AH, I've been gone for so long I'm sorry. My life was turned upside down a few weeks ago when someone I felt I trusted outed me to my whole school. Everything has just been really hard for me, but it's starting to look up. So here is the long awaited new chapter. :]

Stolen Hearts

[Ashley's P.O.V.]

Spencer wants me to stay. Spencer Carlin, the girl who I completely crushed wants me to stay here, in freaking Ohio. WITH HER, well not with her with her, but close enough right? Either way, she wants me, I know it.

Anyway we've been laying in her bed for a while now. After the movie, and the kiss, and the talk everything has been kind of silent. I guess there isn't really much to say. I mean, it's not an awkward silence, I don't think we have many of those, it's completely comfortable.

I keep catching myself staring at her, but really how couldn't I? Lying here with her hand over my stomach, everything is perfect. God knows these moments don't last long enough between us, so I just have to take it all in. It's these moments that make all the bad things okay. I think it's what love is all about. You have to fight to keep each other grounded, and eventually you have to pretend like it never happened. Not because it's too hard to think about, but because there is no reason to remember. It's like everything comes together in these moments, and it makes you realize that everything will be okay.

"Hey Ash…" she barely even whispers, and at first I couldn't tell what she was saying.

"Mmm, yeah?" It would be an understatement to say that when I'm lost in thought the words that come out of my mouth are less than coherent.

"I'm really glad you came." Well I'm really glad that you're really glad that I came.

"Yeah well, L.A. just wasn't the same without you there. I had no choice really. It was come here or get lost in Kyla's land of yoga."

No really I'm serious. Kyla might be pissed at me, but her and that yoga never go away. She claims that if I try it all my troubles will melt away. I think all my troubles will be the last thing I worry about when I'm shaped like a pretzel crying out in pain.

"Well I'm glad that you chose me over yoga then. I don't see you as much of a yoga girl anyway. You'd just lay on the mat and go to sleep."

Very good idea Spencer, I'll add that to my list of things to do when Kyla pushes yoga in my face.'

"You're right. Laying here with you is more fun anyway. Especially considering I don't have to put my legs in places they don't belong."

Mental note, refrain from saying things that can be taken VERY sexual while in the presence of Spencer. She will take that to her advantage to whip up some snappy comeback to get you all hot and bothered.

"But Ash, I'm pretty sure you've done that before. I mean, you know all the right places to put your legs as far as I'm concerned."

Yeah, mental note was a tad bit too late. Nice try though Ash, we'll get em next time.

"Um yeah okay, new subject, bunnies are pretty…um…neat right?"

Cool make an ass out of myself, nice!

"Uh yeah Ash… Ew, I have school and stuff tomorrow so…wait. Ashley, what about school?"

Ouch, I knew this one was coming to. She's going to be so pissed when I tell her I dropped out and got my GED. I mean, it was a good thing; at least I passed the test.

"Oh, I kind of got my GED. I wasn't really going to deal with school. I mean Kyla hates me. You were in Ohio, and Aiden's gone. Not to mention a lot of people think I'm the biggest bitch ever. Not that they didn't think that before, but after them knowing what happened at prom between me and you, they have my bitch status over Madison's."

No lie. They really hate me. I guess they know just how in love Spencer really was with me. Too bad I messed that up, and even worse they can't see me fixing it. Not that it really matters to me; I have never cared what people think. I guess the thought of them thinking I played Spencer really sucks. Because that isn't what happened, and I don't want anyone to doubt how much I love her.

"Ouch Ash, they put you over Madison? Yeah, maybe it's good you didn't go back. Plus I mean school wouldn't be the same without yours truly, I can understand that completely. Even though I really think you should have kept with it, no matter what. High school is a big thing to just drop for no reason."

"No Spence it wasn't for no reason. It sounds stupid but it was for you. I mean I couldn't go back with them thinking that I played you. Because I didn't ever once stopped loving you and I sure as hell never started loving Aiden. But they don't get that, all they saw was a broken Spencer, and a dead Aiden."

Okay so what, that was harsh. It's my reality though, none of them know me. Not one of them has taken the time to get to know me, and all they do is believe what they hear. Great for them, but the two people who did get to know me, who don't think twice about what they hear, were gone. I sure as hell was not going to go back there to look like this horrible person.

"Yeah, I guess. I wish they knew you like I do you know? Like, if they could see you like this, see how this really affects you, I know they would look at you differently. I mean I know you try so hard to be Miss Bad Ass, but we both know that isn't who you are. You said it yourself; you have to shrug it off because it hurts too much to do anything else."

Yeah, she's right it does hurt too much to do anything else.

"You took the time to look past who everyone else painted me as. You were the one person to get to know me. I couldn't let that go, and if that meant getting my GED and leaving, then whatever. Yeah, they hurt me by thinking all their lies, but what hurt most was that you weren't going to be there to help remind me what the truth was. I was so sucked into it all that I almost forgot what was really the truth and what was rumors. "

"And I would do it all over again, believe me."

I do believe you. With all my heart.

"Good night Ash. I love you."

She still loves me. Through all my shit, she still loves me. She puts her head on my shoulder, her arm around my waist, takes in a deep breath, and starts to fall asleep.

"I love you too Spencer, I love you too."

I close my eyes and for the first time since the shooting fall asleep knowing that everything will be okay, and nothing is lost because love truly conquers all.