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Ashley's POV

The sound of a ringing cell phone brings me out of my peaceful nap. I feel Spencer stir in my arms and I just hold her tighter to me.

"Ash, I need to get it." She says with quiet laughter in her voice.

"Alright." I say sleepily as Spencer leans over me to grab her phone that is making noises.

Spencer has no shirt on. Repeat, Spencer has no shirt on and she is leaning across me. I groan as she leans back, breaking the warm contact.

"Hello?" She says into the cell phone.

"Oh hi dad." She says in a less nervous tone.

"Yeah, I'm at Ashley's house. I'm fine." Pause. "Sorry." She smiles slightly.

I look at her and see that her hair is all messy and all over her face. Her eyes are sleepy, some make up rubbed off around them. I smile at her even though she's not looking at me. I look at her neck and there are multiple dark red spots across it. Kind of like a hickey necklace. And one very low down on her collarbone.

"Really, are you sure?" Spencer says, taking me out of my staring contest with her body. She looks at me now, eyes scanning over face.

"Okay." She says with a grin on her face now, still looking at me. "Thanks dad." She adds warmly. "I love you too."

She hangs up and throws her phone to the end of the bed.

"Your dad?" I ask her as she cuddles back into me.

I feel her head nod against my chest. "Yeah. He wants you to come over for dinner tonight."

I blink. "Really?" I ask her, unsure. My hands rub her naked back softly, writing the words I love you on her skin with my fingers.

"Yup." She says and yawns. "You'll come, right?" She asks, now looking up at me.

I meet her bright blue eyes and smile at her. "Of course." I tell her, trying to mask my nervousness. So much nervousness that it completely slips my mind to make a dirty joke at her words.

Spencer kisses the very bottom of my neck lightly, leaving her lips to rest there lightly for a minute. Then her lips move up my neck slowly, and I feel my breath hitch. Her hands come to thread through my hair, and she wastes no time before meeting her mouth with mine. I can't help but let out a moan when her teeth bite my bottom lip.

I just keep kissing her.

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Kyla's brown hair, Glen's curly-haired head, and Robin's short red hair, turn towards Spencer and I as we come down the stairs.

"What's this, some kind of party or something?" I say lightly as Spencer lets go of my hand.

"Yeah, party with the Lifetime channel. Best party there is." Robin says while laughing. "But I bet your guys' party was way better." She smirks.

"Ew, Robin." Glen says, turning back to the TV.

I smile. "You know it."

I follow Kyla into the kitchen, leaving Spencer to talk to Robin and her brother.

"So is this a gathering of hook-up buddies for you?" I ask Kyla with raised eyebrows as she gets three drinks from the fridge.

"Ha ha. No, a gathering of friends." She answers.

I lean against the counter. "Really?"

Kyla turns around to face me and puts her hands in her pockets. "Yeah." She says seriously.

"So you and Robin…" I trail off, remembering their kiss from the road-trip. Jesus, that seems like a lifetime ago. Haha Lifetime, I made a joke.

Kyla nods. "Friends." She says, taking a sip of her soda. Her eyes are serious, but bright. "We're friends. And honestly, it's really nice that way. And the Carlin's make great friends too."

"And lovers." I say quickly, smirking.

Kyla gives me a look. "Shut up Ashley."

"Anyway." I say, taking away the humorous tone of the conversation. "Look, Ky, I'm, um, I'm sorry for being shitty to you the other day. You were right." I pause. "Fuck, I hate saying that to you." I laugh lightly.

Kyla laughs too. "Good, and I know I was right."

"Don't rub it in douche." I say.

Kyla smiles. "Someone needed to put you in your place. But it's all good. I can't speak as someone who has made all the greatest decisions."

"Obviously." I snort as we walk out of the kitchen. Kyla hits my back with the soda bottles.

"Are you coming to dinner, Glen?" Spencer asks her brother.

"No, I'm gunna chill here for a little. I need to know what happens to this kid in Too Young To Be A Dad." He says seriously, while his eyes are glued to the TV.

Robin snorts loudly.

"Um, okay Glen." Spencer says, rolling her eyes. "Ready?" She smiles at me.

I nod and take her hand. "See you later guys."

I hear a string of mumbled goodbyes and Kyla waves as we leave.

I immediately hop out the car when Spencer parks it in her driveway. Glad to be on solid ground again. Spencer is not the best driver. I know I drive fast, but at least I know what I'm doing. Spencer can't seem to concentrate on talking and driving at the same time and she almost ran over a squirrel. Even though she was driving as slow as my grandmother.

