Hello everyone! I hope everyone had a great holiday, and I hope you all have a great new year as well. I've been extremely busy lately and I'm sorry I couldn't post sooner. Anyway, I have a few ideas of exactly where I want this story to go, but getting there is the hard part. So, I was wonder what you guys really wanted to happen, so drop a review and give me some ideas. If I use something of yours I will give you the credit and such, so no worries there. Oh and a little warning, mild sexual themes in this one just a heads up. So I shall quit my babbling and give you chapter 11. :]
Stolen Hearts
[Ashley's P.O.V.]
So after the coffee incident, which I made Spencer swear we would never, ever talk about, I showered and decided that if I was really going to stay I needed to find an apartment. I'm pretty sure Paula, who has yet to find out I'm here, wouldn't like me sleeping in her daughter's bed.
Right now Spencer is in the shower because the girl insists on helping me find a place, she claims that she totally trusts me to do it on my own, but we all know she doesn't. To be honest I wouldn't trust myself either. If I had my choice, I would choose the first one I find and call it a day. But I know Spencer has other plans, like 15 different places she wants to look at. You'd think she's the one moving out.
I'm actually really nervous about all of this. I mean, part of me is saying that this is stupid, moving across country for some girl, how insane is that? And then another part, most likely my heart, is telling me that even when I wasn't physically here, mentally I was. Plus considering my heart is somewhere in Spencer's pockets, I guess I have no choice but to stay. That totally came out wrong, but you know what I mean, I love the girl.
I never expected any of this. I promised myself after Aiden I wouldn't fall for anyone. It worked out fine until blondie came and spilled my coffee. I'm not complaining though, not even at all. I was so lost, different girl every night, always high or wasted, I wasn't me. I don't think any of it was ever me. Actually, I didn't know who the hell I was until I met Spencer. That girl who was lost, that girl in the bars, I don't know who she was, but she wasn't me.
Anyway, I'm being a Debbie Downer with all this lame talk. Plus I'm sure Spence just got out of the shower, which means she's naked.
"No Ash, you can't come in."
WHAT?!? I didn't even ask yet, come on now.
"Oh my gosh! Spencer, why would you even assume I would ask a question like that?"
There is a long pause, probably because Spencer can never whip up a witty comeback as fast as the amazing Ashley Davies can. But she tries, and it's cute and corny and I love it.
"Let's see. You probably haven't been laid in months, and who really wouldn't want to come in here knowing that I'm dripping wet and naked?"
Um, visual much, hot much?
"That depends Spence, where exactly are you wet?"
Hell yea, Ashley still has it even after being… disturbed.
Damn, Spencer is walking out of the bathroom, very un-wet other than her hair. AND she's fully clothed. A girl can't catch a break can she?
"So, what were you saying Ash, about being wet? Because the only thing I see here is you being left to dry."
Ouch, okay I surrender. Spencer 1; Ashley 0.
"Ouch. I do have to say I'm proud though."
Yeah, you heard it right, I'm proud.
"Proud? Really Ash, please do explain."
She's wearing her 'bring it on' face, and it's very distracting at the moment.
"You've learned from the best. Though you are a little harsh, I believe I've taught you well."
"Oh please Ash, I didn't need you as a teacher, all I do is speak the truth."
Ha, the truth? That's what she's calling it now? Okay, whatever.
"Whatever Carlin, just hurry your ass up with that make-up. I need an apartment, and I can't be bringing you out in public looking like THAT."
I lie, she's beautiful, but I love pressing her buttons. It's fun seeing her in her shocked face. You know that one where her eyes get real big, and her lips resemble an 'O'. Yeah, it's adorable.
"Oh and I'm the harsh one. Thank you oh great teacher Ashley. I will most definitely learn from this."
"Yeah I know, now hurry up, I don't have all day"
So you'll be happy to know that apartment shopping with Spencer is like having to cut your foot off, but worse. We've seen six different places and each time there has to be something wrong with them.
"Oh my gosh, you can't get this one it smells like eggs."
Yeah it DID smell like eggs, but I would imagine that could be fixed.
"Ashley come one, it's too big, and you don't need this much space."
No, it wasn't too big, it was too perfect.
"You can't buy this one; the land lord chick was totally checking you out."
Gross! She's like a million years old, no thank you!
"I'm sorry but the view sucks. Do you really want to wake up looking at cows every morning?"
