Complicated.

4:

Topher opened the door to the pantry and stood in front of it, searching for food. It was nearing lunch time and, since he had skipped breakfast, he was starving. The sight of Jenna entering the kitchen in a bikini immediately grabbed his attention. His eyes followed her as she went over to the refrigerator and grabbed a bottle of water.

She twisted the cap off and brought the bottle up to her lips. "I'm going up on the roof to lay out," she said before taking a sip.

"Want me to grease you up?" he asked, grinning.

Ashley walked in at that very moment, and cringed. "Gross. Take your weird heterosexual foreplay somewhere else, like out of the kitchen. I don't want greasy body parts near my food or the places I eat."

Jenna laughed.

"What food? There's nothing here but a box of shitty Poptarts and a thing of three month-old yogurt," Topher whined, closing the pantry door.

"Uh, babe, you ate everything else," Jenna muttered, rolling her eyes.

"Hmm, here's a thought, Topher," Ashley said, tapping a finger against her chin. "Why don't you go home and eat your own food? I bet your mom's kitchen is filled with all kinds of fattening shit you could stuff your face with."

"And risk the chance of seeing some lesbian action? I think not! There's two of you now, which means I've gotta be here double the time I usually am."

Ashley narrowed her eyes, disgusted. She turned to her roommate, and asked, "Why the hell are you still with this idiot?"

Jenna responded, saying, "I ask myself that question everyday."

Topher leaned against the refrigerator and rubbed his T-shirt covered chest. "It's because I'm fucking amazing in bed." He smirked and bit his bottom lip -- thinking this look was sexy on him. "Jenna has admitted on several occasions that I'm the best she's ever had."

"Of course she has," Ashley said. "You always tell the person you're with that they're the best. When, in reality, they're probably not."

Jenna tightened the cap on her water bottle and started moving toward the door. "I think I'm gonna head up to the roof now," she said, hoping to get out of the kitchen before Topher wanted her to reaffirm her words. She wasn't a good liar under pressure.

Once Jenna was gone, Ashley started snickering. "She ducked out of here pretty quick. I don't think that's a good sign."

Topher ignored Ashley, but made a mental note to later ask Jenna why she had left so quickly when she did. He picked up the cordless phone from its base on the counter and started punching in a number. "I'm calling in a pizza," he mumbled.

- - -

Spencer stood in front of the door to her girlfriend's new apartment, waiting for someone to answer her knock. She stared at the gold italic numbers on the door. 310. The one was missing a nail, making it more straight than slanted, with its lower half leaning against the zero. It looked like an easy fix. Her gaze was ripped away from the digits when the door swung open. A light-haired man, looking to be in his mid-twenties, stood in front of her. "Hi." She smiled. "I'm here to see Corey."

"Ah, you must be the girlfriend." He moved back, allowing Spencer entrance into the apartment, then stuck out his right hand. "I'm Topher," he introduced himself, smiling. "Jenna's boyfriend."

"Spencer," she said, shaking his hand.

"Your girl is in her room." With one hand, he motioned toward the hallway. "It's down the hall, second door on the right."

"Oh, okay." Spencer glanced in the direction he had pointed. "Thanks," she said, looking back at the young man briefly before she began making her way to Corey's bedroom. The airy, melancholic cry of Cat Power drifted down the hallway, growing louder with each step she took.

Corey, dressed in a tank top and board shorts, was on the floor, staring down at an instruction booklet in her lap. Tools and pieces of an unassembled bookshelf lie haphazardly all around her.

Spencer stayed where she was, leaning into the doorframe, and asked, "Want some help?"

Corey's head snapped up. A big smile formed on her beautiful face at the sight of her girlfriend. She quickly got up and moved toward Spencer. "I thought you weren't coming by till later," she said, pulling the woman into the room.

"I wanted to see you," Spencer admitted before moving her hands up to the sides of Corey's face and drawing her in for a kiss. Corey's arms encircled her waist, bringing their bodies closer, while Spencer threaded her fingers through Corey's soft, cropped locks and deepened the kiss.

A moment later, Corey withdrew from the kiss and rested her forehead against Spencer's. "God, I've missed you," she said in a breathy voice.

"Same here," the photographer said, dropping her hands onto Corey's shoulders. "I hate being away from you." She placed two more light kisses on her girlfriend's mouth, then stepped back and wandered around the bedroom. "I love your room."

