I know some of you have expressed that flashbacks weren't your thing and I apologize for that. I need them to untangle things little by little seeing as 12 years is a long time and there is information that needs to be filled in. I like writing them, I just hope on some level you enjoy reading them as well. Once the fic moves on and things balance out, the flashbacks will stop a little. Thank you all for reading and reviewing. You make this fun for me. I heart you all!

I don't own SoN - and rest easy, this isn't a Spangs fic by any means. They are simply best friends. Carmen will always have a soft spot for Spencer, but it never evolves into anything. Trust me. Spashley forever, right?

Flashbacks in italics

16 - And She Was Spotted

Spencer's PoV

I blew the whistle to signal that practice was over.

The woman Jaiden was talking about quickly left the arena in a hurry and man she moved fast. I shook my head and followed the girls into the locker room.

"I still think you should've went after her, she was a total hottie!" Jaiden sang as she started to get out of her gear.

"Just go shower." I laughed and shook my head. Jaiden had to be the most entertaining teenager I've ever encountered.

"Coach Carlin," I snapped my head up to see Carmen standing in the door way, "lookin' fine as always."

"God," I smirked and walked over to her, "you've really got to stop trying to get into my pants."

"Never." Carmen winked and shrugged. "I was bored at your place so I decided to come see you."

"Where are the girls?" I asked. Carmen was supposed to be taking care of them.

"With Ryn," she smiled, "she told me about Monday."

"Oh." I nodded and pushed her out of the locker room and into the hallway. "Yea, Ryn's supposed to be meeting Ashley on Monday."

Carmen shook her head slowly, "man I'm so sorry dude."

"Every time I think about it, I want to throw up." I said honestly, leaning against the cool cement wall. "I'm dying to see her and ask her so many questions, but the reason's she's down here is just…"

"I know." Mandez patted my arm and sighed, leaning against the wall with me. "Alex came back in town too."

"Great." I was unimpressed.

"You should just talk to her," Carmen looked at me and raised an eyebrow, "she's your sister."

"Yea? She really proved that over the past twelve years hasn't she?" I snapped. "Get real Carmen. Alex knew this whole time about Dylan. She knew and never bothered to tell me."

"Does Ashley know about Lucas?"

Interesting question.

"I don't know." I frowned and bit my lip. "I mean, if her and Alex are as close as everyone says they are, then I would have to think so."

"It's none of my business babe," Carmen slapped my knee, "but it's not all on Alex's shoulders. I think everyone has a little blame, you know?"

No, I didn't know.

What I did know was my sister held out on some very important information. She didn't have to tell me about Dylan at all. I was okay with that part. But the moment Dylan entered my home and became a part of my family, Alex should've let me in.

It wouldn't have changed how I felt towards the small brunette. In fact, even knowing the information while I did, it made me love her more. Want to protect her more.

"And please tell me you're still not going to Aimee's after this?" Carmen prayed softly.

"No." I frowned. I haven't seen Aimee in a couple of weeks and honestly, I didn't miss her. I felt bad though but she knew what we were getting into when we first started messing around. "I'm going to go home, curl up with the girls and watch a movie, eat junk food until we've passed out or feel sick."

Mandez smirked. "Sweet, I'd totally crash but I think you should use the time to maybe talk to Lucas about Monday?"

I nodded. "I know." I whispered. I had to tell Lucas about Dylan's mom returning. It wasn't going to be pretty. Lucas never got that attached to the previous children. I knew why Dylan was different, I knew the pull towards her because her mother was Ashley Davies.

"And maybe if you need to get out afterwards, you should talk with Alex." Carmen cupped my cheek and sighed. "I know you're pissed okay? And I know where you're coming from but do you really want that kind of tension around the girls come the beginning of the week?"

"Fuck you." I muttered and smiled a little. Carmen could make sense when she wanted too. "Can you swing by a little after ten?"

"I'll be there." Carmen brushed her lips against my cheek and pulled me in for a hug. I pressed my forehead against hers and smiled.

"Thank you for staying here with me. I know you probably have other things to do or women," I smirked and she just grinned.

