Chapter Four
Spencer was so glad to be home after her horrible day at school. Things didn't get any worse after lunch as she thought they be after her little confrontation with Ashley. Although, a few random girls were giving her scowls and she could've sworn that one of them hissed at her when she was at the vending machine.
Spencer threw herself on her bed and put her arm over her eyes. Her head was pounding and she was in desperate need of an aspirin. She accepted Casey's offer to drive her home because she thought she might kill Glen if he drove her. She was still mad at him about leaving without her and even madder at his pathetic excuse. He claimed that he thought that Spencer had already left with Casey.
The only drawback of letting Casey drive her was the inevitable talk that she was dreading ever since lunch. At least Casey didn't say anything during the drive but now she was in Spencer's kitchen finding something for them to eat.
Letting out a sigh, Spencer rubbed her temples with her fingers. She wished the day would just end and she could fall asleep.
"I've got some pizza rolls and soda," Casey announced when she entered her room. She was carrying a plate of hot out the oven pizza rolls and holding two cans of soda in one arm.
Spencer smiled at her gratefully and took the plate from her. They ate in silence for a few minutes before Casey finally spoke up.
"So, um, do you want to talk about what happened?" she asked tentatively.
Spencer finished chewing a roll and looked up at her friend. "I may have overreacted a little," she confessed.
"You were a bit harsh, Spencer."
"I know!" she exclaimed startling Casey. "It's just, God, today just sucked and she just pushed me over the edge. She just won't leave me alone."
Casey bit her lip not quite sure how to proceed. "Okay, Spencer, I know Ashley is a piece of work but she's harmless."
"Are you defending her?" Spencer asked angrily.
"No! God, Spencer. Look, I know she's been making your life a living hell but some of things you said were out of line, and I know you said those things in the heat of the moment but you still said them."
Spencer made a sound that was a cross between a groan and growl. "So what do you want me to do? Say sorry? Ashley still needed hear some of things I did mean."
"Yeah, I think she heard it loud and clear."
Spencer could feel her head pounding even harder. "Look, I know I was out of line, but I can't just apologize to her."
"Why not?"
"Because," Spencer paused trying to think of what to say without sounding like a bitch. "I don't want to give her hope."
Casey gave her a look. "Do you really hate her?"
Spencer looked down. "No. It's just she just doesn't seem like someone I would see myself with."
"Spencer, you don't even know her."
"I know what I've seen," Spencer said looking back up. "And I don't want to be a part of that."
There a few minutes of silence as both girls sat there just thinking. "Have you ever liked her?" Casey asked.
"Once," Spencer admitted and Casey looked shocked.
"When?"
"Towards the end of Freshmen year. Ashley was just starting to flirt with me and I was playing hard to get, you know. I actually thought she liked me."
"What happened?"
Spencer scoffed. "I found out about her reputation. I knew then that I was just another trophy to her."
"I'm sorry, Spencer. Why didn't you tell me any of this?"
Spencer shrugged. "There was no point," she stated simply. "Listen, I have a huge headache and I really don't want to kick you out but,"
"Say no more. I'll see you tomorrow." Casey reached over and gave her friend a hug. "Maybe this entire charade has finally stopped."
Spencer gave her a weak smile. "Maybe."
---
"Why do you like her so much?"
"What?" Ashley looked up from her uneaten burger and gave Sally a confused look. Since Ashley had skipped lunch entirely, Sally made her go to her uncle's diner after school.
"Spencer," Sally emphasized. "Why do you like her so much? Out of all the girls you've dated, why is Spencer so special?"
Ashley resumed staring at her burger and picking at the bun. "I've never dated Spencer."
"Ashley." Sally gave her a "don't bullshit me" look.
"Have you seen all the girls I've dated?" Ashley started.
"Um, yeah."
"Well, Spencer isn't anything like them."
Sally scratched her head in confusion. "So Spencer's different from them? But Ashley, you don't even know her."
Ashley smiled as she traced patterns on the diner's table. "I know that she's smart and witty. I know that she's not afraid to speak her mind. I know that she's very grounded." She sighed and ate a fry. "And I know that I could've really fallen for her."
