fAshley's POV

I take the detour route back to my place, stuttering with each step. Putting off going back in my house, I plant my butt on the first step of my porch. I place my feet on the step just beneath the one I'm on, allowing my knees to be closer to my face. Covering my face, I lay my hands there, rubbing my face hard.

I stop the pressure and let a sigh run out of my mouth. What did I do wrong? I was there for her every obstacle and hurdle she had to go through. I cared for her like no other before. Hell, I even treated her like royalty because I honestly thought she deserved it.

Everything just hits me, like a train running full speed that's on a mission. I begin crying my whole heart, without making the sounds that go along with it. I'd rather not have a big crowd around me when I'm like this. I put my head into my knees and let everything wash out of my system.

I hear the door creak open in the background and I sniffle all I can right then and there. Without turning around, I know it's Dad's footsteps. I'm not too pleased about that, but honestly, I kind of want a little bit of company right now.

He sits next to me without peeping a word. He takes out something from his pocket and asks as he puts it close to my face, "Gum?"

I pick my head up to examine the gum quickly, but reject it, "No thanks." I wipe my tears away from my eyes and cheeks and sniffle once more. I put my head back into my knees.

He takes out a piece of gum for himself and begins chewing it. He sits there contently for a few moments, I guess, to wait for something to come out of my mouth, but I don't want to say anything right now. I don't know when I want to say something. He hits it right on the stop, "She broke up with you, didn't she?"

"Yup."

He throws another one at me, "Why?"

I answer honestly as I pick up my head, "I don't know. She kept going on about how I didn't love her and how I wasn't what she expected me to be."

"Well did you love her?"

I answer whole-heartedly, "Yes, without a doubt."

"Then why did you let her break up with you?"

He stumps me with that one. I respond, "I don't know, but I was going to propose to her tonight, but she beat me to the punch and broke up with me first. I was speechless. I didn't know what to do." I pause to change the subject, "Did you say something to her for her to just snap like that?"

He defends himself, "No, why would I do that?"

I try to clarify, "So you never said anything about my past or how I had a record of breaking numerous girls' hearts?" He gasps and puts his hand on his mouth. I can tell he did something he shouldn't have. I raise my voice, "Dad, what did you do now?"

Dad tries to defend himself, "I swear Ashley, we didn't do it to hurt you or Spencer."

I yell, "Just spit it out!"

He explains, "This might be the reason, but I'm not exactly sure. Well, the guys and I were standing in front of the doorway when Ethan came in and we started talking about you two, and, well, we got into detail about your past…"

I ask angrily, "What part of my past?"

He sighs and whispers, trying to not say it, "Your routine of bringing girls out and breaking up with them, acting like you're going to propose…."

I shout, "Why would you do such a stupid thing like that! Just once, I wanted everyone to believe me. Believe that I wasn't going to do anything wrong to Spencer and I didn't. Then you had to go and say that in front of her?!"

He makes an excuse, "I didn't know she was there, Ashley!"

"It doesn't matter! I'm still in this mess right now that I have to dig myself out of. You know Dad; just keep your mouth shut for once, please?"

I stand up quickly and storm to my car. I race to Spencer's house in record time and immediately race to her front door to bang on her door. It's only 8 o'clock, but I still feel like an idiot, standing outside, banging on my ex's door. "Spencer!"

Spencer swings open the door, raising her voice in the process, "Ashley, what are you doing here?"

I take out the ring from my pants, "I'm here to apologize and clear things up." I bend down on my knee and ask, "Will you marry me?"

"No," Spencer says rudely. "We're done. There's no second chance with this. You already had your chance."

I explain in detail, "No see, there was a huge misunderstanding. I wasn't going to break up with you tonight."

She poses at the doorway with her arms crossed and a permanent smirk on her face. She replies, "Oh please. Don't give me that crap. Just like all the other girls, you took me out to a romantic dinner to break my heart. That's really sick Ashley."

She starts closing the door on me. I stick my hand out, stopping the door from going any farther. I speak in a hurry, "You're right. It was very sick, vulgar, cruel, even absurd to do that to all those girls. But I never wanted to treat you like I did those girls. I wanted to treat you with respect, with love. Yes, I admit, I shouldn't have done that to all those girls, but I was a different person back then. Spencer, you're the best thing that's happened to me and you've made me who I am today, who is very much different from the old Ashley."

She ponders and ponders at my long, drawn out speech. She asks quietly, "So tonight was really supposed to be based on a proposal?"

I say exasperatedly, "Yes, so please just answer my question before my knee breaks on me. Will you marry?"

She smacks her forehead lightly, "I feel like such an idiot now. I should've just let you finish talking or whatever you were doing."

I stand up and say anxiously, "Then you're my idiot. Will you just say yes already and take the damn ring so that we can continue our night with romantic sex, as usual?"

She waves her finger at me, "Oh no. I'm definitely not letting you off that easily. You're going to have to earn bedtime with me tonight because you've been a naughty girl."

She makes me drool unbelievably when she talks to me like that. I rush, "Fine, whatever you wish. Take the ring so I can begin my punishment already."

She takes the box from my hand and puts the ring on the correct finger. She compliments the object, "Very pretty. Now strip and run around the block a couple times."

I cough, "What?"

Spencer says slyly, "You heard me. This is part of your punishment."

I state the obvious, "Its 8 o'clock at night and its freezing!"

She examines the ring as she states seriously, "That's fine. Then I'm going to get the bed all to myself tonight."

I scan quickly the pros and cons of going through the torture or not…

The torture ends up being worth it, sadly.

Damn it.