So here's the next chapter, thanks to everyone for the reviews, I LOVE them!! I hope you all enjoy this next chapter. Read and Review! I love to know what you guys are all thinking:)

Chapter 7

Ashley left the stage after finishing up her third song of the night to a round of applause. Her eyes were drawn to Spencer who was energetically clapping with a wide grin. Ashley couldn't help but grin too as she left the stage carrying her guitar across her shoulders.

"Ashley Davies?"

Ashley's footsteps halted on the stairs as she looked at the guy she assumed was the scout from the recording company walking towards her.

"Yes?"

"Hi, I'm Paul Blumenthal." He reached out his hand and Ashley shook it. "I watched your performance, and I have to say you have some talent." He smiled.

"Thank you. I really appreciate that." Ashley smiled back.

"I'm with Sony music entertainment. I'd really like to meet up with you so we can discuss a possible future for you as a recording artist with our company."

"Are you serious?"

He handed her his card, and Ashley stared at it blankly, still a little bit awestruck at the opportunity he was presenting before her.

"Give me a call whenever you're ready to talk."

Ashley watched him walk away. She'd known that there was going to be a scout in the audience but she didn't think it would be one from one of the biggest recording companies in the country. It excited her but made her nervous at the same time, what if they wanted her and she didn't live up to their expectations? What if they wanted her to change her music...to be something she was not? All these questions ran through her head as she looked at the card again, the glossy paper smooth under her fingers.

She made her way over to their table, fingering the card in her hands along the way.

"Who was that?" Mark immediately asked her as she sat down, curiosity all over his face.

"The scout, he's from Sony."

"Seriously?! What did he say?"

"He liked the performance. He wants me to call him so we can get together and talk." Ashley continued to play with the card, mentally tracing the letters on it in her head.

"Whoa! That's fucking great Ashley, I've gotta be there! I swear I can negotiate the best deal ever, you'll be famous I swear."

Ashley watched him motion with his hands the way he always did when he got excited, mentally groaning in her head. She hadn't even been offered a deal, the scout only wanted to meet up with her and talk and Mark was already planning out negotiations.

"You don't seem too excited about this, Ashley." Mark stated, taking a sip of his beer and watching Spencer out if the corner if his eye.

"I am... I am. I just, I don't know, it just doesn't feel right and I'm not sure why."

"Well maybe you need to..."

"Hey, can you get us another drink please." Ashley cut him off before he could finish his sentence. She wasn't in the mood for his nagging, and frankly as much as she loved him, his voice was starting to irritate her. He frowned at her, but soon started to cheer up when he looked to Spencer to ask her what she wanted.

"And what can I get you Spencer?" His eyes transfixed on the smooth skin on her melancholy face.

"I'll just have the same thing, thanks."

"Sure thing, Ashley?"

"I'll just have a beer please." Ashley said, suddenly feeling a little bit sorry for cutting him off earlier. It wasn't his fault, he was just trying to help her.

As he was walking away she grabbed his hand and mouthed "Thank you". He smiled and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. And Ashley looked at Spencer fully for the first time since she'd walked off stage.

"Hey." Ashley said, loving the way Spencer's mouth lifted up into a smile.

"Hey." Spencer turned to her.

"Did you like the show? Ashley asked, a bit self conscious.

"Like it? I loved it. You were amazing Ashley."

"Really?" Ashley grinned.

"Yes, really." Spencer smiled. "Your music, it's just so...it's like your reaching so deep into our souls that the music starts to take on a meaning specific to us. Like the words you're singing are truth, a truth only known to us."

Ashley honestly didn't care what her music sounded like to other people, all she wanted to know was how it sounded to Spencer. And as she was listening to Spencer describe it, she couldn't help but feel like she could listen to Spencer's voice forever, the way words just flowed off her tongue smooth as butter, the raspy tone of her voice that stirred things in her that hadn't ever been stirred before.

"You have a gift Ashley."

Mark returned with their drinks at that moment, but Ashley couldn't take her eyes off of Spencer. The next band was making their way on stage.

"Spencer, do you want to go outside with me." Ashley asked.

"Yeah, sure."

Mark gave Ashley a weird look, like he was seeing a whole new Ashley.

"But this is one of your favorite bands?" He looked at her incredulously.

"I think I can miss one of their shows without dying." Ashley smiled.

Spencer placed her hand in Ashley's as she got out of her chair and Ashley led her out of the bar, happy to just have Spencer close to her. They made their way outside, the streetlights illuminating the streets of New York and giving it a misty look. They stood on the pavement a little away from the entrance to the bar underneath a streetlamp. Ashley still hadn't let go of her hand and didn't seem as if Spencer wanted her to by the way she was rubbing circles on Ashley's hand with her thumb.

They could hear the music coming through the door of the bar.

All these walls were never really there,

Nor the ceiling or the chair.

I'm eking weeks of peace at the beach,

I see the breezes weave the trees,

These walls, you'll find, are yours and mine

Defined not by them, I

I'm in times that lie behind my eyelids,

The sunset still the rising silence.

Ashley turned so she was facing Spencer, her body instinctively moving closer to Spencer's. Their bodies were almost touching now, so close that she could feel Spencer's breath on her lips. It was as if their bodies couldn't help themselves, drawn together, their fingers touched and then interlaced.

"Spencer..."

I'll not feel no fear

Cos' I'm not really here

I'm nowhere near here

Ashley moved her hand up to cup Spencer's cheek, watching as she nuzzled her face into her hand, her lips slightly parted.

"Ashley, I..." was puffed against her lips, and Ashley couldn't stop her eyes from closing, her heart from break dancing, couldn't stop the butterflies flying in her stomach as their noses nuzzled.

Eyes falling closed, Spencer's hands clenched tightly on Ashley's tank top, pulling her closer. Ashley closed the distance between their lips, the feeling of Spencer's lips on hers the sweetest thing Ashley could ever have imagined. The feeling of wanting more overcoming them as the kiss deepened and tongues met. And there they stood, under the streetlights of New York, joined together so tightly it was almost as if they were one person.

All possibilities in each new morning

'til satisfied reaching out, yawning

Fish in a big dish, some rice and spice,

Salt over shoulder, never salted so tight

The truth I have told was silence sometimes

But who's soul does not hide any crimes

Wrapped in walls, encircled by work

The walls fall - the story occurs

No barrier, or boundary, or allow us ID's

The freedom to stay off straight

Be fiend, or friend, cause no harm but charm - the peaceful end.

The song used in this chapter is called "The Escapist" and it's by The Streets off of their new album. All lyrics belong to them:)