CHAPTER 4:

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT own South of Nowhere.

[A/N Thanks for all of the reviews, I really appreciate it and I'm glad that everyone likes the story so far! Remember, thoughts are italicized.]

Ashley Davies was lying in the hospital bed of room 1748 absentmindedly flipping through channels on the muted television hanging high above her bed. She was trying to relax, but she still had so many questions and very few answers.

She was waiting for a Doctor to do her 3rd check up of the day. God how she hated all the poking and prodding. She had ensured them each time they would come that she was fine, no pain, no discomfort, no problems at all, and yet they still insisted on coming into her room ever 2-3 hours to check her monitors and examine her body for an abnormalities.

Ugh, how could I have been that stupid? Everything was perfect with Spencer and I, Kyla and I were just starting to get along, and I was finally starting to realize that Aiden and I could never be together, not even as friends. My life was shaping up to be something that I could never dream of, at least not before Spencer came into it. God how could I have just left her like that...when she needed me most. Her brother's death...prom...her mother's disapproval...everything. I just had to go and get in a stupid accident and leave her to pick of the pieces. She was always there or me when I needed her, and then when she needed me I couldn't be there for her.

Ashley was torn from her internal assault on herself by a light, almost inaudible knock on the door. Ashley's head snapped up from the place she was staring at, slightly above the actual tv that she was pretending to watch, and looked towards the door. Ashley couldn't help but get excited whenever she heard a knock on the door, or heard footsteps coming towards her room. She couldn't help but hope that it would be Spencer. She had always been let down...until now.

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"Spencer I don't know if I can do this," Kyla pleaded in a childlike voice as she turned to face Spencer outside of the hospital.

"Kyla, she's your sister and she needs you." Spencer said soothingly as she took a strand of Kyla's hair and delicately placed it back behind her ear.

"I know Spence, it's just...well it's not that I don't want to see her, she's my sister and I love her. I'm just nervous, and I can't help feeling like she's going to hate me." Kyla admitted nervously.

"Ky, why would she ever hate you." Spencer asked naively as she took Kyla's hand in her own.

"Spencer," Kyla said giving her a pointed look and then glancing down at their entwined fingers.

"Oh," Spencer stated, quickly realizing what her girlfriend was trying to say.

"Yeah," Kyla sighed.

"Well Ky, she doesn't know yet. We can talk to her about this later, for now...I think your sister needs you." Spencer advised as she gave the shorter brunette a gentle push toward the hospital entrance.

I can't believe Ash is actually awake. I never thought this would happen. I've missed her so much, I mean she is my sister. I spent the first 16 years of my life not even knowing her, and then we barely had any time together before her accident. I can't help but feel like my relationship with Spencer is going to ruin everything between us. I saw it myself; Ashley and Spencer were so in love, and then Ashley's accident. I know Spencer and I would have never thought about dating if Ashley had been around, but I fell in love with her. She completes me, she's just so perfect. I see what Ashley saw in her...what Ashley must still see in her. If Ashley's still in love with Spencer, she's going to hate me. She'll think that I stole her girlfriend. I don't want to admit it...but I know that if Spencer had to choose between Ashley and I...well she wouldn't choose me.

"Kyla?" Spencer asked ripping her from her internal struggle.

Kyla quickly shook her head and glanced toward Spencer, who silently nodded, signaling for her to enter the room. Spencer followed slowly behind her, leaning in the doorway.

Kyla gasped quietly upon seeing Ashley lying there in bed. At first she thought Ashley was asleep but then realized that she was flipping through channels, in a withdrawn manner. She must be thinking about something Kyla thought.

KYLA'S POV

I glanced back at Spencer, who was just a few inches behind me, leaning in the doorway, before I nervously tapped on the plain wooden door that matched those of all the silent rooms around her.

Ashley's head snapped up upon hearing the gentle knock on the door, eyes quickly meeting Spencer's, not mine as a smile spread across her face. However, her eyes quickly skipped from Spencer's to mine and her smile widened just a bit.

"Kyla," Ashley whispered as I slowly shuffled across the room making my way around her bed and taking a seat on the ugly blue uncomfortable hospital chair positioned about a foot from Ashley's bed.

"Hey Ash," I whispered gently.

An uncomfortable silence fell over the room as Ashley began to look from Spencer to me and back to Spencer.

"Hi beautiful," Ashley said smiling towards Spencer.

"Hey Ash," Spencer responded with the most adorable smile. It was a smile I hadn't seen in quite some time, because it was the smile that Spencer reserved for Ashley, and only Ashley.

I couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy shoot through me. It felt like they were back together, and my girlfriend, whether she realized it or not, was slowly slipping away from me.

"Come sit," Ashley asked like a child beckoning her mother as she gently patted the spot next to her on the bed.

Spencer made her way across the room, making eye contact with me and I understood her plea. Don't let your emotions get to you, she doesn't know. Spencer sat down next to Ashley and gently placed one arm around her as Ashley smiled and gave Spencer a quick peck on the cheek.

It took everything I had not to be upset. I understand that Ashley's confused, and doesn't know about Spencer and I yet, but it's been six years. Did Ashley really expect that Spencer was just sitting around waiting for her? It must be hard for Ashley to get used to life after being in a coma for six years, and i'm sure she still has so many questions and so many things to get caught up on, but its hard for me to sit here and watch her lying there with my girlfriend.

"How are you feeling Ash?" I asked, trying to break the silence.

"I'm fine Kyla. I'd be even better if these stupid doctors didn't come in a check on my every five minutes." Ashley replied.

"Hey!" Spencer squealed as she playfully and gently hit Ashley on the arm. "I'm one of those 'stupid doctors' that you're so fond of."

"Really? When did that happen?" Ashley asked looking at Spencer questioningly.

"Wait...dumb question. I was in a coma for six years" Ashley said, her mood quickly becoming more depressed.

"It's okay Ash, there's a lot to catch up on." Spencer soothed, her eyes locking on mine as she slowly ran her hands through Ashley's hair.

She'll be the death of me.

[A/N My next update might take me a bit longer to get out. I'm currently on Spring Break! However, I'm pretty busy for the next few days. I'll get something up as soon as possible though. Please Review!]