Corey reached for Spencer's hand. "Check this out," she said, leading her out onto the balcony.

Spencer wrapped her hands around the railing and leaned forward. "Cool! You can see the beach from here!" she said, excitedly.

The college student grinned.

They stayed out on the balcony for awhile just staring down at the world below and talking. Spencer told Corey all about the past four days; mainly, the photo shoot antics.

They eventually moved back inside.

Spencer picked up the instruction booklet off the bed, where Corey had tossed it, and flipped through it. "You're putting a bookshelf together?"

"Trying to," the younger woman sighed, brushing her bangs across her forehead. "I'm not very good at putting things together. Screws, nuts, bolts, washers -- they all look the same to me."

Spencer bent over and removed a washer and screw from the plastic bags they were in. "I don't know much about this stuff either, but these two things look nothing alike," she said, holding up the pieces.

"If you stare at 'em long enough they'll start to look alike."

Smiling, Spencer shook her head. "This doesn't look too bad." She looked through the instruction booklet at each of the steps. "We can probably get this thing assembled together. I'm pretty good with tools."

"Oh, really?" Corey asked, raising an eyebrow.

Spencer smirked, "Down girl."

"As much as I want to see these skills of yours, I say we ditch the bookcase. Until later, at least. Right now, I want to give you a quick tour of my new pad." Corey grinned. "And there's a couple of people I want you to meet."

"Okay."

The tour ended at the kitchen, where Topher was loading up on beer.

"Hey, where are you going?" Corey asked.

"Up to the roof. We're gonna play some pool," he replied, closing the refrigerator door with his hip. "You two should join us."

Corey looked over at Spencer for a response. She simply smiled and nodded. "Alright, we're in." She released her girlfriend's hand and reached for one of the cases of beer Topher was juggling. "Here, I'll help you carry the beer."

"Thanks," he said, letting Corey take a twelve-pack. They left the kitchen. "We ordered a couple pizzas for lunch. Ash went to pick 'em up. She should be back soon."

"Alright, cool," Corey said, following the young man up the spiral staircase.

On the roof, Jenna's golden body was stretched out on a pink plastic lounge chair. After hearing the door open, she lifted her head to see who was coming up.

"Hey babe," Topher called out to her.

Jenna sat up and gave her boyfriend one of those wiggly finger waves. Through the dark green lenses of her prescription sunglasses, she watched Topher and Corey stack two cases of beer near the pool table. After that, Corey and the blond she had with her walked over.

"Jenna, this is my girlfriend Spencer," Corey said, motioning toward the blond woman. "Spencer, Jenna."

"It's nice to finally meet you," Spencer said, offering her hand for a handshake, which Jenna happily accepted. "I've heard a lot about you."

"Same here," Jenna smiled. "Corey talks about you all the time at work. She gets mopey whenever you go away on business."

"Aw," Spencer gushed, looping her arms around one of Corey's. "That's sweet."

Corey argued, "I do not get mopey."

"Liar," the photographer smirked.

Jenna just laughed, thinking these two were a cute pair.

Topher turned the dial on the stereo, raising the volume. The Shins filled the air.
"I love it up here," Spencer said, looking around the roof.

"I know, me too," Corey agreed. "The whole apartment is great, but the roof is my favorite part."

"And we have it all to ourselves," Jenna said, laying back against her chair. "Our neighbor, Mrs. Henderson, is the only other person in this building with roof access, but she never comes up here."

"Cool," Spencer grinned.

"The pizza has arrived!" Ashley announced from the doorway, holding two large pizza boxes over her head. The heavy door fell closed behind her as she twirled around to face everyone on the roof. Her legs slowed before halting completely. Among the foursome was an old familiar face.

"Hey Ash!" Corey smiled, greeting her other roommate. "I want you to meet my girlfriend, Spencer. Spencer, this is Ashley." The two women stayed where they were, motionless and stunned. Corey looked from her girlfriend to her roommate and back again. Her smile faded. The dimple in her cheek flattened out and disappeared. "Do you two know each other?"

Spencer's blue eyes broke contact with Ashley's brown ones as she turned to Corey. "Um..." she stammered, "we used to." She glanced in Ashley's direction again. "It's good to see you again, Ashley."

"You too," Ashley mumbled.

