Hide My heart- For a pessimist, I'm pretty optimistic

Ashley drove home after she considered turning back about 20 times but ultimately she knew that it would do no good. She had no idea why Spencer had made her want to give up everything so quickly, everything that she had spent the past few years building. Yes Spencer was stunning but there was more than that but Ashley couldn't put her finger on. The one thing she had decided was that she needed to keep her distance from Spencer otherwise her life would be tipped on its head.

Pulling into her 'family home' Ashley sighed at the expression and headed inside only to be greeted by an overly decorated and cold entrance fall. Ashley never felt at home in this house and never would. Wandering into the kitchen Ashley spotted her step Father and automatically retreated back towards the hall way but it was too late.

"Ashley I saw you" An older man with perfectly gelled grey hair and a pin striped suit.

"Nothing gets past you Jim" Ashley replied re entering the kitchen.

"I heard that you went on a date with Brad Dennison's son?"

"You heard correct" Ashley dead-panned grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge.

"Do you like him?"

"Look Jim I feel really uncomfortable discussing this with you so can we not go in to details?"

"Trust me Ashley I don't really care about you or your stupid date. The truth is I'm just checking that you are not embarrassing this family like you have been for the past few years" Jim replied slightly more aggressively than he had done previously. Ashley smiled glad that the real Jim was present and accounted for.

"Don't worry I'm the perfect little robot now…no trouble from me" Ashley agreed heading out the door and up to her room. Entering the large space Ashley immediately felt better and more at ease. Her room was the only place that felt like home and the only place that she felt safe. Her happy place was soon interrupted by her younger sister barging in.

"And to what do I owe this pleasure?" Ashley asked not looking at Kyla who had joined her on the bed.

"I just wanted to see how your date went?" Kyla replied lying next to Ashley.

"Do you want the real answer or the answer I should give?"

"I want the Ashley answer please"

"It was dreadful…Aiden couldn't even hold a conversation and just kept going red. Luckily Spencer and Dan arrived"

"How was the rest of it?" Kyla asked trying to hide a smile.

"Um…well me and Spencer kind of ditched the guys and just hung out"

"You are impossible Ash!" Kyla snapped.

"I can't help it he was really boring" Ashley whined.

"But Spencer was ever so interesting right?" Kyla asked knowing too well why Ashley ditched her date.

"It's not like that we're just friends….well at least we were"

"Oh god did you kiss her?"

"Don't be stupid Kyla…"

"I'm the stupid one? Jesus Ash you're the one that is crushing on a girl she just met. You're the one that shouldn't be doing stuff like that any more!" Kyla snapped sitting up.

"Don't worry Kyla you have absolutely nothing to worry about. I'm guessing that Carmen will be putting the moves on her right about now" Ashley explained feeling the strains of the day washing over her. She knew that Kyla was just looking out for her but it she was in a frustrating situation.

"I'm sorry Ash….I'm just looking out for you. You never know maybe you can explain to Spencer and she will understand" Kyla tried her best to make Ashley feel better but she knew exactly what Carmen was going to tell Spencer and she knew full well that it wouldn't end well.

"Yep because I'm lucky like that" Ashley smiled giving her sister a hug.

Spencer approached Carmen and smiled as she noticed how tense Carmen looked.

"I'm glad you called" Spencer stated as they were within a few feet of each other.

"Me too. Look Spencer I'm sorry about last night and I'm sorry for not been completely honest with you" Carmen started wanting to get everything out before she lost her nerve.

"Ok so be honest now" Spencer instructed.

"I'm gay Spencer…and I'm sorry if that bothers you in anyway"

"Why would that bother me?"

"I don't know...it's just that some people are kind of closed minded especially at King High"

"I don't care Carmen, I'm glad you've told me though. So can we just carry on as we were?" Spencer asked hugging Carmen.

"That would be great"

"Will you let me drive you to school this week?" Spencer offered hoping it would make it clear to Carmen that she wasn't completely dismissing the idea of those two going on a date.

"You sure?"

"Never been so sure in my life Carmen. Good night" Spencer hugged Carmen one last time and headed into her house. Heading up stairs Spencer couldn't help be slightly confused about the last few hours. She had started the evening on a double date with a guy but had ditched him for a girl that she hardly knows and then she ditched that girl for a girl that needed her.

Opening her door Spencer was less than pleased to see Aiden sat on her bed.

"Hey best friend" Aiden smiled moving over so Spencer could sit down.

