Disclaimer: I own nothing.

AN: Here's another update. Actually a semi good one I think so here you go 01shane01 :)
Also someone mentioned putting what happened in the past realtime chapter at the beginning of each chapter so I guess I'll start doing that.

Review please!

Previously:

"Sherry," Ashley said grabbing her forcefully by the arms and pushing her against the sink, "If you ever talk to my sister that way again, I will hurt you. Do you understand?" We all stood there for a moment and Ashley let go of Sherry who looked furious before strutting out of the room. She looked between me and Kyla before reaching out for Kyla, "Come on, I'll take you home so you can get cleaned up."

I watched as they left the building, Ashley's arm linked through Kyla's. I smiled because at least Ashley cares when it matters.

17

It was Friday night and I found myself nervously searching for an outfit for my "date" with Ashley.

The rest of the week after the incident in the cafeteria Kyla had sat with Stacey, Carmen and I. Sherry hadn't bothered her either because frankly I think Ashley scared the shit out of her.

Ashley and I had decided to go to the movies tonight and she was picking me up in an hour and a half. It's just the movies. It shouldn't be this hard to get dressed. But I was freaking out. I was going through my closet and dressers like a maniac looking for clothes. I heard a knock at my door.

"Come in," I said still busying myself around my room.

"Hey Spence," my Mom said from the doorway, "What are you doing?" I was still going through shirts, holding them up against me as I looked in the mirror.

"Getting ready. I have to go out with Ashley tonight, for our project," I said.

"Ashley huh?" she asked and I finally stopped and turned to face her.

"Yeah," I questioned. My Mom had an unreadable face on and I wasn't sure if I was going to like whatever she was about to say.

"You've been hanging with her again?" she said leaning against the door.

"For school," I said sighing. I had a feeling I knew where this was going.

"Spencer," she sighed, "I don't want you to get hurt." I stared at her. That feeling when you just don't know what to say was creeping up on me. I had a vague idea of what she was saying but I didn't want to comprehend it.

"What do you mean?" I asked and my Mom gave me a pointed look.

"Mom, it's just a school project," she didn't look convinced. Heck, I wasn't even convinced after our last get together but she just nodded and left the room so I could finish getting ready. I finally decided on a simple tee with a zip up hoodie and a skirt with my black converse.

I walked into the bathroom and reapplied my makeup and ran my brush through my hair right as I heard the doorbell ring. I walked out of the bathroom. Damn, my room is a mess. This won't be fun to clean up when I get home. Oh well.

I quickly grabbed my bag and ran down the stairs to open the door. Ashley was standing there holding a flower. I glanced down at it and then back at her as she held it out to me sheepishly.

"You got me a flower?" I asked confused as I accepted it. I heard footsteps behind me and I turned to see my Mom standing there.

"Well it is supposed to be a date, right? Hello Mrs. Carlin," Ashley said addressing my Mom. She seemed timid, probably assuming I had told my Mom of our fights over the last two years. And she was right in thinking so.

"Ashley," my Mom responded.

"Right, well we should go," I said quickly to avoid awkwardness. I handed the flower to my Mom and walked out the door with Ashley.

We climbed into her car and sat quietly for a few moments as she drove us to the movie theater.

"So what was it?" I asked breaking the silence.

"What was what?" she asked turning to me at a red light. She had her sunglasses on so I couldn't see her eyes.

"The flower, what was it?" I asked as she accelerated again. I saw the corners of her mouth turn upwards.

"It's a Calla Lily," she responded. I waited a moment and grinned.

"Your really going to make me work for this huh? What does it mean?" I asked knowing full well that she would know. Ashley went through a phase in middle school where she was obsessed with learning the types of flowers and their meanings.

She hesitated before answering, "It means magnificent beauty." A moment of silence went through us and I faced my attention front but still smiled a bit.

"Oh, and don't eat it, it's poisonous," she added. I couldn't help but full on laugh at that.

"Yes, because my first thought was to eat the flower you gave me," I said with sarcasm.

"You never know," she joked and then added seriously, "maybe you should warn Glen?" I laughed again as we pulled into the parking lot. I was happy some of the tension was eased. I looked back to Ashley as she parked the car.

