Chapter 12- "Passenger Seat" Death Cab for Cutie
The girls swaggered right up to the cab hand in hand just in time to catch the driver before he drove off. Of course when Tim from Ohio, cab driver since 2009 saw the two heavenly sights approach his vehicle he immediately pulled over. After thanking his god and resetting the meter he let the girls in with nothing but a grateful smile. It was Tim's third day as a cab driver and he was certainly starting to enjoy the perks of working in L.A.
"Sorry I almost left you there Spencer, I thought you changed your mind or something"
"No… It's ok Tim… it's our fault, we took too long"
"Well you gals are definitely worth the wait" He smiled sheepishly through the rearview mirror.
"You know this guy?" Ashley whispered skeptically into Spencer's ear. 'This guy' looked kind of shady for Ashley's liking, plus the way he was looking at Spencer didn't sit right with her.
"Well… I mean sort of… we just met on the way over here…" She whispered back to Ashley.
"Ugh do you really have to socialize with everyone? I mean do you really have to be nice to the creepy cab driver? Is that necessary?" Ashley scolded Spencer under her breath.
"Must you be such a snob? … Plus there's nothing about him that's creepy…" she hushed defensively.
"Oh yeah what about that stupid mustache? That's creepy! …Everyone knows that mustaches are for creeps and cops!" That actually hurt Ashley's throat to murmur with so much excitement.
"So where are you gals off to in Malibu? I see you're wearing all white… are ya going to a special all white event?" Tim intruded unsuspectingly.
"Yes we are" Spencer answered sweetly.
"That's very perceptive of you Tim" Ashley added. He just smiled. He was new to the California sun and sarcasm.
"Why are you being like that?" It was Spencer's turn to silently scold Ashley.
"Like what?"
"Like a jerk, you don't even know him…" she hissed.
"…Because he's creepy! … Come on, what grown man says 'GALS'? … Plus he's looking at you all gross… I don't like it…" Ashley defended quietly.
"Ash…" Spencer glowered at the petulant brunette taking command of the battle.
"…Ok forget it I'm sorry… I really don't want to fight…especially over some stupid creepy cab driver" Ashley resigned. Spencer had that affect on the her, the one that made her seemed like she was whipped. She was.
"Fine..." Spencer ended the whispering battle with an audible concession.
"What was that Spencer?" Tim asked enthusiastically
"uh…I said; it's a FINE night isn't it?" Ashley rolled her eyes at Spencer's lame cover up.
"Lovely… I must say, you gals have it made living in this nice city with great weather all the time… back home in Ohio we'd be wearing more layers this time of year, but you know that already Spencer…"
"What the hell, did you tell him your whole life story?" Ashley started quietly but Spencer just glared at her, stopping whatever sarcastic remark she'd conjured up from surfacing.
"You know what they say though…" Tim continued unaware of Ashley's disapproval "Ohio Today…"
"Ohio tomorrow…" Spencer finished cheerily.
"What does that even mean?" Ashley bemused. "…Hey! You know what else they say? … Charles Manson was from Ohio!" Ashley added her little nugget of information.
"Ash!"
"What? It's true…I saw it on E!... he was pretty creepy too" Ashley defended innocently.
"What is the matter with you?" She barely managed to murmur.
"I don't know I'm sorry…" Right, like Ashley didn't know that the sexual tension with Spencer was making her all kinds of crazy. Plus the added jealousy and that ridiculously tight dress made her nuttier than a goat in heat. If you've ever seen a goat in heat you'd empathize with Ashley. "Will you forgive me please?" Spencer was no fool. She knew she'd suffered that week during Ashley's absence. She wasn't prepared to relive that again. That didn't mean she couldn't milk the groveling a little longer though.
"I don't know… " Spencer feigned disinterest.
"Pleeeeaaase! I'll wash your Vespa® tomorrow…."
"Hmmmm…" The thought of Ashley lathered up in soap and probably a wet t-shirt on a Sunday, 'God's day', was quite appealing. It was definitely like going to church only sexier. Maybe it was nothing like going to church, but it sounded like a lot more fun.
"…Come on… I even have something pretty you."
"What?" Spencer's eyes widened with a beam. She was such a big kid. She loved presents (although who doesn't love presents). She even forgot all about drawing out the groveling.
