Don't worry, lol, all will be revealed about Anabelle soon:) And unfortunately I won't be able to update as often as I do now that school's starting, but I promise I won't pull a walkingcorpse on you guys;) Apparently, as has been pointed out to me by some fellow readers, if you know what I'm talking about then you are a true SON fanfiction devotee! So give yourselves a clap on the back:) Here's the next chapter.
Chapter 4
The sound of Anabelle coughing startled both Ashley and Spencer out of the moment they were sharing. Ashley awkwardly getting off Spencer and helping her to her feet, turned towards Anabelle, honestly feeling a little embarrassed to have been caught in what looked like such a compromising position.
"Paula's home, and um, I think she wants to speak to both of you." Anabelle stated, looking from Spencer's blushed face to Ashley's fidgety hands.
"Oh okay, Spencer you ready?" Spencer nodded at Ashley that she was all set.
"Do you need any help, Spencer?" Anabelle asked her, moving towards her in an effort to hold her hand.
"No, thanks...Ashley's got it"
Ashley couldn't help but smile a little bit as she slipped her hand into Spencer's, but her smile faltered a little bit when she saw the frown on Anabelle's face. She couldn't help but feel that Anabelle disapproved of her in some way, she wasn't exactly sure why. Making a mental note to talk to her a bit more tonight, they started to walk out of what Ashley had decided to call the "safe haven", and down the long path that led to the house.
"So...what have you two been up to?"
Ashley wished she could see the expression on Anabelle's face, but couldn't because she was walking slightly behind her.
"Nothing much. Just talking." Spencer replied easily.
The walk back to the house was completed in relative silence and was met by a rather bored looking Paula Carlin talking on her cell phone in the sitting room. As soon as she saw them approaching she abruptly hung up on the phone.
"Ashley. I hope you haven't had any problems yet." She asked curtly.
"No, none yet, Mrs. Carlin" Ashley responded with a smile.
"Great. I just wanted to let both of you know that I won't be here for the next week, I'm going on a business trip."
"Another business trip? You just got back from one two days ago." Spencer, Ashley noticed, looked forlorn but unsurprised at the same time. "When are you leaving?"
"Right now."
"But mom, you were supposed to take me to the opera tomorrow, can't you leave after tomorrow?"
"I'm sorry Spencer, but we're just going to have to do it some other time, I've got to go. I'll see you next week."
Ashley watched as Paula grabbed her purse and hurriedly exited through the front door. Turning to look at Spencer, she couldn't help but feel sorry for her. The look of dejection on her face was one she was very familiar with, having seen it many times before on her own face.
"Hey" Ashley whispered. "Are you okay?"
Her sigh was answer enough that she wasn't fine.
"Yeah, I think I'm just gonna head up to my room now."
"Do you want me to come with you?" Ashley was hoping that she'd say yes, the hurt look on Spencer's face was causing her own chest to tighten and she was willing to do whatever it took to make her feel better.
"No...I'm just gonna head to bed early, but I'll see you in the morning right?" Ashley gave her a head nod. "Goodnight, Ashley"
"Goodnight"
Ashley watched her form ascend up the stairs, using the guardrail to guide her. Briefly wondering if she needed some help to get to her room, but something was telling Ashley that she'd really rather be alone at the moment, and Ashley could respect that. The noise from the kitchen reminded Ashley that Anabelle was still around, and she figured now would be as good a time as any to get to know her more. Making her way into the kitchen, Ashley observed Anabelle sharpening her knives from behind the kitchen island.
"I'd always thought being a chef was half martial arts and half cooking. And here is visible proof."
That earned a chuckle from Anabelle, and Ashley was inwardly relieved. Out in the garden she'd thought that maybe Anabelle might be angry with her, but if she was laughing at her lame joke she couldn't really be that upset.
"Yes, I think you're right, it's an art form. I cook, beat people up, cook, beat people up. It's a perfect balance between the two...not everyone can do it, you know." She smiled.
"I can only imagine." Ashley laughed. "So what exactly is your job description...besides being a martial arts chef extraordinaire?"
"Well, I'm basically the personal chef/Personal assistant. When I'm not cooking, I kind of keep the house in order, making sure everybody who works here gets paid regularly, taking messages for Paula, and you know, other little jobs that make me the best."
"Oh, so you're pretty much my boss then." Ashley smiled, noticing the dimples that formed on Anabelle's face when she grinned.
"Yeah, I am aren't I, so you'd better be extra nice to me."
"That won't be a problem." Ashley smiled. "So where do you stay?"
"Follow me and I'll show you."
Ashley followed behind her as she led her to a door that was adjacent to the kitchen. They walked through the door and into her living area. Ashley was surprised at how big the place was, it was like she had her own little apartment within the house.
"This is really nice." Ashley commented.
"Yeah it is. Sometimes I think that it's way too big for just me, you know."
Ashley nodded, she could definitely understand that. She followed Anabelle over to the couch where they both sat down.
"So have you always lived in New York?" Ashley asked pulling her feet up onto the couch to get into a better position.
"Actually no, I moved to New York when Spencer did, I've lived in Ohio my whole life."
"Wait...so how long have you actually known Spencer then?" Ashley asked looking a bit confused.
"Since she was a baby. Her dad was my dad's best friend. Let's just say I took care of her when the kids in middle school would tease her...and by take care of, I mean I beat them up." She chucked.
Ashley looked at her intrigued, having about a million questions but not sure if she could ask them without sounding too intrusive. So she asked the one question that she wanted to ask the most, the one question she'd wanted to ask ever since she stepped into that bedroom.
"Could you tell me about Spencer?"
Almost immediately Anabelle started to look uncomfortable, and Ashley was starting to think that maybe it was the wrong question to ask when she answered.
"I don't really know how to explain this...but Spencer's special...in a way that we can't quite understand."
Videl1212: Note taken! Now that I think about it I'd probably get out of hand too if I got to choose what happened in other stories lol!
DERxROS: Thank you! I'm glad you like it:)
Vanessa Riverton: I'm so excited to hear that they make your day! It makes my day when I see all your reviews:)
Supergirl6: Haha, yeah she can definitely wield a knife so I'd be careful not to get on the wrong side of her!
xDloverx: Thanks! It's kind of easy to get the chemistry going when it's Spencer and Ashley:)
Uber-Monster: Wouldn't we all kill to be in that situation!:)
crickett13: Yep, you definitely will, probably in the next couple of chapters things will be revealed:)
Capactive4: I like your theory:)
lexj: Oh you'll find out!
gamin: I'm glad you gave it a shot too:)
weightofitall: Thanks! I'm excited to be back, and I think you may be right about it getting out of hand, I'd like to hear where everybody thinks the story will go, doesn't mean I'm gonna go with it though lol, but it's nice to hear different perspectives:)
charmedcrazy14: Thank you! I hope you continue to read and enjoy!
dttdemon: I know, it's easy to forget that she's blind, but in a way I think that's a good thing:)
TCHS-SoP-chick: Aww, unfortunately it's not! She's a very beautiful Latino woman...with cute dimples and culinary skills!:)
IloveSBC: I feel bad that I made you mad...but I hope this update makes you happy!:)
MasterDannison2: Thank you!
idrinktogetdrunk: It is pretty weird, I mean especially for us since we don't know what it feels like to be blind.