CHAPTER 2:
Disclaimer: South of Nowhere belongs to Tommy Lynch and I do not own the character's or show.
Dr. Carlin decided not to return to Ashley's room that day. Her shift at the hospital was almost over and she assumed that Ashley would need time to process before she asked more questions.
As Spencer was getting into her car in the parking lot outside of the hospital her phone rang.
"Hold on. Hold on to me," her phone rang. It was Ashley's song, but it wasn't Ashley calling. A pang of emotional pain shot through her as her indecisive feelings finally hit her.
"Hey babe" Spencer answered her phone putting on a fake smile and trying to sound chipper. A move like that would have never worked with Ashley. Ashley knew her better then anyone else in the world, and she would have known that she was faking.
"Hi beautiful, what are you up to?" A woman on the other line answered.
"I'm on my way home Kyla." Spencer said as she started to drive the familiar route home.
"Okay hun, I'll see you in a few. I love you." Kyla said sincerely.
"I love you too, Kyla." Spencer said as she hung up and threw her phone onto the passenger seat.
Spencer and Kyla have been dating for the past four years. If Spencer had been asked six or seven years ago if she would ever have considered Kyla, she would have laughed. But that was because she had Ashley, and Ashley made her blind to anyone else in the world. After Ashley's accident, Kyla and Spencer became very close. They were both heart broken over Ashley and they were each there for the other. A bond like that is hard to break, and along the way they fell in love. Yet, Spencer's love for Ashley would always be stronger then anything.
As Spencer pulled into her drive way, she turned off the car and stepped out onto the walk way. Spencer and Kyla were living together in a cute suburban house outside of Los Angeles. It was a white house, with blue shutters, a white picket fence and a large backyard. Spencer walked up the walk way, and opened the door, calling out to Kyla once she closed the door.
"Kyla?" Spencer called from the door way as she removed her coat and stepped further into the house.
"In the kitchen," Kyla called back.
Spencer slowly walked into the kitchen, finding her adorable girlfriend standing over the stove making diner. Spencer walked up behind Kyla, wrapping her arms around Kyla's waist and placing a soft kiss on her cheek.
"Well hello to you to," Kyla said smiling toward Spencer who laughed lightly and sat down on a stool at the counter.
Kyla could sense the growing tension as she continued to stir the spaghetti that she was making for diner. She glanced over at spencer out of the corner of her eye and found her twirling her hair...a nervous habit that Kyla had picked up on over the years.
"Alright," Kyla said turning toward her love, "Spill."
"Huh?" Spencer's head snapped up as she was torn from her trance.
"What's up with you." Kyla asked, her voice full of concern.
"Kyla I...I have to tell you something." Spencer said in a shaky voice.
"okay?" Kyla said slightly confused as she took the spaghetti off of the stove and quickly drained it before placing it into a medium sized bowl and stirring the sauce.
"You better sit down," Spencer suggested.
Kyla was slightly worried about what her girlfriend may have to tell her, but she was sure the no matter what it was, they would get through it. Kyla turned the heat on the sauce down before walking around the island and pulling out a stool to sit next to Spencer.
Spencer grabbed Kyla's hands and held them in her own as she took a deep breath.
"Spencer, whatever it is it'll be okay. I promise." Kyla soothed with a reassuring smile.
"Kyla," Spencer began,"Kyla, Ashley woke up this afternoon." Spencer said staring at the floor.
"What?!" Kyla asked shocked and confused.
"Ashley woke up this afternoon," Spencer repeated,"right before my shift was over," she added.
"Why didn't you call me?" Kyla asked calmly.
She wasn't upset, just completely shocked. She didn't think that Ashley would ever wake up. She'd been trying to get Spencer to let go for a few years now and pull the plug, but Spencer couldn't do it, and it was Spencer's decision according to Ashley's living will.
"I wanted to tell you in person," Spencer stated, "I didn't know how you'd react and I wanted to be there for you?"
"Should I...Spencer, should I go see her?" Kyla asked unsure.
"Babe, I can't tell you what to do, but she is your sister." Spencer said as she gently drew circles with her thumb on Kyla's hand.
"I have to go," Kyla said as she went to stand up.
"Kyla, wait." Spencer said, grabbing Kyla's hand to stop her, "She was asleep when I left. She needs time to process this and I think that we should talk. We can go see her in the morning." Spencer pleaded.
"Okay," Kyla sighed as she stood up, moving back toward the stove to take off the sauce.
"Are you still hungry?" Spencer asked.
"Not really," Kyla whispered in a sad confused tone as she pored the sauce over the spaghetti and put it into the fridge for another time.
"Come on," Spencer said, holding out her hand for Kyla, which Kyla accepted. Spencer brought Kyla's hand to her lips and placed a gentle kiss on the back of her hand.
"Let's go to bed," Spencer said as she started to slowly lead Kyla up the stair to their bedroom.
Kyla and Spencer both got ready for bed in silence. Kyla did so in an almost robot-like state. She did things automatically, without really thinking about what she was doing until she crawled into bed, where Spencer was waiting for her. Kyla slid across the bed, slowly wrapping one arm around Spencer's waist and cuddling her head into her neck. Kyla sighed.
"We need to talk, don't we?" Kyla whispered lightly.
"Yes," Spencer sighed back as she glanced down at the girl snuggled into her. It wasn't that she didn't love Kyla, because she did. It was just that Ashley would always be her first choice, no matter how amazing the other person may be.
[A/N please review and let me know what you think. I'm open to any thoughts or ideas. I'm also looking for a Beta reader, so let me know if you are willing.]