A/N: Hey guys! So it has been an extremely long time since I posted my last chapter and I am really sorry about that. Between my internet being down and my softball schedule, I barely had time to take a breath. But here is Chapter 7, which I tried to make longer than normal to make up for my lack of posting. So enjoy!

Be My Escape- Relient K

Chapter 7

Be My Escape

Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep!!

Smack!

"OW!" I scream as I grab my hand in pain.

Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep!!

"Shut-up!" I yell jerking my alarm clock out of the wall.

I reluctantly get out of bed and walk into the bathroom to throw some water on my face and brush my teeth. I walk out of my bathroom breathing through my newly brushed teeth. I lay out my really cute, but short skirt and my new black tank top. I change quickly and rush to do my make-up.

"Spencer! You've got 5 minutes!" Glen yells up the stairs.

"Ok! I'm almost done," I say running to the bathroom and throwing my hair into a messy bun. I slide on my rainbows as I grab my backpack and Ashley's note from the night before as I jog downstairs just in time to see Glen walk out the door. I slide the note into my back pocket and walk to the car. My brother and I ride to school in silence because neither of us is much of a morning person.

As we pull into the parking lot I see Cory leaning against the railing, waiting for me. I take a deep breath not sure whether he is still mad at me or not. I get out of the car and walk to him.

"Hey," I say nervously.

"Hey, look I know I've been getting upset a lot lately and I'm sorry. I just feel like sometimes you don't really want to be with me." I open my mouth to reply but he stops me. "I just want you to know that I'm not trying to pressure you into anything that you don't want. Like when I want to be alone with you, it's not to do anything, I just need to be with you sometimes, without all the distractions. I… I love you and I hate to think that this isn't what you want."

I can feel the tears welling up in my eyes, as I stand there completely speechless. I feel so guilty but so incredibly touched at the same time. It's not long before I can feel the tears sliding down my face.

"Baby, what wrong?" Cory asks, wiping away my tears and stroking my cheek.

"It's just…" sniffle "That is the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me."

"Well I meant every word," he says pulling me in for a hug. I hold onto him tightly until the tears stop flowing. I pull away from him and sniffle and wipe my eyes.

"You probably think I'm a big baby now, huh?" I ask laughing lightly.

He smiles. "Well you are my baby, but no, you are just a very caring and sensitive person. It's just one of the many things I love about you."

I smile and lean up to kiss him as Chelsea and Ashley walk up.

"Good morning lovebirds," Chelsea says smiling.

Ashley just looks at me and quickly down to the ground as we all start walking to class.

I almost want to cry again. I have never been so confused in my life. I mean Ashley brings out the kid in me, where it's ok to play in the mud, and it's ok for me to be bold when I'm with her because I know that if I ever mess up then she will be there no matter what. But now I think I'm starting to have strong feelings for Cory. He brings out my shy but funny side. He loves sports like I do and we are both extremely competitive. But despite how much he picks on me and makes me laugh, I know that he truly cares and he would do anything for me. I care deeply for both of them and I can be myself around both of them but at the same time I feel like I'm two different people. I kind of feel like Cory is just a security blanket, keeping me safe from the world around me. But when I'm with Ashley I feel completely alive, like I'm invincible even as I face the danger of the world head on. But then again my blanket is really warm and the world is very cold. But if Ashley is by my side then would the coldness of the world matter?

I ponder this question as we all reach Cory's class. Cory and I step to the door while Ashley and Chelsea wait.

"I'll see you at lunch baby. I love you."

Ashley quickly cuts her eyes at me, making me want to crawl into a hole and hide.

"See you then," I say giving him a kiss. As I try to pull away, he grabs my waist and makes the kiss last a few seconds longer.

I smile at him as he smiles and winks at me while I walk away. As Ashley, Chelsea, and myself continue walking to class I can feel the tension coming from Ashley.

Chelsea playfully pushes me. "So he dropped the big L word. Aww, Spencer, you guys are so unbelievably adorable," she gushes.

"Yeah," I blush "But I haven't said anything back yet." I look at Ashley when I say this but she seems very content with staring at the ground.

"Why not girl? That boy is pretty much the perfect boyfriend. He's funny, cute, hot, smart, sweet, sporty, and he really cares about you. You guys are exactly the same except you're the girl version and he's the guy version. So what are you waiting for?"

I walk into English and sit my things down. What am I waiting for? What have I always been waiting for? Or should I say whom? All these questions lead to the same answer. Ashley. The girls who drives me crazy, the girls who makes my heart race when she's near, the girls who challenges me, the girl who pushes me to do new things, the girl who is my complete opposite and yet we fit so perfectly. She keeps me on my feet and guessing and I'm always two steps behind. I love that she's challenging and never let's me miss out on anything.

I suddenly remember her note. I reach into my back pocket and my heart drops into my stomach. It's not there. I reach into my other back pocket; it's not there either. I frantically search my pocketbook and backpack. I take a deep breath and try and think about where I might have lost it. Let's see, I put it in my pocket and went straight to Glenn's car. Glenn's car! I'll be sure and check there right after school. After I get done with my freak-out, I decide to tune into what Mr. Wallace is saying.

"…So if you will all get into groups of two or three then we can get started."

Chelsea and I immediately look to each other while Ashley just continues staring at her desk.

"Hey Ashley," Chelsea says, trying to get her attention. "You want to work with us?"

