A/N: Thanks for reading guys...I've been on a bit of a posting frenzy this week. The ideas are running around in my head and leading the chapters, so it's best to get them out. Oh, and btw, on my last A/N...I totally know I spelled "fairly," "farely." I'm blonde...cut me some slack. :)
Thanks again for all the reviews. They really do mean a lot...and if you have any ideas, shoot them my way. I am more than willing to try and work some in if they fit my direction.
Disclaimer: SoN is not my brainchild, nor are the characters...however...the idea below is allll mine baby.
Ashley walked through the patio doors, and back into the building, before quickly surveying the area for any sign of her sister's presence…she saw her nowhere.
Seriously…where the hell did she go? One minute she's attacking Spencer, probably scaring the shit out of her, if not threatening her, andthe next minute she's nowhere to be found.
Turning to head down the hall toward her room, Ashley caught a glimpse of Spencer walking past the window outside and lost herself in the view.
She is so…God…there's just no words.
"She is hhhottt," Kyla whispered into Ashley's ear, nearly causing the older girl to jump out of her skin.
"Jesus Christ, Kyla, you scared the shit outta me," Ashley scolded, swatting at her sister's arm. "You have got to stop creeping around here causing silent panic."
Kyla lifted her hand to her chest in feigned shock.
"What ever do you mean? I do not cause panic…I mean, I might, but look at me…hellloooo. It's not my words and actions people are panicked about."
Ashley rolled her eyes, grabbing her sister's arm and pulling her back toward her room.
"Well come on, oh young and humble sister of mine, we need to get showered and cleaned up so we can grab a bite to eat before family group tonight."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah…let's go get you cleaned and dolled up. Lord knows you're looking a little rough," Kyla teased.
"Oh fuck off Ky, you're just jealous that I can look this rough and still look this damn good."
"Riiiight, that's what it is. You keep telling yourself that sista."
"Whatever. Besides, I don't do 'dolled up,' so whatever you're thinking, forget about it. If I let you dress me, I'd be running around in a pink tu-tu and tube socks."
"That was one time Ash…and it was Halloween…so shut up."
Ashley laughed at the memory of her sister running around their party dressed in that hideous tu-tu, with matching pink tube socks and a pink bra. "What exactly were you supposed to be that year, Ky? I can't remember."
"The Pepto Bismol Fairy…remember…I said I would be the PB Fairy so I could cast a spell to calm everyone's stomach so no one would throw up in our loft?"
"Oh shit, that's right," Ashley started laughing harder. "Except it didn't work; you were the first one there to throw up on the area rug and then pass out under the kitchen table."
"We agreed never to talk about that night again, so let's change the subject and move on…before I end up calling my shrink to try and work through my issues again."
Ashley smiled big at her sister. I am so happy to have her here with me today and until tomorrow. I have missed this: us being, us. It's so refreshing.
Arriving back at the room, Kyla began to rummage through her bag looking for the outfit she packed specifically for their group session tonight.
"So, Ky, umm…what happened with Spencer today?"
"Oh nothing…she nearly ran me over and then apologized, no big deal. If she walks that dangerously, I can only imagine what her driving is like," Kyla responded, purposely avoiding the underlying meaning in Ashley's question.
Ashley grinned at her sister's randomness, "Yeah, she's dangerous alright."
Kyla started pulling out her clothes to prepare for her shower while Ashley continued to poke around for answers to her question.
"So, did you find the information you were looking for when you talked with her?"
"Uh-huh," Kyla answered, nodding, while still focusing on getting ready.
"What did you…umm…you know, find out?"
"Oh nothing I didn't already suspect."
Ashley was starting to get irritated with her sister's avoidance tactics and stalked over to her closet to pull out her robe and head to the shower.
"Well," Ashley began mumbling to herself, "it's obvious you aren't going to tell me what happened, so I'm just gonna get in the shower."
Kyla could hear Ashley's mumblings and just grinned and giggled, knowing she was frustrating the hell out of her big sister.
Ashley headed toward the bathroom, but Kyla caught her arm just as she was passing by to go through the doors and into the shower. She pulled her over and into a hug, giggling the whole time.
Ashley stood with her arms down to her side and her eyes rolled to the ceiling as the smaller girl hugged her tighter.
"Oh Ash, you are so predictable. Listen, everything in your life is upside down right now, I get that, but I just want you to trust me when I say that Spencer…she will be the one to turn it right-side up. Okay?"
Ashley just pulled back, staring at her sister.
"You just have to give things some time to work out. Throw out your expectations and your want for guarantees…and just trust me on this."
Ashley sighed, and looked down to her feet for a response…but found nothing.
"She loves you, and I believe that. Everything else is just details to play out."
Satisfied with her sister's speech, Ashley nodded and replied with a simple, "okay."
"Now, get your skank-ass in the shower so we can get some grub before family shrink time."
After eating a light dinner, and grabbing a couple drinks for the room for later, Ashley and Kyla headed toward the commons area for their family group session. The residents in that particular wing of the facility were all meeting together for the first time, and the commons area had become a sea of folding chairs and unfamiliar faces.
