And here we are...1 year later. I'm really sorry guys, life has been hectic, that and I was suffering from severe writer's block. Anyhow, that's no excuse. I plan to finish this...in time, here's a chapter until Tuesday! For those who are still reading, thank you. I wont disappear for a year again.

CHAPTER 6: I want to...know you

Ouch, I think I might have rubbed my gums out from brushing too hard. I still can't believe Jess yelled what she did while I was upstairs, and I still haven't had time to plot how I'm going to kill her. When I get to the living room I can see Jess and the blonde bartender talking, she's smiling and I can't help but think to myself at how beautiful her smile is. I'm stopped dead in my advance when she looks up from her hands to see me standing at the door.

"Hey you," she's still smiling.

I'm not sure if there was sound coming out or not cause then I was hit with a pillow Jess catapulted over to where I was standing.

"Stop smiling like a goof Ash!" so I guess no sound. God, can this get any worse?

Clearing my throat, I pick the pillow up and walk over to where they're sitting; slapping Jessie with it as I talk a seat across from our guest,

"Real mature Ashley, real mature."

"I apologize for my friend."

"No, it's fine she's been a good host so far."

I look over at Jess, and she has the most proud grin on her face. A little too eager if you ask me.

"What was that?"

"Nothing," clearing my throat and desperately trying to find a distraction I grab the coffee cup off the table, "Jess can I have some of this?" I don't wait for her to answer I just put the cup to my head, gulping down the contents. "Thanks, that was well needed."

"Why you're welcome," okay why is she answering?

"That was actually Spencer's" okay, so why is she smiling. "She was drinking that."

Oh, now I see. I shot up instantly, "I'll go make you some more, I am so sorry." One disaster after another.

"No it's fine; really, I'll get some when I get back to the bar. I brought your car around for you. I sorta got worried when I saw 11:30 and you hadn't shown. Started to think you forgot where the bar was, either that or still very, very drunk."

I could feel my face turning red as the embarrassment of last night seeped back into my memory.

"Yea, about that. I was a little tired after last night, not so much drunk...after...thank you."

"You're welcome."

"So, Spencer huh?"

"Yea, I didn't strike you as a Britney did I? That would have so ruined my image."

"No definitely a Spencer."

"Good."

We sat in silence for what seemed like forever but it was only a moment, I noticed her eyes scanning the living room before it landed on the picture at the table by the window.

"You look good in black and white,"

"Huh? Wh—,"

"The picture," she nodded towards it.

"Oh, thanks." then there was more silence.

"So Spencer, how long have you been working at the bar?" That was Jess' feeble attempt at getting rid of the silence.

"Wow, for as long as I can remember, I mean back when my dad ran it I used to help wait tables, my mom hated it but she couldn't get me away from it."

"So it's a family business then," well duh Jess!

"Yea, with my brother at the helm we're destined for awesomeness and serving majestic drunken goodness, speaking of which, he's expecting me back."

"You're leaving?"

"Yea, I am, it was nice meeting you though Jessie."

"The pleasure was all mine Spencer, and Ashley's."

"Ash, see our guest out."

I swear I'm going to slap her.

I saw her out, and stood there as she walked down the driveway, as she was about to turn on the street it hit me,

"Do you need a ride!"

"It's cool, I'll walk."

"C'mon Spence, it's the least I can do."

"What did you just say?!"

"I said let me give you a ride!" why are we shouting again? I run down to meet her as she turns back up to the drive way.

"No, not that, you called me Spence, we're moving a little too fast here don't you think?"

"Oh, sorry, I never meant..."

"I'm just playing around Ashley,"

"Ouch!, was that supposed to be a playful push!?" hurt like a bitch, and why is she laughing?

"Sorry, so am I getting that ride?"

"Yea, just let me go ge—" she pulls my keys out of her pocket

"These?"

"Yea, those."

The ride to the bar is quiet; as we're turning the corner of Duke she says something that has me slightly puzzled,

"I wish you hadn't offered to give me a ride," why th— . I almost hit a trash can.

"Why? Does it smell in here?"

"No," she starts playing with the extra glove compartment on the dash, avoiding the question.

"Why then?" She's quiet. I don't appreciate when I have to press people.

"I was hoping it would give you an excuse to come to the bar tonight."

"Oh, well…uum. Okay." I wasn't expecting that.

The rest of the ride to the bar was silent, not an awkward silence but not a comfortable one either. I side glanced her a few times, skepticism well written in the arch of her brow and the way she keeps biting her bottom lip. I want to ask but honestly, I don't think I want to have to deal with this right now, whatever this is. I pull up in front of Takers and before she unhooks the seatbelt to get out she looks at me, then she smiles. Why is she smiling, ignore it Ashley. After what seems like an eternity she speaks,

"I won't pretend to know you, but I want to."

"You want to what?" I could kick myself right now, smart move.

"I want to…know you," she's smiling again. It's infectious but I'll never tell her that.

I'm not interested. She's sweet but I can't do this now, the whole knowing thing. It's going to take time and energy and I just don't. When I don't respond her eyes fall to where she's fumbling the ejection on the seatbelt.

"I'll see you around Ashley," she sounds so sure, hmph. And with that she was gone.

I sit outside Takers, the engine still running, thinking it would be better not to think about what just happened, Jessie's going to have her own opinion, and so will my dad when he hears about it, when did my life become theirs? I guess I'll know soon enough.