Thank you for the reviews! Runawaybaby555, you're so sweet and I really appreciate your words. Guest, glad to hear it, and I hope I can keep you interested in it. Sgdp1261, it depends what you mean by 'it'. :p

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October 20th

"You should've come last night." Aria plopped down on Spencer's bed, as at home as she was in her own house. "It was great."

Spencer glanced up from her philosophy homework. "Yeah? Meet anyone interesting?"

A bright red blush bloomed on Aria's cheeks. "I did, actually."

"Tell me about him," Spencer said then mentally kicked herself. She didn't want to have to sit here and listen to Aria gush about her latest conquest.

"He's two years older than I am, and he's studying business, but he's not all boring and businessy, you know?"

Apparently Spencer was in a particularly masochistic mood, because she said, "What did he look like?"

"He looked gorgeous." Aria leaned back on the bed, sighing happily. "Messy blond hair, bright blue eyes, this wicked sort of smile."

"He sounds nice," Spencer said idly, trying to calm the voice in her head that was saying It should be me.

"Are you all right?" Aria asked, sitting up. She was wearing sweats and a loose shirt – it looked like it was one of Ezra's, even though they'd broken up months ago – and she still had some of last night's makeup on, but to Spencer she looked beautiful.

"Huh?" Spencer hadn't realized she'd been highlighting the same passage for the past five minutes.

Aria leaned over, unaware that the way her arm brushed against Spencer's made the other girl tingle. She grabbed the highlighter, clicked the top, and looked at her friend in concern. "Spence, come on. What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong." Spencer grabbed the highlighter back and moved onto the next passage, which made about as much sense as hieroglyphics. She just couldn't focus today, and she had a nagging feeling it was because she was trying so hard not to picture Aria making out with Mr Business.

"Talk to me," Aria urged, her voice irritatingly persuasive. She rolled over so she was lying on her stomach and tugged on Spencer's sleeve. "Please?"

Spencer shrugged her off. "I appreciate the concern, Aria, but I'm totally fine."

"Hmph." Aria sat up again and looked at her friend, seemingly about to push her point. But then she thought better of it. "Well, I'm here if you want to talk."

"Thanks."

Aria suddenly caught sight of the clock that was hanging above Spencer's desk and let out a little yelp. "I have to go," she said, scrambling to get her things together.

She was halfway to the door before Spencer registered what was happening. "Where are you going?" she called.

Aria paused at the door. "I have a date," she admitted.

"With Mr Business?" Spencer asked, and she nodded.

As Aria scampered through the door, Spencer bit her lip to stop from screaming. She would never be enough for Aria, and she knew it. Well, great. Let her be with Mr Business. She'd just be here wallowing in self-pity.

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