Thank you all for the reviews as always and for the birthday wishes.
Sorry I couldn't respond to all of the reviews but I am in a bit of a hurry.
noodles307- Yes it would be considered a crime. Corruption of a minor (statutory rape). 18 would be the legal age. You will find out how she did it in this chapter.
Charlee- Re-bec-ca is totally from "Son in Law". Loved that movie. I did take my time with Spencer's p.o.v. I decided to go with my second attempt at Spencer's p.o.v. because I think that I would probably never be happy with the results and then you guys would never get to read it at all.
FFReviews- As said in a previous chapter Ashley did admit to Miranda about at first talking to her to get to Spencer. They cleared that up. And trust me .. a sleepover has crossed my mind several times ;)
drummergirl244- Lol. I'm not going to stab you. In response to my "short chapters"...I can either give you short chapters every couple days or long chapters every week or longer. What would you prefer? ;)
So here it is everyone. The long awaited (for some) Spencer's P.O.V.
I could have wrote this about 50 times and not have been happy with it. I certainly hope you are not dissappointed.
Chapter 18
Spencer's P.O.V.
7:30 p.m. I'm sitting in this airport waiting. Waiting for someone I have never met. Hoping this goes as planned. Hoping I am doing the right thing. Scratch that. I know I am doing the right thing. His plane doesn't land for another 30 minutes. I am early. I am anxious. I am nervous.
Miranda was worried. She was worried about Ashley. She hadn't heard from her father in over a month. I was worried as well. Ashley was good at acting. But in the inside she was hurting. Even I could see that. Miranda had confirmed it.
My feelings for Ashley go way passed the boundaries of a student/teacher relationship. I know that. I feel things for her that I haven't felt in quite some time. I shouldn't but I do and it's scary.
This isn't just about the fact that she is my student. Although losing my job would be like getting stabbed in the heart. I love my job. It's my passion. This isn't just the fact that she is a girl. Even though that is crazy enough. I mean when did I start to feel attraction towards the same sex? Oh right, when I saw Ashley sitting in my classroom for the first time all year. Already looking bored out of her mind. And so damn beautiful. This isn't just about the fact that I still love my husband. I will always love him. But I am young and I need to move on. This is about my freedom. Or lack thereof, if I surrender to my passion with a 17 year old girl.
Now I am fully aware that in less than a week Ashley turns 18 and my worst fear in all of this is no longer. But even then I know I have to keep my distance. Even though being near her, with her, feels so right. It is wrong. I have to stand firm and strong.
7:37 p.m. My knee is bouncing uncontrollably and I am chewing on my nails. Or what's left of my nails. Why do I feel like I am a teenage boy about to meet my girlfriend's father for the first time? I am so worried about whether he will like me or not. I want him to like me. Even though I want to ream the guy for abandoning Ashley I want him to like me.
I am thinking about her again. What's new? I can't help it. I haven't been able to get her out of my mind. I think back to the first time I saw her up on that stage. So small, so talented, so beautiful, so…sexy. Argh! I am still trying to get used to feeling this way for a girl. She was so amazing up on that stage. She reminded me of me when I would give lectures in my classes. So much love. So much passion. She played the guitar with ease which made me believe that it was all in her blood. She was born to play. And Ashley at the piano. No words for that. And that voice. My God. I felt chills it was so beautiful.
7:46 p.m. My phones goes off. Miranda is going to pick up Ashley and take her to the club. She wanted to get her out of the house and try to cheer her up. She told me about what had happened with Ashley's friend Casey. I really can't blame Casey. Ashley is quite lovable. I feel truly sorry for the girl. And I know Ashley is feeling somewhat similar to what Casey is feeling right now. I sure made sure of that. But what can I do? I didn't want to give her hope.
Miranda even told me about what Ashley's mom had done. I wanted to drive over there and beat the snot out of that old hag but alas, she wasn't home. I wanted to slap that woman when she came up to school that day. Unbelievable. It amazes me what Ashley has been through in her short life. Yet she is still a wonderful human being. What she has done for Miranda touches me deeply. Ever since Aiden's death she had been unreachable. She had her good days thankfully, when she would let me in. We would go out to dinner, shopping, movies. But most of the time she would come home and go right to her room. Getting her to eat would be quite the challenge at times. She was hiding from the rest of the world. Not willing to give in to life. Not willing to let anyone in. Not wanting to love or be loved. She was so afraid of the chances of losing that love. I couldn't blame her. Not one bit.
