A/N: It's pretty sad that I had to beg for reviews, but hey, it worked. Okay, gonna be wrapping this up pretty soon. I know how I want to end it, it's just a matter of getting there. Please, keep the comments and feedback coming, it really helps me along. Oh, and brace yourselves, people. Sad stuff ahead.
Spencer's phone is ringing again. She knows it's Ashley and she knows she should answer, but she's still mad. She doesn't even know why she's mad, Ashley didn't even do anything. She's just being suspicious and jealous and stupid because Ashley loves her, Spencer really has nothing to worry about. But she can't answer her phone. She just lets it ring. And ring and ring. Then she has to turn it off because that stupid song is starting to annoy her.
Spencer hears her father yelling for her downstairs. It's dinner time. Spencer takes her seat at the table across from Clay and takes his and her father's hands in hers as they say grace. Spencer's afraid her dad is going to ask her why she hasn't been taking Ashley's calls. She knows Ashley's tried the house line a couple of times. But Clay is talking about summer school and the Physics program at the junior college and Spencer's glad because no one could get a word in edgewise if they'd wanted to.
When Spencer gets back upstairs there are three missed calls and a voice message waiting for her, all from Ashley. She doesn't want to, and she waits until after ten when she cant take it anymore, but Spencer speed-dials her voice mail and lifts the phone as Ashley's tired voice greets her ear.
"Hey, Spence. It's me, Ashley. But, you know that, obviously. Look, I'm sorry. I'm not too sure what I did, but I'm sorry. If the Aiden thing freaked you out or whatever, you don't have to worry about it. We're really just friends, alright, we're not--Ugh, just call me, okay? Please? Bye. Love you." When Spencer closes her phone, she feels worse than before. Obviously they were just friends. She feels awful for ever thinking otherwise.
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Ashley couldn't sleep. Like all night. She kept tossing and turning and the oxygen tubes were starting to make her nose itch. She can't stand it when Spencer's mad at her. She doesn't even know why Spencer's mad, she didn't even do anything. Ashley can't figure out why Spencer got so upset when Aiden stopped by. They were just friends. Besides SPencer, Aiden was the only person that mattered in Ashley's life that wasn't wearing scrubs or a white coat. She was allowed to have other friends, wasn't she? She hadn't seen Aiden since he left at the beginning of the summer and he was just saying hi. There was certainly no reason for Spencer to go and get ten kinds of anal and storm out like that. Though, Ashley does think it's cute that Spencer's jealous. But she can't sleep. By the time ten in the morning rolls around, Ashley decides to stop trying.
When her phone rings, Ashley trips over the bed getting to it. She has to supress a few curse words. "Hello?"
"Ash, hey," and Ashley's grinning at the sound of Spencer's voice.
"Hey. Are you coming by today? Because I think we need to talk about yesterday."
"Well, we can talk now can't we?"
"No," Ashley says, glancing at the clock. "It's almost eleven. I have to go to--"
"Yeah, yeah, I know. Um, then I'll drop by later. If you're up to it?"
"Always. I'll see you, babe." Ashley says I love you and goodbye and hangs up before Spencer can reply likewise.
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Spencer gets to Ashley's room after dinner. Ashley's lying on her stomach with her headphones on, reading a magazine and finishing a red popsicle. She doesn't hear Spencer come in and nearly kicks Spencer because her legs are swinging pretty hard. Spencer reaches over and swats Ashley's butt to get her attention. Ashley jumps a little and rolls over. Her frown disappears when she sees Spencer.
"Now, Spencer, you know I don't like it rough." Spencer rolls her eyes, but she's smiling. Ashley takes her hand and pulls Spencer down next to her. Ashley looks tired. She's not wearing any makeup and Spencer can see the dark circles under her eyes and just how pale the rest of her is. Spencer can't help thinking that she still looks so beautiful. "I'm sorry."
"Why?" Ashley shouldn't be sorry. Spencer was the one who got all huffy and overeacted.
"For whatever I did that upset you," one of Ashley's hands reaches out absently and starts playing with a piece of Spencer's hair. "You know I'd never do anything to make you angry."
"I know that. I was being stupid." Ashley asks her if it was because of Aiden. Spencer can feel herself blushing for being so mistrustful. Ashley's hand leaves Spencer's hair and turns to soothe Spencer's enflamed cheek.
"Look, Spencer. Aiden is just a friend. He's really the only one I have. Besides you."
"But," Spencer presses, "you guys looked really...comfortable."
"Okay, maybe we knew each other once. But it was just a phase."
"A phase?" Spencer scoots back, putting some distance between her and Ashley before she just decides to stand up. "A phase is like a low-carb diet. Not who you wake up next to." Spencer paces a little bit before sitting on the couch in the corner of the room. She doesn't know why she'd been so naive. Obviously there had been people in Ashley's life before her. But the idea that anyone else had been close to Ashley made Spencer want to break things. After a moment, Ashley rose and took a seat next to Spencer.
"I'm sorry," Ashley shrugs. "I should've told you before but I didn't think it mattered. Whatever was between me and Aiden is beyond over."
"You swear?"
"I promise you, Spence." Ashley smiles. "You know I'm all yours." Spencer reaches over and pulls Ashley into her lap. Then Spencer kisses Ashley and tells her she tastes like cherries. Spencer loves cherries.
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Spencer and Ashley are spooned in Ashley's bed when Ashley wakes Spencer up. She's coughing a bit and trying to be quiet but Spencer's lying too close. Spencer waits for Ashley to calm down and when she does, she rolls over in Spencer's arms so Spencer can rub her back. Even though her face is turned into Spencer's arm, Spencer can tell Ashley's uncomfortable. Abruptly, Ashley sits up and starts coughing again. Rather hard. Spencer turns on the light over the bed and puts a hand on Ashley's shoulder, asks her if she needs anything.
"Water," Ashley manages. Spencer pours her a glass from the pitcher on Ashley's nightstand and hands it to her.
Ashley mumbles a thank you before trying to take a sip. But she's still coughing and almost chokes on the water, spraying it everywhere. Spencer takes the cup from her before Ashley spills it. Ashley turns her face away from Spencer as she coughs. She's kind of having trouble taking in air. She grabs a tissue and covers her mouth with it because she's still coughing. She keeps making wheezing noises and it's starting to scare Spencer. After a minute, Ashley stops coughing, but she's still panting. And she looks scared.
Spencer looks over and sees blood in Ashley's hand. Ashley looks up at her with wide eyes and tells Spencer to get a nurse.
A/N: Yeah, I hate cliff hangers too. Sorry if there were typos. I tend not to proofread until after I post. I'll update ASAP, but review and I'll update faster. I'm thinking one or two more chapters and an epilogue will finish this up.