Oh god. I reallyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy hope you guys don't hate me!!! In my defense, I said I would be very busy lol. And in fact, I was! I got sick from all of the busy things I have been up to and this slice of pizza I ate one night...not too pretty, guys. :(( But I'm back! I will still be pretty busy...but I'll posting as much as possible!
FOF TIME. I had to; the reviews were just TOO. FREAKING. AMAZING. Thanks so much :))
tbplrbear1: Congratulations, you've succeeded in making me blush ferociously :)) lol thank you so much!
ElloEllo9: The showdown is coming my friend. And let me tell you...it will be FIERCELYBANGIN :))
Blazed18: Awwwww, no one's ever told me they're in love with me before! I feel so flattered :)) and thank you very much, you're so sweet!
psparkle7189: thank you very, very much! You know, it really makes me happy that people who haven't been interested in Twilight wanna go see it because of my fic. That in and of itself makes my day. Also...don't kill me for saying this, I swear I'm not some creepy stalker, but if that's you in that picture, you're pretty :)) just thought I'd throw that out there, you know? A compliment for the reviewer who compliments me :)) thanks!
riahpebbles: on the contrary, YOU'RE my idol for reviewing my story :))
Darlyka: Actually, I didn't even notice that line was paralleled with Decode lol good eyes, though! Awww, you're so sweet!!! Thanks for caring about my rest, it means a lot :)) and I'm flattered that you consider me your favorite author.
esc15: awwww I'm a reeeeeeeeal sucker for puppy dog eyes :))
paragirl92riot: In contrast to your review, I'm thanking you because YOU'RE amazing :))
Devourprozak: I love your username :)) and I love you back!
And finally, this chapter is dedicated to Paulinne-V for the sweetest, and longest review I have recieved so far! YES, I LOVE LONG REVIEWS!! They're FIERCELYBANGINNN. My cheeks were bright red! And thanks, I do care about my reviewers a lot! Without you guys, this fic wouldn't exist! Your review reallyy made my day! Hugs :))
Have fun with this one, guys! I love you all!!!
***
As soon as I awoke, I knew it was too early.
Plus, whatever my mind felt was important enough to wake me up had dragged me reluctantly out of Ashley-swamped dreams. I shoved a floral-scented pillow over my face, and groaned.
I missed her so much.
My ears perked up when I heard the low voices of Kyla and Jake in the room adjacent to mine. Which was strange, because my human ears can never really detect them unless they want me to hear them.
I sat up, suddenly alert, and ran my fingers through my tangled blonde hair. I padded cautiously into the living room, and surveyed my surroundings. The large grandfather clock in one corner of the room chimed three in the morning, and the TV flickered dully in the opposite crook of the wall. When my eyes landed on Jake and Kyla, my hand flew to my mouth in honest shock.
Kyla was coming down from another heightened one of her visions, and sketching. Jake was bracing her shoulder with a strong, pale hand, and staring at her intently.
"Good morning, Spencer," Jake murmured, not looking up, completely engrossed in Kyla's work. Kyla's head turned gracefully toward me, however, and her beautiful face broke into a relieved smile. I smiled back, and staggered forward, sitting next to her as I glanced down at the drawing.
The room was mostly wooden, and a small TV and VCR were backed up near a large stone fireplace. A wrap-around sofa surrounded a scratchy rug that I remember rolling around on when I was a child. My eyes crawled to the nightstand, vacant of the one thing I was afraid wouldn't be sitting there.
My blood went cold.
"That's where the phone goes," I whispered, indicating the empty nightstand surface. Kyla and Jake's timeless, onyx eyes flashed to my blue ones, and I nearly cringed under their piercing gaze. "That's my mother's house."
Kyla's lips compressed into a tight, thin line, and she danced to her phone. She was speaking quickly into the mouthpiece, but I didn't bother to listen.
I was too transfixed on the sketch.
Jake exhaled, and combed his blonde hair with his fingers. He rested his elbows on his knees, and I fidgeted nervously.
I may not love my mother the way I used to, but I still care about her safety.