Topher walked up and took the pizza boxes out of the brunette's hands, carrying them over to the pool table.

Jenna stood up from her chair and moved closer. "How do you two know each other? Or used to know each other?" she curiously asked, glancing back and forth between Spencer and Ashley.

The question brought Ashley out of her stunned state. She finally dragged her gaze away from Spencer to look at Jenna.

"We were friends in high school," Spencer quickly answered.

"Oh, yeah?" Corey grinned. "I bet you have a ton of dirt on Spencer, here," she said to Ashley, while slipping an arm around Spencer's slim waist.

The corners of Ashley's lips curled into a tight smile. "Well," she started, drawing the word out, "I may have a few stories. But I'll spare Spence the humiliation and share 'em with you a little later." She winked at Corey. "Right now, we have a game to start."

"Yes!" Topher exclaimed, with a mouthful of pizza. "First, we've gotta choose teams. I refuse to play with Ashley."
Not wanting to be stuck with Spencer, Ashley quickly offered to take Corey as her teammate. Topher and Spencer went along with that. After they each took a slice of pizza and a beer, the game was started.

Thirty minutes into it, Ashley and Corey were in the lead. Every chance she got, Ashley would sneak a glance in Spencer's direction. The blond's outward appearance hadn't changed much over the four years. She had matured and her hair was a bit shorter -- shoulder length -- and wavy, but she still had an innocent look about her.

While Topher was taking a shot, Corey snuck up behind Spencer and wrapped an arm around her waist, hugging her close. She whispered something into Spencer's ear that brought a huge smile to her gorgeous face.

In a tunnel vision-like way, memories came flooding back. Ashley saw flashes of different moments when that same smile was directed toward her. She had to tear her eyes away from the couple, and force herself not to look their way after that.

The game continued, everyone talked and joked, but Ashley stayed quiet. Watching Spencer and Corey had stirred something within her. She just didn't know what that 'something' was. Jealousy? No. Her feelings for Spencer no longer existed. She was completely over her. At least, that's what she told herself.

She emptied her third can of beer and tossed it into the trash can. "I'm going downstairs to get a bottle of water," she said, handing her cue stick to Topher.

"Guess we're taking a break," Topher announced, as Ashley made her way to the door.

After the bartender was gone, Spencer slipped out of her girlfriend's embrace. "I'm going to the bathroom," she whispered to Corey.

"'Kay," Corey said. "It's across the hall from my room."

Spencer smiled. "I remember."

- - -

Spencer wrapped her arms around herself and stepped into the kitchen. Ashley was standing near the island. Head bowed. Hands gripping the edge of the counter.

"Hey," she said gently, startling the brunette. "Sorry."

Ashley stared at Spencer. A nervous smile on her lips. "It's okay." She turned her gaze to the marble counter top in front of her. "I was just... taking a moment."
Spencer stayed in the doorway. Head tilted to one side. Eyes cast low. Feeling completely unsure of what to say in this type of situation. There was a painful knot in the pit of her stomach. Nerves. It was similar to the feeling she had six years ago, when she first met Ashley Davies.

The awkward silence was starting to get to Ashley. She was hoping the blond would say something, make the first move, but after a couple of minutes that didn't seem likely. She slowly turned and faced her ex. "How have you been?" she asked.

Spencer looked up. "Uh... good," she answered, with a nervous smile. "You?"

Ashley shrugged. "Can't complain." She narrowed her eyes, remembering bits and pieces of her conversation with Corey the night before. "You're a photographer."

"Yeah."

"What happened to med school?"

"It wasn't for me."

"But -- I thought becoming a doctor was, like, a dream of yours."

"It was when I was younger." Spencer moved further into the kitchen, stopping at the opposite end of the island counter to give Ashley and herself some distance between them. "I made the decision to go into medicine mostly to please my mother. I guess I wanted her to be proud of me for something," she said, rolling her eyes. "It was stupid, I know."

"I don't think it was stupid," Ashley said, then scrunched up her face. "Okay, maybe it was a little stupid." She smiled. "I mean, making any kind of decision just to please someone else and not yourself isn't very smart."

"I know," the blond said, ducking her head slightly.

"How did your mom take the change to photography?"

"Not well." She smiled. "She didn't understand it. And, well, if you can remember, making her understand something isn't an easy task. It took her awhile to get used to it."

Ashley nodded.

