Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

AN:So here's another update for everybody and I thought I should just clear some things up. Chapter 12 was not the fight that broke up their friendship, that was in chapter 6 and that's only what Spencer knows, she has no idea what was going on through Ashley's mind at the time. Also some mentioned Spencer being really clingy in the last chapter but I think it's important to realize that she adn Ashley were best friends and she was jealous and protective of Ashley for reasons unknown to her at the time because she wasn't aware of her sexuality.

So...yeah, sorry for the long AN.

Reviews are greatly appreciated. :)

13

As Glen pulled into the driveway I hopped out of the car before he was fully parked. I rushed into the house and up the stairs taking two steps at a time and burst into my bedroom. I looked at the mess that was my room.

Crap Ashley will be here soon and my bedroom is trashed looking like a tornado went through it. Clothes were strewn everywhere. My bed wasn't made and I had books and magazines scattered around my floor and on my desk. I bent down to grab a pile of clothes, unsure if the were clean or dirty and opened my closet and threw them carelessly in. It didn't matter, as long as I could make my room presentable before she got here.

"Spencer?" I heard yelled up the stairs. I dropped whatever crap was in my hands and ran out of my room to the top of the stairs peering over the top at my Dad staring back up at me.

"What?" I asked needing top get back to my disaster room as soon as possible. I had figured that Ashley would have practice or something and that would give me time to clean, but I wasn't expecting her to come over straight after school. Stupid games. I should probably pay attention to Glen's schedule next time.

"What are you doing? You rushed right upstairs and it sounds like your reconstructing something," he said as he chuckled. I grinned, I couldn't help it. My Dad is so corny but I love him.

"Just trying to clean, um Ashley's coming over to work on our project," I said almost speeding up my words like I was nervous. I wasn't nervous, why would I be? My Dad stared at me for a minute and then nodded his head, "Ok, I'll send her up when she gets here."

"Thanks Dad," I said rushing back to my room. I grabbed every item of clothing I could throwing it in a huge pile into my closet and shutting my door. I ninja rolled over my bed to the side near my window and hastily yanked up my covers before running around and pulling up the other side and smoothing out any wrinkles. I repositioned my pillows and then sighed. My room surprisingly loos ten times better already, I guess this cleaning thing has its benefits.

I heard a light knock on my bedroom door and I turned around and opened it.

"Hey," she said and I stepped aside to let her in, "Your room hasn't changed much?" she asked looking around. I nodded. I sat down at my desk and booted up my laptop. I watched the screen go from black to lit up aware of Ashley standing behind me walking slowly around my room.

"Wow, I can't believe you still have this!" she said and I turned to see what she was referring to. Crap, I meant to throw everything even remotely embarrassing in my closet and I can't believe I forgot that.

Ashley was holding a simple white teddy bear that was holding a heart. She was looking and it smiling remembering something and for a moment it felt like nothing had changed.

"Well a friend gave it to me," I said breaking her trance and her eyes met mine. She looked sad and she sighed putting the bear down gently on my bed and running a hand through her straightened hair. Nowadays her hair is always straightened or in her cheerleader ponytail. She doesn't even dye her bangs anymore. I used to think they looked good like that.

"Yeah?" she asked.

"A long time ago," I sighed and turned back around. Why is this so hard? She keeps bringing up these memories and feelings.

"So let's start. Harder questions this time right?" I asked picking up my laptop and bringing it to my bed so we sat facing each other. She nodded.

"So uhh," she hesitated, "what was it like to come out?" she asked and poised her pen upon the page. For a moment I was angry.

"Well it's not like it was my choice," I said a bit forcefully and she winced.

"Yeah -"

"And I had to deal with name calling and people making fun of me for something I never stated, no one bothered to find out if it was true or not they just went along with a stupid rumor," I finally took a breath and Ashley sat there looking at me, almost timidly.

"Spencer, I can't ever be sorry enough. That day when I told Madison about you and Carmen it was because I was freaked out and I had no idea she'd tell Sherry or use it against you. We were friends," she finished off looking at her hands that she carelessly played with. She sounded confused but sincere.

"Well, it's in the past now yeah?" I said.

"Yeah," she smiled.

"Ok so my turn, are you happy?" I asked, deep I know. But I figured it would given me some quotes for my essay and a little insight into Ashley. She looked uneasy for a moment.

"Sometimes," she answered cautiously. I didn't say anything just gave her a look that said 'go on.'

"Sometimes I don't like being a cheerleader, and I hate some of the girls I have to be around and how it just completely takes over my life. Everything's changed and sometimes I want it to go back to how it was you know?" she asked, I couldn't tell if it was rhetorical or not but I still nodded my head. I instinctively placed my hand on top of hers to try to comfort her or cheer hear up.

What I didn't expect was for my skin to tingle when it touched hers or my heart to immediately start beating ten times faster and louder. My stomach flipped and I quickly removed my hand.

Ashley was looking down at her hand weirdly before she said, "Well I should go, that's enough information right?" And I just nodded dumbly as she quickly grabbed her stuff and exited my room.

I groaned and fell backwards onto my pillows. What the heck was that? It had to be just the familiarity of it all right? I can't like her, I hate her. I've hated her for two years and some stupid little project isn't going to change that. Right?