dnmann, this one's for you. I promise I won't take so long with the next update.

CHAPTER 2: Legal

"I kissed her, well, she kissed me…but I kissed her and, it was the most alive I've felt in a really long time." God I wish I could kiss her right now.

"Ash? Earth to Ashley…"

"I'm right here Jess, I haven't gone anywhere,"

"It didn't look that way lady, would you like a mirror? Or would Spencer be better…"

"That's not even funny Jess," I roll my eyes as I put the last of the coffee to my lips.

"So was it a good kiss?" she's got that gleam in her eyes and I know that this is far from over.

"It was intense, to say the least. She's so open Jess, so open and so honest…"

"Not to mention hella beautiful," the grin that's been plastered on her face for the last hour just got wider, "Really beautiful."

My heart starts beating at a ridiculous pace and I feel like I'm about to faint, literally; talk about schoolgirl crush revamped. I shift in my chair to turn and see the most amazing set of blue eyes and I can't control the smile that plays across my face.

"Hey," she's so beautiful. I know I've gone stupid because I feel Jessie tugging at me before she said,
"Hey Spencer, Ashley says 'hey' too," then she starts laughing and I can feel my cheeks turning red, this is so embarrassing.

"Hey, I didn't know you came to Joey's." Way to save the conversation Ashley, smart move.

"Nice save; I come here all the times, Joey's got the best." She takes a sip from her cup.

"We agree," and Jess is back in the conversation.

"Will you sit with us?"

"I wish I could but I have to get back to the bar, Glen's gone for the week so I'm on my own with management."

"Ashley's good with management, she could help you, right Ash?"

"Seriously Jessica?!"

"Wh— I was just offering your services," her defense which honestly made me want to slap her.

"It's okay, really. I can manage." I feel my face drop a little, not that I was offended or anything, just a little hurt I guess; I would want to offer my help, to be with her more than the ordinary without feeling… I don't know.

"Ashley, would you mind coming to the bar later to help me out with the legal?"

I can say I was a little taken back by the offer, "Sure, when do you need me?"

It was a moment before she answered, then she smiled "Is 1 o'clock good?"

"1 it is,"

"Great, I'll see you then. I have to get back now. Jess, I'll be seeing you…"

"You bet; I'll be your Maid of Honor."

"Jessica!" I could kick her right now, "Spence, I'll walk you out?"

"I'd like that."

We're standing in front of Joey's and images of last night start flashing through my mind; her eyes match mine and I know she's thinking the same thing too.

"I missed you last night, after you left." Her gaze doesn't falter but I feel my skin burning and I have to look away. Pull it together Ashley, how is she getting you so flustered? When she reaches out and angles my face with her index then lifting my chin so our eyes meet I feel my knees weakening.

"I missed you too," I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. "I miss you right now even,"

"I'm right here though," she's laughing and I can't help but smile.

"So, legal huh?"

"Uh huh, I'll go over it with you later today, which reminds me, I really have to go but…"

"But what?"

"Can I?" Okay now I'm confused; when she quirks a brow at me and starts smiling it all comes full circle. She's kissing me. She's kissing me and I've forgotten to breathe, when she tugs at my jacket and pulls me in closer I can feel myself letting go because something about the way Spencer holds me makes me feel safe. It doesn't take long for me to respond to her kisses but then she pulls away and I find myself missing the closeness. "I've wanted to do that for so long," I reach up cupping her face, pulling her close as my tongue traces a pattern on her lower lip before begging for entrance. I kiss her until she's out of breath, letting go of her but not completely moving.

"I've been waiting to do that for forever," and for the first time I see her blushing and it's a hell of a feeling. "I'll see you at 1 to go over the legal."

"Legal, right."

When I step back into Joey's I can feel eyes on me, I completely forgot about the glass; awkward.

"It's about time Ashley!" I look across to see Joey with a toaster in his hand and ridiculously boyish smile.

"I don't know what you're talking about Joe," embarrassing.

"He's right Ash!" Les yelled from the kitchen.

"Alright already, it's about time!"