"So," the blonde tapped the counter top nervously, "what have you been up to over the years?"

"Not much. Just... livin' life," Ashley replied, casually.

Spencer's eyes softened. "I heard about your dad. I'm really sorry." Danger Davies, Ashley's father, had died from an overdose two years earlier.
"Thanks." Ashley smiled sadly. "How'd you hear?"

"From Aiden."

"You still talk to him?" the brunette asked, a little surprised.

"Yeah, just about everyday."

"That's... great." Ashley couldn't remember the last time she had seen Aiden Dennison. It was probably around the same time her and Spencer had split. She had cut ties with most of their 'shared' friends after the breakup. "It's great that you guys have stayed in touch."

Spencer fell silent again.

"We, uh," Ashley sighed, grabbing her water bottle, "we better head back up." They stared at each other for a few more seconds.

"I'll see you up there," the blond said before leaving the kitchen.

- - -

(Later that night at Spencer's apartment)

Spencer stood in front of the dresser, unbuttoning her jeans, while Corey lounged on the bed with her head against the headboard. Spencer stared at her girlfriend's reflection in the oval mirror that was connected to the dresser. "Cor, there's something I've got to be honest with you about," she said, bowing her head as she removed her pants.

Corey sat up. "Okay. What about?"

Spencer dropped the jeans into the hamper before walking over to the bed and sitting down. "About Ashley and I." She sighed, staring down at her lap. "We, um, we were more than friends in high school," she admitted, lifting her gaze. "She was my first girlfriend."

Corey smiled a small smile, showing just a hint of the dimple in her left cheek. "I kind of figured that out by the way you two were acting today."

"How were we acting?"

"I don't know, weird? Uncomfortable?"

Spencer nodded. "I guess I was a little uncomfortable."

"I bet," Corey said, reaching for one of Spencer's hands. She stared down at it, while running a finger along the palm. She loved Spencer's hands. They were soft, delicate. She moved the tip of her finger along Spencer's slimmer fingers. "Is it going to be a problem for you to go over there?"

The photographer looked up into the younger woman's eyes. "To your place? Because of Ashley?" Corey nodded. "No... I don't think so."

"Are you sure?" She laced their fingers together. "I don't want you to be uncomfortable."

Spencer smiled, "I'm sure."

"Okay, good," Corey smiled back. She let go of Spencer's hand so that she was able to crawl over to the left side of the bed. "Can I ask you one question?"

"Of course, you can ask me anything," the long-haired woman replied, drawing back the covers.

"How long did you guys go out?"

"Um, around two years," Spencer replied, as she slipped between the sheets. Corey did the same on the other side.

"Two years? Really?"

"Yeah."

Corey laid down on her side, facing her girlfriend. "I hardly know her, but Ashley doesn't seem like the type of person to have a two-year relationship. Just last night she told me that she doesn't 'do' relationships."

"It was back in high school, Cor," Spencer reminded the other woman.

"I know that, but--"

Spencer straddled Corey's waist and leaned forward, brushing her lips against the younger woman's ear. "Can we stop talking about Ashley?" she asked in a husky whisper. She moved her hands down the young woman's chest and stomach, stopping at the hem of her tank top. Slowly, she began peeling the garment off her body. "I've been away from you for four days and all I really want to do right now is be inside you."

Corey shivered at the words. She brought a hand up to the back of Spencer's head, tangling her fingers in the long, blond locks. "Come here," she whispered before pulling the older woman in for a scorching kiss.

- - -

Ashley entered the noisy club, wearing a short, spaghetti strap black dress. Her hair was pinned up on the sides, with the back hanging loosely between her shoulder blades. She roamed the crowded dance floor with her eyes. Bodies were moving, grinding against one another to the thundering beat of a popular remix.

She strolled up to the bar and, after showing the bartender her ID, ordered a drink. As she was waiting for her order, an attractive young woman sauntered up next to her.

"I'm Beth," the woman purred, introducing herself. She was a few inches taller than Ashley, with layered brown hair that stopped at her shoulders; an oval-shaped face; thin frame; long legs covered in denim and a small top that nicely showed off her cleavage.

Ashley's dark eyes wandered back up to Beth's face and connected with her blue orbs. "Ashley," she finally said, loud enough for the woman to hear.

"Are you here with someone?"

With a seductive smile, Ashley said, "I am now."

- - -