"Spencer," Kyla said. I glanced her way, not trying in the least to mask my fright. "Ashley is coming to get you. She and Glen are catching the first flight out of Vancouver. You're going to go away with them for awhile, alright?"
But I wasn't listening. I was still stuck on that first sentence.
Ashley was coming.
"Ashley?"
Kyla smiled at my childlike excitement, and nodded eagerly, holding the phone out to me. I snatched it from her hand, and pressed it to my ear, attempting fruitlessly to calm my erratic breathing.
"Spencer?" Ashley's calm, musical voice flooded the receiver, and every muscle in my body immediately relaxed.
"Hi," I breathed.
"I'm coming to get you," Ashley's urgent voice satisfied me, and I nodded mutely as if she could see my non-verbal confirmation. "You'll be safe soon, Spencer. I promise."
"I miss you," I told her, ignoring her promise. She sighed sadly.
"You're always on my mind." Her soft voice spread through every fiber in my body. I closed my eyes, and smiled contently. "I will be with you soon. Stay within Kyla and Jake's sight."
Dial tone.
I let the small, silver device fall into my lap, but kept my eyes shut tight. I could still hear Ashley's angelic voice ricocheting off the walls in my head.
I needed her so badly.
"We're going to stop the tracker, Spencer," Jake assured me, laying a comforting hand against my cheek. "She won't get away with this."
"She's going to hurt my mother," I announced.
Silence.
I felt Kyla sit down on my other side, but I still didn't open my eyes. "Jake and I will stay until she's safe. We won't let the tracker hurt her, but you need to go with Ashley."
At this, my eyes snapped open.
"Don't you see?" I shrugged them off, standing up and facing them, hysteria flooding my voice. "It's not me the tracker is out to hurt. It's everyone I love! She's starting with my mother because of our past, and how much she hurt me. She knows I would still come running for her…"
Kyla looked at me, her calm expression never faltering. "Spencer, sit down."
"No!" I shouted, angry tears running down my cheeks. "You can't save everyone, Kyla! Do you think I'll be able to live with myself if anything happens to any of you? Do you think it's only my human family the tracker can hurt me with?"
I sobbed loudly, and balled my shaking hands into fists. I didn't dare to look into either sets of bewildered black eyes staring at me, and stomped off to my room, slamming the door loudly for emphasis that I didn't want to be bothered.
I slipped under the covers, and curled up, letting the wave of sadness and regret wash over me. I cried for my mother, for the Davies' family, for Kyla and Jake.
For Ashley.
None of them deserved the way I was acting. But I was truly frightened. I clutched my pillow tightly to my face, sobbing into it, and pretended that it was Ashley's strong, comforting shoulder.
The only consolation for my terrified state was that I was going to be seeing Ashley in just a few hours time. It dawned on me that there was absolutely no way out of this nightmare. But then, I thought that maybe, just maybe, if I could see Ashley's perfect face…if I could just be with her again, maybe I could find a solution.
As I heard the hotel phone ring, I sprang up, and hurried into the living room, momentarily forgetting my previous behavior. I wiped the last remnants of salty tears from my cheeks, and watched as Kyla was speaking in a rapid undertone into the phone.
I hope she forgives me. I hope she and Jake both know that I'm eternally grateful for the ridiculous sacrifices they've made for me.
That's when I noticed that the male vampire in question wasn't present.
"Jake went to check out," Kyla told me quietly. "Ashley's plane lands at nine-forty-five."
Thank God. Just a few more hours without her.
"Are you coming with us?" I asked hopefully. I'll admit I felt enormously apprehensive about parting with Jake and Kyla after I had been with them for so many hours.
"No," Kyla smiled soothingly, and stepped forward to embrace me in a hug. Her body was rigid and cold, almost like Ashley's, but I felt safe and relieved nonetheless. "We're relocating closer to your mother's house to stay on guard."
Kyla's ringtone buzzed off. The sound was becoming very familiar to me. She let go of me, and flipped the silver phone open.
