley: (laughs only once) Six days of pure torture.
Spencer: You're so dramatic, Davies.
Ashley: Well, I learn from the best!
Spencer: (gasps) You're so mean!
Ashley: (giggles) Okay, okay. I'm sorry. (pauses) So, what are your Ohio friends like?
Spencer: Well, they're a little less... um, out there.
Ashley: So -- are they all farm kids?
Spencer: (laughs) No. Not all of them. Most of them live in the town area.
Ashley: Where did you live?
Spencer: I lived like, right off the separating line.
Ashley: What's the separating line?
Spencer: The separating line is the line that divides the town houses from the ranch houses.
Ashley: Oh, I see.
Spencer: (sighs) I wish you could come with me.
Ashley: (chuckles) Now don't go putting those kind of ideas in your head.
Spencer: (confused) Why not?

Ashley: Because. It's like... wishing for a million dollars. (pauses) It's pointless.
Spencer: Why is wanting you around pointless?
Ashley: It's not. It's just -- you wishing for me to be around you with your family there, is just... pointless. It's just a waste of time to be thinking like that.
Spencer: Well, I'm sorry that I care about you so much, Ashley! (almost yelling)
Ashley: Come on, Spence. Don't be mad. I'm just... being realistic.
Spencer: So, what? Even if you could go -- would you?
Ashley: Of course I would, Spencer. But, with your family... everyone compares me to Satan.
Spencer: That's not true.
Ashley: Admit it, Spence. Everyone except for you, your dad and Clay, hates me.
Spencer: But, all that's left is my mom and Glen. And -- who cares what they think?
Ashley: (raising her voice) I do!
Spencer: Why?
Ashley: I don't know, Spencer. I just... do!
Spencer: Okay. (trying to calm her down) Sorry.
Ashley: No, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for -- setting fire to your wishes. (pauses and sighs) I promise I won't do it, again.
Spencer: It's okay, Ashley. I guess I was just -- thinking out loud.
Ashley: Well, I wish I could come, too.
Spencer: At least it's only for a couple of days. I'm sure we can manage.
Ashley: (sighs) It'll be hell, but... I think I'll live.
Spencer: (smiles to herself) Me too.

+BACKGROUND NOISE AT SPENCER'S HOUSE+

Ashley can faintly hear Spencer's door loudly open and she can also hear Paula saying something muffled to Spencer.

Paula: (muffled and distant sounding) Spencer, who are you talking to?
Spencer: (talking away from the phone) Umm, who wants to know?

Ashley quietly giggles to herself -- wondering when Spencer became so... assertive.

Paula: Me, Spencer! You know, your mother.
Spencer: Oh, I see. Well, I'm talking to the one person who is forbidden in this house.
Paula: Hmm... well, tell her that it's time for you to go.
Spencer: But, that would be a lie. And, I don't lie to Ashley.
Paula: Oh? But, you'll regretfully lie to me?
Spencer: Well... if the shoe fits -- (pauses; letting her mother's mind fill in the rest of the age-old saying)
Paula: (shakes her head: up and down, with much fury) Okay, then. If you still want to be a member of this family, then dinner will be ready in ten.
Spencer: Okay.

Spencer gets back on the other end of the phone, after her mother leaves the room.

Spencer: (huffs) Okay, I'm back. Sorry.
Ashley: Don't be sorry. That was amazing, Spence. Who knew our own little Spencer Carlin could use her words for evil? (laughs)
Spencer: (chuckles only once) It was bound to happen sooner or later. (pauses to catch her breath) I'm just tired of her always telling me what to do.
Ashley: Yeah. Well, I'd better go... I've actually decided to do my homework for the week.
Spencer: (gasps) Are you serious? Ashley Davies – (gasps again) -- doing homework?
Ashley: Yes, it's true!
Spencer: Okay, then. I guess I can go play the 'sweet daughter' card at the dinner table.
Ashley: (laughs) Have fun!
Spencer: Oh, it'll be a blast! (laughs) Bye.
Ashley: Later.

They both hang up; with only one going to do what they said they would.