Chapter 27- "Please Don't Go Girl" New Kids on The Block


Saturday, November 21st

"Come on lady! Move out of the fucking way!!!" Spencer hollered as she furiously pounded on the black Porsche's horn. She was swerving around trucks and trailers while gunning it past stupid small cars and obnoxious motorcycles down the 405 freeway.

"Uhm …Spence? …" Ashley, who was cowering in the passenger seat clutching her seatbelt for dear life, finally got the courage to speak up.

"What?!" Spencer snapped. Maybe that wasn't such a good idea.

"Uh… Are you ok?" Ashley asked sheepishly. Since when was Ashley terrified of Spencer? Oh right, since Spencer started channeling speed freak outlaw Thelma. Or was it Louise? Whoever the crazy one was, that's whom Spencer was channeling.

"Why wouldn't I be ok?" Spencer questioned irritated.

"I don't know, maybe because you just flipped off a nun… What's going on with you? Do you want to get us killed or something?" Ashley half joked. Although she'd seen the wicked glare the ragging blonde had given that one truck driver, so she wasn't sure.

Truck drivers in Los Angeles were the equivalent of cab drivers with mustaches, except with significantly larger vehicles, therefore exceptionally more dangerous and way creepier. Have you seen the wheels on a semi? Those things are insanely large and are in no way threatened by small blondes in expensive sporty rides.

"Don't be absurd… maybe you don't give a crap, but I'M trying to make sure you don't miss your flight." Spencer glared at Ashley furiously while slamming her red Converse on the accelerator. What the hell had gotten into the blonde?

"O-kay… You DO know we're two and a half hours early right? … I mean you insisted that we be here early. And we are... Super early actually, I've never really seen the sun this low before… And the airport is like an exit away… So there's no need to get all Jordana Brewster Fast and Furious here…" Ashley reasoned while clutching on her seatbelt tighter.

"Well if you don't like the way I fucking drive, then why'd you ask me to bring you to the airport?" Spencer snapped again and Ashley knew she had her work cut out for her.

The brunette contemplated her next move thoroughly. She wanted to find out what was troubling her better half yet she feared she would end up as road kill if she pried to much, there was no easy way around it. Still, she needed to know what had the blonde's hot pink panties in a bunch before she got on the metal paperweight with wings and died a tragic death like most legendary rock stars in the peak of their careers.

Ashley considered taking off her top and distracting her, but she didn't want to be the cause of a pile up on the 405. She pondered making a stupid joke but she didn't want to upset her anymore. Spencer was like a bear right now, a bear driving a very expensive demolition weapon, but a bear nonetheless. She had to make sure not to frighten her or piss her off, otherwise she'd attack or smash into things. Either way, the results would suck. The girl was in quite the conundrum.

After a few moments, the anxious rebel worked up the courage to confront the irate blonde. Not before tightening the straps on her seatbelt of course.

"Are you mad at me? …Do you want to punish me for something I did by making me pee my pants? …Because you know that's always the funnest, to have wet pants during a 6-hour flight… I really don't wanna be the girl that smells like pee in first class though… That's just gross and sooo bad for my rep…" Spencer glared at the joking girl next to her and Ashley's smile faded as quickly as it appeared. Maybe Ashley should've stuck to her 'no lame joke' rule.

Neither said a word the rest of the way. Spencer pulled up into the airport parking lot and they both silently sat in the car as an overwhelming cloud of absurd tension veiled their space. Spencer folded her arms across her chest and her mind festered in anger. Ashley sat there sifting through a mental timeline of recent events, trying to pick out a moment when she might of upset the blonde. Maybe the fact that Ashley was about to go away for six months should've been a clue as to Spencer's sudden mood change and maybe Ashley knew that but was afraid that she finally couldn't fix her blonde.

"Are you trying to pick a fight with me before I leave so you can have a reason to be mad at me? …Because I'm sorry to break it to you Spence, it's been done… Plenty of times actually… In like movies and stuff..." Seriously Davies, lay off the jokes they might be hazardous to your health.

