Disclaimer: I own nothing.

AN: So here's the ending. I hope you like it. I realize it lacks a tad in Spashley, but I think it fits. Thanks to those who stuck with this story, especially during my major writer's block. All reviews, criticism and any other comments are welcome.

Chapter 21

I walked into the arena with all of my friends, my parents trailing behind us holding hands. Once we were in the building they wished everyone one luck before heading into the room adjacent to the playing arena where people can watch ongoing matches. They've come almost every year to our tournament and knew the drill. You have to get seats because surprisingly quite a few people show up to these. I had never been in the room before; I guess there's a first time for everything.

"Ok guys. You ready?" my brother asked excitedly. There were mumbles of agreement from all of us.

"You guys so better win! We have like a mega team, after combining them," Kyla said with Chelsea and Madison agreeing.

"We're so gonna rock this tournament yo," Glen said. They all stared at him, while I burst out laughing at his stupidity.

"Yo?" Aiden asked.

"I was trying to make it work," he said bashfully.

"Aw, it's ok baby. It worked," Kyla said giving him a peck on the cheek.

"In whose world?" asked Sean causing all of us to laugh.

"So you guys are ready?" I asked Ash. Chelsea, Madison and Kyla headed into the sitting room to save seats.

"Totally, but I wish I were playing with you," she said.

"Me too, but just promise me you'll win for me," I said. She grinned, "Of course. Anything for you." I smiled and kissed her.

"Now go suit up!" I commanded.

"Yes sir!" Sean saluted before marching off with Aiden in tow.

"Good luck guys," I said as they turned to leave. I watched them jog to catch up with Aiden and Sean. I felt a wave of disappointment come over me. I should be in there with them. I should be helping them win. But today honestly isn't about me, it's about our team and I can support. But I can't help but feel the teeniest bit jealous. I was just about to head into the viewing room when I saw Ashley turn back to me, and she waved and smiled. Just like that all my jealousies were gone. I gave her thumbs up and grabbed a program off the counter before heading to the viewing room.

There were four teams competing today, the DominatingRhinos, Bullseye, RocketPower and our team Creeps. Don't even ask where the name came from, we couldn't figure out how to combine our individual teams names and so we came up with a brand new one, Creeps being the end product. There were three rounds in the tournament. First off, our team and DominatingRhinos would play. And then Bullseye and RocketPower would compete. Whoever won from each round would end up playing each other in the final round. The first two rounds were a point system, but the final round was sudden death, meaning as soon as you were hit you were out. Whoever was left, their team was declared the winners.

I walked in and saw my friends sitting in the front row of seats, my parents we in the back row. I sat down in the seat next to Kyla as the teams entered the arena. The window didn't give that much view on the entire arena on the other side but it was pretty wide so that you could see people running in and out. Both Creeps and DominatingRhinos entered from opposite rooms on either side on the arena. The countdown to start began.

10…

9…

I saw Glen and Ashley making hand motions on which way the team should go.

8…

7…

Aiden pointed to the stairs that led to the second story of the arena. It's always dangerous to go up there because unless you are completely crouched people can hit you as you get up. But the one good part of the second story is you have full sniping range of the entire arena.

6…

5…

4…

Sean indicated to the ground floor. I knew he was saying he was going to stay on the bottom floor, because he's the best at duck and covering and always moving. If he were to go up on the bridge, we would lose our best mobile player.

3…

2…

1…

Both teams shot out, running for cover. There was 7 minutes on the clock for this round. I saw Ashley and Glen run up the bridge, to snipe while Aiden and Sean stayed on the ground level going in opposite directions. Ashley easily stayed crouched as she ran up the stairs with Glen close behind.

"They've so got this one. The other team has stayed on the ground, and it only looks like one player knows how to shoot," Kyla whispered to me and I nodded. The DominatingRhinos were clearly being dominated and there was still 5 minutes on the clock. I saw Sean run past the window and dive behind a box, as a Rhino chased him. He ran clear past Sean's hiding spot causing him to be shot clear in the back. I looked back to Ashley and Glen as they sniped the competition away. All of a sudden the leading shooter for the Rhinos was up on the other side of the bridge but Ashley and glen didn't see him because they were still looking down.

Get down, I thought. Just in time, almost as if they had both heard me Ashley dropped down, causing the Rhino to miss and giving Glen time to turn and hit him. He quickly retreated to avoid further damage and Ashley and Glen high fived each other.

There was 15 seconds on the board and all the Rhinos had retreated to hiding, knowing that they had lost and trying to avoid a major point difference.

The lights came on and I saw Ashley run and hug Aiden, as Glen and Sean bumped fists. Loser, I thought. But I was happy, this meant that they were automatically in the finals and all they had to think about was the next team. Both teams exited the arena as the next two teams, Bullseye and RocketPower entered. The clock was reset and the countdown started. I knew Ash and the others were re hydrating after running around like maniacs in that room. It could definitely be ventilated better.

These two teams seemed to take the bull by the horns as they charged each other, but Bullseye definitely had an advantage as they dove all over the place tumbling and shooting, always meeting their target.

"Looks like we know who their competition is going to be," Chelsea said as we watched another RocketPower member lose lights for a minute after being hit. One Bullseye member quickly backtracked and climbed the bridged lithely. She went unnoticed until she started sniping RocketPower members. She had excellent aim, and I almost felt bad for the other team, because they had no idea what hit them. With 59 seconds left on the board it was clear who had won this round.

