25 - I Always Think Of You
Flashbacks in italics
This flashback was taken from Wash It All Away – Chapter 1: I Think…I Think I Like Girls
Spencer's PoV
"You look so…" Sammy tried to find a word and she shrugged, stumped.
"I figured you'd be happy to see her again," Carmen spoke up, scooping out a spoonful of vanilla ice cream from our second tub that sat between the three of us at Rapture's.
"I am but," I sighed and pressed my fingers against my temple, "she looks so lost and sad. It breaks my heart."
"Well she's been through a lot," Sammy sighed, "I mean not that I know the whole story."
I eyed her up, wondering if I should take my chances and ask her everything she knew about Ashley and Dylan. I wanted too.
I so wanted too.
But I couldn't.
"Spence," Sammy licked her lips, "Ashley never wanted to keep Dylan a secret from you. Not intentionally anyway. She figured Alex would've said something."
"Not that it was Alex's place anyway," Carmen shrugged.
"What do you mean?" Sammy gasped and I raised my eyebrows between the two. "I think Alex could've said 'hey Spence, guess what? Ashley's happy and knocked herself up.'"
I had to chuckled cause that sounded ridiculous. Then I stopped laughing.
Huh?
Knocked herself up?
"Shit." The brunette muttered and I tilted my head slightly. She sighed heavily and looked around the semi-busy café. "Ashley never slept with a guy," she whispered, "she um, she went and got the sperm thingy planted inside of her. It was her choice."
Oh.
Wow.
Man, I felt like a total…
Slut.
"Really?" Carmen asked in wonder. "Wow, where was that Ashley Davies twelve years ago, right?"
"Carmen!" Sammy punched her arm, earning a yelp. "You're so fucking insensitive sometimes."
"Bitch, I didn't mean it like that and she knew it!" Carmen barked back. "I was the one who stood by Spencer's side through everything when everyone else was doing their own thing. I would never rub that back in her face."
Carmen was kind of hot pissed. Just saying.
Sammy frowned and leaned over, pressing her lips to the woman's cheek. "I'm sorry."
I think that shocked the raven haired hockey player. "Uh, it-it's cool. Didn't hurt. Carlin hits harder than you on a bad day."
Sammy smirked and then looked back at me. "I would've been there for you Spence," she scratched her neck slightly, "but I was trying to track down my own girlfriend back then." The table went quiet but Sammy shook her head. "I'm so over her, you have no idea."
"So back to Spashley," Carmen smiled and patted my hand. "When are you seeing her again?"
"Well she's back in with Ryn tomorrow and I work so…" I smiled a little, "I'll probably run into her again."
"Don't you feel any pain?" Carmen frowned. "I mean, that's the woman who left you high and dry Spencer – she took your heart with her."
I pondered that for a moment and nodded, partially agreeing with her. "But she came back," I mused, "maybe it's only because of Dylan but I think …" I trailed off when I noticed Chelsea and Ashley walk in when the chimes sounded above the door.
I was glad the girls were with Jaiden back at the house.
Carmen spun around to look at what I was staring at. "Holy Jesus," she whispered and turned slowly back towards me. "Kiss me!"
"What?!" I hissed. Why the hell would I do that?
"It'll make her jealous!" Carmen hissed back.
"This isn't high school you fucknut," I shook my head.
"Wow," Sammy was the first to rise out of her seat, "Ashley Davies," she engulfed the brunette in a hug, "you're looking really good."
I was the second to get out of the booth and cleared my throat. "You ladies want to join us?"
Chelsea smiled. "Actually we're just picking up a take out," she rubbed her hand up and down Ashley's arm, who remained quiet.
"Cat got your tongue there pussycat?" Carmen dipped her head to grab a hold of Ashley's attention.
"Mandez." Ashley forced a smile and I knew the millions of questions swimming through her head at the moment. Carmen was probably that last person she wanted to see.
"Well at least you don't have amnesia." Carmen smirked and I slapped her on the arm. "What the fuck?"
"Go away." I shoved her and stepped in front of Ashley. "You really have to ignore her, somewhere down the line she got really annoying."
"You love me!" Carmen sang as she made her way towards the back of the café.
I rolled my eyes and looked back at the booth. "You two can sit while you're waiting."
Chelsea nodded. "I'm just going to see how long it's going to take. If you're thirsty Ash, order whatever." She squeezed my shoulder as she snuck by me.
"What's that?" Sammy looked around and smiled at me. "I think the ladies room is calling me…"
Subtle Taylor, real fucking subtle.
"And then there were two," I nervously laughed and slid into my seat, sitting across from Ashley. I never even tried to hide the fact that I was checking her out. Every part of her.
Everything I've missed.
"Ah…now Carlin, that's what we want to see," Ephiny and Chase came walking up to us and my eyes widened, hoping they wouldn't say something stupid, "scoring with other ladies other than-"
"Ashley." Chase was the first to say her name.
Good memory.
"I am so sorry," Ephiny breathed and I put my head down slightly, shrugging my shoulders. I lifted my head to meet Ashley's gaze and she looked a little – amused?
"Ephiny, Chase," Ashley spoke softly and offered them a smile. "You two look like you haven't aged at all."
