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Flashback- Ashley's POV

I feel like a complete ass. Spencer and I had our big fight yesterday after school and she hasn't responded to any of my calls or texts but I expected that. She's pissed and its all my fault. Its third period and she's still avoided me. We have Honors British Lit together next period and I'm determined to get her attention.

Our teacher is going on and on about Beowulf, and I keep glancing over at Spencer. She's trying hard to pay attention but I know her too well; she's distracted. She finally pulls out a notebook and just starts drawing. I've always like her art, but she's too hard on herself.

When I first met her, I thought she had it all. The friends, the confidence, the good life, and I envied that. We didn't start talking until we had play production together. Spencer and her group of friends sat by me and my group of friends and we all just started talking. Then our teacher told us to pair up for a two person play. We ended up partners when her friends and my friends missed class that day. We bombed our play but we became friends. I started noticing her more. The way light would shine off her hair. Her musical laugh. Her smirk that she would always wear, not actually smiling unless she deemed fit. I found myself looking for her in the halls, and when I found her, I couldn't help but admire her strut. Standing at 5'9", Spencer's long legs only added to her beauty. We talked more and more and it was great. But as I got to know her, I found out that she really had no confidence, and her home life was terrible. I helped her through things and she helped me.

I began to like her, maybe even love her. I told myself there was no way we could be together. She was straight, and me, well I thought I was until I developed feelings for her. I would get so jealous when boys talked to her and whenever she dated someone, I would get upset and angry. She was mine. My best friend. We talked everyday without fail. We always hung out. She was mine.

But this jealousy has gotten me in the doghouse and I'm starting to wonder if I should tell her how I really feel. A lot of people would always say to us that we would be cute together and Madison tells us to just get together and fuck already because its bound to happen sooner or later. I wouldn't mind it at least, not at all. But I try to play it off and Spencer just shrugs all this off. I'm not sure how she feels about that. We don't really talk about it.

I pull out my notebook and decide to write Spencer a note.

"Spence, I'm sorry. I hate myself for this. I guess I'll tell you why you talking to guys bother me so much:

I don't want you to get hurt.

I dated most of the guys who talk to you and it hurts.

I'm scared that somehow they'll take advantage of you.

I guess I'm just jealous.

I get it if you don't want to talk to me but I really am sorry."

After class, I blocked her way so she wouldn't walk out of the room and hold out the note for her to take. She looks at me with a cold stare and I reluctantly look into her eyes. I don't want see the hurt and accusing look in her eyes but I do anyways and immediately feel shame. I walk out of the room and sit by myself at lunch, ignoring my friends. At the end of lunch, I feel my phone vibrate and pull it out to see that I have a text from Spencer. My stomach knots up as I open the message.

"Thanks for the note. This still sucks and you really need to work on not being jealous, but I'm done fighting with you. See you after school."

I smile. I still have her.

Present Time- Spencer's POV

During the break between the first and second heat, the weather has taken a turn for the worse and I began to worry. The wind has really picked up, making the waves bigger, which in this case, isn't a good thing because they're way more choppy than earlier. Glen and Chelsea gleefully do a play-by-play of my performance on the first heat while Aiden goes off. I watch him walk away and see him going up to Ashley and Madison. Glen pointed out to me that she was carefully watching the competition. I pretended not to care. All three turn to look at me and see me staring. I quickly turn away and blush. Damn it. After all this time, she still has that effect on me.

Aiden comes back over and pulls me aside.

"What Aiden?" I snap at him.

He looks uneasy. "Nothing. Just, uh, Ashley said you did a great job."

"Aiden, you don't have to play messenger."

"If I don't then there's no way you two will talk. She wants to talk so badly Spencer. Can't you just swallow your pride just once? Just hear her out. Please." I avoid his gaze until he forces me to look at him. I see the pleading in his eyes and I feel my will power falter.

I sigh. "Fine, I'll talk to her. But I don't plan on being nice." A wide smile spreads across Aiden's face and he lets out a big whoop. He picks me up and spins me around a few times before setting me back on the ground and running off to tell Ashley. I watch them and see Ashley's head whip around to look at me as Aiden tells her the news. This is the first time in three years we've been this close.

I shake my head to clear my thoughts as the whistle sounds signaling the surfers to get ready for the second heat. I grab my board and line up with the other surfers. I look to my left and see Carmen smirking at me. Anger rushes through my veins and I know that I have to win this. Not only to get into the Olympics, but to beat Carmen. I would never live it down if she won.

The horn sounds off and we're all running into the water again. For the first ten minutes, I manage to catch only a few waves that are too choppy to do any tricks. I had to bail once and I know that will hurt my score. I rest for a minute while waiting for another wave and watch the other surfers. Everyone is struggling, even Carmen and that's a good sign I finally manage to ride an okay wave and pull off a few moves. I paddle back to my spot and see that Carmen is getting closer and closer to me. I curse under my breath while impatiently waiting for another wave.

After a couple minutes, a seven footer starts coming my way and I decide to go for it. I paddle hard, and right as I'm about to stand, I feel something land on my back. I'm knocked off my board and go underwater. Saltwater fills my mouth and I taste...iron?

All of a sudden, I'm slammed into something hard and I resurface. Trying to regain some control, I realize that I hit the pier. Next thing I know, a big wave crashes down, causing me to slam my head on a rock. The last thing I hear and see before blacking out is people screams cutting through the howling wind and other surfers trying to come to where I am.

Ashley's POV

This heat is gotten me really worried. The waves are a lot rougher and I know Spencer is struggling. I'm sure she is beyond pissed off. I pace back and forth, nervous as hell. Finally, Spencer has the chance to get a good wave. The next thing I see makes my blood drain from my face.

The next thirty seconds are utter confusion. Medics rush into the water as Spencer is slammed into the wharf. Aiden and I rush down to the water and are joined by Glen, Chelsea, and Madison. We watch in terror as a wave crashes down and Spencer's head hits a rock. She goes back underwater and doesn't resurface. I panic. This can't be happening. She can't drown. She can't die...