The lights came back on and Bullseye was declared the winner. There was a 5-minute break, allowing Bullseye to hydrate before the final round. Audience members stood and stretched. I glanced behind me at my parents who were talking animatedly about the tournament. I looked to my right and smiled at a familiar brunette.

"Hey," I said walking over.

"Hey Spencer," she said as I sat down next to her.

"What are you doing here? Is Stacey around? You guys watching?" I asked.

"Actually Stacey was just in there," Carmen said laughing and motioning to the arena.

"What? No way, what team?" I asked.

"Bullseye," she said. Now it was my turn to laugh. Of course, it's fitting. I didn't even know she played laser tag, I guess I should've though considering she works here.

"It should be a good match, but now I don't know who to root for, having friends on both teams," I said, "Which one was she?"

"The sniper," Carmen responded with a smirk.

"Damn, Stace has skills," I said earning a laugh at my response. This should be interesting. I glanced over at my Mom and she was looking at me with an unreadable look on her face. After the other night we had been talking a bit more, but things were still dicey with us. The lights dimmed telling us that the game would start soon.

"Hey do you want to sit with us?" I asked Carmen before the game started.

"Yeah sure," she said following me to my friends.

"Hey guys remember Carmen?" I said and everyone said their hellos as the teams entered the arena. There was no time limit for this match because it was sudden death. The countdown started and the teams were off. It was a very defensive game from the start, instead of rushing in, everyone was taking their time and making sure they were hidden.

I saw Aiden peek around a corner as a Bullseye member was cautiously and unsuspectingly walking toward him. He waited until he walked right passed giving him a clear shot and getting him out.

"Yes!" I heard Madison say and I smiled. One down three to go.

This time it looked as though Glen wasn't heading up on the bridge, but Ashley was definitely taking her time, as not to get caught. Glen stayed near home base as she made her way up to cover her.

Sean was the first to get out when he accidentally turned a corner and bumped into the other team, he wasn't quick enough with his gun. I saw Glen get the member that shot Sean out without being seen, keeping his hiding spot, making it a 3-2 player game. Ashley and who I'm guessing was Stacey were quietly making their way up the bridge unbeknownst to the other.

Aiden ran pass base quickly run pas base with another player following him. He was hit in the shoulder as he was diving for cover. Glen quickly looked around and shot him, making the teams Ashley and Glen vs. Stacey. He left his spot and headed into the arena swiftly. He stayed low to the ground trying not to attract attention, but everyone could tell what was going to happen. Stacey peered over the side of the bridge and easily picked him off. Glen walked glumly to the side of the arena, leaving just Ashley and Stacey together on the bridge.

"Looks like a face off," Carmen whispered to me. I grabbed Kyla's hand, because even if I wasn't in there, this was one of the most nerve-wracking moments of my life. It's a lot harder to watch, then to just be in there playing; I never realized that.

Ashley crawled up slowly on all fours after seeing Glen get out; she probably realized someone else was on the bridge. She can to the intersection. Go right, I thought.

All she had to do was carefully maneuver herself to the right to see Stacey to get her out. Unfortunately Stacey too was nearing the intersection on the bride. It looked like it would come down to whoever was quicker with their gun. Ashley stopped moving and positioned in a crouch, Stacey moved onto her knees.

It seemed to happen in slow motion, they both scrambled to get their fingers on the trigger as they started to stand. And in a second, Stacey's vest went out as she was still standing. I stared in disbelief, for about a minute, as did Ashley, before I stood up and cheered along with my team. It was a 50:50 shot and we won!

I quickly hugged Kyla and Chelsea. We all ran into the lobby, where the teams were exiting. She came out, her face flushed with the guys surrounding her.

"You did it!" I shouted as I collided into her, connecting our lips.

"Well, if I knew that would be my prize I would've won a tournament weeks ago," she said smirking before kissing me again. I laughed and pulled away.

"Great games guys!" I said to my brother, Aiden and Sean. I gave Glen a hug, "Congratulations."

"Told you we'd win it for you," Ashley whispered to me and I felt my face flush at her hot breath. I saw Stacey come out and Carmen give her a big hug; she saw us and walked over.

"Amazing game Stacey," I said hugging her.

"Thanks Spence, but the better team won," she smiled as she and Carmen interlaced fingers.

"So we're gonna go get something to eat and hang, you want to join?" Ashley asked them.

"Yeah let us just get our stuff. We'll meet you in the lobby," Stacey said as she and Carmen headed to the desk.

"You guys heading out?" We turned to face my Dad, who was holding my Mom's hand. She looked down at our hands and then back up at me. I gripped Ashley hands tighter, bracing myself for what was to come. We all stood, anticipating what would come out of my Mom's mouth. She swallowed and cleared her throat.

"Congratulations. You played really well Ashley," she said making eye contact and even throwing in a half smile, "We you guys have fun. Spencer, Glen be home by 9," she said before she and my Father took off.
Ashley and I stood there in surprise.

"Well that was a surprise," she said to me. I nodded my head before the reality of what had just happened fully sank in. My Mom was that much closer to accepting me, to accepting Ash and I. The thought of it made a giant smile appear on my face.

"It's not perfect," I said, "But it's a start."

AN: So that's it. Again, thank you. I also want to say that for a while I probably won't post a new story. I've decided that I won't start a story unless I have it written out that way I can update regularly.

PS- Is anyone interested in a "The Bet" sequel? I'm debating, but I don't know if I should or just let it be.