"Hey yourself….sorry about earlier"

"It's cool…me and Ashley weren't really clicking plus Dan isn't good enough for you"

"Thank you for understanding Aid"

"Do you wanna watch a movie?" Aiden offered and Spencer just nodded her head. She made herself comfortable while Aiden put in a DVD and she relaxed into her bed. Spencer's head was spinning from all her random evening. She had such a great time with Ashley and she couldn't understand why Ashley was acting so jealous towards Carmen. She could have them both as friends or at least she hoped she could. Spencer tried her best to switch her brain off so she could finally get some sleep but her brain was occupied by 2 girls.

Spencer had spent most of her Sunday getting everything ready for school. She has spoken to Carmen and arranged to pick her up in the morning so they could go to school together. Ever since Ashley had made the comment about Spencer getting together with Carmen she had been able to stop thinking about it. Now that it had been brought to her attention she had noticed how Carmen looked at her and more importantly she had noticed the way she had been looking at Carmen.

"Wassup my fellow senior?"

"Not a lot just been chillin"

"Cool so I saw Ashley today at the beach"

"Good for you" Spencer deadpanned wanting Aiden to get to the point.

"She asked about you she said that you hung out with Carmen last night"

"Yea we made up which is good"

"Maybe…anyway so you wanna ride to school in morning?"

"Actually I'm gonna drive myself and pick up Carmen along the way"

"Oh…so you two are best buds now?"

"Jealous?"

"No…maybe a little I miss hanging with you"

"Aid you went to camp and left me here alone all summer. I really like Carmen and she's a good friend to me. Just get to know her and I promise you'll like her"

"Dude she looks at me like she wants to kill every time I talk to her" Aiden pointed out.

"No she doesn't, you're just miffed that she isn't fawning over you like all the other cheer whores"

"Ashley isn't a cheer whore"

"She also isn't fawning all over you either" Spencer mocked getting a pout from Aiden.

"Thanks for that pick me up best friend. Anyway I'm out Carlin…see you in home room" Aiden smiled as he left through the window making Spencer laugh.

Spencer was up and ready for school in record time considering she had spent so much time deciding what outfit to wear. As it was her final year at high school she wanted to leave behind her normal tom boy look that she had sported for the last 17 years. She opted for tight skinny jeans, long vest top and her trusty chucks. Grabbing an apple on the way out managing to avoid her parents she climbed into her jeep wrangler and headed towards her favourite place.

Pulling up outside Carmen's house Spencer sat and waited after texting Carmen that she was there. As Carmen climbed into the car smiling Spencer handed her a frappacino from Starbucks.

"Not only are you my ride but you bring me coffee and you look hot…..today is a good day" Carmen stated as she took the coffee from Spencer. Spencer blushed and accepted the compliment as she knew she looked hot.

"You excited for school?" Spencer asked hating silence of any sorts.

"Oh yea I totally can't wait" Carmen replied in a mocking tone sounding like an extra from Clueless.

"Ok funny girl…at least feign some happiness"

"I'm happy that I get to hang out with you, I'm happy that you bought me coffee and I'm extremely happy that you wore those jeans" Carmen replied checking out Spencer's ass as she climbed out of the car. There was actually no need for Carmen to get a ride from Spencer as she lived a few blocks from school but she wasn't one to pass on spending time with the girl she was crushing on.

"My eyes are up here perv" Spencer joked tapping Carmen on the arm. The two friends both took a deep breath as they stepped away from the car. Spencer spotted Aiden and headed over towards him with a welcome pack to school coffee. He gratefully took the coffee and hugged his friend. It was during the hug that Spencer saw that Aiden had been previously talking to Ashley. The brunette averted her eyes and suddenly became extremely interested in her shoes.

"Hey Carmen how you doing?" Aiden greeted Carmen with his biggest smile trying his best to make an effort but once again he received nothing but a half smile and a grunt from Spencer's new friend.

"Thanks for the coffee Spence…totally need it"

"You're more than welcome Aiden" Spencer replied not really paying attention as her eyes were on Ashley who was now talking to another brunette. Spencer watched the two interact and recognised the other girl as Ashley's sister Kyla. Both girls looked over and Spencer so she focused back on Aiden as he rambled on about his sports schedule. Before Spencer could come up with a reply Kyla was walking over.

"Hi you must be Spencer I'm Kyla Ashley's sister" Kyla chirped as she stood in front of Spencer holding her hand.

"Hi nice to meet you" Spencer smiled sweetly.