"Oh," Chase blushed and Ephiny rolled her eyes, "stop."
"Can you really picture them being the parents of Jaiden?" I smirked.
"Jaiden." Ashley said aloud and snapped her fingers. "Little five year old Jaiden?" Her eyes widened.
"I'm assuming you met the teenage version?" Chase smiled.
Yea, twice.
Ashley only nodded.
"Is there anything we can get you two?" Ephiny smiled and took the empty ice cream tub away from the table, "her and Carmen can eat two of these in one night, it's rather disgusting."
I scowled. Vanilla ice cream is the shit after a stressful day, thank you.
"She could eat three by herself back in high school," was that a twinkle in those brown eyes?
I blushed.
"I'll have a Coke," Ashley finally said and played with her fingers.
"And I'll have a-"
"Dr. Pepper." All three women said at the same time.
I needed a change, didn't I?
The married couple left and it was back to just me and her.
Her and I.
Me and her.
Us.
"How long have you lived here for?" Ashley finally asked.
Yay, questions! We could maybe dig up some answers without anyone else eavesdropping. Sneaky Sam, keeping Chelsea occupied with the many books and puzzles scattered around the reading area. And Carmen was winking at me while flirting with the married couple.
"About seven years," I smiled and shrugged, "my dad helped me get situated and Ryn has been amazing, so have Chase and Eph."
Ashley nodded and smiled when Chase quietly brought us back the drinks, quickly making an exit again. She moved forward and wrapped her lips around the straw, sucking the sweet liquid up slowly.
It's amazing where your mind takes you when you remember the little things.
//
"It's a little cold to just be sitting in here, eh?" I put the car in motion as we headed off towards the middle of the city, "so are you hungry?"
Ashley nodded and looked at me. "If you had plans with friends, you can just drop me back off at the house," she smiled.
I looked at her briefly before turning my attention back to the road. "I was supposed to have hockey practice but I found out that it was cancelled, so I'm pretty much free." I took a right at the stop sign and came up on traffic.
"Did you want to be with Aiden tonight, then?" She asked nervously.
"I think I can handle one night away from him," I pulled into the parking lot of a local diner and shut the vehicle off, "besides, it'd be nice to make a new friend around here."
"Yeah, especially since I'll be living here now," Ashley sighed and smiled at me. "I wasn't here to visit. I was sent here to stay with Aunt Greta and Uncle Victor. My parents have a house back in England and they've decided to go there to rekindle their marriage. Since there's school and all, I had to stay behind. We only said I was visiting in case my parents changed their minds. But I knew they wouldn't."
I was impressed. She kept her cool about all of it and never once showed any sadness. I was assuming she was happy with the decision. "So you've transferred to ViewBelle?" We were walking into the diner, finding a seat.
"Actually, I think I'm going to go to Southwood," she smirked and took off her coat. "Much better looking students."
"Oh yea?" I laughed and sighed.
"Yeah, I don't know why you waste your time on Aiden when you could probably have anyone in your own school." Ashley suppressed a grin and looked at the menu.
"Like who? You?" I laughed, my joke sounded funnier in my head. But by the way she raised her eyebrows at me I should've slapped myself right there and then.
"Hmm Carlin, are you implying you're into that sort of thing?" She couldn't even hide her amusement if she tried. I felt bold.
"I wouldn't turn it down if the opportunity had presented itself." I blushed and she noticed. I dared to look into her and when I did, she didn't even hold back her devilish grin. "I like adventure," I mumbled.
"Be careful what you wish for," she winked and cleared her throat as she ordered a plate of fries and a drink.
I followed suit and then when the waitress left, I eyed up my companion. "So are you implying you're into that sort of thing?" I watched her raise her eyebrow and take a sip of her drink, which the waitress brought back quickly. The way her lips wrapped around that straw and how her cheeks sunk in slightly as she sucked some of the liquid up, I couldn't stop imagining how it would feel to kiss her. To feel those lips wrapped around my tongue and sucking slightly. God, just the thought of it sent shockwaves to my clit.
"I'm not into labels." She shrugged, but I knew she was into girls. Even if it was my imagination wanting her to be interested in me, I watched the way she watched the waitress walk away.
"Labels?" I quirked an eyebrow and sat back a bit as the waitress served us our food.
"Yeah, you know," she leaned back in her seat, picking up a hot fry, "gay, lesbian, dyke, bisexual, heterosexual, homo-" she found her mouth covered by my hand.
"I get it," I blushed and sank into my seat. My hand left her mouth and she gave me that sultry look again.
"Your hands are soft," she murmured, holding my gaze, "did anyone ever tell you that?"
//
"I'm sorry to hear about your parents," I whispered after minutes of silence. "Aiden told me about the accident and I wanted to cal-"
"Nothing too heavy," she stopped me with her hand on top of mine. I looked at her quizzically, "not yet." She whispered with a squeeze to my hand.
My eyes never left my hand, even when hers was already back in her own lap. I nodded slowly and licked my lips.
"But thank you for thinking of me," she finally whispered, playing with her straw.
Nothing too heavy.
I always think of you.
"You're welcome."
--
