With the thought of actually doing her horrible homework, Ashley made her way to the kitchen; in search of a box of macaroni and cheese.

Ashley: (out loud to herself) Where is it? I know I put it right -- Oh! Here it is! (looks at the area around her) Wait, why am I talking to myself? The only people who talk to themselves are: hobos and psychos... and --

Just then, her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of her doorbell ringing.

Annoyed by the cheerful chiming sound of it, she made her way to the front double doors to answer it.

She looked through the peep-hole and let out an annoyed sigh.

Meanwhile, with the thought of the Dinner from Hell still on Spencer's mind, she made her way down the hall; to Clay's room.

She cautiously knocked on his door and he suddenly opened it.

Surprised, she took a few steps back and looked at him with narrow eyes.

Clay: What's up, Spence?
Spencer: (points past him; towards his room) Let's talk in there.

She walked past him and he closed the door behind them.

Clay: This -- seems serious.
Spencer: Well, it's not... really.
Clay: Okay, then. What is it?
Spencer: (sighs) Clay, I don't want to go to dinner tonight.
Clay: So, don't go. What's the big deal?
Spencer: Can you just tell the parentals that --
Clay: Oh, about that. (pauses and scratches his head)
Spencer: What, about what?
Clay: It's just mom tonight.
Spencer: (wrinkles her nose) Why? Where's dad?
Clay: Well, he finally got the word about mom's random trip back to Ohio and she -- (sighs)
Spencer: What'd mom do this time? (sounding annoyed)
Clay: She didn't buy dad a ticket. In fact, she didn't even offer him the chance to go.

Immediately, Spencer got the look of a soldier whose best-friend just got shot while in battle.

Spencer: How could she do that to him?

All Clay could do was shrug his shoulders.
And all Spencer could do was keep from letting out a big sigh and the massive tears that follow it.

Suddenly, she sprang to her feet and left Clay in a spaced-out daze.

Back at Ashley's house, she was sitting on her leather couch with a bowl of Mac and Cheese and a ten-pound Chemistry Lab text book on her lap.

Ashley: (in between chews) Okay, so -- (swallows) this little squiggly line goes in between these two foreign words?

She puts another heeping spoonful of noodles into her mouth and then swallows them almost immediately after their entrance.

Ashley: And -- (points at her book) this equal sign goes in front of the third foreign word? (deeply sighs) Ugh! I hate this crap!

She violently closes the book; making the sound echo all through the room.

Just then, Ashley's cell phone rings.

Ashley: Hello?
Spencer: Ashley? It's Spencer. Can you please come pick me up?
Ashley: Sure. Are you okay?
Spencer: Yeah, but -- I'm about to do something gutsie and I'm going to need a getaway car.
Ashley: (laughs) Okay, Carlin. I'll just be coasting in the driveway.
Spencer: Alright, bye.
Ashley: Bye.

Ashley shakes her head and then lets out a slight chuckle.

Ashley: (to herself) Oh, Spencer Carlin -- you slay me.

With that said, she grabbed her keys and headed out the front door.

+SPENCER'S HOUSE+

As Spencer stomps her way down the stairs, she enters the kitchen; in search of her mother.

She spots her and like a wild animal, she focuses on her target... and then charges.

Paula: (not even noticing Spencer's attitude) Spencer, hand me that plate and --
Spencer: Mom, how can you be such a bitch?

Paula was beyond stunned. Her little girl just called her a horrid name.

Paula: Excuse me?
Spencer: You heard me. How can you be so heartless towards dad?
Paula: Oh, so you think you've got this all figured out, huh? You've put me in the place of the bad guy and your father's in the position of always getting hurt. Is that right?
Spencer: That's how I see it. (raises her eyebrows)
Paula: Well, then you're not seeing the whole picture.

Paula walks past Spencer; in hopes of this conversation coming to an end.

Spencer: What does that mean?
Paula: It's just -- (pauses) I am not having this conversation with you, Spencer!
Spencer: Well, you said that I'm not seeing the whole picture, so... open my eyes! Tell me how it really is. (saying it almost in a teasing tone)
Paula: No, Spencer!
Spencer: Why not?
Paula: Because... we're getting a divorce.

Spencer was stunned and, in a result to that, she let out a sigh to show her mother how surprised she was; without using her words.

Paula: Don't act so surprised. I'm sure you probably saw it coming.
Spencer: (narrows her eyes) How can you be so calm about this? (almost yelling)
Paula: Spencer, just -- shut up! I don't want to talk anymore about this.
Spencer: (childishly) Fine!

She turned around and headed out the front door.

She made her way outside, only to find Ashley not there.

Spencer: (still upset) Ugh! (stomps her foot) Where is she?

She was about to pull her cell phone out when she saw Ashley's lightless car slowly pull into her driveway.

Spencer gets in the car.

Spencer: Why are your lights off?
Ashley: Well, you said that you needed a getaway car. How much fun can it be to actually be able to see your getaway car get away? (shakes her head) Not much fun, huh?
Spencer: (closes her eyes) I guess not.
Ashley: So, what was the (air-quotes) 'gutsie' thing you did?
Spencer: (sighs) I pretty much told my mom off.
Ashley: (dramatically gasps) You mean, sweet little Spencer Carlin -- (gasps dramatically again) told her mommy to go shove it?
Spencer: That's right.
Ashley: What'd she do to you to deserve such brutal verbal abuse?
Spencer: Well, besides the fact of being an evil dictator -- she didn't even tell my dad about going back to Ohio.
Ashley: (widens her eyes) Are you serious?
Spencer: Yes! Can you believe that?
Ashley: Honestly... yeah, I can.
Spencer: Well, -- that's why I told her off.
Ashley: Wow... I must say, I am indeed impressed! I didn't think you had it in you. (smiles real big)
Spencer: (sheepishly smiles) Thanks. It was bound to come out sooner or later.

Spencer notices that Ashley has a different twinkle in her eye.

Spencer: What's up with you tonight?
Ashley: (turns down the radio) What do you mean?
Spencer: I don't know. You just seem -- happier than usual.
Ashley: Well, I'm here with you, aren't I?
Spencer: (smiles) Yeah, but -- did something else good happen to you tonight?
Ashley: Well... (trails off)
Spencer: What?
Ashley: I wouldn't really put it in the (air-quotes) 'Good Category'.
Spencer: Then, what category would you put it in?
Ashley: Umm... bizarre.
Spencer: Why? What happened?