"You're an ass... How can you joke in a time like this?" See? Spencer scowled at Ashley. SCOWLED. The blonde only brought out the big guns when she was REALLY mad and scowling was definitely considered a big gun in Spencer's book. Actually it was considered a big gun in Ashley's book too, so she panicked.

"Because…" Ashley stuttered but she knew she had no proper explanation. She was like the funny guy on Friends, the one that used humor as a defense mechanism, but without the unfortunate name and better bone structure. She gave up trying to come up with a valid excuse and just expressed her unabashed feelings. "… I don't know. I just want to know why you're so upset so I can fix it… I don't want you to be mad at me…" The brunette admitted miserably. The look alone on Ashley's eyes was heartbreaking and Spencer couldn't stand it. She felt herself collapsing under her disheartening stare. She had willed herself not to cry until the wake of Ashley's departure and up until that point she'd done so well. Yet her brilliant plan to overshadow her feelings of helplessness and utter dismay with fury and rage was failing her utterly. How could she even try to be angry at the magnificent being next to her? She was just so perfect and she loved her so much, it was damn near impossible.

Ashley took advantage of Spencer's sudden ingenuousness, quickly stepping out of the passenger seat and hurrying over to the driver's door. She pulled on Spencer's handle and held her hand out for her blonde to take hold of. "Come here." Ashley directed as sweetly and as confidently as she could.

Spencer hesitantly took her hand and stepped out of the Porsche, her face flushed with unshed tears, her eyes twinkling with sadness and her lips quivering between her teeth.

Ashley wrapped her in the tightest embrace she'd ever held. Spencer surrendered, finally letting go of all that she'd been holding in.

Her love was finally leaving and she just couldn't bear it in any longer. Ashley held Spencer as she gradually unraveled, quietly sobbing in her arms. She'd been so brave these past two weeks, but the reality was more than the blonde was prepared to handle. Not only was she losing her lover for six months, but she was also losing her best friend, her crutch, her lifetime companion. She'd never felt this vulnerable, this helpless and this anxious before.

"Ssssh it's ok…" Ashley assured her, rubbing her back comfortingly. "Hey look at me…" The brunette pulled away and held the blonde's face between her soft hands. "You know I'm coming back right?"­-Ashley wiped the tears trailing down Spencer's delicate features from her glum eyes. Those eyes that would bring her a different kind of death to her-"Even though it feels like I'm dying because I have to be away from you, I'm not… I'm coming back… I promise…" Ashley leaned in and gave Spencer the softest, sweetest kiss she'd ever given anyone. The most comforting reassuring gesture that coursed shivers throughout her body and soothed her lover's pain. She gave her a perfect moment, a moment that destroyed any inhibitions about the brunette's devotion and trampled any insecurities about the depth of her promise. A perfect moment that Spencer could relish and Ashley could treasure.

"I just can't believe you're not going to be here for Thanksgiving… and Christmas…" -Spencer hiccupped- "…This is like the first time since we met that you're not going to come over for the holidays… and eat all the gravy and make up stupid words during Carlin Tournament Scrabble and tell my dad he's the best cook and secretly glare at my mom when she makes a comment about your outfit-"

"-and love you and kiss you and 'accidentally feel you up under the table?" Ashley chuckled as she pulled the blubbering blonde into her. She was being brave for both of them. She was taking on the burden of being the strong one for Spencer's sake. It was Ashley's turn to be tough and tough she was; it was taking all the strength within her not to breakdown and bawl along with Spencer.

"Yeah…"-Spencer whined-"It was supposed to be different now, better than before… and now it's just… sad." Spencer sulked.

"It IS better now…"-Ashley refuted-"…because you know I love you and I know you love me… and now I don't have to spend all Thanksgiving trying to figure out a way to get you under a mistletoe by Christmas… because I can do this now"-Ashley tilted Spencer's face up and pressed her lips on hers, kissing her sweetly-"…as many times as I want…" She smiled into her lips before kissing her again-"…Plus you're coming over for New Years and that's like the best holiday…" She winked and actually caused the blonde to crack a smile.