"Ha! I knew that'd work!" Ashley said smugly.
"…What, now you carry gifts in your purse in case you act like a jerk and need to make things better? ...Wow how big IS that purse?" Spencer smirked.
"Wow look at you being all funny… I'll take that as a NO on the gift then?"
"No wait…" Ashley was pleased at how well she knew her BFF. She hesitated a few moments then caved in. She hadn't intended on giving it to her just yet but the moment called for a tension breaker and what better way to break tension than with presents.
"Ok so this might be a little cheesy but…." Ashley timidly handed Spencer a blue Tiffany's box.
"First of all… nothing from Tiffany's can ever be cheesy and second of all…"-handing the box back-"I can't accept this… it's too much…" Ok so Spencer was more of a homemade Popsicle stick present kind of girl. Too bad arts and crafts were definitely not Ashley's strong suit.
"Spencer! … Ugh! 'First' of all you haven't even opened it, it could be a stupid key chain for all you know. I mean it's not, but still … and 'second' I'm a millionaire! It's REALLY not too much…"
"Oh My God you're a millionaire!?" Spencer pretended to be shocked "…seriously though, you know how I feel about expensive gifts… I want our friendship to be on an even level… and I can't buy you these kinds of presents, so it's not fair…"
"Yes it is… because the stuff you give me is priceless" It was true. Mr. Teddy had gotten Ashley through some tough times. He WAS priceless. Spencer gave Ashley one of her special smiles, the kind where the twinkle in her eyes sparkled a little bluer. "… So just take it because I'm trying really hard to win you over with my cash"
"You don't have to try… you've already won" Ashley felt the temperature inside the cab get a little muggier. Must've been the reason why her face was suddenly flushed.
"uh…Good... Now take it" she mustered the words through her dry mouth.
"Fine… but I'm not going to like it…" Spencer opened the little blue box cradling a shiny platinum friendship bracelet. Gasp. It was so pretty and sparkly Spencer could hardly contain her excitement. "…Ashleeeey!!!!"-She squeaked and her grin grew wider-"I love it! This is sooo sweet!"
Tiffany's Platinum Bracelet: 1, Kraft Macaroni Bracelet: 0
"Oh good…" Ashley sighed a breath of relief. "I know things have been weird with us lately and I just want you to know that you're very important to me… like number one… and no matter what happens just know that I love you and care about you and need you, like all the time, which you already know, and I really hope that…. you feel the same about me…" Ashley's discourse was flawlessly executed, it had to be, she'd practiced it at home in front of the mirror enough times that she could've said it backwards. Spencer was so overwhelmed by the touching moment that her eyes began to water before she engulfed her friend in one of their special hugs. The kind that made Ashley forget how to breathe and Spencer's skin shiver; both in the good ways.
"I do… Of course I do… Thank you! You don't know what this means to me…"
"Sure I do… it means…"
"Spencer it's your birthday!?" Tim interrupted and Ashley could've strangled the nice but meddling cabbie.
"Nope… I just have the best Ashley in the whole wide world!" Spencer muffled from Ashley's neck. Ashley grinned her happy grin and even forgave Tim. Spencer pulled away from their embrace, tears slowly making their way down her cheeks as she put her new buddy bracelet on.
"Spencer! You're crying…."
"Sorry, you know I'm a big sap…"
"Yeah well stop it… you're going to ruin your gorgeous… make-up" Ashley took out a tissue from her purse and started dabbing the tears from Spencer's cheek. Spencer blushed under Ashley's comforting touch biting her lip to suppress a wide smirk. Oh yeah she definitely had some confessing to do tonight. Ashley paused a brief moment, taking in Spencer's genuinely beautiful exterior. She savored the moment, enjoying their mutual happiness and feeling the blue twinkle in Spencer's stare. "You really do look amazing tonight…"
"Thanks…" Wow a blush on top of a blush. That's new. Sally was definitely getting something nice for Christmas this year. "…Actually…"
"We're here gals" Perfect timing there, Mr. Cab driver.
"Thanks Tim" Spencer was thankful on many degrees, mostly because she realized that the cab to the big white party wasn't the right place for amorous confessions. But before a flustered Spencer could reach for the door handle and let her self out Ashley seized her soft but firm shoulder.
"Spencer are you sure you want to do this?" Ashley asked suddenly panicked.