But since Ashley befriended her I can see the change in Miranda. A good change. No. A great change. I have never heard her laugh so much. I have never seen her smile so much. I have never seen that look on her face when she talks about Ashley. At first I thought it was Ashley's way of getting closer to me. Maybe it was. It doesn't matter now. Miranda and Ashley have become great friends. I think they both needed each other more then they even knew. And seeing Miranda happy again gives me hope that I can be happy again too. Sometimes I am jealous of Miranda. To get to be that close to Ashley. Sometimes, okay almost all of time I wish that Ashley was the one making me happy too.
7:50 p.m. I snicker at the image of Carmen Vasquez on her ass on the wet ground. Blood trickling from her nose. I know I shouldn't find that amusing but I do. She put Miranda through hell all school year. That little snot nosed brat. Well now broken nosed thanks to Ashley. I had to pull her away from her or who knows what would have happened. I remember afterwards taking her hand to see the damage the punch had caused. A couple of her knuckles were red and swollen. So badly I wanted to take her hand to my mouth and kiss it. So badly I wanted to take her in my arms and hold her. So badly I wanted to kiss her. So I walked away.
7:54 p.m. My mind wanders effortlessly to that day. The day at the hospital. I knew she had it in her. She spent a little over 2 hours with Alyssa and I could tell how affected Alyssa had been by Ashley and vice versa of course. When I heard the music initially I thought it was coming from a T.V. A rather loud T.V. But then I saw the nurse's hanging out inside the doorway. I was curious. What I had seen when I squeezed between them tugged at my heart so strongly I thought it would rip right through my chest. I couldn't hold back the tears. Ashley's voice was so pure, so angelic, and so natural. Beautiful in every way imaginable. The look on Alyssa's face is what pushed me over the ledge. She was so happy. She was smiling ear to ear. Ashley was just what she needed. I knew she would be.
I knew the minute we stepped into that elevator that something big was about to happen. I could see it in her eyes. I could hear it in her voice. I could feel it in the air. I could feel it inside of me. My heart beating so fast I was afraid she could hear it. She pressed me up against the wall and I was done for. It felt so good. Her body pressed against mine. Her breathe on my face. Her fingers on my lips. I gave in. I had no choice. I couldn't move. And when she pressed her lips against mine I felt something come to life once again. I felt alive again. She bit my bottom lip and I let a moan slip out. I couldn't help it. I wanted her closer. I needed her closer. So I pulled her closer. I was so aroused by the feel of her against me. I looked up briefly and saw the numbers above the door flashing. 5,4,3.. We were getting closer to the main floor. I pushed her off of me just as the door chimed and the doors to the second floor opened. We were so close to getting caught. I was so close to getting caught making out with my 17 year old student. It scared the shit out of me. But at the same time I instantly missed the warmth of her body and the feel of her smooth perfect lips. I was screwed.
I told her the truth. But not all of it. The look in her eyes, the tears on her face. Killed me slowly. I wanted her. I wanted to give her what she wanted. I needed her. I know she needed me. I knew it wasn't just a crush. You don't kiss a crush like that. But I was scared. I had every right to be. So I pushed her away. I didn't lie. I do love my husband still. I miss him each and every day. But I also miss the feeling of being held in someone's arms. I miss feeling loved. I miss feeling needed. I had a chance for that again. But there were too many risks. Risks I was sure I couldn't take. Risks I am slowly beginning to overlook and that is scary too.
7:58 p.m. It was just announced over the speaker that flight 238 from Miami would be landing in an estimated 4 minutes. In an estimated 10 minutes I would be meeting him. In an estimated 30 minutes I would be leaving with him. In an estimated 45 minutes I would be without a doubt cussing him out. In an estimated hour he would be reunited with his daughter.
