Author's Notes

I apologize for the short chapters that I'm ending this fic with. It's easier to cut the sequence of events this way. So, yeah, chapters are short. Get over it. This is definitely one of my shortest chapters... ever. Sorry about that. The next one should be longer, but I don't know how much longer.

In The Sun

Chapter 11

By Persephone's Nautical Nun

- Spencer -

"I hate finals!" Ashley yelled from the living room.

I wiped my hands on my jeans and stepped out of the bathroom, to find Ashley exactly the way I left her; sitting in front of her open Theory book, chewing on her eraser. I had tried to learn a little bit of Music Theory one time, but I swear, all those symbols and words are made up. Musicians are weird. I can't figure out how she's managed to maintain an A in that class. Supposedly it only gets worse from here.

I walked over and sat beside her, wrapping her in my arms. Kelly hadn't been around lately, and I really didn't care where she ran off to. "It'll be okay, Baby," I whispered before kissing her earlobe.

I felt her shiver beneath me, but I didn't get long to revel in that feeling. "I could go for some coke," she mumbled. "It would help me study."

"Well, you know," I said, shifting over to the coffee table so I could look at her. "I've been saving up my money. I was thinking we could get an eight-ball..."

Her eyes lit up. "Really?"

"Yes, really," I replied, before tapping her on the nose. "But, after exams. It may help you study, but if we get you coked up, you'll never go to class." I loved teasing her, mostly because I knew that she loved it, too.

"Alright, so exams, and then finish the semester with a bang, right? Sweet. Oh, hey, let's wait until I can sell my books back, and we'll use that money, too, so no one has to do anything with Dallas." She had apologized for that countless times. I ran out of ways to tell her that it was okay, and that I understood. But, it would be nice to have a little help with payment, I had to admit that.

---South-Of-Nowhere

- Ashley -

I've been trying to be a litter freer with Spencer lately, a little more lax. I don't own her, and I never will. I have to let her make her own mistakes, as much as it hurts me to do so. Maybe one day she'll realize that she's better than all of this, better than me, but until that day comes, I'm going to keep her as close as I can.

My exams went pretty well, actually, and Spencer said hers went well, too. I had already preregistered for my classes next semester, and everything seemed to be on track. Tonight was the night that we were going to party.

We had to do a few lines with Dallas, because that was his way. He always got a little fucked up before he sold his shit. I think he suffered from separation anxiety. He tried to talk Spencer and me into doing things with him, but we had enough money, and kicked him out as soon as possible.

It was one of the best nights of my life for a while. I didn't have any school to worry about, I was with the girl I loved. Who could ask for more? Deftones pulsed through the speakers in the living room, their slow morbidness contrasting with our hyped up moods.

I started to feel really cold, though I was sweating. My breathing became shallow, and it felt like I couldn't get enough air into my lungs. "Spencer," I mumbled.

Something was wrong. I didn't know what it was. I was lying on the couch, Spencer above me, dabbing at my forehead with a cool, damp cloth. My heart broke at the worried expression on her face. Vision kept coming and going.

I was vaguely aware of being half dragged, half carried down the stairs and to my car, being thrown into the backseat, and the world beginning to rumble, and move beneath me.

Something was very wrong.