"I love you Spence, you know that I'd drop everything just to be here with you. And I totally don't mean that in an 'I'm in love with you' sort of way," she shrugged and tucked some hair behind my ear, "you're my family. My best friend. I'd kill whoever hurts you and Luc… and Dylan," she pressed another kiss to my cheek and let me go. "So, with all the girly mushiness out of the way, I'm going to go and grab a bite to eat, rent a movie and head back to the hotel."

I laughed and watched her make her way out towards the lobby area.

"Mom is so right," Jaiden said as she leaned against the wall beside me, "you two are hot together."

"Not gonna happen." I shook my head. It would've happened already if it were too. "Did you need a ride home or…"

"Yea," Jaiden smiled, "I was going to go to Rapture but there's no point if Jyll's not at her parents shop." She shrugged and licked her lips. "So um, you planning on seeing Aimee tonight?"

I haven't planned on seeing Aimee since I heard about Ashley.

"No." I shook my head and helped Jaiden with her hockey gear. "I think my fun is over."

"Ohh?" Jaiden pouted. "You're so much happier when you're getting some. This explains why you were so impatient lately at practices."

"Shut up." I shoved the teen playfully and we both laughed. "I've just got a lot more going on now, Jai, I can't be distracted."

"Man, you should've seen that brunette today, sure you thought her ass was hot but damn she was smokin'." Jaiden chuckled and we made our way out to the vehicle. She stopped all of a sudden and frowned in thought. "That was so wrong of me to say," she shook her head, "I just realized where I recognize her from."

I raised an eyebrow and she laughed, throwing her duffle bag into the back of my Chevy Blazer, "who, your mom?"

"Ew!" Jaiden shouted and laughed. "No, she looks like Dylan, only older."

Oh.

Fuck me.

//

I skated hard that night. I worked my ass off and I couldn't help but feel so pent up with anger. Why? Because I swear I saw Ashley at my game the previous night while we played in Vancouver, BC. I swear I saw those beautiful eyes watch me and I had to try and concentrate on the game without glancing too much into the stands.

It wasn't the fact that I saw her that made me angry, it was the fact that I never bothered to look for her after the game. What if it was her? What if she was watching me play and secretly hoped that I'd see her and talk to her?

Fuck that.

She could've waited around for me too, right?

"Carlin!" Kendra hissed and pushed me up against the boards. "You're losing focus and it's really starting to piss me off!"

"Save your foul mouth for later," I pushed her back and skated passed her, "you know I like your dirty mouth in bed only."

"Whatever, just fucking play the game before we lose our winning streak!" Kendra huffed and shoved me aside, making her way towards the middle of the rink.

I glanced up at the scoreboard and realized we had seven minutes left before the game was over and we were only up by two goals. I was angry at myself for allowing the brunette from my past occupy my mind the whole day. I couldn't help it.

I missed her.

"Watch it." I spat as the other team player winked at me and faced me, waiting for the puck to drop.

Kendra tapped her stick on the ice indicating that she wanted me to pass the puck to her and so I did as soon as the puck hit my stick. I moved passed the other player quickly and made my way down the ice, skating backwards to scoop the puck up and shoot it swiftly off the post and into the net.

"YES!" Kendra laughed and gave me a huge hug, squeezing me tightly. "That was awesome!"

It felt good to know I kicked the goals up by one.

That's when I felt myself being shoved hard into the boards and my knee felt like it was just snapped in half. I fell to the ice, crying in pain as I held onto my leg, trying to will the excruciating pain away.

I looked up to see the girl I faced off with, laughing at me. Fuck, if I wasn't hurt, I'd beat that fucking Buffy down.

"Carlin, are you okay?" Coach rushed towards me and I could barely think let alone move and talk.

"Spence, are you going to be okay?" Kendra bent down and took off my helmet, brushing her fingers across my face.

I closed my eyes and felt myself being taken off the ice.

Turned out my kneecap was busted and I had to be prepped for surgery as soon as possible.

Turned out that my career came to a halting end.

Turned out that now aside from Lucas, I had nothing else to dream about.

Except the brown eyed woman in the stands the night before.

I'd definitely dream about her.

-\-/-