8:00 p.m. I am waiting closer to the gates. Leaned up against the wall I think of Ashley once more. The way she looked at Sarah when she took the first aid kit from her. Too funny. Too cute. Sooo sexy. The way she held my hand while she bandaged my finger. So warm. So caring. The way she was patient with me and tried to teach me how to pound a damn nail into the wall. So amazing. The way she was trying to be a good friend and listen to Miranda why Rebecca was shamelessly, non- verbally flirting with her. So adorable. The way Rebecca was so obviously trying to get in her pants. So damn pitiful. So unbelievably inappropriate. So fucking infuriating. I can't believe that girl. What I am feeling may be wrong. But at least I am trying to show some restraint. Trying. Not working out so well. It is killing me inside. It kills me to think that she doesn't know how I feel about her. She doesn't know what she means to me. So hard to not tell her that she is all I think about. She deserves to know that. But I can't tell her how important she is to me. So I have to show her.
8:05 p.m. I see him from a distance. It's not hard. He kind of stands out. But not in the way his daughter so effortlessly does. No. His white, all over the place hair is what makes him stand out. A few passengers are walking with him as he signs a paper and hands it to them with a smile and a wink. Yep. She is definitely his daughter. He is looking for me. I wave and hold up a cup of Joe from Swork Cafe. It was already cold but it was the sign telling him that I was me. He instantly smiles and walks towards me. I can see Ashley in him already.
"Well hello gorgeous. You couldn't possibly be Mrs. Dennison. You are much too young to be a Mrs. So what's your name?" He gives me what I think is his sexy grin. Ashley has him beat on that. By far.
"Spencer Dennison" I hold my hand out to shake but he grabs it and pulls it up to his mouth and kisses the top of it. I see where Ashley gets her charm.
"Well I'm not surprised a gal like you is already married. Has anyone ever told you that you are incredibly stunning?" I laugh and pull my hand from his.
"No. I don't think so. But thank you." I blush. He smiles and shrugs.
"Not a problem young lady." Such a gentlemen.
We start walking to baggage claim and he passes it up. Apparently he doesn't have any baggage. "I got all I need in this bag here." He lifts his bag up to show me.
"If I need anything else I'll just buy it." Must be nice.
After about a half an hour , 14 autographs and numerous pictures we finally make it outside. I forgot I was in the presence of rock royalty. Here I thought I was just with Ashley's dad. The man never quits his job. He lives it. He loves it. Poor Ashley.
We're almost to my car when his phone rings. He apologizes and then answers it. I point towards my car and he nods.
I get in and start the engine. I look down and see the paper with his number and his flight information on it. I think back to the day I decided to try and call him.
"Hey Spence." Miranda says walking in the door.
"Hey. Did you have a good night?" She was with Ashley so I am sure she did.
"Yeah. I had a great night. Ashley sang a song that she wrote for me. It was beautiful."
"Well that's sweet. I thought she was going out with that Rebecca girl?"
"Nope. She ditched her for little ol' me." Miranda was so happy.
"Well that's good to hear. You're her best friend. You should come first." I was good at hiding my excitement.
"You've been spending a lot of time over there. Is she alright? I know she puts on an act in front of other people. So how is she, really?"
Miranda looks to the ground. When she looks back up I can see it in her sad eyes. She doesn't have to say anything.
"Is it Casey? Her mom? What's going on?" I hate to think that Ashley is hurting.
"Yeah. But it's not just them. She really misses her dad. She's really worried about him? She doesn't say it all the time but last night I saw her holding a picture of the two of them. She was crying. She tried to hide it but it was kind obvious." Miranda's voice was full of worry.
"So she can't get a hold of him at all?"
"She's tried to almost every day. His phone goes right to voicemail. She's tried his manager's phone but the number is no longer in service. She called his record company last week and talked to his assistant she said she would call if she heard from him. Her mother said that he just doesn't want to be bothered. I think Ashley's beginning to believe that. She hasn't tried calling him for a couple days now. She has given up. It's sad."
Miranda started towards her bedroom and then turned around. "I'm gonna go do some homework. Call me when it's time for dinner?"
"Sure thing."
I had to try to find him. I had to talk to him. I had to do this. For Ashley. I already had one girl in my life that had no parents. That was hard enough. There was no chance for Miranda to have her parents back. Ashley at least had a chance to get one of her parents back in her life. Her mother was a raging bitch. Her father was nowhere near innocent in this but I had to at least talk to him. Let him know what was going on. Find out if he cared enough to come home.
On Monday afternoon I went to the office and gathered as many numbers as I could from Ashley's file. I tried the number that was under her father's name. Voicemail. There was a secondary number under her father's name. No longer in service. The other number was her mother. Not a chance. I knew her father owned a record company. Maybe he kept in touch with them. I looked up the record company on the internet.