Ashley briefly glanced over at the piano that had been pushed to the side of the room and thought back to the song she sat and played there just a few weeks prior, only to have Spencer listening the entire time. She couldn't help the smile that played at her lips while thinking back to look she saw on Spencer's face. All her walls were down, her heart was completely open, and her eyes told a story of want and need. Ashley imagined her eyes mimicked that same story that night.
Ashley was pulled from her thoughts as her sister physically pulled her over to the opposite side of the room and onto a seat in the 2nd row. There were two rows of chairs on one side, and another two rows facing them on the other side of the room. There were two chairs on each end of the commons that closed off the walkway between the rows, causing the chairs to mirror the shape of an oval race track. Ashley assumed the doctors would be sitting in those chairs.
"Man, I feel like I'm back in high school, in Mrs. Jenkins English class. Ugh. Remember that, Ash? We always sat next to each other in the back row."
"Yeah, I remember that class. That's the first class we had together, and I still didn't like you then," Ashley scoffed.
"Yeah, you didn't like me alright. You made my life hell for a good 9 months…but then you came to your senses. Look at us now: you adore me," Kyla said while clasping her hands together over her heart.
"Adore. Tolerate. I guess they're one in the same," Ashley shrugged.
Kyla shouldered her sister and smirked, but before she could say anything else Ashley's gaze was set on the blonde doctor that was entering the area with one of her co-workers.
Ashley couldn't take her eyes off the doctor in front of her. Spencer was dressed in a straight, tight, black skirt that hit mid-calf, black and white heels, and a button down white shirt that clung to every curve on her body. Her hair was curled and fell loosely around her shoulders.
Beautiful, Ashley thought, as her eyes finally met the sea of blue she loved to get lost in.
She smiled shyly at the doctor before dropping eye contact and turning back toward her sister.
Kyla sat staring at Ashley with the widest smile she could muster, "You are so sprung. I'm gonna start calling you Slinky," she giggled.
Ashley just rolled her eyes and watched as everyone else made their way into the commons area and took a seat. If she could keep her eyes off Spencer for the duration of this session she would count it a success, but deep down, she just wanted to stare and fail.
45 minutes into the group session, Spencer asked Ashley to introduce herself and her family guest to the rest of the crowd. Ashley stood, only briefly making eye-contact with Spencer to silently agree to her wishes for introduction.
"Umm, hi. I am Ashley Davies. I've been here for a little over 5 weeks now, and each day seems to get brighter for me," she smiled as she confessed, looking at the other smiling faces and nodding heads.
Before she could sit down, Kyla was poking her leg, reminding her to introduce her as well.
"Oh yeah, and this is my charmingly annoying sister, Kyla," Ashley smirked, as the others in the room laughed.
Kyla rolled her eyes at Ashley's sarcasm.
"In all seriousness though," Ashley admitted, "Kyla is the reason I'm alive today and here at Memories working toward sobriety." Ashley turned and looked down at her sister with watery eyes. "I couldn't have done this without your unconditional love and support, Ky. I love you much, and I mean that."
Ashley stood there with a small grin on her face as Kyla attempted to swipe at the tears burning tracks in her skin. She reached out, grabbing Ashley's hand, and gave it a squeeze before pulling her back down to her seat and into a warm hug.
"I love you too, Ash," Kyla whispered through tears.
The session continued on for another 45 minutes with all residents thanking their family members, and the resident doctors going over the weekly plans they have for us and the upcoming events they hope to schedule.
After all was said and done, everyone stood, milling around, visiting with their family members in the large setting. Ashley was itching to get into her pj's and just chill with her sister, but Kyla seemed to have other plans.
"Come on, Ky, I wanna go back to the room and just relax. Let's go," Ashley whined.
"Ash, quit being a baby. I have a couple things I need to do and take care of over the phone, then I'll be back in the room. Why don't you go on back and I'll just meet you there in like 25 minutes?"
"Are you sure? You're not going to ditch out on me tonight are you?"
"No, you big goof, I'm not bailing on you. Just go on back, I'll be there shortly."
Before Ashley could argue, Kyla was off and moving in the opposite direction, pulling her cell phone out of her purse to take care of whatever business she needed to tend to so desperately.
Looking around the room, hoping to catch a last glimpse of the blondethat looked so stunning tonight, Ashley was disappointed to find her gone without a word. Pursing her lips and shaking her head at herself, Ashley made her way back to her room.
After brushing her teeth and tidying the room, Ashley headed to her dresser to find her pj's when she heard her door shut.
"It's about time, Ky..." Ashley said, turning to find Spencer standing her doorway. Her breath instantly caught in her throat.
"Not Kyla," Spencer stated. "You're not disappointed, right?"
Ashley looked down and then back up at the blonde before shaking her head no.
"But, where's..."
"She's in my office," Spencer cut the brunette off, while staring to the side, playing with her fingers. "She's staying there tonight...so I can be here with you..." Spencer admitted, meeting Ashley's gaze, "I mean, if that's okay."
Ashley dropped the clothes in her hand and made her way over to the blonde standing in front of her, taking her right hand in her own and placing her other hand on the girl's cheek.
"It's more than okay," Ashley whispered. "You look so beautiful."