FIC The days after their first kiss …part 5 (Spencer) G
Title: The days after their first kiss …part 5
Author: astabasta
Rating: G
Pairing(s)/Character(s): Spencer, Ashley, Arthur, Paula
Summary: The ruse. Author's note: This series is my vision of what happens in the days after Spencer comes home after her first kiss (and whatever else may have happened) with Ashley. This is my version of season 1.5: that is between the end of the first season and the start of the second season. I have taken the liberty of introducing a new character, Emily, who you may have met in a previous part. Feedback and comments are welcome.
Spoilers/Warnings: None

Chapter V

Spencer looks at the array of clothing spread across her bed as she holds two more outfits in each of her hands. Her wet hair is twisted haphazardly on top of her head; several strands straggle around her temples and down her back. A line of sweat forms above her lip and beads of sweat collect on her forehead. Spencer's heart pounds in her chest and her thoughts swim in her mind like a school of disoriented fish. In utter frustration, she throws the clothes onto the floor and returns to her closet. The next hanger she chooses slips from her clammy hands onto the floor. As she bends to get it, Paula appears in Ashley's bedroom doorway. She looks at Spencer and glows with nostalgia as Paula remembers a similar time in her life.

"Can I help you with anything?" Paula says. There's a lilt in her voice as she tries to contain her excitement.

Spencer barely looks at her mom when she answers, "I'm okay, really." Her face turns a shade of pink as she continues to aimlessly wander around her room picking up articles of clothing and putting them down.

"I made some hors d'oeuvres that you and your friend could nibble on before –"

"Mom, I'm going out to dinner, remember?" Spencer says, still refusing to look at Paula.

Paula smiles endearingly, trying not to feel dismissed, and tenderly says, "I know that I haven't been very understanding lately and maybe a little hard on you. It's just that I wonder if I made the right decision to move all of us here. And I worry about all three of you adjusting to all of this change we're going through. Especially you, you remind me - "

"Mom?" Spencer finally turns to look at Paula. "Could you please let me finish getting ready?"

"Oh, of course," Paula leaves feeling a little dejected but yet so happy for Spencer and for herself.

Spencer sighs with relief. And amidst the chaos on her bed, floor, and closet, Spencer finally eyes the perfect outfit that she will wear tonight.

I want this to be special.

With her clothes on and hugging her in just the right places, she applies the lip-gloss that Ashley had picked out for her months ago. Her hand trembles. I can't even do this right. She wipes it away and begins to reapply. What if it doesn't happen tonight? What if everything happens tonight?

"You better be home by 11:30."

Spencer is startled by Glen's voice. She gasps and smears gloss across her cheek. Spencer's hair is still a tousled mess and, unbeknownst to her, her collar is stuck inside her blouse.

"You look insane," Glen sneers. "It's a miracle you have date at all."

"Since you're staying home tonight, I guess you can't say much for yourself, can you?" Spencer snaps back as she wipes the gloss off her cheek.

"Whatever. I don't know what you said or did to make mom break your curfew but you better not blow it," Glen says as he walks away from Spencer's room.

Spencer turns with a huff and focuses back to applying her make up and brushing out her hair. I know I'll see you soon but I wish you were here to get me through this. I'm a nervous wreck.

There's a knock on Spencer's door. She turns to find Clay leaning on the doorjamb with the sweetest smile and doe eyes that she's ever seen.

"Can I come in?" Clay asks.

Spencer nods her head vigorously.

"You look great," Clay says. "Here, let me get that for you," he adjusts Spencer's collar so that it is no longer sticking inside her blouse.

"You'll be fine," Clay answers Spencer's anxious eyes. "Remember, I have your back tonight."

"You're the best brother ever," Spencer says giving Clay a big bear hug.

"Whoa, what about Glen?" Clay laughs.

Spencer rolls her eyes and growls, "Not so much."

The doorbell rings and Spencer jumps out of her skin, her stomach rises into her mouth.

"Spencer," Paula joyously calls up to her from downstairs. I wish she wasn't so excited, Spencer thinks. She's much more tolerable when she's mad at me.

Clay pushes Spencer out of her bedroom door, "Go get 'em, girl."

Paula's face beams as Spencer descends the staircase. Arthur stands behind Paula with his hand on his wife's shoulder and looks up at Spencer with pride, and with just a hint of concern. They can't help but look at Spencer; their daughter is a vision of perfection. Her lips are glossed to a perfect shine and her lids are lightly dusted with a shimmering eye shadow. With her hair falling straight down her back and a portion swooping over her left brow, she wears a tastefully sheer linen, sleeveless blouse, light blue – which bring out her eyes –and a pair of form fitting indigo jeans, turned inside out at the cuff. Her outfit is complimented with a pair of delicate kitty-heeled sandals. Look at them, Spencer smiles at her parents, they're pathetic. It's like I've never been on a date before.

When Spencer reaches the bottom of the stairs, her parents both look toward the living room where Spencer's unexpected guest is sitting. Spencer suddenly feels faint.

"Wow, you look amazing!" Aiden says as he stands up from the couch.

"I'm glad that's over," Aiden confides to Spencer as soon as they're both in his Xterra.

Aiden looks toward the Carlin home; Arthur and Paula stand, smiling in the doorway. He gives them a reassuring wave. Aiden's attention is drawn to a second story window where Glen is glowering down on him. Glen points his finger at his own eye then points to Aiden. Aiden shakes his head and backs out of the driveway.

They drive in silence. Spencer stares out the window counting the highway lampposts as they go by. …14, 15, 16…

"Your parents either really like me or really hate me," Aiden finally breaks the silence. "They asked me way too many questions."

"That's just what they do," Spencer says to the window. "And by the way, they like you. Lately, they'd like any guy I bring home."

"That makes me feel real special," Aiden says sarcastically.

"Ya, well...," Spencer rolls her eyes.

"Look, we don't have that much time together so can we at least make this ride somewhat bearable?"

…36, 37, 38…Spencer resumes counting lampposts.

They drive to a beach side boardwalk lined with restaurants in Venice. The area bustles with couples holding hands, people walking dogs, and early evening joggers and rollerbladers. Aiden pulls his Xterra into a handicapped parking spot.

"You'll get a ticket," Spencer says.

"It'll only be a couple of minutes," Aiden says looking at his watch.

The sky is still bright blue with billowy white clouds. Twilight, however, begins to settle in and a hint of orange creeps in from the west.

"It's almost sunset," Spencer says peering at the sky and down each end of the boardwalk.

"There's still enough time," Aiden reassures her as he turns on the CD player.

"Please turn that off."

"Spence, relax!" Aiden puts his hand on Spencer's thigh. She didn't realize, until then, that she had been nervously bouncing her leg up and down. Spencer looks at Aiden's hand on her thigh and then looks at Aiden.

"Listen, I - " Aiden begins.

There's a knock on the passenger side window. Startled, Spencer turns around. Aiden looks at the knocker, is annoyed, but nods his assent. He starts his engine.

"Come here often?" Ashley asks through the glass. She purses her lips, winks her eye, then grins like a mischievous cat.

Spencer practically falls out of the car as she scrambles to get out. She throws herself into Ashley's arms and holds her so tightly they feel each other's syncopated breathing; chests rising and falling at an irregular yet comforting rhythm. Ashley breathes in the lightness of Spencer's hair and Spencer breathes in Ashely's freshly showered and spray-misted skin.

Aiden rolls down the passenger window and loudly clears his throat. The euphoric girls release their hold just enough to look at Aiden. Their faces are aglow, mirroring each other's elation.

"You two owe me big time," Aiden backs up the Xterra and drives away.