CHAPTER 27: Love Is Powerful

SPENCER'S POV:

I woke up feeling worse than when I went to sleep. I didn't know how long I had slept, or how my throat could have possibly gotten worse, but somehow it did.

I groaned and rolled out of bed. I glanced out my window and noticed it was snowing. Walking over to the window, I sat down, watching the snow fall gently on the ground. It was beautiful.

I yawned, still not awake yet. I tried to focus on the snow, but my mind kept drifting back to Emily. I didn't understand out situation at the moment, but I knew it was going to take me a while to get over her.

I felt my arms shake from the cold the window was radiating. It was closed, but being so close to the crisp air was chilling.

I watched as the small snowflakes pooled on the ground, slowly covering it in a blanket of white. However, no matter how many times I watched the flakes fall, I still saw Emily in the back of my mind.

I gripped my head and brought my chin to my chest and my knees to my chin. I was curled up, safe from my thoughts, or so I assumed.

However, despite my best efforts, the brunette still haunted my every thought. I groaned and curled up even more until I was so lost in my thoughts, I tuned out the world around me.

EMILY'S POV:

I drove as fast as I could to Spencer's house. Once there, I got out and ran up to the door. I knocked eagerly, waiting for someone to answer the door.

I was expecting Spencer, but Melissa instead opened the door.

"Emily?" She questioned, surprised to see me.

"Hey Melissa. I'd really love to sit and answer the questions you probably have but I really need to talk to Spencer right now. I've made a mistake, and I just…I need to see her." I rambled.

Melissa sighed. "She's upstairs in her room. I sent her up to rest, but I heard her get up a minute ago, so you should be fine."

She moved aside to let me into the house.

"Thank you Melissa." I smiled, still anxious to see Spencer.

"Good luck Emily." Melissa smiled back, supportive.

I ran upstairs, and paused outside of Spencer's door. I took a deep breath, and cleared out the thoughts that had been keeping me from letting her see me. Then, I shakily pulled the door open.

Spencer was sitting in front of her window. She was shaking, and her hands were covering her ears. She was rocking back and forth slowly, as if keeping out everything that was bothering her.

"Spencer?" I asked. She didn't respond, or acknowledge my presence.

I walked over and kneeled in front of her. She didn't move, or even flinch at me being there.

"Spencer? Are you okay? What's wrong?" I asked, placing my hand on her arm. Still nothing. Her eyes were closed tightly, and her hands were turning white from the hard amount of pressure she was putting on the sides of her head.

"Spencer!" I raised my voice, hoping to get something.

"Spencer…Spence…come back to me…Spencer…" I shook, pleading that she stop whatever she was doing.

"Snap out of it!" I brought my hands really close to her face and clapped as loud as I could. Spencer shrieked and fell backwards.

"What?!" She cried, unaware of what happened. Her eyes glanced across the room worriedly before they landed on me. As soon as they did, her eyes grew wide, and she crawled away from me as fast as she could.

"Emily?!" She was surprised, that's for sure.

"Hey." I waved, feeling slightly awkward.

Spencer sat for a minute, staring at me intensely. I shifted my eyes to the floor, and waited for her to say something, anything.

"What are you doing here?" She asked. "I mean, I know you probably want to talk to me…but what are you doing here?" She repeated herself.

"I just…I wanted to see you." I admitted. Taking a deep breath, I pulled my eyes off the floor and towards the face in front of me. I was not prepared for what I saw in front of me.

Spencer's eyes blazed with anger, but they were also drowning in sorry, and loss. She had dark circles under her eyes, and was pale. I immediately felt my stomach clench up at the sight. I had caused her so much unnecessary grief by simply refusing to talk to her.

"Spencer…" I started, unsure of what to say to soothe the brunette.

"Stop." She snapped.

"Spence, I-"

"Just stop." She growled. She adjusted herself until she finally sat up. "What do you think you're doing?" She rolls her eyes, clearly upset.

"Spencer, what do you mean?" I was unsure at what she was getting at, and was slightly frightened as to her reaction.

"What are you doing? You think you can just shut me out and pretend I don't exist when I need you, and then days later when you're ready, invite yourself in and try to fix everything? It's not that simple!" She cried.

I gulped at the burst of emotion. "Spencer, I know what I did was unacceptable, and I was foolish to shut you out. I just panicked, and…I was scared." I admitted.

Spencer sighed. 'What were you scared of? Scared of hurting me? Because shutting me out hurt me more than you probably think. Emily, you wouldn't see me! I tried for days, but I got nothing. I just…I wanted to talk to you!" Tears streamed down her eyes, and I was shocked by the show of emotion. She normally was so strong.

"Spencer…" I moved forward and wiped the tears off her cheek, but she flinched away. "Sorry…" I mumbled.

"Emily…don't you get it? I love you! I love you so fucking much, but you ignored me! I felt like I was going to die! When you kissed me, I was in heaven, but I didn't react fast enough and you left! Not to mention, you completely shut me out! Emily, I don't think you understand how much it hurt! To see the person I love not even give me the time of day!? Don't…don't you get it.." Spencer broke down, sobbing. "Why do I love you…" She choked, curling back up into her ball.

I felt my heart almost stop. She…she loved me? I moved closer to her slowly, and placed a hand on her shoulder gently. She shook, but didn't do anything. I pulled her into a hug, and stroked her back whilst she cried.

"Shhhh, Spencer. Shhh… it'll be okay." I reassured her. "I know I was a total ass." I admitted. "Shutting you out was foolish, but I got scared and reacted in the easiest way possible. I-It was…I can't…" I felt myself choke up at the large amount of emotion flowing through me.

"Spencer…I love you so much…" I choked. "Shutting you out was the hardest thing I've ever done, and the stupidest too." I sniffed.

Spencer's sobs ceased until she finally was able to glance up at me.

"Do you mean it?" She asked, her face tinted red.

"Of course! I meant everything I said." I admitted.

Spencer closed her eyes for a minute before responding.

"You…you love me?" She rasped.

I sighed, and looked into her eyes. "Spencer, I love you so damn much." I smiled.

Spencer smiled back at me, but it was a weary smile.

"I don't understand how I can love you but be mad at you at the same time." She coughed. "But whatever happens…" She coughed again. "I know I'll never stop loving you…" She sighed.

I felt myself blush, and I looked at her concerned.

"Spence, are you okay? You've been coughing a lot." I replied worriedly.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine." She answered.

"I don't think so." I placed my hand on her forehead. "Spencer, you're burning up!" I sighed. "Come on, let's get you into bed."

Spencer didn't object and closed her eyes. Luckily she was light enough that I was able to carry her to her bed.

I placed her on her bed and pulled the covers over her. I slid in next to her, and laid beside her after she patted the bed a couple times.

She nuzzled against me and yawned.

"Night Emily…" She groaned. I laughed a little, because it wasn't night, but smiled back at her.

"Goodnight Spencer." I stroked her hair softly, and she fell asleep almost immediately.

"I love you."