Author's Note: This is a short chapter because at the bottom there's some responses to people who have been leaving reviews. I wrote the responses before the chapter, so when I'm speaking as if you hadn't read this chapter yet, you'll understand why. Also, I just posted two new one shots, so if you're a fan of angst, you should check them out.

Oh, and here's the thing with this chapter. I get into a topic that many people don't agree with me on. So, just...you don't have to agree and if you think Spencer's reasoning is stupid, just mark it down to silly teenagers. But I did actually try.

Disclaimer: Same old story, folks. I own nothing.

Chapter 23

After sleeping on it, Spencer couldn't figure out who she was really mad at. She felt she had every right to be upset with Ashley. Her girlfriend has lied about her relationship with Madison. Sure, it was in the past, but she had lied. It might not seem like a big deal to anyone else, but this caused their already small circle of friends and enemies to draw in even closer. Madison and Aiden. Aiden and Ashley. Ashley and herself. Her and Aiden. Glen and Madison. Madison…and Ashley. It was enough to make her stomach hurt. She wasn't sure if she wanted to be a part of what was beginning to seem like a vicious cycle of partner swapping. She just wanted to love Ashley. And apparently so did everyone else.

As the day wore on, the more she began to feel angry at herself. Maybe she had overreacted. Or maybe she had jumped into a relationship without really knowing the hardships it would present. Maybe she wasn't ready. And if that was the case, could she really blame Ashley for any of it? Spencer was the one who had convinced the girl to believe in what they felt for each other. And now here she was second guessing all of it.

But every time she closed her eyes she saw Madison and Ashley together. She saw them laughing, secret smiles, glances that held promise. Whenever Spencer would try and remember times before she and Ashley were a couple, Madison began to take Spencer's place in her own mind. And then Ashley had run from the feelings. Just as she had tried to do with Spencer. Madison hadn't fought, but Spencer had. It meant that Spencer loved Ashley more than Madison did, but did it mean that Ashley loved Spencer more?

Rolling over in bed she tried to think about anything but Ashley. The problem was, everything reminded her of Ashley.

"Argggg!" she screamed into her pillow.

There was a knock on her door and even though she knew the timing would be too perfect, Spencer's heart still began to speed up.

"Come in," she said, unable to squash the hope in her voice.

Chelsea walking in with an apologetic look on her face. "I'm sorry, I know you were hoping that it would be Ashley, but I wanted to check on you."

Spencer shrugged, "Only a part of me wanted it to be Ashley. The other part is really happy that it isn't. I still don't know what I'm going to do."

Chelsea shut the door and took a seat on the bed by Spencer's feet. "Do you want to talk about?"

"What is there to talk about? Ashley almost had a thing with Madison. In an emotional way Ashley actually did have a thing with Madison. How am I supposed to take that?"

Chelsea gave her a small smile, "Ashley has led quite a colorful life, but that doesn't make her feelings for you any less real."

Spencer sat up and hugged her knees to herself. "I don't doubt her feelings for me. I just…would you like to know my theory on love and hatred?"

"I'd be honored."

"I don't think love and hate are opposites, in fact I think they're the same emotion in a way. For both you need to have this well of passion, this ability to feel things deep. When you love someone you give them a part of yourself. You open up to a person and while it makes you feel complete and whole in a way that's wonderful, you've also opened yourself up to the possibility of being hurt more than anyone else could ever hurt you. So, I think if you hate someone, really hate someone, you had to have loved them to begin with. The love somehow became hate. The love is hate. That passion just didn't go away, it changed, it became something else because the hurt was just so much, because the passion couldn't just dissipate that easily. Does this make any sense?"

Chelsea gave her a look that clearly said she was trying to understand, "I'm not sure yet."

"There's no love lost between me and Madison, but it doesn't even reach the hatred that her and Ashley appear to hold for each other. I always just thought that Madison had done something so horrible to Ashley in the past and that Ashley had responded in turn. Neither of them were ever able to drop it from then on. But that wasn't it, not completely anyway. They cared for each other deeply. And that passion is still there."

"Only, now it's in the form of hatred?" Chelsea speculated.

"Exactly," Spencer moaned.

