Hey, guys. Thanks for the reviews. I do plan to take things slow. I want to make this story as real as possible. No worries.

I own nothing but my imagination.

It was Saturday night. I loved Saturday nights, especially when I was up on stage. I just finished my show, thanked the crowd and headed to the dressing room. I quickly showered and made myself 'HOT' again. The club was packed. People were so close they were sweating on each other. I squeezed my way through the crowd and headed towards the bar.

I heard a few things on my way…

"Awesome show, Ashley!"

Well, thank you, I do try.

"Hey, Ashley can I buy you a drink?"

Nah, I didn't feel like getting drugged tonight, maybe tomorrow.

"You should totally have a record contract"

Yeah, I know. Tell my dad that.

"So you're a lez huh? Can I watch?"

Ugh!

"Hi, Ashley. I've never been with a girl, can you satisfy my curiosity?"

Well, see… I would love to; baby, and normally I would jump at that chance. However, my hot teacher has killed my game. I only think of her. I only want her. I won't settle for less.

I finally reached the bar. Casey saved me a seat. She was chatting with some chick right beside her. I nodded to Sandy, the bartender, and she slid me a glass of water. I don't bother Casey, who hasn't even noticed that I was sitting next to her. She was totally macking on the taller brunette with a nose piercing and a neck tattoo. I guess she was still fighting with the 'girlfriend'. I didn't dare interrupt the macking. I started to sip my water and nearly spit it out when I heard it. Laughter. I knew that laugh. It couldn't be. I turned my head towards the laughter and I saw her. She was looking hotter than I have ever seen her, if that was possible. Tight blue jeans that fit her perfect body well… perfectly, a black corset type shirt that was tight in all the right places and rode up a bit just enough to get a peak of the skin on her stomach, long, wavy golden blonde hair draped over her shoulders. Her blue eyes were sparkling as she laughed. I couldn't move. Hell… I couldn't breathe. All I could do was stare. Stare like an idiot. I seemed to have perfected the open-mouthed stare since I first saw her. And like always she caught me. She was looking back at me and once again, I couldn't read her expression. It was somewhere between happy and pissed at the same time, if that is at all possible. She excused herself from her group of friends and headed towards the bathroom.

Casey was still lying on the charm. She had her hand on the girl's leg and the girl was giggling. She wouldn't miss me, she didn't even know I was there. I was finally able to move and I shoved through the crowd towards the bathroom.

As I entered the bathroom she was leaning up against the sink. I'm pretty sure she was waiting for me. I could totally read her expression now. Fucking pissed!

"Well I can see now why you never have time for school work," she said to me in the bitchiest tone.

"Um. I." I couldn't find the words. Fuck Davies! Get it together.

"Is that all you have to say? 'Um. I.' I don't get you, Ashley." She was waiting for a response and it had to be good.

"I know you're mad about the paper, but I honestly wanted to write it. I was excited to write it. I was going to write it. Things just came up." I didn't want to get into detail. I hoped I wouldn't have to.

"You know, Ashley. I hoped that they were wrong; all of the teachers who told me you were a hopeless cause. I wanted to believe that you were smart enough, that you just needed a little push. You only came to class when you were forced to, but you showed interest. So… I told myself they were wrong. You weren't hopeless. I don't want to be wrong, am I? Do you just come to class to gawk at me? "She was all over the place and clearly pissed. Not to mention, she called me out on the gawking.

"First off, thank you for giving me a chance and not listening to the others, but they're right. I am a lost cause. Howevvvver, I do take your class seriously and I did actually want to write that paper. I even read one of Poe's stories. Trust me I was not able to sleep afterwards." She loosened the frown on her face.

"I'm sorry. I don't actually come to class just to 'gawk' at you, even though you are very easy to 'gawk' at. I admit that at first I didn't want to be there, but then I heard you talk about Poe and poetry and the passion in your voice and in your words inspired me. I wanted to be there. The gawking was just a bonus. "She was still pissed, but not foaming at the mouth anymore. She let me go on. I was gonna have to give in and give her something.

"Look, I fully intended on writing that paper and handing it to you personally on Friday morning. After the show Thursday night I kind of got into with my mother and ended up sleeping in my car. I overslept and I am truly sorry." She looked surprised and maybe even a little sympathetic. She finally spoke.

"Ashley, I want to believe you. I do. I keep trying to push all of the voices out of my head telling me that I shouldn't. 'Lost cause', 'Should be expelled', 'Doesn't even want to graduate' and so on. I'm not one to give up though. I know you have a lot of passion too. I had to listen to your music teacher go on and on about you the other day. Seems you impressed her with your piano playing. "She smiled. Yay!

"I will give you another chance, Ashley, just one more. I want you at school on Monday and I want that paper. It better be damn good too." She was so hot when she was like this. Okay so she was hot when she did anything.

"Thank you. I won't let you down."

"Good." She started to walk away. I grabbed her arm. I don't know what I was thinking I guess I wasn't. I startled her, but she didn't move my hand.

"So do care about all of your students as much as you seem to care about me?" I asked seriously, just a little flirty. She looked down at my hand on her arm and then back up into my eyes.

"Only the ones that I know have a lot of potential and are wasting it. I mean it, Ashley. I won't give up on you even if you give up on yourself."

"Is that all this is, you caring about my potential?" I wanted her to know I wasn't joking around. She broke eye contact and looked up at the ceiling. She sighed and then looked back at me.

"This is one thing that I do want you to give up on. It's not going happen, Ashley."

"That passion you were talking about. It's right here." I waved my finger towards her and then me. "I don't think I can give up." She looked away once again. I lifted my hand to her cheek and turned her head back towards me. I kept it there and softly caressed her cheek. She couldn't look me in the eyes.

"We both know this is more than just you be a caring teacher." Finally her eyes found mine.

"Ashley, this cannot, and will not happen. Please. Let it go. "She was shaking slightly. She looked scared. I took my hand off her face. I didn't like the fear I saw in her eyes. I nodded and looked down at my feet.

"Ashley?" I looked back up at her, getting lost in those blue eyes. I knew she wanted me. She was struggling to hold back. She reached her hand up to move some hair out of my eyes. Her fingers lightly brush my forehead and I felt it again. I felt it run through my whole body and I know she did too. I wanted so badly to kiss her but, but I wouldn't. I would wait. I would wait until that fear was no longer in her eyes. I would wait until the only look in her eyes was… love.

Did I just say love? Oh God! I had it bad.

"It's okay, Spencer. I understand." I backed away and leaned up against the sink.

"Good." She let out the breath she was holding and reached for the handle of the bathroom door. "I'll see you Monday, Miss Davies"

"Of course, Mrs. Dennison. I'll bring my paper...and an apple." I smiled big. She laughed.

"Granny Smith are my favorite." She smiled again then she was out the door.

So I knew now that she definitely wanted me. I just had to be patient and my usual charming self. That shouldn't be too hard, except maybe for the fact that when she was around I turned into an open- mouthed, can't find the words, lovesick fool. I had to show her that I was not a lost cause. Maybe I could show myself that too. I had to show her I could be mature and responsible. I had to show her that I didn't just want to 'flirt, fuck and bolt'. Shit! It just hit me that for the first time that was not what I wanted. Now I was scared. Okay, I was over thinking this a bit. I know that she was what I wanted. The only thing I wanted. This indeed was going to be the biggest challenge of my life. I didn't mind that one bit. Starting Monday I was going to say goodbye to the old Ashley and hello to the new. I would do this for Spencer no doubt and maybe a little bit for myself.