"You're right… you're always right…" Spencer admitted falling back into the girl's arms.

"And that's why you love me…"

The girls spent the rest of the morning hugging and kissing and making promises of forever. Exchanging physical vows of devotion and trading silent oaths of love.

When it was time for Ashley to board the plane, Spencer didn't shed a single tear, a promise she'd made the brunette earlier.

Once Ashley was on the plane though, she couldn't hold it in any longer, she broke down. She no longer had to be tough for anybody.


Saturday, December26th

"Hello?" Spencer groggily picked up her cell phone. She knew it was Ashley from the unique ringtone she'd assigned her. Although, The Temptations' "My Girl" was hardly unique, it was just plain cheesy.

"Spencer?!" Ashley was way to cheery for 3 am. Though technically in France it was noon.

"Hey…" Spencer smiled. She had just been dreaming about the girl and it was strange how even wildest dreams couldn't do her voice justice.

"Billy finally figured it out … Go back to your computer so I can see you."

"Ash it's three in the morning…" The muzzy beauty whined.

"So! I've been working really hard to get this working… I really want to see you…" Spencer could practically see the pout from across the globe. She had to admit it was a pretty good pout.

"mmhmmhhm" Spencer made a weird lazy moan which oddly enough informed Ashley she had agreed. She hesitantly got up from her comfy bed and walked over to her fancy new desktop. It was hardly a desktop though; it was a fully loaded Edit Bay, complete with a voice over microphone and all of the Final Cut Pro trimmings. Ashley really knew how to spoil the blonde even with a pesky continent in the way. Spencer took a few seconds to fix her wild bed hair before login on to her iChat. She had to look good for her brunette regardless of the time of day, especially since it was the first time they would see each other in over a month. Spencer clicked on the application and was greeted with the most beautiful brown eyes she'd ever remember seeing. Surprisingly even her most vivid dreams seemed unworthy of her beauty as well.

"Hi…" Ashley was suddenly shy.

"Hey…" And suddenly so was Spencer, like if both of them were just meeting for the first time on a bizarre online dating website.

There was only silence while the two girls reveled in each other's extraordinary beauty. It had really been a long time. Even the French butterflies in Ashley's stomach seemed much bigger than the American ones. Those French girls had absolutely nothing on Spencer, and Pink wished she had Ashley's cheekbones.

"…I can't believe I missed you opening your present. I feel like the worst girlfrie.... FRIEND! BEST FRIEND... Who's a girl" Ashley choked on her words, realizing what she had just said out loud. It was harder to cover when the blonde was looking right at her, even from miles away, through a tiny little camera. Damn that amazing technology.

"Ash!"

"Sorry. Please don't freak out." Ashley pleaded.

"Seriously?! You think I'm going to freak out?" Spencer was actually shocked by the brown-eyed girl's reaction.

"No... Well yeah. It's what you do." Ashley cringed, although it was very true.

"Aaash." Though even Spencer couldn't argue against that.

"Sorry..."

"Look… I think we've been through enough together where you calling me your girlfriend isn't going to freak me out... It's actually kind of… NICE..."-Spencer smirked-"plus I think I've put up with enough of your drama that I at least deserve to be your girlfriend... don't you think?" Spencer quirked an eyebrow at the shocked girl on the screen; she loved messing with the brunette.

"Yes! Yeah. Of course!..."-composing herself-"I mean if you feel it's necessary to label our relationship, then sure." Nice try Davies, no one was buying that cool guy act.

"I do." Spencer stated matter of fact.

"Great! … Great. Good. Girlfriend. Good." Ashley was absolutely giddy. It was even blatantly apparent through the slightly pixilated screen.

"What?" Loving Ashley's over zealous grin.

"Nothing… Hold on..."-Ashley got up abruptly, she opened her bedroom door and yelled into the living room where her band members were practicing-"Guys can you keep it down? I'm talking to my GIRLFRIEND. Yeah… SPENCER, MY GIRLFRIEND!"