"Ash, if you really like her, then why did you go through all this? All these games you've been playing?"
"I don't know!" She pushed her plate away from her. "I just don't know else how to act. I'm an arrogant bitch."
"Okay, you are not an arrogant bitch," Sally said sternly. "You're over confident and flirtatious. And you might come off a little strong sometimes."
Ashley let out a derisive laugh.
"But why don't you just stop all of that? I mean you had to know Spencer didn't like any of it."
"I knew she thought that I was annoying but I thought that it was just a little game we played. I never actually thought she really hated me." Ashley frowned at how pathetic she sounded. "But I guess it's all over now. I'm going to leave her alone. I really don't want her to hate me more."
"So, no more games?"
"No more anything. I'm just going to leave her alone." Ashley sat back and finally took a bite of her burger.
Sally just looked at her concerned.
---
Spencer felt very scrutinized the next day at school. It seemed like everyone was staring at her and whispering as she walked down the halls. And the same girls who were scowling at her were doing the same thing but this time they were getting physical. When Spencer walked out of the bathroom, a girl shoulder-checked her. And when she opened her locker, another girl "accidentally" slammed it shut while walking pass it.
"I think I've pissed off some people," Spencer said as she took a seat next to Casey in English class.
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm like being attacked or something." Spencer looked around to see if anyone else was giving her glares.
Casey let out a laugh. "By who?"
"These girls! Like her." Spencer discreetly pointed to a girl near the front. It was the same girl who slammed her locker shut.
"Oh, that makes sense," Casey said when she realized who the girl was.
Spencer gave her a surprised look. "How?"
"That's Laura Kennsley. She went out with Ashley," she explained.
Realization dawned on Spencer. "Great, I'm being targeted by Ashley's groupies."
"Speaking of, have you seen her today?"
"Surprisingly, no. I haven't seen her at all."
"You think she finally got the hint?"
Spencer shrugged feigning indifference and opened her text book. "Maybe."
---
True to her word, Ashley did leave Spencer alone. She saw her shortly before first period and quickly took another route to class. Spencer's locker was right next to her first class so she waited until she left it before going in the classroom. Of course it made her late again and she received another detention.
Sally told her she was being ridiculous by taking different routes to get to her classes just to avoid seeing Spencer.
"I just want her to cool down a bit before she starts passing me in the halls," Ashley explained. "I really don't want to piss her off more."
"So you'd rather be late to every class and get a detention?"
"Yeah."
Sally shook her head. "Anyways, you want to go shopping on Saturday? I'm in dire need of new clothes."
Ashley laughed. "You're always in dire need of new clothes. But sorry, I can't. I'm going to Pinehurst this Saturday."
"Damn, well want to hang out later that night? We could go see a movie?"
At this, Ashley got very excited. "Ooh, can we go see-"
"No! We are not going to see the new Harry Potter movie," Sally warned.
Ashley pouted. "You suck."
"Seriously Ashley, you're the biggest geek I know."
"Shh! Don't say that too loud." Ashley looked around worriedly thinking someone might've overheard them.
Sally just shook her head again. They were about to go to the parking lot to leave for lunch when Sally literally ran into Casey. Books flew all over the place as Casey fell backwards onto the ground.
"Oh my God, I'm so sorry!" Sally said mortified and went to help Casey. Ashley was about to laugh but stopped abruptly when she saw Spencer. Avoiding her gaze, Ashley bent down to retrieve some of Sally's fallen books while Spencer helped her best friend up.
"No, it's okay," Casey said blushing as Sally pulled her up and still held onto her arms. "I wasn't looking."
It was quite an awkward moment as all four girls stood there. Sally and Casey were a bit oblivious to the obvious discomfort surrounding them. They were too busy staring dreamily at each other.
Spencer chanced a glance at Ashley but she was looking anywhere but Spencer's face. After a few more seconds of awkward silence, Ashley finally poked Sally hard in the back.
"Come on, Sal, we have to get to lunch."
"Oh yeah sorry." Sally finally let go of Casey's arms. "I'll see you later," she told her with a goofy smile on her face and started walking towards the parking lot.
