So..It's been a while..and i'm not sure if people are still interested..but here goes the next chapter...to be honest..i think it could've been better...but it gets the message across..HOPE YOU ENJOY IT!! READ & REVIEW!!!

Also..my birthday's on Sunday...17 BABY!! lol..so maybe if i get enough reviews..i'll post the next one on my b-day!! If not...then...well i'll prolly post it anyways...like monday or sumthin...

Feel free to PM about any questions or just some good 'ol conversation!!

DISCLAIMER: I OWN MY PERCEPTION OF THE FANFICTION!! I AM IN NO WAY AFFLIATED WITH THE CREATORS!!

BUT I'M SURE U KNO THIS!! :)

ENJOY!!

Chapter 8: Closed Book

Spencer was restless.

The fact that her bedroom lights had been turned off more than four hours ago, drowning her in immense darkness, didn't matter. The fact that her fiancée's strong arm was gently placed around her waist, his breath soothingly massaging her neck as he snuggled up to her didn't matter. The fact that she counted more animals than the inhabitants on Noah's Ark didn't seem to fuckin' matter.

Nope. Her mind wanted to focus on significantly little things such as the sweet aroma of French vanilla perfume and gentle tans. Tonight, Spencer's eyelids wanted to tattoo auburn curls and maroon eyes to the backs of them, as if that was painless to see. Tonight, Spencer's body chose to feign confusion, her stomach seemingly exploding into fierce butterflies, nerves aflame with one single touch, as if that was healthy to endure. Tonight, her confused body and restless mind wanted to resurrect feelings she had laid to rest years ago.

Eight fuckin' years ago.

June 10, 2000: Graduation

The sun was shining, beautiful rays hitting the Los Angeles land gently as it awoke from its' nightly slumber over the horizon. Early risers woke before their alarms went off, anxiously turning the sound off before it had a chance to awake itself. "Snoozers" ignored the annoying sirens, some even going as far as to throw them against their bedroom wall in intense irritation. Those who woke up at will grinned as the rays hit their well rested faces, while early (or late shift) workers made their way to (and from) work.

But Spencer, who had not fallen asleep, continued to stare at the ceiling, body rigid as she laid unemotionally upon her aging mattress. She knew her alarm would be going off in several minutes, signaling the start of her morning ritual, but she had not the desire nor the will to turn it off. Outside the door, she heard the creaks of the wooden floorboards as her mother, Paula, moved about, customarily going through her morning procedure. The sudden aroma of waffles and bacon flooded her senses, this merely serving as an unfortunate reminder to the blonde that she had not eaten a decent meal in several days, her stomach growling fiercely beneath her flesh.

Bzzzz!

Without thinking, and perhaps, more out of habit than anything, Spencer felt blindly for her vibrating cell phone.

"What?" she muttered lifelessly.

"Are you okay?" a concerned male voice questioned through the receiver. She immediately rolled her eyes.

"Do you need something, Aiden?"

"You know she's leavin' in an hour…"

"No shit," Spencer responded, already irritated by the course of the conversation.

"Don't you think you should—"

"Did you really call my phone at seven in the morning to ask me something I already know?"

"I'm sorry…I just wanted—"

What Aiden "just wanted" Spencer never found out as she ended the call angrily, tossing the phone to the side of her.

She would graduate today. At approximately 3 o'clock that afternoon, she would sit amongst her fellow classmates as their names would be called to receive her high school diploma.

But in a little less than an hour, she also knew that one of her classmates wouldn't be there. The only one whose presence really mattered.

"Glen! Clay! Spencer! Breakfast is ready!" she heard her father call from downstairs. Spencer listened as her hungry brothers shot downstairs to eat.

Still, she made no effort to get up, the idea of a meal not really appealing to her. But she knew by the second call her father would be on his way up to her room…

Knock! Knock!

…and she was right.

"Spence?" she hear her dad's soft voice question behind the door. "Can I come in?"

"Whatever…" she muttered, wondering if her dad had heard her at all. Whether he had or not, he entered the room anyway.

"What's wrong?" he asked, brows wrinkled in concern. "It's a big day today, you should be excited."

"I am…" she lied, unenthused.

"Yeah, because your lack of excitement is just so contagious," he shot in playful sarcasm.

Spencer didn't respond, instead raising her left arm to veil her teary eyes.

"I'm just not feeling too hot I guess."

Silence fell upon the two beings as Arthur moved to sit on the edge of his daughter's bed.

"It's about Ashley, isn't it…" It wasn't a statement, nor an accusation. It was just simple fact, simple words that took Spencer completely by surprise. She sat up on her bed, back against the headboard as she studied her father through watery eyes. He knew…everything. Not by words spoken between them or discussions had about the blonde's brunette friend. He knew because he cared that much to pay attention. And Spencer appreciated him that much more.

"Yeah…"

"You're in love with her, aren't you?"