"I think you're thinking about things way too much," Chelsea added.

Staring at the ceiling Spencer mulled it over. "I know. I am. But I guess I don't anyone feeling that way for Ashley except me. Maybe it's part jealousy, that someone was before I was, that someone else wasn't just a bed buddy."

"What about Aiden? He'll always have a thing for Ashley," Chelsea pointed out.

"But the difference there is that while Ashley and Aiden are still good friends, Ashley is indifferent towards him in many ways. She doesn't get worked up when Aiden is around, she doesn't get flustered and talk about it all the time. It's a whole different can of beans with Madison."

Chelsea chuckled, "You've thought about this a lot, I see."

"I barely slept last night," Spencer confirmed.

"Well, I still think you shouldn't worry about it so much. But I also know you can't change the way you feel, and right now you feel betrayed," Chelsea began.

"She lied to me," Spencer interrupted quietly, "I asked her if there had ever been anything between the two of them and she flat out told me no. Madison had told me there was, she had pulled me aside and actually told me the truth. But I chose to believe my girlfriend. I chose to believe the girl I loved. And this is where it got me. My nemesis ends up being the one who is honest with me. I can't just forgive that so easily."

Chelsea looked sheepish as she opened up her arms. Spencer gave a small smile in return and let the older girl hug her. It felt good to have a friend again.

"So," Spencer began as Chelsea pulled away, "when Clay grills you on what happened in here, you're going to make up something right?"

Chelsea laughed, "Don't worry, I'm not going to spill any secrets about your love life. I'll just tell him it's a female thing."

"That really does work with my brothers!" Spencer agreed. "Thanks Chelsea," she added shyly.

Standing at the door the girl grinned back, "No problem. When your best friend becomes your girlfriend, I imagine your left with no one to talk to about it. Anytime you need to talk, I'm around." With a last wave she left.

Finally getting out of bed, Spencer finally decided where she had to start if she wanted answers. Picking up her cell phone, she made the call.

"Hey. We need to talk."

To those who asked me to post more soon and enjoyed the update: Thanks! And here you go, new chapter, hope it's up to par.

Annie-C: I understand the angst love. And I'm trying to throw in a bit here and there, but as I'm sure most people have noticed, this is my feel good fic for the most part. I'm always surprised when you angst lovers still comment, although it's greatly appreciated. This latest will last for a bit though. I hope.

EmoKitten: I've gotten from a lot of people that Spencer overreacted. But I don't know, I feel like I would have reacted the same way in her position. Had it been anyone else, it wouldn't have mattered, but this goes deeper, and I hope I do a good job showing her feelings in this update. And yes, I love Chelsea, too.

Southismyantidrug07: Ummm…it will. Eventually.

Carlymarie82: I've been having the same problem with the show lately. Deep down I wanted to keep the fic completely feel good. If people wanted drama they could just go tune in to the show. There's enough "non couple-ness" going on there. But I needed to spice up things a bit. I'm glad it rang true with you, I was worried about how people would take it. And welcome to my story, it's always great to have new readers to try and entertain.

Oreos and Malk: Even though I feel more for Spencer's character, Ashley is my favorite to write. I'm glad you enjoy reading her. As for your criticism…you're right. I can't argue with the facts. But while this story did start out with the usual development, it became my way to write out my Spashley fantasies, especially now after the beginning of the second season. It's less of a story, and more of how I see their life would actually be, which I know makes it less interesting to be, but that's the price to pay. Sometimes it's going to be good, it's going to be sappy.

BROOKLYNDEB: Hmmmm…it's an idea.

Meeee: Don't worry, they won't make up yet. But it is going to happen, this fic isn't all about the drama. That's the-N. But I'm glad that you are enjoying the drama when I do actually write it. And I'm glad you could feel the pain. Means I'm doing something right.

Holz: I promise to make the inevitable reunion a sweet one. Deal? No more damning?

The angst lovers: Just a repeat to those who want more drama, this fic isn't totally about the drama. But feel free to read any of my other SoN fics, including two I just added. Every other story I write is about angst and pain. I hope that helps a bit as an outlet.

Thanks again for all the reviews.