A faint roar suddenly burst from the other side of the screen and Spencer could've even sworn she heard clapping and even someone howling.


Monday, December 28th

Ashley had been standing at the Arrivals Gate for over an hour patiently waiting a certain blonde's appearance. She'd been so anxious about Spencer's visit she'd hardly slept that night, hell she hardly slept that week, so she got up a the butt crack of dawn and headed to the airport. What else was she supposed to do? She'd already tried on every outfit in her closet; none of course were fitting for the occasion or revealing enough for her liking. She hadn't seen the blonde in over a month, she thought Spencer at least deserved a little treat. Plus the nervousness and anticipation were making her unusually warm body even warmer. Just the thought of layers alone made her feel extremely suffocated, but unfortunately in that weather, layers were all Ashley owned.

Ashley looked up at the arrivals board and noted that Spencer's flight had been delayed. Of course. The Universe was a big freaking tease that way.

Luckily Ashley had recently mastered the art of patience. She had to, otherwise she'd go mad. Being so far away from her happiness and only having time to blame for separating them taught a certain brunette about the intricacies of patience. She merely took the delay as a slight hiccup in her otherwise perfect day. Nothing could ruin her day, not even the inconsideration of fickle flight schedules. Instead she decided to follow up on some last minute details concerning the romantic week she had planned.

Ashley had no idea she was such a thoughtful romantic, in fact if you asked her she'd absolutely deny it. Yet she couldn't help that Spencer made her want to behave in such an attentive manner.

Before she began dialing away and sorting affairs, she raised a sign she'd made earlier, which read "Ashley's Girlfriend" up over her head, so that any blonde's that went by that title could easily spot her through all the chaos. Another one of those things that Ashley did that WASN'T at all romantic, yet she could admit that it was unbearably cute.

As she hung up her phone the brunette looked up only to be met by the most gorgeous blue eyes she'd ever seen. Those familiar beautiful eyes that would bring an enjoyable death upon her. Those eyes that she never stopped dreaming about.

Those eyes were finally there. Finally staring back at her from across the terminal. Finally locking with her eyes. Those eyes that had the power to dismantle her cool and buckle her knees. Those eyes that had the power to drain her blood and race her heart were finally in her presence, causing her to lose her strength and drop her super adorable and cheesy sign with hand drawn red hearts and smiley faces.

Ashley could see the overjoyed grin on the blonde's face even from across the room. And even with hundreds of people in their way, Ashley couldn't help but mirror it. She was so overwhelmed with emotion she didn't even know she could feel such joy. Such utter blissful happiness.

Once Spencer was close, so close, close enough for her to kiss her, the blonde dropped her bags. She dropped her bags and indulged her in the most delightful kiss imaginable. A kiss that's only seen in sappy romantic movies. A kiss that made them forget they were at an airport, that it wasn't just them in the world. After a few long minutes the two finally came back down to reality.

"Hey" Spencer smiled bashfully.

"Hey" Ashley's cheeks were flushed but she couldn't not kiss her again. So she did. She kissed her with all the emotions she was feeling. Spencer felt them too. She felt everything Ashley was feeling with just that kiss. And with that kiss everything was better.

"You dropped your sign…" The blonde noted, yet not really looking anywhere but the gorgeous girl in front of her. The girl whose lips were only a breath away. Whose sweet air was gracing her lips.

"Yeah…" Ashley smiled widely kissing her again.

"How will 'Ashley's Girlfriend ever going to find you?"

"I don't know, but she always does"


Sunday, February 14th

"Hey boo." Ashley answered her phone cheerily.

"Did you just call me boo?" Spencer never ceased to be amused with the things that came out of her girlfriend's mouth. Even from a very long distance.

"Yeah. I'm tying out a special Valentine's Day pet name. What do you think? …Will you be my boo?"

"Yes, definitely... I'll be anything you want."

"Oh Spence don't tease me like that…" Ashley warned.

