Short new chapter. I decided to leave it all as Spencer's POV as it made the scene more 'intense' and 'suspenseful'.

Enjoy.

R & R.

Chapter 8 – In the Face of True Love

Spencer's POV

I jumped off the stage immediately as I saw Ashley being pulled out the door hand in hand with Aiden. When I was dancing with Kyla, everything that Chris had told me just clicked and made perfect sense, and I knew that I couldn't give up. This wasn't over, not even close. Aiden couldn't compete with me, no one could when it came to Ashley... and if I didn't try my hardest to make her see that, than I didn't deserve her.

Kyla caught me on my exit to the back of the room, grabbing my arm and throwing me back towards her.

"Spencer, what the hell was that?" She hissed, tightening the grip on my arm as my momentum came to a halt.

"I told you before, we came together tonight as just friends. Just friends Kyla..." I repeat as I glance back to the exit where Ashley and Aiden just went through. "I'm not in love with you Kyla, I love Ashley..."

"I don't know if you have noticed, but she's with Aiden."

"Kyla, I'm not going to stay here and argue about this with you." I said, throwing my arm away from her and breaking Kyla's grip on my arm. "I've got to go..."

---------------------------------------

I make it to the hotel quickly to where the after party is being held, and the place I only assume Aiden took Ashley. With him telling me he was planning on doing the 'nail and bail', it was only predictable that he'd book a room here.

As I'm making my way vigorously through the hallway, checking on each individually unlocked room, I blindly get pulled hard into a nearby room.

"Kyla! What the hell?" I yelled as the little brunette slammed the door behind her and locked it, bracing it with herself.

"There you are... I was waiting for you." Kyla husked, throwing me back aggressively back on the bed, and jumping on top of me.

"Kyla. What. Are. You. Doing?" I slowly said as I make my way from underneath her. "Do you not know how to listen... I told you, I'm here for Ashley. Why do you insist on getting in my way?"

"Because I don't think you truly love her, you couldn't possibly... when you still love me." She stated, taking a firm grip on my arm and bringing me closer to her on the bed so our faces were just a few inches apart.

"I never loved you Kyla," I spat out, throwing my arm in the arm wildly so her grip would loosen. "I thought I did... But I loved the person I expected you to be and not who you really were, and when faced with the reality, I took the first chance to get out."

"But she's with Aiden!" She whined in front of me, collapsing down on her knees. "That was the deal... he got her, and I got you!"

"What did you just say?"

"You didn't think I knew about the bet between you and Aiden...? He's my cousin, and unlike you with Ashley, he actually told me what was going on."

"You know what... I don't even care anymore. That bet, was a mistake, and the only good thing that came from it was it made me realize my true feelings about Ashley. Now if you excuse me... I have a certain other brunette I need to find."

"You're not going anywhere." Kyla barked, jumping in front of the door and blocking me from opening it.

"Kyla... don't get in my way, it's not going to end well. I'm sick and tired of these games, move... before I make you move. I'm going to do whatever it takes to get to Ashley, and if that means I have to go through you to do it, don't think for a second I won't."

I stood there standing at the girl for less than a minute before Kyla dropped her head and slowly backed away from the door. At that moment she finally knew that it was over, and there was nothing she could do.

As she backs away from the door, I darted towards it, opening it as fast as I can and throwing myself into the crowded hallway to begin my search once again. Asking around, hopelessly, someone mentions seeing them go into a room just down the hall.

Hoping I'm not too late, I ran to the end of the hall, finding the door that the random student told me cracked open slightly. I creep inside slowly, hoping that I'm not walking in on anything I don't want to see to find Aiden tied to the bed, completely naked except for a thong he's wearing.

I survey the room in the hopes of finding Ashley nearby, but the room is empty.

"Where is Ashley?" I barked at him, removing the scarf from his mouth so he can answer me.

"I don't know, that fucking bitch just left me here!" He yelled, squirming as he tried to get out of the restraints. "I should have known that little fuck wasn't going to put out."

"Don't you dare call her that! I told you she was too good for your stupid schemes. And maybe if you listened to me, you wouldn't spend your prom night all tied up." I laughed, throwing the scarf back on his naked body as I start to leave the room. "Karma's a bitch isn't it?"

---------------------------------------

I stood outside Ashley's house as it began raining harder and harder. Glancing up at the mansion, I could see the lights to her bedroom on as I knocked hard on the door. The rain started coming down hard with an added gust of wind as I continued to stand there waiting for her to open the door. Not only did I know she was home because of the lights, but because I had checked absolutely everywhere else. Every single spot we went as kids, every spot that held some significance to either of us...

The door finally opened and the brunette stood in the doorway with a shocked look on her face when she saw me. "Spencer, w-what are you doing here...?"

"What do you think I'm doing here, Ashley? I'm here to fight for you." I replied, wiping the loose hair out of my eyes that had fallen cause of the rain. "I'm not giving up on you."

"Spencer..."

"Ashley... In the face of true love, you don't just give up. Your father taught me that, and I love you, Ashley....So if I have to, I'll stand out here on your doorstep... in the blistering rain, until you realize that I'm not going anywhere." I said, looking her straight in the face and not backing down. "I brought a pillow and blanket too... I'm serious, I can stay out here all night."

"Spence..." She whispered again, stepping towards me and cupping my face. Rain fell on both of us as we stood there, her hand on my cheek, for what seemed to be an eternity.

Our stillness was broken as Ashley dropped her head, letting the rain roll down off her face as she dropped her hand from my face too. I breathed out loudly, expecting for her to turn back to me with bad news. I could feel my heart almost breaking at that moment, figures it would be raining.

She glanced back up, smiling at me. "Do you know how much you would owe me if I let you off the hook?"

"I do." I widened my eyes in surprised, and smiled as I take this opportunity to step closer to her, close enough that I can feel her breathing speed up when I raise my head and stare into her eyes. "And I can spend however long it takes, to make it up to you."

"You better..."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A/N: So there it is guys... I hope I didn't disappoint you too much keeping you waiting this long.

Let me know what you guys think, I always appreciate the reviews... if they're good or bad, or input into future chapters, I love them all so send them away!

I just posted the first chapter of the sequel to my story You Always Have Been, so check that out. It's called All You Did Was Save My Life.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------