As soon as the words left her father's lips, warm tears betrayed her as they trailed her face. She nodded, unable to form words, lips quivering as she tried, unsuccessfully, to hold in her misery. Without words, Arthur gently pulled his daughter into a hug and Spencer immediately wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her head into his shoulder.

They sat like that for several moments, her father gently stroking her blonde hair in attempt to comfort her. She pulled away after a few minutes, wiping her tears away with the backs of her hands.

"She's leaving…" she muttered quietly, voice cracking.

"I know…"

Spencer chuckled in spite of herself . "How is it you know everything? I just found out from Aiden last night."

"I have my connections…" he smiled, slyly. The blonde smiled sadly, shaking her head. "So what are you going to do?"

The blonde shrugged her shoulders in defeat. She really didn't know. Ashley didn't even tell her she was leaving so apparently she didn't want Spencer to know.

"She doesn't want to see me…I messed it all up, Dad. She probably hates me right now."

"If there's one thing Ashley wants, its definitely to see you. And she doesn't hate you."

Silence enveloped the two once again as Spencer leaned back against her headboard.

"She's everything to me…" the blonde sighed. "I don't know what I'm going to do without her."

"When does her plane leave?" Spencer glanced at the alarm clock next to her bed, her heart sinking slightly.

"In about thirty minutes."

"What are we waiting for then?" Arthur asked, quickly standing up and making his way to the door. "Put your shoes on and meet me outside. I'm going to be in the car."

"What? I'm not even dressed!" His daughter said, mimicking her dad's motions.

"You're running out of time, honey," he responded, opening the door.

"Wait!" she shouted, her dad immediately stopping his movements. "How did you know that I was…that I am—"

"That you are in love?" He turned to face her, a smile slowly creeping his features. "Father's know these things."

***

It was five to eight before Arthur pulled into LAX . Her mind was racing, heart beating uncontrollably as she ran through the busy airport.

"Ashley!" she called out desperately. "Ashley!"

She fought her way through the mass of people, some becoming quite irritated as she crashed into them, causing some to spill their coffee or drop other belongings haphazardly on the floor.

Tears streamed her face as hopeless thoughts filled her mind. It was too late…She was too late…

A blurred painting of blonde curls, brunette locks, black tresses…none of it was her. She couldn't be late…

Ashley must know…

She has to know…

And finally she spotted her—too far away from where she stood, but her face was easily seen amongst the mass. She was leaving to board the plane…

"Ashley!" the blonde cried out, voice cracking. She couldn't hear her…

Breathing heavily, stomach clenching from anxiety, she called out to her again. And again.

But not once did the brunette hear her.

She was too far…

It was too late…

Spencer stopped running, allowing her fingers to run through her blonde hair as frustration and an overwhelming amount of grief hit her. Tears were flowing freely, mind still running after her best friend.

She was too late…

"She didn't think you would come…"

Spencer shot around, coming face to face with Aiden.

"I'm too…" She put her head down, biting her lip as if it was too painful to say. And it was. Because admitting the truth meant that she had just lost her best friend. "Did she say anything? Before she got on the plane…did she say something."

Aiden gazed at her sadly through sympathy filled eyes. After a few seconds of contemplating, he shook his head, the small gesture causing Spencer's heart to burst.

"Dammit!" she exclaimed in wounded frustration. "What the hell am I supposed to do without her, huh?" She chuckled bitterly as Aiden looked at her miserably, unsure of what to do. "She's my life…she's the…dammit…she's my everything."

She sank to her knees, breathing becoming an issue as she cried. She cried for lost time. For recent mistakes. For everything she never said. And as she remembered her regret, she cried harder.

"She's g-gone A-Aiden. She's r-really gone." Aiden lowered himself to the floor, pulling Spencer to his chest and held her in his strong, but gentle arms. His eyes became watery as he watched his friend break.

"I d-didn't even g-get to say good-bye, Aid. S-she left and I d-didn't say g-good-bye."

…and as she said the last few words, he felt his heart tear a little.

"I didn't get to tell her I love her."

Spencer groaned in aggravation at the sudden remembrance. This was not going to happen. Ashley left her. She took the easy way out of the situation and Spencer sure as hell wasn't going to lie in bed every night and think about her former best friend.

No-sir-re Bob! She was engaged to a wonderful man, with a simple, but wonderful life, and she was going to move on with her life as planned. Before French vanilla scents reacquainted itself with Spencer's senses. Before auburn curls and chocolate eyes flooded the veins of her body. Before angry butterflies escaped the cage they were hidden away in for eight years.

Before Ashley decided to waltz back into her life.

She had already finished that chapter in her life. In fact, that book was completed years ago…

"Babe," she heard her fiancée whisper against her neck. "Why are you still awake?"

"Oh, I…I'm just thinking 'bout some things."

"Anything you wanna talk about?" he muttered sleepily.

"It's all good, Kev. It's nothing important. Try to go back to sleep." He held her closer, gently kissing her on the back of her neck. She heard him mutter something as his breaths became even once more. A small smile exposed itself to the dark room as she breathed deeply.

Before long, sleep finally overcame her.