"I like your hair like that," I said before I could stop myself. Her hair was loose and natural down in curls. Stupid word vomit. I groaned quietly. She turned to me and slid off her sunglasses and smiled.

"I know," she said smirking before getting out of the car. What? I was confused as I stepped out of the car and followed Ashley to the familiar movie theater. We stood in the line to pay for tickets.

"Remember," she started and I turned to her, she looked away, "remember when we were younger and would come here and talk about when I got my senior license how we wouldn't have to be driven anymore?"

"Yeah," I laughed thinking on one of the many Fridays that we all had made one of our parents lug the four or five, sometimes six if Kyla joined us, around to the movie theater.

"It's weird how things change," she said quietly almost to herself. I didn't respond. I didn't want to ruin the dynamic we already had. It was strangely like we were friends again. I was actually having fun, not biting her head off or having to defend myself so I wasn't going to say anything to ruin it.

"How many?" the lady behind the window asked interrupting both mine and Ashley's thoughts.

"Two," Ashley said placing a twenty on the counter before I could respond.

"Ash," I said protesting. I stopped realizing what I had just called her. I hadn't used Ash in years.

She smiled at me, "It's a date, I'm paying," she said with a note of finality and pulled me to the concession stand. It might be so wrong that my heart skipped when she said that but I really don't care. At least not right now, I'm sure when I get home I'll freak out.

"Can we get a medium popcorn, two medium cokes and a box of milk duds," she asked the lady behind the counter.

"You don't like milk duds, they get stuck in your teeth," I said confused.

"Yeah, but they're your favorite," she responded as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. When the lady came back with our snacks I quickly whipped out a twenty before Ashley could pay again and placed it on the counter. She huffed at me but stayed silent.

We chose two seats near the back of the theater and quietly sat there munching on the popcorn as we waited for the movie to start. The theater was terribly crowded, only two other groups of people were there. Surprising, but it was early on a Friday night I'm sure people wanted to go out later.

As soon as the lights dimmed, I felt a shift in the tension between Ashley. For a minute I thought it might of just been my nervousness but I felt Ashley tense slightly beside me. It felt as if all my senses were heightened. I was extremely aware of how close our legs were to touching. If I moved my knee just an inch it would be touching. I couldn't pay attention to the movie because I could feel the heat radiating from her body at our close proximity.

At one point we both reached for popcorn at the same time and our knuckles brushed one another and I felt goosebumps emerge on my skin at the touch.

When the movie ended I almost breathed a sigh of relief because I wasn't sure how much longer I was going to be able to sit in that dark theater with Ashley. I don't know why I reacted that way, but it was making me crazy.

We walked silently out of the theater and paused to throw out our trash. We walked back into the parking lot as the sun was setting and I relished as the cool air from outside hit my face. It helped me think more.

"So what did you think of the movie?" Ashley asked as we paused.

"Oh you, know. It was okay," I lied. I honestly had no idea what the heck happened in the movie at all. Ashley smirked, as if she knew I was lying. I felt my face heat up and I suddenly realized that she was standing closer to me that she had in years. I looked up at her and saw her eyes drop to my lips. She wouldn't.

Then her lips connected with mine. I barely had time to think as she kissed me. Her lips were soft and I almost moaned at the feel of them. Before I could comprehend what was happening Ashley pulled away.

She looked scared and was staring at me.

"Ashley?" I said hesitantly. She took a step back and composed herself.

"Right, I should drive you home," she said starting to stride to her car.

"Ashley! What? What was that?" I asked catching up and falling in step next to her.

"That was nothing," she said unlocking her car and getting in the driver's seat. I huffed and walked to the passenger side.

"That wasn't nothing," I mumbled, "We should talk."

"No," she said trying to end the conversation. She sighed, "I can't."

The ride home was silent. I didn't want to push her. But then I did. I didn't know what to do. Maybe it was a lack of judgment on her part. Why would she kiss me? She has a boyfriend. Aiden.

"Thanks," I said as she pulled into my driveway.

"Yeah, sure," she said not making eye contact. Whatever. I don't have time to deal with her hot and cold treatment. It was definitely a lame judgment call on her part. I won't waste my time thinking about it.