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It's been ages and I apologise :l
BUT i'd like to believe, better late than never
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Disclaimer: I own nothing SoN, just the storyline and the few characters I made up.

-/-

(In the previous chapter)

Chelsea was gorgeous, big eyes, great smile and sweet features. I loved how she made my brother smile and laugh like I haven't seen him in awhile. Chelsea invited me to join them and I did. At least maybe this could get my mind off Ashley...

Chapter 20: You Can

I've been driving around aimlessly for the past hour with no destination in mind. I've passed that big old tree for the 10th time! Alright, maybe I do have a destination in mind but I just don't want to admit it. I think i've put off the inevitable long enough. I got to face up to my fears. I roll down the windows and breathe in the scent of the ocean. Alright, I can do this. I finally drive toward the destination i've had in mind. Her house.

A 15 minute drive has never felt shorter than this very moment. It's like *blink, and i'm at her driveway. At this moment, it's like i'm outside myself, like i'm someone else looking in on my life. I see myself walking toward her doorstep and up the 2 steps toward the door, and knocking on the door lightly. I can hear my heart beat steadily increasing, and thumping off the charts. I hear the beats so loudly in my ear, *thump thump, thump thump, thump thump*. I'm pretty certain that a drop of sweat just rolled down the side of my face, I felt it. I hear slight movement in the house, I hear her voice saying "just a minute...". Now that voice is echoing in my head, I can hear her coming. I can feel her coming, walking slowly toward the door, not expecting me to be on the other side. I mean, it has been weeks. I feel like I can jump out of my skin at any moment. The knowledge that she's right behind the wooden piece of wood we call door, and that at any moment that I can't predict, the door will swing open and I'll be faced with her. Her. I see the door knob turning, ever so slowly, and the thumping of my heart seems to echo louder. Breathe. Breathe. Then, it feels like a dramatic gust of wind seems to pass as the door swings open to reveal her to me. Seeing her at that very moment, I suddenly felt a jolt back into my own body, I could no longer see me from the outside. I was, in her presence.

"Hi." I said softly. She has this incredulous look on her face but didn't seem to make a move to reply.

"Hi, Spencer," I try again. She still looks as great as ever. Her long blonde hair in a messy bun, her blue eyes, as clear as crystals, and her body, that looks great in absolutely anything. I see her staring at me in what I would like to believe is surprise. Then I see it coming, the anger.

"What are you doing here? I was doing fine not intruding in your life," Spencer spat at me with so much venom, complete with sharp hand gestures that left me feeling like a tiny mouse at her doorstep. I guess I should have expected it.

-Flashback 3 and a half weeks ago, Ashley's POV-

I have been deathly frustrated all day. I am so ridiculously frustrated that if you nudge me even in the slightest, even by accident, I would proceed to bite your head off. Metaphorically. Or literally. If I could. The house is in a ridiculous mess after the "welcome to the new house party" for mom and dad. Mom and dad brought over an unbelievable amount of luggage, and it seems like they bought a whole toy store for aurora. Obviously the little girl is beyond psyched. As sensible as she is, she is still a kid. When faced with an army, literally an army of new toys and gadgets, she was bound to go crazy. My parents went absolutely over the top with their party. A good 100 people was squeezed inside this place, I call home, or what I think is still my home below the pile of cans, potato chip bags, paper plates, serviettes and I don't wanna know if there's anything apart from the few i've mentioned. I can't even see my floor! Can you sense my frustration now?

I'm stuck doing the chores ON MY OWN. And of all days, today, Aurora decides to be her temperament kid self. I can't really blame her can I. She hasn't been able to act like a kid in what seems like ages in kid years. I think. With my parents around, I think it only fuels it. I'm frustrated frustrated frustrated Ashley. Ugh. Then dad decides to tell me out of nowhere that he's opened a company here. How does anyone start a company in a place they've never visited the moment they land!? Okay, I know it didn't necessarily happen like that. BUT I'M FRUSTRATED.

*Ding Dong. Now even the doorbell is frustrating me. How? By ringing! I walk, more like stomp as loudly as I can toward the door, swing the door open as forcefully as I can, put on my most fearsome face and master out my loudest most frustrated "WHAT?!" When I looked up, to finally see who the ringer of the doorbell was. I was greeted with the most terrified blue eyes i've ever seen. Oh crap. Now I scared her. But I'm still mad at her. I'm on a frustrated roll here! She looks like she's about to speak. God she's taking too long! Oh no Ashley, don't! You're gonna regret it! Don't!

"What are you doing here. Spencer. Here to intrude in my life. Confuse me. Then show me how much of a liar you are?!" and I slam the door in Spencer's face. I swear I heard her heart break. Wait. Was it hers? Or was it mine? Crap. I'm a douche.

-End Flashback-

-Present, Ashley's POV cont'd-

"Hey, I know I deserved that. I know I should have apologised weeks ago. I know I was an ass. I'm sorry. I truly am. Be mad at me..." I continue.

"I am mad at you. Ashley," Spencer bites back. Ouch. Guess she is mad at me. Okay, how do I do this.

"Okay, okay. Tell me how to make it up to you. I'll do anything. Jump into freezing icy water, pull my ears a hundred times, smack myself in my very pretty head a million times, go on my knees..."

"Hug me."

"Roll around naked, buy you flowers, buy you chocolates, buy you a shop..."

"Hug me."

"Get you a car, paint your house a nicer color, paint your fences..."

"ASHLEY! JUST HUG ME YOU ASS" Spencer suddenly screams? yells? shouts?

Oh! And hug her I did. I hugged her for my dear life. Oh gosh. I can't believe I didn't realise how much I've missed her.

"I've missed you too, and my house IS painted with a nice color. Thank you very much," Spencer says teasingly. Oh, so I said that out loud?

"So... we're friends?" I say, sounding like a preschooler making peace with an enemy. Unsure, uncertain and nervous. Very nervous.

"No," Spencer says. Yay! Wait. No?! What does she mean by no!?

"I want to be something more with you Ash, I want us to be something more together. But for that to happen, I want to tell you everything, my past, my current my future. I know you'll be hesitant cos of Aurora, cos of my past actions and because of what you have went through. But let me prove myself to you, and then you decide. But I don't want to be just your friend, not until I've proved myself to you to be more than that for you and Aurora," Spencer says in a breath and I'm stumped.

-Spencer's POV-

There I said it. I finally said it. Finally.

-/-

That's it(:
I hope it is acceptable given how long I haven't updated.
And I also hope I haven't lost any of you yet (:
Let me know what you think, R&R!

Much love,
A.