No of course I don't, but I did LOVE the hot tub. I would choose hot tub and cows any day, thank you very much.
And you would think all these excuses would be enough to drive me insane, but no, there's more. She keeps asking this house seller lady all these annoying questions. I honestly haven't been able to squeeze one word in. For three hours, and six apartments, Ashley Davies has been silent.
"Does it come with the appliances?"
"Yes Ms. Carlin it does."
"Does the land lord really insist on keeping the walls these colors?"
"I would assume that you would be allowed to paint the walls Ms. Carlin."
Ms. Carlin this, Ms. Carlin that. I'm starting to think I'm not the one looking for a place. We pull up to apartment building number seven, and they aren't apartments, because that implies small. These are epically huge, nothing compared to Kyla and I's loft, but pretty close. Before we even get inside Spencer is asking questions.
"I'll take it."
"WHAT, you haven't even gone inside it yet Ash."
So? I'm tired of this, she's driving me insane, and if I hear Ms. Carlin one more time, someone is going to be slapped, and it's not going to be me.
"I don't care. I'm done with all of this. I'll make it work, I promise. Plus it's close to your house, there are no cows, and so far I don't smell eggs. Give me the papers, we're done here."
Back at Spencer's I'm packing the few things I actually brought over here. She's on her bed watching TV, I kind of think she's pissed at how I choose the apartment. After going in, it really was perfect.
But, she's probably not that pissed, she's just avoiding the fact that we both know I need to fly back out to Cali and get all my stuff. Then I'll have to drive back in some ugly U-Haul van or whatever. Which I plan on making Aiden drive because I sure as hell am not rocking that ride alone.
"So um, I fly back tomorrow. I know it's soon, but it's the only fight they had."
I was going to bring it up all gentle, but I suck at that. Being blunt is the way to go, most of the time anyway.
"Yeah, I figured you'd have to go back. Have you talked to anyone yet, more important, is anyone talking to you?"
Yeah, I get I messed up, shoving it in my face won't fix anything that happened, but thanks.
"Yeah people are talking to me! I fucked up I know, but it's not like I killed someone Spence."
Yeah okay that was the last thing I should say. Considering Glen is the reason they moved here.
"Wait that came out SO wrong, I'm sorry, I'm just overwhelmed I guess. This is a lot to handle. But, not many people are talking to me. Aiden is I guess, but not for the right reasons. I called and told him about everything that's been going on here, and I told him I'm moving. Oh, and I promise that I made it clear to him that there is nothing between him and I."
"What did he say about it? I mean, it's got to be big news."
Thank goodness she dropped the whole 'I didn't kill anyone' thing. That's one battle not worth fighting.
"He sounded disappointed, I mean, we've been friends for a long time. But he'll be fine. He said that he was disappointed, but he understands why I'm doing it. I asked him if he'd drive with me back here after I pack all my stuff. I mean, if you don't want him to come I'd totally understand, I just don't want to do it alone."
She has this look on her face, and I know it's because we're talking about Aiden. Maybe it's too early to bring him up, but it had to happen eventually right?
"You know I could come with you, maybe?"
"You know I would love that, but how will we convince your parents, and the flight leaves tomorrow?"
She keeps looking down and plays with the television remote. She has this habit that when she's thinking, or nervous, she's always fidgeting.
"Before you make plans with Aiden to drive you back, just let me talk to my Mom okay?"
"Yeah, of course, I'm just pretty sure she isn't my biggest fan. Plus she doesn't even know I'm here yet does she?"
Unless I missed the big Paula Carlin entrance I'm pretty sure she assumes I'm across the country, and far away from her daughter.
"Well she came in my room last night, you were asleep and I didn't want to wake you up. She wasn't happy, but she didn't seem angry. I'm not sure, but I'll talk to her okay. Just promise you won't make any plans without me."
I was able to be in Spencer's bed without having my hair ripped out? Neat.
"I promise, don't worry about it okay."
"Um so you can stay up here maybe well I go talk to them. Mom should be home soon, and so will Dad. I'll just wait for them; you can watch TV or something. "
Cool, I'll stay up here while Paula says how much of a bad idea this is, and while Mr. C probably is too tired of coming to my defense. This will go over well.
"Yeah, I'll stay here. No problem I guess. I have to try and call Kyla anyway."
"Okay, so I'll come up when I'm done talking to them."
