A/N: Not much to say on this one. Thanks for all the reviews. I hope you all enjoy. More to come.

Ashley's POV

As I drive away, I feel like I've made the biggest mistake of my life. I drove away from the girl I love instead of staying and fighting. But it's not easy fighting a battle you know you'll lose. How could she possibly move on so fast? As I feel the wind start to hit my face as I lower the windows, I realize that I should turn around. I wasn't done. I would never be done with Spencer. She was the love of my life. No matter how she feels now, I will stay. A love like ours doesn't just die the way that it is now. I refuse to let it end like this. And with that thought, I immediately turn around and head back.

When I pull up to the house, she's still sitting outside, staring down at her phone. She doesn't even notice my car. I get out and walk up to her before she has the chance to move. As I get within a few feet of her she looks up and stands. She had been crying. I keep walking, faster now, and I put my hands on both sides of her cheeks and stare intently into her eyes.

"Know this Spencer Carlin, I love you and I always will. I will not kiss you because I refuse to let someone else know my pain, but I will never give up on. I know that you still love me. And I know that you need time and space, and I will give that to you. But my feelings haven't changed for you. They never will."

I took a step back and waited for her response. Nothing. I was getting nervous.

"Well, say something," I pushed.

She wiped her face.

"I don't know what to say."

"Anything is better than silence," I replied, my hands finding comfort in my pockets.

"I thought you'd never come back," she said looking down.

I lifted her head, making her look at me.

"I will always come back."

It's been over a week since I last saw her. A week and she hasn't texted or called me back. I knew it. I shouldn't have done that. I'm sure she hates me now. All I can do is focus on work and music. My sole comforts. But there's only so much work my body allows me to do. And retail isn't exactly easy. Tonight, I had plans with my best friend Justine. It's kind of sad really, because now that we're both single we just go to bars and sit while sipping on a few beers. Not exactly the high life at 21. But then again, I'm not your average 21 year old.

"So how are things with Spence?" Justine asked as we sat outside.

"Eh. We haven't spoken since the other day," I replied, lighting up a cigarette.

She took a long drag from her own and looked over at her phone.

"Expecting a text?" I asked, smiling.

"Maybe," she replied, blushing.

"Oh, from who?"

"Well from Aiden actually."

"Really? You guys hit it off that well?"

"Yeah we did. He's a great guy. Not exactly my type, but he's sweet. The other day, he took me out on a picnic."

"Awe, that is really cute. I told you, he's a great guy. Too bad I'm gay."

We both laughed. Aiden and I had been friends for years and he recently broke up with his last girlfriend. He was blowing up my phone for months crying. I felt so bad. I was happy that he liked Justine. I think he liked her more than she liked him, but it was a start.

"When do you see him next?" I asked.

"Tonight, hopefully. I'm supposed to go over later after his roommates fall asleep."

"Don't tell me you guys are already sleeping together?" I laughed.

"Hey now! A woman has needs."

"Gross Justine." Straight sex. Vomit.

"Whatever. At least I'm finally getting some again."

I laughed again. "Okay, we are done with this conversation."

There was suddenly a heavy silence between us. I took a swig of my beer and looked up to see Justine staring at me.

"What?" I asked.

"I don't think you two should get back together. I think you should try and move on," Justine replied.

"What makes you say that?"

"Ash, we haven't been friends for that long but I think that there's too much between you now. I just don't want to watch you fall apart as you chase this girl. It's not healthy. She's already dating someone else. Shouldn't that say something about her character?"

"I know, but I have to try. I'm the one that ruined what we had. You know what I remembered the other day? Maybe two weeks before she broke up with me, I was sitting on the couch playing video games and we had just fought. She sat down beside me and told me that she was unhappy and I was the cause. That I was making her miserable. And you know what I said?"

She shook her head 'no' and waited for me to continue.

"I said that I didn't care."

"Ash, you were going through a rough patch. I mean no one can handle what you've gone through. You lost both of your parents only days apart and your sister won't talk to you. It's not easy. She should've been more understanding and patient."

"Justine, I'm starting to realize that you and I think on different levels than people like Spence. We've had hard lives. We know what it does and we've learned how to better from it. Some people live their whole lives without trauma, and they can't handle the same hardships. The way I treated her, was a trauma. She couldn't handle it."

"I understand. I just don't want you to get hurt."

I shrugged, "The way I see it, I'm hurt either way. I might as well try."