Ashley catches her breath. I'm sure Aiden didn't have the balls to tell Kyla anything. "Not important."

Kyla raises her eyebrows; "Can I talk to you?"

Ashley wipes the sweat off her face then looks at Kyla, "I thought that was what you were doing."

Kyla smiles a little, "I'm being serious."

Ashley nods her head, "Yeah. What's up?"

Kyla sucks in air, "I feel a little out of the loop."

"What are you talking about?"

"Today I stayed after school with Spencer and the new girl, Carmen, and Spencer told me you guys broke up—"

Ashley clenches her jaw. Already telling people, huh, Spence? "So she's telling everyone?"

Kyla shakes her head, "No, no. That's not what I was getting at. And we've gotten pretty close so I see why she told me. She hasn't told anyone else… I'm positive. And Carmen only knows because it just blew up in her face."

"So I'm sure she's moving in, huh?"

Kyla sighs, "I don't think Carmen's like that. She just doesn't seem like that kinda girl. She's just being nice to Spencer most likely."

Ashley sighs, "Whatever. That's probably why I saw them at Gray's together right?"

"Listen, I know Spencer's in love with you and she can't move on that fast. But I get the feeling that all this happened because of Aiden."

Ashley winces at the sound of Aiden's name, "What do you mean?"

"I mean. When I told Spencer she could get a ride home with Aiden and me she laughed. And before he came over she said something about asking him why y'all broke up. Like it was his fault or something. Was it?"

Ashley stands up, "Why don't you ask him?"

Kyla stands up too, "Because I'm asking you!" Kyla begins to pace; "No one really ever explained what happened at prom. And everything's been messed up. I mean I know things are gonna be weird because of what happened to Chelsea but… why is it weird between you, Aiden and Spencer?"

"Because… Aiden's a dick!" Ashley says, as her eyes grow glossy.

"Why?" Kyla yells back.

"Because he screwed up Spencer and me! And he… hurt my sister."

"He didn't hurt me, Ashley..."

"He would've if he was man enough to tell you the truth…"

Kyla gets in Ashley's face, "What aren't you telling me, Ashley?"

Tears slowly crawl down Ashley's face; "The reason why Spencer dumped me is because Aiden kept telling me he loved me. He's in love with me."

Kyla feels her heart drop and break in millions of pieces. She looks up at the ceiling, "What?" Kyla can't put her feelings into words. She starts to hug herself and bite her nails.

Ashley looks at Kyla with hurt in her words, "Aiden… he—told me at prom before the shooting. And he told me today before 4th period." Kyla breaks down and falls to her knees. She starts to cry into her hands. Ashley falls with her and wraps her arms around her sister, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I wish I would've told you but I hoped he would've said something. I didn't know—"

Kyla pushes Ashley away, "Get off of me."

"What?" Ashley says hurt.

Kyla stands up, still crying, "You knew."

"So did he and so did Spencer. How come you're not pissed at them?"

"Oh, believe me I am pissed at Aiden. But I don't think Spencer deserves anymore pain. If she is feeling what I'm feeling right now then my heart goes out to her. You're my sister, Ash, I don't know how you lived with yourself."

Ashley stands up, "I'm sorry, Kyla, I didn't expect this to happen."

"And I never expected to feel like I wanted to jump off a building and take you with me… but I do."

"That's harsh."

Kyla smiles between her tears, "Oh. Would you rather jump off with Aiden? I know how close you guys are."

"I chose Spencer over Aiden!" Ashley screams as a defense.

"It doesn't look like it. If you chose Spencer over Aiden then y'all would still be together. And Aiden would've never given you a second look if he knew you were head over heels for Spencer. But you're the one that let him in. He can only get in if you let him. And you did and so did I. So don't tell me you chose Spencer over Aiden." Kyla scoffs, "Maybe I 'm glad Spencer finally started listening to everyone. She can do so much better than you." Kyla walks out of the gym to leave Ashley to put things into perspective. Soon after Kyla leaves, Ashley breaks down and cries for the next hour without answering any phone calls.

"So I guess you finally decided to wake up, huh?" Carmen says sitting down a glass of water.

Spencer stretches while laying comfortably down in a lovely bed, "What?"

Carmen sits down next to Spencer, "You're at my house. You kinda passed out from crying so much."

Spencer puts her hand to her face in embarrassment, "I did not."