So here I am, watching God knows what. Must be some weird Ohio channel, who knows? I should be calling Kyla, but I really want to spy. BUT calling Kyla is a better idea, I guess showing up saying I'm moving out is a bad idea. I don't think she'll answer though.
-ring-
-ring-
-ring-
"Hey, you've got Kyla but I'm obviously doing something better with my life. But I'm not stealing my sister's boyfriend or girlfriend, so don't worry. I have more class than that. Leave one at the beep!"
"Great new message Kyla, just know I'm sorry okay? Anyway, that's not why I'm calling, I can apologize tomorrow. See, I need to make things right at home before I can, stay here. Yeah, I'm moving here to nowhere land Ohio. I just wanted to try and talk to you today before I just showed up, but I guess you don't want to talk to me. Which is completely understandable, but if for some reason you want to call me back, I'd really, really like that. So, um, I do love you, bye."
So that went about as well as I assumed it would. The message was a little much, but I guess I deserve it. Not that I even wanted her boyfriend, but that isn't the point. I crossed a line, and now I have to fix it all. Apologizing to Spencer was probably the hardest thing ever, so Kyla should be a piece of cake, I hope.
From outer space it all looks the same…
That's my phone, and it's Kyla. I'll answer on the second ring to not sound too desperate.
Stand up singing if you can see through this hide and seek of this symphony of freaks…
"Uh, hey Ky."
"Look Ash, I'm sorry for ignoring you, and for the message. But moving to Ohio? Is this part of your little plan to win Spencer back?"
"Kyla, it's not some plan okay, and for your information Spencer and I have talked, a lot, and I think it's going to be okay. I can't come back to California knowing that there is still a chance. I can't leave, because as cliché as it sounds, Spencer stole my heart, and I have to get it back."
"Okay look, this is insane. You can't do all of that just for a girl. You can't leave your whole life behind just to see what will happen with this new relationship."
"Isn't that exactly what you did? You heard you had some strange sister and bam, you go from Maryland to Daviesland. How did it work out? Okay don't answer that. But it was great for a while right? We were best friends, we ARE best friends. Admit it or not, but we both know that sister's is bigger than some stupid grudge about some boy."
"Some boy, Ash I thought I was in love with him. I was going to sleep with him that night. Everything was supposed to end perfectly."
"Open your eyes Kyla, this isn't some fairytale, this is real fucking life. I'm sorry that it ended badly, it all sucked for me too. But I never even wanted Aiden okay, all I wanted was for Spencer to have an amazing night, without worrying what people think, without drama. But that didn't happen, because people died that night, and hearts were broken. It wasn't just you who got hurt Kyla."
"You're right. Okay, happy to hear it? Ashley Davies wins again. So what now? You move out and leave me here? Is that how the story ends? Ashley moves away to swoon the love of her life, and Kyla gets left behind? Look, I don't want this to end this way okay? I hate that we've drifted so much apart, and it's my fault I get it, but really, you're just going to leave me?"
"Look, Kyla it's not like I can ask you to come okay. It's bad enough you were introduced into my crazy life, I'm not going to ask you to uproot your life again. I want to fix things between us, and I want it to go back to normal but that isn't reality. The reality is, I'll be here, and you'll be a couple thousand miles away."
"Then don't ask me to come. I'll ask you. Let me come, let's face this together. We both know someone needs to be there when you and Spencer have a fight. Who will make your coffee? Hmm?"
"Really? You know what, of course you can come. And about the coffee, I have a feeling Spencer will tell you all about that tomorrow. But I have to go I think Spencer is coming back up, so I'll see you tomorrow I guess. Bye Ky."
"Can't wait, I have so much to pack. I'm so excited. See you then Ash, and I am sorry."
So maybe fixing things with Kyla was a piece of cake after all. Let's just hope the 'rents agree to all of this, because Kyla, Aiden, and Me driving in a U-haul sounds like a bad idea.
"Ash, you might want to sit down…"
OKAY so some of you have indeed noticed, that yes Aiden IS dead. Which will be addressed more in next chapter, but I probably should have included this in my note before I began writing this chapter. Ashley is in a state of denial, which is very common when close friends or relatives pass away. I had four friends pass away freshman year from a drunk driving accident, and for about 6 months I refused to believe they were actually gone. It sounds weird, but it will be explained better later. Sorry for the confusion.