"Raife Davies Records. How can I direct your call?" Says some bubbly voice.
"I'm not sure actually. My name is Spencer Dennison and I am calling from The Archer School for Girls. I am a teacher there and Mr. Davies daughter is one of my students. I need to get a hold of him but his contact numbers are not in service. Is there someone I can talk to?"
"One moment Ma'am."
I was on hold for 15 minutes and about ready to hang up. Finally someone picks up the line.
"Mrs. Dennison?" Says an older woman.
"Yes. I am here."
"Hello Mrs. Dennison. I am Margaret Daniels. I am Mr. Davies assistant. From what I understand you are trying to get a hold of Mr. Davies. Is that correct?"
"Yes that is correct. His contact numbers that we have on record are out of service."
"That's odd. His numbers were changed over a month ago. Mrs. Davies was supposed to get a hold of the school to have them changed on record." Huh?
"Mrs. Davies has been uncooperative with the school which is one of the reasons why we are trying to get ahold of Mr. Davies."
"Well that doesn't surprise me. Okay this is what I am going to do Mrs. Dennison. I am going to call the school and change the numbers myself. Then you may get the numbers from the school. I apologize for the inconvenience but as I am sure you will understand I can't just give you the numbers."
"I understand Ms. Daniels. Can I ask you a question before you go?"
"Sure go ahead."
"Ashley called sometime last week and said she talked to her dads assistant. She was supposed to call if she had heard from him. Did she talk to you Ms. Daniels?"
"I have not seen or heard from Ashley in months. It must have been Jackie. She is my assistant." An assistant with an assistant. O-kay.
"Okay thank you for your time Ms. Daniels."
"You're very welcome Mrs. Dennison. I hope Ashley gets in touch with her father."
"Me too. Thanks again."
Okay so something strange is going on. Why would her mom not call the school with the new numbers? Was she keeping him from Ashley? And what did this Jackie lady have to do with all of this?
I went to school on Tuesday morning and went to the office to see if Ms. Daniels had called with the new numbers. She had. Thankfully. I called on my way to the University and surprisingly he answered on the 3rd ring.
"Mr. Davies this is Mrs. Dennison I am.." He cut me off.
"You are a teacher from my daughter's school right? I talked to Margaret about 10 minutes ago. She said that the school was never given my new numbers and that from the impression she got neither had my daughter."
"That is correct Sir. Your daughter has been trying to get a hold of you for over a month." I said a little harshly and he was quiet for a moment.
"Is my baby girl okay? Did something happen? I'm going to kill Christine if something happened to my Princess and she didn't call me. That no good bitc.."
"Mr. Davies your daughter is fine. She just. She needs her father. That's all." Good to see I wasn't the only one who thought that of Mrs. Davies.
"With all due respect Sir, I don't understand how you could leave your daughter home with that woman." I said with anger very evident in my voice. "She has physically, verbally and emotional abused your daughter. Not to mention she has abandoned her the same way you have. Ashley is a wonderful person and she doesn't deserve the life you have given her." I was yelling at this point. I took a deep breath and calmed myself down. "I'm sorry it's just that I care for your daughter and I see how she struggles every day to believe in herself and she does such an amazing job taking care of other people but has literally no-one to take care of her. She needs you. She needs her father."
He didn't say anything for a long time. But it was obvious he was there. I could hear his deep breathing. I know I heard him sniff a few times. I think he was actually crying. Good!
"I can be on a plane tomorrow afternoon. Do you think you could pick me up from the airport?" What? Doesn't he have someone he can call? He is frickin' Raife Davies after all.
"Sir, I am sure you can find just about anyone to pick you up from the airport. Is it really necessary for me to be there?"
"Yes. It is. I want to see you and talk to you before I see my daughter. Is that okay? You'll be there right?" Did I have a choice?
"Of course Mr. Davies. I will be there. Just call me tomorrow with the flight information."
"I will sweetheart and please call me Raife."
"I will see you tomorrow Mr. Davies. Good night." I hung up. That guy had some nerve.
He was coming home. Ashley would have her father back. For how long I didn't know but I didn't think that mattered. I had a feeling that the moment Ashley saw her father everything would be okay.
He finally gets in the car after being on the phone for 15 minutes. He turns to me.