Carmen smiles, "You did. It's okay though. I learned a lot."

Spencer starts to remember; "I told you my life story didn't I?"

"I guess so. And how your life began when you met Ashley." Carmen says still smiling.

Spencer rolls her eyes, "So I guess that means my life is officially over, now." Spencer falls back into the bed. "I must be right because this bed is like heaven."

Carmen laughs, "Well, have you every heard of 9 lives?" Spencer looks at Carmen and smiles. "But anyway, yeah this bed is hella nice. My mom got the blankets from Egypt." When Carmen says Egypt she flies open her arms.

Spencer laughs, "So your mom travels a lot?"

Carmen scoffs, "Yes. She travels with a click of her mouse."

Spencer laughs, "You're so funny."

Carmen lifts her hands up, "I know." She smiles.

Spencer shakes her head, "You remind me so much of Ashley." But she says it under her breath.

"What?" Carmen says.

"Nothing." Spencer says getting up out of the bed, "I really don't wanna leave this heaven. But the real world's calling." Carmen nods her head, "What time is it?"

"Um, it's about 9." Carmen says looking at her T-mobile Sidekick ©.

Spencer's eyes almost pop out of her head, "My mom… is gunna kill me."

Carmen jumps up, "So, should I take you home?"

Spencer picks up her bag then takes her phone out, "My mom definitely called me twelve times. We better go unless you want the National Guard looking for us." Spencer laughs.

Carmen grabs her keys then heads for the door, "Let's go."

Carmen and Spencer head out the door. Carmen drives Spencer to her house.

I think my mom likes Carmen. She didn't give her that ick face she gives Ashley all the time. I wish she would do that with Ashley… no matter if we're broken up or not. Glen liked her, which is, I think, a good thing. And dad liked her but he likes everyone one. I love my dad. I wish she would've met Clay. He's one of the reasons why this has been so good.

Just as Spencer lies down in her bed around 11, she gets a phone call. She reaches for her phone then flips it open without looking at the screen, "Hello?"

"Hi." The voice says.

"Ashley, why are you calling?" Spencer asks.

"I miss you." Ashley says a bit buzzed.

Spencer sighs, "Are you drunk?"

"No, I'm just a little buzzed."

"Atleast you admitted it." Spencer says enjoying Ashley's honesty.

"I love you." Ashley says not paying attention to the words Spencer's saying.

"Why are you saying that?"

"Because it's true. I love you and I miss you. I need you by my side."

"Well, you should've made the right decision a long time ago." Spencer says sadly. "I wish you would've."

"I chose you a long time ago." Ashley says sounding like she's been crying. Spencer hears Ashley sniff in the background.

"Are you okay, Ash?" Spencer asks concerned.

"No. I'll never be okay until we're together again."

Spencer sighs in sadness, "Yeah."

"Why can't we be together, Spence?"

"Because you're still in love with Aiden." Spencer says sadly.

"I'll admit I did but I don't now. Not since I met you. I was just confused. I never gave it a second thought, I was and am in love with you."

Spencer starts to cry, "I wish you would've just showed me that. I wish you could've just stayed away from Aiden for atleast a week but… you can't."

"How would that have showed anything? How would that have—"

"It would've done it for me. I don't know why but that would've been enough. I told you before it hurts to know that you can't talk to me. Even if is about us. How are we gonna work out anything if you don't face the problem?"

"I never said you were the problem."

"That doesn't mean we didn't have problems because we did. And we could've worked them out together instead of you running to Aiden and not telling me."

"I felt like I shouldn't have to tell you everything. Should I have to tell you when I wipe my nose, too?" Ashley says growing defensive.

Spencer scoffs, "No, but you shouldn't have to hide it either. Or lie about it."

"I never lied to you about—"

"Don't finish that sentence. You did lie. We made a deal that you would atleast tell me when you hung out with Aiden. I mean, yeah, I never asked but this isn't the army. We don't go by a 'don't ask, don't tell' policy. You can tell me stuff without me having to ask you."

"That—"

"And that wasn't it. What about the morning before school you made up a lie so I would think that you went over to his house to talk about him and Kyla. Why did you have the feeling that you had to lie?"

"Because it's weird to let you know that I think there's a problem."

"Well then we shouldn't be together. Because you pretty much just told me that you don't like being honest and I think that's what keeps a relationship together."

Ashley sighs, "Whatever."