When we get to the door we pause before going inside. I'm nervous. And I hate that I'm nervous. I'm trying not to show it but I'm sure Spencer can tell. Maybe my nervous hands wringing together and picking at my frayed jean pockets give it away.

"Hey." Spencer says in a calming voice. She faces me and puts her hands on my shoulders, smoothing the wrinkles in my shirt. "Don't be nervous." She says, knowing.

"I'm trying." I tell her honestly.

Spencer smiles at me, and her hand comes to cup my cheek, stroking her thumb across it. "It'll be fine." Her blue eyes are looking right in mine. "It's you and me, Ash. Always."

I just look at her and I feel myself getting all choked up. Why I am becoming so emotional all of a sudden? I swallow and blink. Spencer's eyes looking warmly at mine make me feel incredibly tingly and complete. Safe.

"I love you." Is all I say.

Spencer brings my face to hers for a short, reassuring kiss. "And I love you." She tells me after she has pulled away.

And all of a sudden we're that couple that tells each other we love each other all the time. This does not bother me in the least. I always made fun of those people. Being all give me a break. But now I understand. If you seriously mean it, it makes sense. And I have never once said it and not meant it completely. I've heard so many people just say that phrase to say it, and I never wanted to be like that. I wanted it to mean something. And Spencer is the only person I have ever said it to. And the fact that it was to her, and only her, made it just that much more amazing.

Spencer takes my hand and opens the door, leading us inside. The house is dim, and all I can hear is faint music coming from the kitchen. Some kind of slow jazz. And I smell delicious food coming form the same area. Then I hear a low, gruff voice singing slightly off key to the music. I smile. Arthur.

We walk into the kitchen and I see Spencer's dad dancing slightly to the music while still singing and stirring something in a pot on the stove. This is when I realize something very important. As soon as I see him, and as soon as he turns around, with a big smile on his face.

One day. Some day. I want Arthur to be my father, too.

"Hello girls." He says and gives Spencer a kiss on the cheek. And then he gives me a kiss on the cheek and I feel so much better.

"Hi dad." Spencer says, going to get cups form the cabinet.

"That smells great, Mr. C." I say, leaning against the wall.

He turns around and smiles wide at me. "Good! I hope you like stew, Ashley. It was voted the best in Ohio."

I laugh. "Definitely."

"Glen's said he's gunna skip dinner." Spencer tells him, pouring some iced tea.

Arthur nods. "He told me. It'll just be us three then, is that alright with you guys?"

I shoot Spencer a confused look and she gives me one back.

"Um, where's mom?" Spencer asks her dad a little quietly.

"She," Mr. C. starts hesitantly, "had to take a shift at work."

"Oh. Okay." Is all Spencer says. Her eyes meet mine and they look weird.

"More food for us then." Mr. C says, giving me a wink as he carries the pot over to the counter.

Spencer, Arthur, and I all head into the dining room to eat. The stew is delicious and I have like three helpings of it. It's nice, talking to Mr. C and Spencer over dinner. It's calming and it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. As cheesy as that might sound. We talk about random things. Simple things. Sports. Spencer doesn't take part in this conversation as she knows nothing about any sports. We talk about school. And when Mr. C asks me how I am doing I tell him I'm only doing well because of Spencer.

"Oh yeah?" He says, smiling slyly. "Spence is kind of a nerd."

"Dad!" Spencer shrieks and laughs lightly.

"No, it's true." I snort while drinking my iced tea. "But seriously, if it wasn't for Spencer I would be doing horribly." And I say that meaning not just in school, but probably in every aspect of my life.

Mr. C smiles warmly at me and then at Spencer. "I'm glad to hear that. And I know that you make my daughter extremely happy." Spencer blushes slightly and ducks her head when he says that.

I do the same.

Arthur continues. "And I want you to know, Ashley, that I can see how much Spencer loves you. So, if my daughter loves you, then so do I." He finishes simply.

I cannot stop the goofy smile appearing on my face. And I cannot stop the way I feel so extremely safe. And I cannot stop the way my eyes feel kind of prickly at his words. And I now realize why Spencer is the way she is. She's all Arthur.

All wonderful.

"Thank you, Mr. C. That means a lot to me." I say to him, then smile at Spencer.

"Of course. And if you don't mind me saying something else?" He says, looking at Spencer, directing his words towards her. Spencer shakes her head, telling him to go on. "You're welcome here anytime Ashley." He says seriously. "And if I'm not home and you get problems, then I want you to feel free to come to me." He looks at me. "And I mean that. I won't have the kind of house where my daughter and her girlfriend are afraid to come to."

