Spencer returned to NIU and was lucky enough to have her own dorm room this year. After her and her dad got everything moved in she sat on her bed looking at a picture of her and Glen that was taken a few weeks prior when she took him fishing. He was holding his fishing pole with a faded Snoopy life jacket on and a big toothy grin. She was kneeling beside him with her arms wrapped around his small frame. As a tear escaped her eyes, a knock on her door pulled her back to reality.
"Hey Aiden, what's going on?"
"I guess you don't need help moving stuff huh?" She'd completely forgot that she called him on her way asking for help. She enlisted a few of her floor mates to help her carry everything up with her dad.
"Yeah sorry, I had a lot of help when I got here. Want to go get some food?" She forced a smile, putting the picture on her desk as she grabbed her keys and they walked down to the massive food court in the lobby of the dorms.
"I don't know how you got lucky to be in the only dorms with a good food court AND living by yourself." Aiden stayed in the same place he'd been in the year before.
"Well, you know, I'm just lucky like that I guess. So what are you up to this weekend before all the bullshit starts up again?" She grabbed a tray and started walking towards the pizza vendor.
"Um, my friend Ashley invited me to go see a movie later, I told her I'd call her back. You called first so you know, first come first serve." He laughed at his own joke while Spencer just looked at him unamused. "Right, so. If you want to come though you can. You guys should really meet, you both know about each other, granted I don't think she knows your name, but she knows of you."
"Yeah, and for a while you never shut up about her." Spencer rolled her eyes remembering the crazy time that Aiden went through dealing with this Ashley girl. "I think I'll pass, let you two hang out. Maybe next time. What are your classes this sem?"
"Ugh, some Communications class, Intro to Anthropology, Bowling, and English 101."
"Bowling? Really Aiden?"
"Hey, I needed to take some kind of gym class and I already have my own bowling ball. This way I can take you down whenever we go bowling."
"Whatever you say. I have Swimming, Sociology, English 101 and Health."
"Do you have Monday Wednesday Friday 11am English with Mrs. Franklin?" Aiden asked, hopeful that he'd know someone in the one class he'd probably have the most trouble with.
"Yeah, it should be interesting, I hate English." Dammit, Aiden thought. "Hey, there's some people from my floor. I'll introduce you." Spencer did her introductions while Aiden just sat, smile forced and nodding to each person he'd met. When they'd finished Aiden excused himself and told Spencer he'd call her later.
"Hey Ash, still want to see that movie?" Aiden called Spencer on his way back to his dorm. "Alright, well do you want to walk to the theater or drive? -Alright, yeah I can do that. See you in a few." Aiden hurried back to his room, changed his shirt and walked over to Ashley's apartment.
"Aiden! What's up buddy! How was your summer? What's new?"
"Summer was alright, went to a few concerts which was pretty awesome, found a bunch of new bands and artists that i'll have to give you later. Other than that not much else, I was just over at Spencer's before I came here. I thought I was supposed to help her move stuff, but apparently her and the beastly group of girls on her floor did it for me so we just grabbed some food." Ashley looked at him confused.
"Spencer? Her?"
"Oh, shit, yeah. The girl that I kind of dated that I always talk about, that's Spencer."
"Ooooohhh, you were always so freaking vague about this girl, never using a first name. Glad to know she has a name now. That's certainly new over the summer." She smiled and threw on her black converse then pulled her hair up into a messy ponytail and started walking towards the door.
"OH, i guess that means we're leaving" Aiden laughed, following behind her.
They decided to walk to the theater and debated over what movie to see. Aiden wanted to see the new horror film which Ashley was very much against. She wanted to see an action film. She knew romantic comedies weren't exactly Aiden's forte movie and definitely didn't want to give him the wrong idea by going to a chick flick. By the time they'd gotten there Ashley made a deal with Aiden. If they went to see her movie, she would buy his ticket and a popcorn or drink of his choice. Get him through his stomach. The one piece of advice her mom gave her growing up, she never used to for its intended purpose, usually for bribery like this occasion. Always worked.
During the credits Aiden and Ashley shared their schedules and realized they'd have Communications together. Much to Aiden's luck, Ashley was also very good at English and willing to help him if he needed it. She managed to test out of the intro English classes but decided to minor in English too.
After the movie they decided to head to a nearby smoothie shop. They sat down waiting for their order to finish when a girl walked into the shop and started walking toward their table.
"Hey, I thought that was you." She smacked Aiden on the back of the head.
I already like this girl Ashley thought. She picks on him as bad as I do.
"You're big head was kind of a big give away, plus I was in the parking lot when you two walked in." The girl turned towards Ashley and smiled.
"Well, it's about time you to met. Ashley, Spencer. Spencer, Ashley. I'm pretty sure you both know of each other." Aiden stood up to get the smoothies and Spencer took no time sliding into Aiden's vacant seat.
"So, you're Ashley. I have heard a lot about you." Ashley was mesmerized by Spencer. Her tan skin, long dirty blonde hair and goofy smile was nothing like she'd ever seen before. If she only thought she was gay before, this girl certainly pushed her over the fence. "You're shy aren't you? That or you don't like me"
"Wait who doesn't like you?" Aiden pulled a chair up to the table.