"Of course why wouldn't I?" Spencer was puzzled by Ashley's bizarre polar behavior. First she was grumpy, then flirty, then sappy and now kind of crazy, in a cute way of course.
"Well… there's going to be like a hundred guys drooling all over you tonight… and you know?"
"What? … Jealous?" Hoping. Praying for a yes.
"Well… no." Yes. "I mean this outfit is sooo not right for fighting guys off of you"-pointing at her barely there getup -"and you're definitely not dressed for the occasion either so…"-acknowledging Spencer's even more revealing dress- "… I mean you have a boyfriend that's all… I'm just looking out for Patrick…"
"Why? You hate Patrick…" Spencer said nonchalant.
"No I…yes… yes I do… I'm sorry…" Ashley winced "How did you know?"
"That my best friend hates my boyfriend? … Hmmm I don't know"
"I'm so sorry… I mean I don't HATE him… I just… don't like his corny jokes"
"His jokes are pretty corny" Oh no Spence. Don't give Ashley fuel to keep going. Too late.
"Yeah… and like he always thinks he's right you know? …Even though like, I can be the scientist of cereal he would still try and tell me that he knows more about cereal than me… I mean… I DON'T hate him… I'm sorry…" Ok so Ashley was definitely not a member of the 'I heart Patrick' fan club. Members: One; Patrick. Spencer just wore a button and got the newsletter, she made donations though.
"Scientist of cereal?"
"What? It's a thing... probably..."
"It's ok… I don't need my best friend to love Patrick…It's ok if you don't like him"
"Yeah… all that matters is that you… uhm... love him…" That hurt Ashley more than she thought it would to say it out loud. "…So ill try just for you. Even though he thinks he's smarter than me and tries to be condescending… I mean you're like a hundred times smarter than he is and you're NEVER condescending…" Ok so Ashley was pushing it a little. But it felt so nice to get it off her chest, maybe now Spencer would realize what a lame dude he really was.
"I'm sorry… I won't make you guys hang out anymore… promise" Spencer made a promise she knew she would definitely keep.
"It's ok… I just think you're amazing and deserve someone just as amazing as you…" And for the millionth time that night Spencer blushed, luckily she was wearing the correct color palette to go along with the flush of her cheeks. Something Sally probably considered in her make up decisions.
"Awww you're really working the Hallmark tonight…" Spencer teased trying not to read too much into her wishful thoughts, because she would. Her mind would start to believe what everyone else seemed to already know. And then it would just be TOO perfect, and Spencer was smart enough to know there was NO such thing.
"Yup… Because you're going to have to be nice if I start dating a dumb blonde." See! Ashley was obviously only joking though, since the only blonde she was interested in was no dummy.
"Right…." And with that, Ashley shoved Spencer right back into her tiny hetero closet. Bursting her wishful bubble in the process. Stupid Sally, what did SHE know about Ashley and her feelings?
"Anyway… I'm still thinking about Patrick here… Are you sure you want to go in there?"
"Hey! I didn't let Sally torture me so that I can only see the inside of a cab… plus I'm buying you a drink after this thoughtful gift you gave me" Spencer's smile was bittersweet.
"You're buying me a drink at the open bar? Thanks… but don't worry…" Ashley picked up her right wrist from her lap "…you already gave me my gift" and showed her an identical bracelet hanging from it.
"Wow I'm so sweet" Spencer smiled wholeheartedly this time.
"The sweetest" Ashley beamed "Ok fine let's go… but don't say I didn't warn you!"
"Bye Tim!" Spencer gleamed while scooting out of the cab.
"Later Timmy" Ashley added.
Tim watched as the matching girls walked away and into the massive hall overlooking the ocean. He couldn't help but thank his god once again for the two beautiful angels that just stepped out of his cab and away from his life. Tim was such a sad romantic, he really needed to get laid.
A/N: Aww can you hear that? That's my heart filling with joy! Thanks for all the love. Sorry about this chappter I know it's kind of lame. I think I was drunk when I wrote it.
P.S. I'm pretty sure no one say's "Ohio Today, Ohio Tomorrow." I made that up. But it made me giggle uncontrolably everytime I read it that I had to keep it in there, see I WAS probably drunk. So if you're from Ohio don't damn me, but hey please feel free to use it!