"No…no she's right here," Kyla's eyes flickered protectively to mine, and she carefully extended the phone toward me. Thinking it was Ashley, my hands began to quake, and I nearly dropped the phone. I fumbled with it until I felt the receiver pressed to my ear.
"Hello?"
"Spencer? Spencer?!" I would recognize my mother's frantic voice anywhere. It was the sound I heard as a child when I got too close to the pool, or went around the corner in a grocery store without her.
Panicked.
If you want to know the truth, I was completely taken aback by the fact that she had actually returned my call. In the first stages of my transition to L.A., I would call her every night leaving detailed voicemails about how sorry I was, and how much I wish I could change.
But she never responded. So why should this time be any different?
"Calm down, Mom," I mumbled in my best pacifying tone as I backed away from Kyla. She would allow me privacy; I knew Ashley had informed her of my past with my mother.
Plus, it would be a lot easier to lie if I didn't have her inky eyes burning holes in my face.
"Everything is alright. I'll explain in just a moment, but you need to relax."
I paused, surprised that she hadn't cut me off yet to tell me how disappointed she was in me, or something along those lines.
"You know, Ohio's resident high schools don't exactly keep their former students' addresses under lock and key," a husky, female voice said. I froze, and frowned. Her voice was pleasant, but not anywhere near the spine-tingling chills Ashley's symphonic tones gave me.
I waited, holding my breath.
The caller sighed softly into the phone. "I see this is going to be difficult. You will do exactly as I say, alright?" I drew in a sharp intake of breath as I realized who I was talking to.
The tracker.
She chuckled lightly, which sent my blood into a frenzy of pulsing irritation. "Repeat after me, and I won't have to hurt her. 'No, Mom! Stay where you are.'"
"No Mom, stay where you are." My voice was hollow, and I barely recognized it.
"Come on now, with more feeling!" She implored me in an almost friendly fashion, and I closed my eyes, willing the large tears away. "'Mom, listen to me. No, no, please trust me, Mom.'"
"Mom, listen to me. No, no, please trust me, Mom." And now, the tears were falling. I made no effort to stop them as I strode slowly into my bedroom, slumping against the closed door, and tried to find a way to excavate myself from the current predicament.
My mother's life was at stake.
"Are you alone?" The tracker's voice was almost tranquilizing.
"Yes," I replied faintly, trying desperately to keep my voice even.
"Now listen very carefully," she commanded, but it was unnecessary.
She knew she had my rapt attention. I was hanging on her every, biting word.
"You're to speak only when I tell you to. You are to leave your friends. Before you say no, I assure you…your mother's life depends on it. Do you think you can do that for me?"
I deliberated, then mentally slapped myself. I knew this was a foolish idea, but my mother's life was clearly in grave danger.
"Answer yes or no." The tracker's agitated voice startled me, and I wiped the tears from cheeks.
"Yes." My voice broke, and I cursed myself.
"I know it won't be easy, but you do understand what could happen, don't you? How easily I would be able to deal with your mother if I receive the slightest hint that you're in the company of someone else?"
"Yes," I answered again. My body racked with sobs, and I tried to regain some composure.
It's a wonder Kyla hadn't heard me yet.
"Very good, Spencer," she purred, and I clenched my teeth. She had no right to praise me. "Now here's what you're going to do, and I want you to follow these instructions exactly. You're to come to your old ballet studio, and wait. Can you do that? A simple yes or no will do."
I bit my lip, and swallowed back another bout of tears. "Yes."
"Before sundown, please. I have places to be."
How cruel of her: to speak so insignificantly of all the lives that were on the line.
"Where's Ben?"
"Watch yourself, Spencer," she growled seductively. That only fueled my anger, though. "Only speak when you are spoken to."
I am not a dog.
I tapped my foot impatiently, biting the nails of my free hand. "It impertinent that you don't look suspicious when you return to your friends. Tell them that your mother called, and that you talked her into staying away from home for awhile. Repeat after me: 'Thank you, Mom.'"
"Thank you, Mom," I gulped thickly.