Then the whole dinner erupts in cheers, I feel like I'm in an episode of Friends. When I sit back down at the table Jessica has her chin resting on her downturned palms peering at me, waiting not so patiently. I decide to hold my silence for a moment; I have to admit I love the slight torture.

"Jesus Ashley, I'm not getting any younger!"

"What is it Jess?"

"You're honestly asking that Ashley?"

"I'm honestly asking,"

"What was that?"

"What was what?"

"You and Spencer, tongues down each other's throat!"

"Jess, gross…stop."

"Okay, so maybe it wasn't as disgusting as I just made it seem but Ashley, I'm impressed."

I have to laugh, she's making it seem like I just exhibited super human strength. "It was just a kiss Jess."

"Yea, a very hot, steamy kiss, with a very hot, steamy blonde."

"Jess, what are you, 15?"

"Do you see that?"

"See what?" I'm confused now, that's been happening a lot lately.

"That," I'm seeing my reflection in the mirror she's turned to me.

"I can't see it Jess, what is it? Is it something on my face?" Jessie closes the compact and starts smiling, and then she says,

"Happy is a good look on you Ashley." She never lets me forget myself and that's why out of everything else, she's my best friend.

When I open the door I see my dad and Jeff plastered in front of the television watching a Giants' game.

"Hey guys, how's it going?"

"Honey, you're home. For a minute there I thought I was going to have to come down to the station to bail my teenage daughter out of jail."

"Dad, what are you talking about?"

"Jess and I were texting," now I want to slap her.

"Okay dad, can we play tag team Ashley's love life later, I'm going to be late."

"Oh, so you have a love life now? I see…"

"Dad, I have a thing and I like it, I like her."

"All I'm saying is finally. You're making me more proud than when you graduated Harvard with honors."

I'm not even going to comment on that, it's almost 1PM and I'm meeting Spencer at the bar.

"I'll see you later dad, Asparagus is in the kitchen; bye Jeff."

It's a little bit after 1PM when I pull up at Takers and Spencer's at the entrance leaning on a post. She looked good in her grey sweats and Ramones t-shirt.

"I started to worry you weren't going to show,"

"Why would I not show?"

"I'm not sure come to think about it."

"You had no answer Spence, save it."

"I did actually. Would you like a drink?"

"It's too early Spence,"

"I could've meant water, or juice…not because I own a bar Ashley," she rolled her eyes playfully.

"Sorry, I just thought—,"

"It's okay babe, stigma"

"Spencer?"

"Ashley?"

"Did you just c—,"

"Yea, I did. Is that—,"

"Yea." The silence was comfortable, "Spencer can I ask you something?"

"Sure, what is it?"

"Earlier today, what were you thinking about?"

She cocked her head to the side, a little confused then she starts smiling when realization hits.

"When you asked what time, I thought to myself I always need you but saying that would've been a little more than just being forward."

"Oh, okay"

"So, about the legal, you ready to go over it?"

"Sure," we walk to the back and up the stairs to what appears to be an upstairs apartment.

"I stay here most nights when I can't get home."

"You live across the street though Spence,"

"That's beside the point, sometimes I don't want to walk"

"Anything you say Spencer,"

As I stand at the window looking out over the view I can feel her eyes on me, and then she was behind me, her hands moving from my wrists to my shoulders, caressing; my skin starting to burn under her touch and I can't remember the last time I felt so expectant. When she starts placing slow, peppering kisses to the side of my neck I know I'm done for. I can't remember the last time I had someone touch me like this, or even the last time I wanted to be touched like this. When she pulls my left lobe into her mouth, tugging it gently, I feel my eyes well with tears. I turn to her, trying my hardest not to cry.

"Ashley, what's wrong?"

Resting my forehead against hers, "You make me feel things I thought I couldn't feel anymore, and it's bittersweet, it's scary but I want it and I want you."

The way she kisses my lips with her hands cradling my face empties me.

"I wasn't very honest with you last night. I told you that I liked you, because I wasn't sure how you'd react to anything else but Ashley, the first time I met you, I told myself I was going to fall in love with you and when I felt it happening I—,"

I kissed her then.

This was as legal as we were going to get today but I didn't mind it.