"Ashley, she hasn't really said anything. I don't think she likes me."
Ashley snapped out of her daze, noticing the other two staring at her.
"Huh?"
"Do you like me?" Whoa, what? How does she know? Am I that obvious? Be cool Davies.
"Well, you seem cool, and you pick on Aiden like I do, so I'd say yeah." Spencer smiled satisfied with Ashley's response, but Ashley saw something else in Spencer's smirk. She turned towards Aiden who started talking about the movie they had just seen. Ashley downed her smoothie before everyone else, nervous drinking was always her downfall, especially when alcohol was involved, luckily the only one who knew that was Alex and he rarely took advantage of it.
"Well, should we get outta here? I need to get some stuff from the bookstore before classes start, you guys want to come?" Spencer stood, looking expectantly at Ashley and Aiden, her eyes darting between the two. Ashley felt her face flush everytime Spencer's eyes landed on her.
"Um, yeah let's go. This joker has been talking about needing a new hat to add to his collection or something lame like that." Ashley's humor defense mechanism kicked in and prevented her puke reflex from taking over. She hopped out of her seat, tossed her empty cup into the trash and followed the two out the door trying to stay behind the two during the walk.
"Hey, why are you behind us, get up here." Spencer grabbed Ashley's arm and linked them together. Ashley's heart pounded and the t-shirt she was wearing suddenly felt like a double parka. She took a deep breath and forced herself to relax as much as she could. This was something very new to Ashley. She'd had friends who would link arms with her but she always backed out of it, feeling weird about walking around like that. With Spencer it was terrifying, but she certainly didn't mind. To ease her own nervousness, she grabbed Aiden's arm and linked it with his.
"Are we off to see the wizard or something?"
"Ha, if we are, you're the scarecrow. I'm not really sure if you have a brain in the big head of yours." Aiden's jaw dropped as the two girls laughed hysterically.
"Yep, I definitely think I can keep you around Ash. That was pretty good."
"Well then who would you guys be?" Aiden asked. The girls thought for a moment and simultaneously their faces dropped. Lion, Ashley thought. If she was actually going to admit to being gay she'd definitely need courage to talk about it.
Tin Man, Spencer thought. After her break up with Carmen, she swore she'd never get wrapped up in something serious for a long time.
"Whoa, I never thought this would be a mood killer. Good thing we're here already, you guys can help me pick out a hat." Spencer and Ashley looked at each other rolling their eyes. They started by helping Aiden which didn't take as long as they thought, he quickly found a white fitted hat that he insisted he needed. Spencer wandered through the supply store picking up a few notebooks and getting some of her text books. Ashley decided she would wait until she went to all of her classes before getting anything. She learned in the first year that some teachers don't actually use the books that are set aside for students in their class so she decided to not waste her money until she knew what she'd need.
They left the bookstore and started walking back towards the dorms. When they reached the mid point between Aiden and Spencer's dorms Aiden said his goodbyes and headed back leaving a now very nervous Ashley alone with Spencer.
"So, I guess I'll see you around? Now that we've actually met?" Ashley kept her eyes down as she spoke. "It was really nice meeting you though, finally."
"You too Ash. I hope you don't mind me calling you that." Ashley simply shook her head. "Good. I'll see you around." They went their separate ways and when Ashley got back to her apartment she immediately grabbed her laptop and started writing about her life changing day when an IM popped up on her screen.
SpinSwim24: Hey! Hope you don't mind I got your sn from Aiden.
Ashley panicked not sure if she should be mad at Aiden or happy that he inadvertently sparked something inside of her.
RockStar8: No it's cool I probably would've done the same thing.
SpinSwim24: Well, I hope you don't mind, but I had a feeling something was wrong today. If you ever need someone to talk to, you have my screen name now and 815-290-3454 is my cell if you ever want to hang out and talk or something. I'd like to think I'm a pretty good listener, but we can always just hang out.
RockStar8: Cool, thanks. and my number is 815-252-8609. You know, incase you ever need it too. :)
SpinSwim24: Cool. I hope I'm not being too forward.
RockStar8:No you're good. But I'm actually going to try to get some sleep. I have an 8am class tomorrow :(
SpinSwim24: Damn, that sucks. Well I'll talk to you later then :) Night
RockStar8: Night Spence. :)
Ashley closed her laptop and set it back on her desk. She forced her eyes closed and tried to sleep when her phone went off.
Hey! I forgot to say. I'm really glad Aiden finally introduced us. You're definitely cooler than he described! And certainly cuter than I expected! ;) - Spence
"Well, this should be interesting." Ashley bit her lip and smiled. Spencer was either naturally flirtatious, extremely nice or shamelessly flirting specifically to her. Ashley wanted to believe the last one, but having only met Spencer today, she chalked it up to the other two. Now she really did have to force herself to sleep, thinking of Spencer was going to create some pretty interesting dreams.