"I've heard so much about you from Aiden and Ashley….it's great to finally meet you"

"You too Kyla. Sorry this is my friend Carmen" Spencer announced without thinking. She knew full well that Kyla would know who Carmen was. Carmen's face turned to thunder but Kyla showed no dislike at all and greeted Carmen in a very pleasant manner.

"Hey Carmen it's nice to see you again. How was your summer?"

"Just peachy….Spencer we should go inside" Carmen growled not returning Kyla's dazzling smile. Spencer felt a little awkward especially as Ashley was pretending she wasn't listening to every word.

"Carmen's right…don't want to be late on my first day" Spencer stated.

"Totally, maybe you guys could eat lunch with us and you Aiden?" Kyla offered kindly.

"That would be awesome Kyla thanks for the offer" Aiden swooned clearly over his short infatuation with Ashley.

"Maybe….we'll see how it goes" Spencer answered politely knowing full well that Carmen wouldn't go for that idea especially of Ashley was there.

"Awesome, see you round guys" Spencer waved good bye and followed Carmen who had already started walking away from the group. As she walked away Spencer turned around and looked at Ashley who was gazing in her direction. Spencer smiled and waved at the brunette who raised her hand slightly but offered no smile in return.

Spencer liked Carmen and understood why she didn't want to spend time with that group but she couldn't help but think that the girl didn't do herself any favours.

Ashley watched Spencer walk after Carmen and couldn't help but be annoyed with how she had acted the other night. She had clearly freaked Spencer out but she was sure that Carmen would tell Spencer everything about Ashley and then the beautiful blonde would never talk to her again.

Ashley watched as they interacted and couldn't help but wonder why she was there. Ashley Davies hadn't attended a first day at school since freshman year at King High but she was today as a chance to see Spencer again.

Ashley grabbed her sister and pulled her away from the group so they weren't over heard.

"What are you doing?" Ashley hissed.

"I was talking to Spencer as you had apparently turned into a retard"

"God I hardly know this girl and she is giving my brain ache. I'm gonna go find my locker…see you later lil sis" Ashley gave Kyla a hug, grabbed her bag off the floor and headed in the same direction that Spencer and Carmen had just gone.

"Carmen they were just been nice" Spencer tried but her words didn't have any affect.

"That's only because you were there Spencer. Don't let Kyla's smiley face and perfect hair trick you" Carmen snapped punching a code into her locker. Spencer didn't like Carmen's attitude at the moment and kind of wanted to leave.

"Look Carm I need to find my locker but we'll catch up at lunch or something" Spencer explained as she headed off leaving Carmen in her bad mood.

As Spencer was walking she felt somebody come up behind and pull her arm, dragging her towards a bathroom. Once she turned around she saw that that some one was Ashley.

"Seriously are you bi-polar?" Spencer snapped pulling her bag back over her shoulder.

"I just wanted to talk to you Spencer" Ashley pleaded knowing that this probably wasn't going to end well.

"You can talk to me in front of people you know?" Spencer joked.

"I know but you were with Carmen and she gives off the vibe that she doesn't like me"

"You're crazy"

"I'm not trust me"

"Dragging me into a toilet isn't really helping your argument"

"True but I'm right about this. Carmen really doesn't like me"

"Why are you so sure?"

"Because I may have been a little bit mean to her last year" Ashley confessed preparing herself for a verbal ass whooping from Spencer who was currently staring at her in disbelief.

"Why?"

"Because she's gay. I know it was stupid and immature" Ashley tried but Spencer cut in.

"How could you be so narrow minded? Wow I am such a bad judge of character"

"No Spencer you're not. I will apologise to Carmen for everything I have ever said just please don't be mad at me" Ashley begged already feeling a shift in the air between them.

"I can't talk to you right now Ashley" Spencer snapped as she exited the room.

Ashley watched Spencer walk down the hall way and mentally kicked her self for missing the chance to win Spencer over. Ashley wasn't even sure if the truth would actually help and deep down she knew that she was fighting a losing battle. Putting on her game face Ashley went back into the hall way and headed to her home room. As she entered the classroom her eyes were greeted by angry blue orbs and also a set eyes very similar to her own. Ashley wished in that moment that a train would burst through the hall ways and run her down.

"Hey Ash I saved you a seat" Kyla yelled pointing to the chair between her and Spencer. Aiden was also sat next to Kyla looking like a complete dork smiling at Kyla. Ashley looked at Spencer semi asking for permission but Spencer looked away. Ashley found her cocky Davies attitude and pulled out the seat between Kyla and Spencer.