"Who's teasing?" Spencer smiled. She was privy to how easily she could fluster the brunette with merely words and intonation.

"…So did you get it? Did you get your gift?"

"Yes. Thank you. They're beautiful…" Spencer cooed remembering the reason she called in the first place.

"I know they're kind of generic but I couldn't help myself… Every beautiful girl deserves a couple of dozen roses."

"A couple dozen?!"-Spencer laughed at the blatant lie-"Last time I counted there were twenty-five dozen beautiful roses adorning my apartment…"

"Sorry, I got a little carried away. I was gonna do thirty but the flower shop guy cut me off… "

"Thank god…"-Spencer giggled. It WOULD take something like a flower shortage to stifle the brunette's grandiose gestures-"My apartment is pretty small plus Sally would've exploded with PDA overload if she saw another bouquet delivered…"

"I just want to make sure you don't forget about me…"

"How can I ever forget about you? You're all I ever think about…" The blonde admitted.

"Good. Then my job is done." Ashley smirked.

"I love that you sent red AND yellow roses. That was so incredibly thoughtful."

"I wanted you to know that I love you… But that I'm also your best friend… your naked best friend… but still your best friend"

"I love you too… Besty"

"…I can't believe we're spending our first Valentine's Day together apart. I didn't even know I cared so much about the stupid Holiday."

"Awww! You love me that's why…"

"I do…"

"Ok my turn."

"Your turn for what?"

"Tell Billy I said she can give you your gift now."

"What? Spence... you didn't have to…" Ashley protested but was actually secretly excited. Spencer always gave her the best gifts.

"I know…Go on…"

"Ok… Hold on…"-Ashley walked over to the living room where Billy was working and asked for her surprise, after a few moments she was back on the phone with Spencer- "She says I need a secret password" Ashley chuckled, only Spencer would password protect her gifts.

"Oh right, sorry… 'Little Monster'"

"Boo that was easy…" Ashley told Billy the password and her assistant handed her a DVD with 'Spashley' printed on the face. "Oooh what's this?" Ashley examined the disc intrigued.

"It's a little something I made… pop it in the player and tell me what you think?" The blonde was slightly nervous for the girl's reaction.

Ashley placed the Spashley DVD in the player and was immediately overwhelmed when she saw a bunch of clips and pictures of her and Spencer cut together to the music of their favorite songs. Video clips that spanned the length of their five year friendship. Pictures that reminded the brunette of the amazing memories the two had shared. A collection of mementos from their amazing bond masterfully edited to create a 4 minute tribute to their love.

It was the most thoughtful gift from the admitted romantic in the relationship that articulated the depth of their passion and the extent of their connection.

"Aww baby... I love it... Thank you..." The brunette wiped a tear from her cheek. Spencer's prefect gift record was still in tact.


Wednesday, May 5th

"Oh my god what are you wearing? …" Spencer giggled at the get up Ashley was sporting.

"What this? …"-Ashley smirked pointing at her two piece bathing suit-"Oh this is my, 'it's Cinco de Mayo and I'm tired of being cold so I raised the temperature in this place and now I can walk around in my bathing suit and feel right at home" outfit"

"I see." Spencer was amused, as always, by her girlfriend's shenanigans. She was special that Ashley.

"I'm sorry I haven't been able to talk to you this whole week"-Ashley apologized sincerely-"Madge has really been kicking my ass... She's fucking incredible!"

"You know what else is incredible?" Spencer baited the brunette.

"You…" Ashley winked and managed to make the girl blush, even from 1,000 miles away.

"Uhm no... I heard your song on the radio…" Spencer smiled proudly. She was proud.

"Wow that is awesome…" Ashley had been locked away in a studio for weeks, her agent had called to tell her the song she collaborated with Lady GaGa on would be hitting airwaves and heavy rotation last week. It was different to know Spencer had heard it and was undoubtedly thrilled though. Spencer was the only person whose opinion actually mattered to Ashley anyway.

