A/N

Next Chapter up.

It'll probably be next week before I get a chance to write anything more.

I have a pretty busy weekend ahead.

Read, Enjoy, Review.

2 weeks later

Aria had finally come around to seeing my point of view. That she needed to take this opportunity. She's still upset, about leaving me. And I am too, I feel like someone's ripped my heart out, but I have to be strong for her. And I can't be selfish. If I turned to her and asked her not to go I know she wouldn't even have to think about it, she would stay with me.

But asking her to stay, being with her over the summer and then leaving for Princeton while she stays here is unfair. We have about a month left together before she has to leave. And I plan on making it the most amazing month of her life. I'm not going to waste a second of it. This kind of explains why I've spent nearly every night over the past 2 weeks with her. I've hardly been home, but my parents understand, they know I have to be with her every chance I get.

The past 2 weeks we've spent shopping and getting everything all of Aria's things together, the admissions board sent her a list of things she would need to have for the internship. Some of which she already had, and some she hadn't. We talked about it and decided that it would be best for her to be totally prepared, so we're doing all of the work and preparation now, getting books and canvases, pens and brushes and all of the requirements done, so that we have the next 4 weeks to spend together, with nothing left to do but the last minute things.

The internships starts in 6 weeks, but Lewis called and told her that it would be a good idea to get there a week or 2 before just to get settled and make sure she knows what she needs to have and getting used to getting around campus, etc. I know how strong and independent she is, and that she'll adjust to life over there really well. But I can't help but feel anxious about the thought of my tiny Aria being in a huge city totally by herself. She doesn't seem worried. She seems totally chilled about everything. But then she is the laid back one, and I'm very highly strung. I guess that's why we work so well together.

"Spence?" I hear her soft voice calling me.

"Humph?" I mumble.

"Are you okay? You've been quiet for like 20 minutes."

"Yeah I'm fine, I was just thinking."

"About what?"

"You." I say matter of factly.

"Oh…" she paused for a moment before continuing "I'll be okay you know. I can take care of myself." She smiled softly.

"I know. It doesn't stop me wanting to protect you though." I reached out and placed my hand on her cheek.

She closed her eyes and sighed before moving closer to me and nuzzling into my chest, prompting me to close my arms around her and hold her tightly.

"I love you Spence."

"I love you too."

I didn't know where we would end up after all this, but all I could do in that moment was enjoy having her in my arms.

-XXXX-

Another 2 weeks had passed in a flash. Aria and I have been together every single day and I think her parents might be getting a little of tired of it. They wouldn't say so, because they know how much we'll miss each other, but they are her family, and I'm not the only one who will miss her. Ella asked if it would be okay with me if they could have a family night. This is just a polite way of telling me to f-off. I don't want to leave Aria, but I can't be selfish. Her family need to spend time with her before she leaves too. I'm reluctant to let her out of my sight but I don't have much of a choice. We're adults now, and we have to be mature about things. God damn it. I guess I should probably go home, I mean I know my parents are lenient but I think I'm right on the edge of being grounded for a long time after so many nights at Aria's.

"It's okay Spencer, you can come back first thing tomorrow." She reassures me at the door.

"I know. I'll miss you though."

"I'll miss you too Spence."

She places a lingering kiss on my lips before I leave, and I try to savour it for as long as possible.

"I'll see you tomorrow, I love you." She leans against the door and gives me a wide smile.

"I love you too." I smile and turn around and begin my walk home.

I hear the door close behind me and I turn around to look at the home I've just exited. It's going to be hard not coming here every day to pick her up for school, or at the weekend to bring her on dates. It's going to be hard. It's going to be really hard.

I turn back and look at my watch. It's only 5pm, it's still early, and I might as well grab a coffee at the Grille. I turn out of Aria's yard and make my way towards the coffee house.

A short while later I arrive and open the door, I head straight to the counter and order myself a coffee before finding a small table in the back and sit. I sit for a few minutes, lost in thought, trying to imagine this as my life for the next 4 years. The main reason I didn't want to leave Aria is because of this, I don't want to be alone with the thoughts that refuse to leave my head.

"Spencer?"

I hear my name and shake myself from my half coma; I look up to see the barista with my coffee.

"Yes, that's me, thank you so much." I flash her a quick smile as I take the coffee so she doesn't think I'm a complete psychopath.

I take a quick sip and place the hot beverage back on the table.

"Hey Spencer." A voice says softly.

I hear my name again and I wonder how the hell I'm so popular today, I turn my head in the direction of the voice and see Paige McCullers sitting across from me.

"Oh, hi Paige, I didn't even see you there." I say honestly

"It's okay, you seem a little out of it, I figured as much. I heard about Aria getting that internship in England… that's so cool…" she trailed.

"Oh yeah, it's um, it's an amazing opportunity, I'm so proud of her, she really deserves it."

"Yeah… it kind of sucks that she has to go so far away though."

"Oh, well I mean it's a once in a lifetime opportunity so no isn't really an option you know?"

"It's great for her, it really is… but, you know you can be happy for her and unhappy that she's leaving at the same time, it's okay to be upset about it."

I try not to let her words sink in but it's too late. I've been trying to be strong for so long I haven't fully let the reality hit me, that she's going to be gone and I won't see her for who knows how fucking long.

"Fuming and angry pretty much sums it up well I think." I blurt. She shoots me a quick sympathetic smile, before getting up and joining me.

"It's okay to feel that way. She's leaving and you won't see her, she's gonna be thousands of miles away. It seems really unfair."

"It is unfair, it's unfair because Yale hasn't accepted her and if they had none of this would be happening and she wouldn't be leaving and everything would be okay. I hate this." I say angrily.

"Listen, it's gonna be really hard, but, everything will work okay in the end. You'll see."

"I don't know. Maybe you're right."

I hear the door open and see Hanna making her way inside, she glances over and catches my eye, smiling widely as she turns to make her way towards the table I'm sitting at, her smile dissipates quickly when she realises Paige is sitting across from me.

"Paige." She says curtly as she arrives at the table.

"Hanna." Paige says back, looking slightly anxious.

"I uh, I better get going. I hope everything works out Spencer. I'll see you around." She says as she grabs her bag and quickly makes a bolt for the door.

Hanna gives her a death glare as she leaves and then rolls her eyes.

"What was that all about?" she asks abruptly after sitting down.

"Oh, nothing." I say.

I don't know if Paige is right, but I know I have to be optimistic, otherwise, Aria and I are doomed for sure.