I have no idea what to say because that is the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me. Any adult has ever said to me. My mom has never given me problems, but she's never said anything like that. And Mr. C referred to me as Spencer's girlfriend. And that makes my heart feel good. No parent of any girl I have ever been with, hung out with, had anything with, has ever said anything like that to me.

I think Spencer can tell that I don't know what to say, even though I'm smiling like an idiot. "Thank you dad." She says to him warmly.

He nods his head. "Anyway. Help yourself to more. I know you want more Ashley, my stew is too good to deny." He laughs at himself.

I laugh with him and smile as I take more.

After we've all cleaned up the plates and stuff, Spencer and I start to head out. She has to drive me home and this is not something I am looking forward to. I hope that squirrel has enough sense to stay on the sidewalk.

Or maybe that's not even a safe place for it.

I take Spencer's hand as we head out the door, but before we can open it, it opens itself. And in walks Paula. Of course it's Paula.

She stops walking for just a second, her face looking shocked. She only meets my eyes for, I'd say, half a second, and she doesn't even glance to Spencer. Then, she starts to walk again and goes right past us. She says nothing to her daughter. She doesn't even look at her daughter. She walks right past and that's it.

I look over at Spencer and her eyes are slightly wide. I cannot imagine what having your mother blatantly ignore you must feel like. I'm not even her daughter but I feel like shit. So I can't imagine what Spencer feels like right now.

"Spence?" I say quietly, squeezing her hand.

"Let's just go." She says, walking out the door. She tries to say this evenly, but I can sense the despair in her voice. I know her better than that.

Her hand grips mine almost painfully tight as we walk to the car and she only lets go when we're both in the car.

"She didn't even…acknowledge me." Spencer finally says. Her eyes are wide and I see the wetness just waiting to fall as they meet mine. "After everything I said to her. After all of that, she's just, just not going to talk to me?" She asks desperately and I hear a very small sob come from her after her words.

I don't know what to say, so I just bring her into me and hug her protectively. I feel her wrap her arms around me tightly. "She will eventually, she has to." I say quietly, stroking her hair. I feel another sob and then shortly after that, another.

"What if she doesn't?" She says through tears. "My own mother is gunna- hate me forever." She says quietly into my neck.

My heart is now hurting painfully at seeing Spencer like this. Spencer doesn't deserve this. And now is my chance to do something. Something I should have done before.

I let go of Spencer gently and open my door.

"What are you doing?" She asks me nervously.

I look at her. Meet her watery blue eyes. "You trust me, right Spence?" I ask her as I push some blonde hair from her face and behind her ear.

Spencer nods. "Of course."

I kiss her gently, get out of the car, and make my way back to the Carlin's front door. My heart beats nervously as I open the door and walk in. I don't ring the doorbell, I have no time to waste before my bravery leaves me. The sight of Spencer looking and feeling broken gives me the courage to do this. Mr. C's words give me the courage to do this. My love for Spencer gives me the courage to do this.

Paula and Arthur are in the dining room talking. Their words are in rough tones and they don't sound happy. Arthur looks up when I enter the room and he looks surprised.

"Ashley, did you forget something?" He asks as Paula just looks at me with an annoyed look on her face.

"Uh no. I just need to say something. Look, Paula." I try not to let me voice get loud or angry. I want it to be even. I won't let myself lose control. Not now. "I know you don't like me, and I know you never have. And I never really liked you either. But right now, I really don't like you, because Spencer is in the car all upset and crying and it's your fault." I spit out the end of the sentence against my better judgement. "I don't give a shit if you don't like me, but you better not keep treating Spencer like this. Because it won't make me not love her. It will just make me hate you even more. And you're going to end up having your daughter hate you. Got it?" I end harshly, my eyes narrowed.

Paula stands up and there is fury in her eyes. "Hey, excuse me, I don't think-"

But she is cut off by Spencer's dad. "Don't you dare say anything you'll regret, Paula. And Ashley, even though you didn't really need to say 'shit', I'm proud of you."

I nod at him and shoot Paula one last glare. Then I leave and go back to Spencer. But I am surprised when Spencer is right outside the doorway. I guess she got restless in the car. Or nervous that I might give her mother a beating. Which I was close to doing.

Spencer doesn't say anything, but she's smiling softly. She just takes my hand in hers and leads me back outside.

And I will always let her take my hand.