"Sorry about that Hun. I had some loose ends to take care of. They weren't too happy with me taking off like that." He rubs the back of his neck with his hand and then looks out the window.
"How is she?" He said still looking out the window.
I talked to him the whole way back. I told him everything that I knew and a few things that Miranda had told me. I told him the good stuff and the bad stuff. I told him about the night she slept in her car, the fight with Carmen Vasquez, the affect she had on Alyssa and Miranda, how she had finally started to care about school. I told him about what Miranda had told me about Ashley's mother. How she hit her and threw things at her and threatened her. I think that Ashley would be mad at Miranda for telling me and Miranda would be mad at me for telling Raife but he needed to know. He knew now and he saw red. He wanted to go find Christine but I convinced him that the person he needed to go find was Ashley.
He in return told me that he had given Christine his new number to give to Ashley. And he had fired his manager after they had gotten into an argument about him going home. So he had his ex-managers phone plan cancelled and that is probably why it had no service. He had called the house a few times to talk to Christine and had asked for Ashley but she would always say she wasn't home. He agreed that neither of those were good enough excuses to why he hadn't talked to Ashley in a month. He agreed that he had been a horrible father. He agreed that he had to change. Ashley needed him and he was going to be there for her.
"It seems that you really care about my daughter Mrs. Dennison. She's lucky to at least have you. And it seems that this Miranda has been a great influence on her."
"I do care for your daughter. She is an amazing person. She's been through a lot yet she hasn't given up on life. I just wish she felt as loved as she makes others feel." I know I had a cheesy smile on my face but I didn't care.
"You sure you're just her teacher Mrs. Dennison?" He had strange but friendly smile on his face.
"Yes. I am just her teacher. But we have gotten close lately. I guess you could consider her a friend. Please call me Spencer. You're making me feel really old calling me Mrs. Dennison. Especially since you are practically old enough to be my father." I laughed when he frowned.
"Okay Spencer. So you are just friends with my daughter. I guess I can pretend that I actually believe that." He laughed. "You sure have done quite a lot for her as her 'friend'."
I couldn't look at him. He would be able to see right through me. I just kept driving. My eyes focused on the road in front of me. I felt his hand on top of my hand that was on the arm rest. I looked over at him.
"It's okay." He patted my hand. "I'm happy that she has found someone in her life that cares for her as much as you do."
I didn't say anything. There was no reason to. I couldn't hide it nor could I deny it. Yes I cared for Ashley. More than I wanted to. I hoped that she would figure out how much without me having to say it.
I called Miranda to find out where they were. They were almost at the club.
We pulled into the parking lot 5 minutes later. My old Jeep Wrangler that was now Miranda's was the only car in the parking lot. We both stepped out of the car and started towards the door. He stopped.
"What if she doesn't want to see me? What if she hates me?" He looked like he was going to cry.
I walked over to him and grabbed his hand.
"She doesn't hate you. She loves you. And when she sees that you are here you will see how much she has missed you." I say softly and he gives me a sad smile. "C'mon. Your daughter is waiting for you." I pull him to the door and go in first.
She is up on stage. There are only 2 lights on in the whole club and one of them is directly above her. She looks so beautiful in the dull light. Her fingers are dancing over the keys and while she sings she has this smile on her face that is all her own. I look over at Raife and he has tears streaming down his cheeks. He has a face full of mixed emotions. Sadness, guilt, admiration and pride.
She finishes and I hear Miranda clap. Raife and I join her. Ashley looks up from her piano and over towards us. She has her eyes squinted. She slides off the stage and walks closer. She closes her eyes and re-opens them. Then her eyes open wide. Raife walks over to her and pulls her into his arms. I hear him sob. I hear her whimper. I see her tears. I see her tighten her grip around him. I feel the muscles in my heart tighten. I get choked up. I let my own tears fall. The sight before me affecting me more than I thought it would.
Ashley had her father back. She would no longer be worried. She would no longer be scared for him. She would no longer have to wonder if he loved her. And I would make sure of that or I would kill that man myself.
She looked over at me. In her eyes I saw relief. I saw comfort. I saw happiness. I saw gratefulness. I saw love.
I wiped my tears, smiled and tilted my head to the side.
In that moment I knew I had done the right thing. In that moment my heart felt so full. In that moment I knew I was in love with Ashley. In that moment I realized I wasn't scared anymore. And all I could do was smile.
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