"'I love you, Mom.' Say it," she demanded menacingly. I fought back the feeling of fresh tears pricking the backs of my eyes. This was outrageously unfair.
My mother didn't love me.
"I love you, Mom," I whispered.
"I will see you soon, Spencer," she promised, and I could practically hear her smile.
I wanted to rip her vocal cords out.
As I listened to the numbing sound of the dial tone, I didn't move from my spot. I had no plan; there was no escape from my inevitable fate. I was going to die in my own ballet studio in vain. Carmen would win the game, and her taking my life would tear Ashley apart.
Ashley.
I had to accept that I would never see her again.
Despair enveloped me, and I felt my heart shattering. I pressed my knuckles to my lips, caging the threatening sobs in my mouth. I forced myself to focus on eluding Kyla and Jake; I had no time to think about the consequences this would present for the rest of the Davies' family.
I choked back my dread and the looming slue of tears. I was thankful Jake wasn't here…he would feel everything.
Although evading my two vampire bodyguards was absolutely vital, it was also hopeless.
Ashley's flawless, grinning face appeared in my mind, and I allowed a tortured sob to rip through me. This was death for both of us; I was leaving her forever.
And I wouldn't even get to say goodbye.
Just as I gained some control over my emotions, Kyla's worried stare was fixed on me as she danced into my room. She looked like she didn't know what to do with her hands, and in that moment, she looked so delicately fragile.
I was afraid to break her. But I knew this would break Ashley even more.
"Spencer--" she started. I held up my hand lifelessly, my expression dead.
"My mother was worried, that's all. She's fine, though. She won't go back home until I tell her it's safe."
What a guilty, twisted lie.
I was ashamed of myself.
Kyla's smile was almost painful to me. "We'll make sure she remains unharmed."
She wasn't the one who wasn't coming out of this alive.
I turned away, my eyes scanning restlessly around the hotel room as if I were trying to memorize it.
Just like I had permanently engraved Ashley's face in my mind.
A blank sheet of hotel stationary. I went to it, and sat down in front of it on the glass table. Gingerly grasping the pencil in my hand, I held it poised above the paper.
The pencil felt so dainty in my hand. And I knew that figuratively, this would literally break Ashley's heart.
"Kyla?" I didn't look at her, but didn't gain a response either. I knew she was listening expectantly. "Will you give a letter to my mother?"
"Of course," she vowed. I didn't miss the notion of suspicion disguised in her words.
She knew I was dying inside, but she couldn't figure out why.
"I'll let you have some peace. I will wait in the living room," she told me, and I nodded, still keeping my eyes painstakingly trained on the sheet in front of me, waiting until I heard the soft click of the door closing.
I took a deep, cleansing breath, and rubbed my eyes anxiously.
"Ashley," I whispered as I wrote it at the top of the small sheet. Her name sent spasms of butterflies into my stomach. The words were hardly coherent; my hand was trembling too much.
I love you. More than I could ever express in a measly piece of paper, but I owe you this much. I am so sorry for what I am about to do, but she has my mother. I know I shouldn't care because she kicked me out but…
Well, she is my mother.
Please don't blame this on Kyla and Jake. It'll be a miracle if I actually escape their watchful eyes, but in the event that I do, remember that they have no idea what I'm doing. They're just assuming I'm following the plan. Tell them thank you for me, and that I love them both very much. I could never tell them how much I appreciate all the things they've done at my expense.
Please, Ashley. Please don't come after her. I can't bear to think what would happen if you did, or if she hurt you.
I am so in love with you, Ashley. I can't say it enough. I have been since the first time I saw you. I'll want you forever and always.
I love you. Please forgive me.
Spencer.
With quivering hands, and overflowing moisture clouding my vision, I folded the letter, and kissed each crease weakly, as if I were pouring my love into it.
Essentially, I was.
I placed the slip of paper into the envelope, and pressed my lips one final time to the stationary, loving tears cascading down my cheeks in full force.
And then, I carefully sealed my heart away.
Forever and always to Ashley Davies.
***
R&R PLEASE!!! :))
SPASHLEYFOREVER&&EVER.