She looks like she's going through a very heated internal debate, looking from me to Chelsea to everyone else to her desk and back to Chelsea. She takes a deep breath and moves her desk over to mine and Chelsea's, making a triangle. She looks really uncomfortable and disconnected. I wish I could make it better. Take everything back. Start all over. But unfortunately that's not how life works, and all I can do is sit here and think of something, anything, to say.

"Ok class, now I'm going to assign each group a famous English author and I want each member of the group to pick one of his or her stories and analyze it. Interpret the story, what does it mean to you? Also tell how and why you think the author felt compelled to tell the story the way they did. Now I'm going to come around and assign you an author."

As Mr. Wallace walks around giving out authors Chelsea looks to me and mouths "What's wrong with Ashley?" I just shrug my shoulders and feel a lump growing in my throat from guilt.

Mr. Wallace comes around to our group. "You guys have William Shakespeare. Now remember, I want each of you to pick a different story but you can help each other and write your papers together. Just make sure that you separate your group's collaborative opinion and your own. Good luck." He smiles and walks back to the front of the class. "Theses reports will be due by Friday; Monday at the latest. Now, you will present your reviews in front of the class and not only I, but the class will be grading you as well. Also, there will be a few minutes where students will ask you questions; why you chose that story, why you have your opinion, etc. Does everyone understand the assignment? Ok, well we are going to the computer lab for the rest of class so you can research your author and choose your stories."

Everyone gets up and files out of class and towards the computer lab. Ashley and I are the last ones left in the room and just as she is about to walk out I grab her wrist. She stops and slowly turns to face me, giving me a very cold look.

"Ashley I-"

"Don't! Just-just don't," she says, sounding defeated.

I let go of her wrist and watch her walk away. I don't know what to do. I feel completely lost and broken with no one to show me which way to go. I feel I single tear slide down my cheek as I step out of the room. I make sure to wipe my eye before stepping into the computer lab.

An hour and a half later it's time for second period. After doing our research, it was decided that I would have Hamlet, Chelsea would have The Merchant of Venice, and Ashley would have Romeo and Juliet. I walk into P.E. and just sit my stuff down and take out my research. I worked on my report the entire period.

During third period, chemistry, we just worked on a packet. But I had only gotten the first page done by lunchtime. Maybe it's because I watched Ashley for most of the time. She really is good at this stuff because she was done in about 20 minutes. I also noticed that she does this really cute thing where she bites her lip and twirls her hair if she's thinking really hard.

When I get to lunch Cory is waiting for me.

"Hey beautiful," he says.

"Hello sexy," I say jokingly.

"I have a surprise for you, but you'll have to wait until tonight. Is it ok to come over at about 7:00?"

I think about it for a minute. It is really hard for me to act like I'm even remotely happy right now but I still want to spend time with Cory. Like I said, he's one of my best friends.

"Ok yea, that'll be fine."

He smiles and walks to the lunch line while I go and join Chelsea and Ashley at our table.

"Hey girl. Aren't you hungry?" Chelsea asks.

"No, not really," I sigh, looking quickly to Ashley and away. Cory comes over and there is small talk for the rest of lunch.

After school I head straight to Glenn's car and look everywhere for Ashley's note. After a solid five minutes I give up the search and sit in the passenger's seat, determined to just forget about it. I hear the door open and look over to see a pissed looking Glenn. I decide not to ask about it because I'd rather not have to deal with his problems too. When we get home I start working on my chemistry homework. After about an hour I take a break and just rest my head in my hands. Just then I hear my door fly open and slam shut. I shoot up in the air to find a disheveled looking Ashley.

"Why are you toying with me?! Do you get off by emotionally destroying people?! How can you make out with me and then go and tell Cory you love him?! What are you so afraid of?! Why can't I breathe when I'm away from you?! Why is it that you're like a drug to me?!" She is panting by the end of her tirade.

She takes a deep breath. "Why can't you just love me?" She begins to cry.

I take a step towards her and reach out to her, but she bats my hands away.

"You can't break my heart and comfort me too," she says through her tears.

I continue walking towards her as she continues stepping backwards until her back is against the wall. She tries to push me away but I grab her wrists and pin them to her sides. She starts to calm down and I reach my hand up and start to wipe away her tears.

"I do love you Ashley. But I'm scared. I'm scared of what my family would think, I'm scared of what my friends would think, and I'm scared of being rejected because of who I am and who I love."

She sniffles and laces our fingers. "Well for now, no one has to know. I just need to be with you."

I smile, loving the butterflies in my stomach.

I lean in to kiss her, which quickly leads to me pinning her hands above her head as I nip and suck along her neck. Which leads to her pushing onto my bed as our tongues connect and is in my hair as the other roams up and down my side.

"So…are we…together now?" she asks between kisses.

"Yes…but I can't…break up with Cory yet," I say, nibbling on her ear.

I hear her mumble a content "mkay" as she flips me over and begins sucking on my pulse point. Just before we start shedding clothing I hear feet on the steps.

"Hey Spencer! Where are you?"

My eyes go wide and my chest constricts.

I forgot Cory was coming over.

Oh Shit!

:Grins shyly while holding teddy bear:

What do you think? I kinda think this chapter was the easiest for me to write thus far. If you have any ideas now is the time to let me know, before I start writing the next chapter. Because once I start writing I have total tunnel vision.

Reviews? Maybe?

:Walks away, dragging teddy bear along: