Thank you all for the reviews and encouragement, and sorry for the long space between updates I've just been quite busy with school and everything. And yes for weightofitall being my new mentor...it's a very serious job, you know:) But anyway, here's the next chapter:)
Chapter 6
They left for the show right on time, Ashley helping Spencer into her Ford pickup and then taking a seat on the driver's side. She had been surprised to see Spencer come out of her room wearing a Led Zeppelin rock tee and some faded jeans, surprised because she'd never imagined her dressed so casually, from what she'd seen so far Spencer's taste in clothes was more classic, she was sort of like the girl next door that every guy would want to bring home to their parents.
"So you like Led Zeppelin?" Ashley asked, slowly pulling out of the Carlin's driveway.
"Yeah...I think I do, they weren't really the kind of music I listened to, but then a couple of years ago Anabelle played me some of their music and I was hooked. What about you? Are you more into hard rock or let's say...Britney Spears?" She teased.
"Before or after she shaved her head off?" Ashley smiled.
Spencer laughed. "Umm...both?"
"Hmm, I'm gonna say I don't think I'll ever be into Britney Spears. I'll admit though that I listened to her when I was like thirteen...but that doesn't count because we all know that that's the year everybody loses their mind."
"Yes, yes, I think you're right. But tell me something, when did you start to think that you wanted to be a musician?" Spencer asked, feeling the thrum of the engine under her fingertips against the window.
"Ever since I can remember. My dad used to play his guitar and sing to me every night that he wasn't at work, which wasn't often because he worked nights at this paper mill, but I just loved the nights that he was home, I can't even tell you how much. At first I just listened, but as I got older I started to sing along with him, just watching the way his fingers slid so easily up and down the guitar. I started playing the guitar myself when I was eight...haven't put it down since."
Spencer smiled, trying to imagine a young Ashley singing her heart out, wondering what her voice would have sounded like.
"Did you ever sing, or play a musical instrument or anything like that?" Ashley asked taking a quick glance over to her.
"Me? Oh no, I am not musically inclined at all, I can hardly even carry a note...all I can compare my voice to is nails on a chalkboard." She chuckled.
"Oh my God, I love the sound of nails on a chalkboard!" Ashley teased.
"Shut up." Spencer smiled, then played with her fingers as she listened to the soft sounds of Ella Fitzgerald ease through the speakers.
They arrived at Mac's bar a half an hour before Ashley was supposed to be on set. The sounds of Brooklyn's finest reached their ears as Ashley helped Spencer out of the car, and Spencer couldn't help but feel out of her comfort zone. She wasn't used to this environment and Ashley could feel it by the way she was holding on to her arm tightly as they walked into the bar.
"Ashley!! God, I expected you here at least an hour earlier so you could watch me get crazy drunk before your big show!"
Ashley looked at her friend Mark walking towards her, clearly a little bit tipsy already.
"I'm sorry Mark, but watching you get drunk isn't particularly very interesting to me."
He laughed, and then his eyes fell on Spencer who was still holding tightly onto Ashley's arm.
"And who is this gorgeous being?" He asked, his eyes checking Spencer out from head to foot and then stopping at her sparkling blue eyes.
Ashley frowned, not liking the way he was not so subtly checking her out, and feeling a little possessive of her.
"This is Spencer." Ashley replied tightly.
"Hi Spencer, I'm Mark." He held out his hand for her and was a bit put out when she made no moves to shake it. Ashley smiled a bit, realizing that he hadn't noticed that she was blind and his cocky confidence was starting to fade.
"Hi Mark, nice to meet you." Spencer replied easily, flashing him a dazzling smile.
"Hey, I got us a table right at the front, just follow me ladies."
His confidence back up at the sight of the smile Spencer flashed him, he led them to a table at the front, pulling their seats out for them.
"Can I get you ladies a drink?" He asked, slightly hovering over Spencer.
"Can I just get an orange juice please." Spencer replied.
"I'll have a vodka cranberry." Ashley glared at him as he walked to the bar to get their drinks.
Ashley wasn't sure why she was so nervous all of a sudden. She knew she wasn't nervous about performing, which was weird in itself because she always got nervous, but she was starting to think that maybe she was nervous about Spencer, nervous because she wanted to make a good impression on her.
"Is this okay? I mean, I know it's pretty noisy in here and a bit smoky too, but we can leave whenever you want to if you're uncomfortable or anything?" Ashley worriedly asked.
Spencer smiled at her. "Ashley, I'm fine. Stop worrying, the building could be burning down and I still wouldn't miss your performance."
"If the building was burning down I'd be the first one to drag your butt out of here." Ashley laughed.
Spencer reached for Ashley's hand, placing her own on top of Ashley's and gently stroking.
"Are you nervous at all?" She asked.
The moment was interrupted by Mark bringing their drinks to the table, Spencer slowly removed her hand and said thank you to Mark as he put her drink down in front of her.
"Do you mind if I borrow Mark for a second?" Ashley asked Spencer.
"Sure, I'll be fine here...just make sure if the place starts burning down that you come and drag me out."
Ashley smiled and then pulled Mark away from the table towards the back of the bar, occasionally glancing back to the front to make sure Spencer was okay. Mark looking particularly affronted turned to her expectantly waiting for her to air her grievance.
"Look, I know you're interested in Spencer, I've seen that look on your face many times...but she's out of bounds, not allowed, no entry, got it?" Ashley stated, emphatically waving her finger at him to make her point clear.
"Hey! What gives you the right to tell me what I can and can't do. And what if I'm genuinely interested in her then huh?"
"You didn't even notice she was blind idiot, I doubt you'd be able to notice any of the intimate details that make Spencer special. Now I'm telling you to back off...otherwise...our friendship is over." Ashley looked him in the eye seriously, waiting for his answer.
"She's blind?"
Ashley sighed with relief, knowing that this was his way of saying that all would be forgotten. She'd never asked him to do something like this for her, and it was obvious by the way that he was looking at her that he was surprised.
"Yes! Now go sit with her while I go backstage and set up."
Mark obediently went back to his seat and struck up a conversation with Spencer while Ashley went backstage to tune her guitar and talk to the DJ. She knew she was being selfish by asking Mark not to pursue Spencer but she couldn't help it. As crazy as it sounds, for some reason she felt that Spencer belonged to her in a way, that Spencer was hers and nobody else's. She observed herself in the mirror, white tank top, dark skinny jeans and her favorite belt, her hair a mass of shoulder length auburn curls. "I look okay" Ashley thought to herself as she grabbed her guitar and listened to the MC announce her name to the audience.
At the sound of applause she made her way out onto the stage, sitting on the stool in front of the mic, her gaze instantly went towards Spencer. The soft smile on her face calmed her as she began to talk to the audience about the first song she was going to play. Her eyes scanned the crowd as she talked, noticing the scout immediately, it wasn't hard, he was wearing a business suit and seemed to be the only one not enjoying himself. Her gaze fell on Spencer again as she started strumming her guitar softly, and as she felt the overwhelming calm envelope her from Spencer, she began to sing.
If this is a question, is maybe a lie
If yes doesn't mean it, does when lessen why
You are held in a cue, someone will be with you shortly
Say I'm wrong, you decide
I don't believe the words you sing sometimes
But then it's your life
It's your life
But then it's your life
It's your life
But, you've only got one
You've only got one
But, you've only got one
So the lyrics for the song that Ashley sings was carefully borrowed from the band Frou Frou and the song's called Only Got One. Obviously the version Ashley sings is acoustic, and I imagined it in my head sounding a bit different from the original when Ashley sings it.
Vanessa Riverton: Hope you enjoyed this update! I think this whole fic is gonna have a lot of aww or drama moments so look out for them!
xxMandyxx: Thank you, hopefully you liked this chappie:)
Videl1212: Thanks! There's gonna be some more flashbacks so keep an eye out for them.
weightofitall: Hahaha, I agree 100 percent!
BrEaKiNg HaZeL: lol, I have a general idea for the rest of the story, nothings set in stone yet...so maybe I'll slip you're look-alike in there somewhere...if you bake me chocolate chip cookies that is:)
Spashley20: Thank you!:)
AbsoluteGarbage: Thanks, I love it when people say I'm not bad at writing because for some reason I always seem to think I am...usually it's at 2am when I'm actually writing the stories though lol
doubleclique: Thank you!
Zapata: Now I'm quite scared, but I have to say threats do work on me so I probably will keep it up:)
TROPPER12: Hahaha, she is a bit of a freak actually...but a cute one, so it's all good!
Hotcutii3: Thank you!! And yeah I had lots and lots of birthday cake, chocolate and vanilla...my favorite!! I did feel a bit sick afterwards though lol:)
LDfreedomTB: Firstly, thanks for the birthday wishes! Secondly, I'm glad you're enjoying the story so far and I'm hoping I can update more often:) And lastly, you are definitely right about that, I had somebody else point that out to me as well, my mistake...I promise I wasn't drunk when I wrote that chapter:)
XSamXStutterzX: I know, I think having something and then losing it has got to be harder than not having something at all, but Spencer lost her sight when she was really young so I'm hoping that she wouldn't really remember too much of what it was like to have sight...hopefully:)
chloedarko: Thanks so much:)
HaleyxxBrookeAAF: Hahaha, no I actually wasn't thinking that you're a blimp because I'm the same way, I eat all the time because I LOVE food, but I play sports all the time so I stay in shape that way, so send me COOKIES!!
Uber-monster: Thank you!! Aaahh...there's always something isn't there, but that one thing is pretty important, I can't say anything because that would ruin the surprise, but it's definitely something that will change the direction of the story...okay I'm not saying anymore:)
Pendulum666: Why thank you, I hope you keep reading!
charmedcrazy14: Haha, thanks! And trust me I know physical pain, my cramps are killing me right now...oh, too much information right?