Ashley followed her but had a sudden urge to look back. When she did, Ashley's eyes met Spencer's for half a second before Spencer looked away.
---
Spencer was just about to turn on the TV when her mother walked in and gave her a very familiar look. It was the look that said "I need you to do me a favor."
"I need you to do me a favor," Paula said confirming Spencer's musings.
"It depends on the favor, mom."
"Well, the hospital is short on volunteers for the nursing home and I was wondering if you would like to do it. It's only going to be for a couple of hours."
Spencer thought about it for a second. It wasn't like she was busy and it was for a good cause. She did like spending time with the elderly because she knew how lonely they could get. Spencer couldn't even imagine what it would be like to live in a nursing home.
"Sure, mom, I'll be there. What time?"
"Noon." Paula smiled gratefully and gave her daughter a kiss on the forehead. "This is the reason why you're my favorite."
"I heard that!" Glen said from the kitchen.
Spencer shook her head and finally turned on the TV.
At a quarter to twelve, Spencer forced Glen to drive her to the nursing home. She entered the building and looked around with a slight frown. Even though it was one of the nicer homes in the city, it still depressed Spencer to see all these people. She knew that some of them were put there by family members who didn't want to deal with them anymore. Spencer vowed that if any of her future kids wanted to put her in a home, she'd cut them out of her will.
"Hi, I'm one of the volunteers today," Spencer said to the receptionist.
"Name?"
"Spencer Carlin."
"Oh, yes, Dr. Carlin's daughter," she gave her a smile. "Just wait here and I'll go see if Mr. Hawthorne is up for visitors."
Spencer nodded and waited for her return. A few of the patients were watching a game of Wheel of Fortune on a plasma TV that was mounted on the wall. And a few others were playing a game of majhong.
Then Spencer's eyes widened with surprise and annoyance when she saw a very familiar person walk through the entrance door, carrying a gig bag.
"Unbelievable," Spencer said as she approached Ashley.
Ashley looked at her surprised. "Spencer, what are you-"
"I thought you got the hint but now you're following me outside of school?" Spencer said angrily. "What have you've come to serenade me in front of all these people?" she said pointing to the bag.
Ashley looked on confused and was at complete lost for words. The last person she thought she'd see in this place was Spencer Carlin. She was about to open her mouth to speak when someone called her name.
"Ashley!"
Both girls turned their heads and saw an elderly woman being pushed in a wheelchair, holding out her arms to Ashley.
Ashley smiled and approached the woman. Putting down her gig bag, she bent down and gave her a hug. "Hey, grandma." The nurse who was pushing the wheelchair smiled politely before leaving.
"What are you doing here? I thought you weren't coming until next weekend," she said when they pulled apart.
"Well, I wanted to surprise you."
Her grandma mirrored her smile. "Are your sister and mom here as well?"
"No, Kyla had some other engagement and mom's out of town. But we're coming back the minute mom gets home."
Spencer stood there as she watched the scene unfold feeling very guilty about her accusations. She was about to leave when Ashley's grandma turned her attention to her.
"And who's this, Ashley?" she asked with a twinkle in her eyes. "Is this your girlfriend?"
For the first time since Spencer has known her, Ashley blushed.
"Um, no, this is, um," Ashley stammered over words and was refusing to look at Spencer. "This is someone I go to school with," she finally said.
Spencer smiled shyly and waved. "Hi."
"I'm Ashlan Davies," Ashley's grandma said extending her hand.
Spencer politely shook it. "Spencer Carlin."
Something seem to click in Ashlan's head when Spencer introduced herself. "Spencer?" she turned to Ashley. "Is this the same Spencer you're always talking about, sweetie?"
And for the second time, Ashley blushed again. Spencer looked at Ashley as well.
"You were right, Ashley. She does have really pretty blue eyes."
Ashley blushed even harder. "Okay, grandma, why don't we take you outside in the courtyard. It's a beautiful day." She picked up her gig back and started pushing the wheelchair towards the door that lead to the courtyard.
"It was nice meeting you, dear," Ashlan said as she passed by Spencer.
"You, too." Spencer said still staring at Ashley feeling very confused.
---