"Here's your mail Ash…" Billy walked in to the room carrying a stack of correspondence. She was also clad in a two-piece bathing suit and shorts. Spencer had met Billy before but she had no idea the brunette had such a phenomenal body. It was disconcerting to Spencer, and to say she was jealous was to be absolutely right. "Hey Spencer…" Billy waved at Spencer.

"Hey…" Spencer wave and smiled sincerely. Just because she was jealous didn't mean she had to be rude.

"Hey Billy, Spencer was just telling me that she heard my song on the radio… Isn't that cool?" Ashley asked her assistant.

"That is very cool…"-Billy smiled-"I'll leave you two alone, nice to see you again Spencer…" and with that Billy was out the door.

"Oh my god! … I'm on the cover of a French magazine" Ashley yelped disbelieving, dropping the pile of mail she had in her hands. She'd been on the cover on some trashy tabloids back in the states but to be in the cover of a trashy French magazine was something completely different. It was like she was famous in a whole other country.

"Wow!… Can I see?" Spencer grinned. Ashley held up the French tabloid up the small camera so Spencer could inspect the magazine further.

"See… That's me" –pointing at the decent sized photograph on the cover of the magazine-"…and there's Billy… and those are a bunch of French words I can't read…"

Ashley started to pull the magazine away but Spencer saw something that caught her eye.

"Wait can you hold it up again?"

"Spencer I'm right here… You don't have to look at a stupid picture… there's a nearly naked version of me right behind it, in fact I'm open to discussing full frontal nudity if you'd like…"

"Sssshhh just hold it up I'm trying to read the headline…"

"Spence it's in French… you don't read French… I've been here 5 and a half months and I still don't know how to say chicken…"

"I read 'French for Dummy's' now show me!" Ashley pouted as Spencer read.

"Oh" Spencer's eyes suddenly fell.

"What?"

"Nothing…" Even through the tiny camera, Spencer's lying was terrible.

"What the hell Spence, what does it say? ... Please tell me if it says I have a big ass..." Ashley joked.

"I don't know… You're right I can't read French… Anyway I have to go" Spencer added suddenly. Her demeanor changing completely.

"But you just got on…" Ashley pouted.

"Ash I have a lot of things to do today… You know party shopping and stuff… I know you can't make it, but the rest of the world still wants to celebrate my graduation…" Spencer didn't mean to be so harsh but it just came out that way. Something was obviously troubling her.

"Ouch…" Ashley was visibly hurt by this, it's not like she didn't want to be there, she did, but Madonna was crazy and was making her stay longer.

"Sorry…"

"No it's ok… Go plan your party… I am really sorry I can't make it though…"

"Ok… Bye" Spencer signed off without waiting for a response.

"Yeah ok... bye...Billy! …" Ashley screamed for her assistant.

"Yeah?" The assistant bounded into the door within seconds.

"You read French… What the hell does this say?" Ashley held up the magazine for the other brunette to read.

"Ashley Davies hot lesbienne affaire… oh"

"What oh? …What do you mean? What does it say…"

"They kind of claim here that I'm your girlfriend… Shit I'm sorry I'll call and ask for a retraction… "

"Fuck…"


Sunday, May 9th

Spencer had been ignoring calls from Ashley all week. She was upset with the girl, even if she knew deep down inside Ashley was madly head over heals in love with her, she still couldn't help the angst she felt upon seeing the tabloid cover. Even if she knew there was nothing going on, Spencer couldn't help the empty feeling inside her. The time apart was really starting to take its toll on the blonde's morale.

New Text Message

Girlfriend

Spencer clicked on the screen and reluctantly read the message.

Je t'aime toujours

Spencer knew those words too. In spite of her inner battle she quickly responded to the text "I love you too"


A/N: Hey kids! We're reaching home stretch now (I really don't know what that means... I think it's baseball for 'we're pretty much almost done here'.) Yey! And also Boo!! What will I do with myself?

Thank you so much for reading and reviewing, you guys are truly the heart of these stories (so if they suck, you only have yourselves to blame :)