This is the last completed chapter I have done, it has not been edited.

Chapter 12 – Rough Draft

Spencer beat out the last notes on her keyboard saving the file "Are you trying to break your keyboard?" Spencer turned to see Madison looking at her "Hey Maddy what's up?"

"Nothing much, we haven't talked since my party, want to go to dinner?"

"Sure, just let me log off and gather my things."

They decided to walk to the small diner down the street from the office, enjoying the crisp fall air. "I hope it's not going to be a bad winter" Spencer held the door open for Maddy.

"I read that it's not supposed to be, but who knows." Maddy led Spencer to a table in the corner "I've missed hanging out with you."

"Same here, I hate this time of year our workloads double." Spencer placed her order thinking about how Halloween was in three days, usually they didn't get over loaded with new cases until after Halloween, but it seems to have started early this year. Holidays were always busier for the department with parents under more stress they had more calls about kids being left alone, or suspicion of abuse. Most cases that were opened during the holiday season usually closed pretty quickly.

They were half way through dinner when Spencer heard a laugh that she would recognize anywhere, without looking she knew the Ashley was in the restaurant. She hoped that the brown-eyed girl wouldn't see her, doubting that if she did she would say anything to her. It had been a couple of weeks since they talked and Ashley has not made any attempt to speak to Spencer again. Spencer had left multiple messages but after not getting a response she quit calling.

"Hey look there's Ashley" before Spencer could stop her Maddy was waving Ashley over "Hello Ashley, How are you?"

"I'm good, you remember my friend Kyla." Ashley said putting her arm around the woman.

"Hello" Spencer said to both of them.

"What are you guys up to tonight?"

"Just having dinner" Spencer looked from Ashley to Kyla thinking they made a cute couple "What about you two?"

"The same"

"Oh I know" All eyes turned to Maddy "We should go to a haunted house tonight, we are about done with dinner. How about you guys?"

Ashley was about to decline when Kyla answered first "Oh that sounds fun, we were just leaving." She turned to Ashley "What do you say let's go." Ashley just nodded knowing any excuse she would give Kyla would see through. They all headed out Kyla and Ashley was going to follow the other women to the haunted house.

Spencer sat quietly in the car wondering how the night had turned out this way, she had tried to come up with an excuse to get out of it.

"Why are you so quiet, you love haunted house."

Spencer looked at Maddy like she had a second head "No I don't, you love them and choose to torture me by dragging me along every year."

"At least the company will be better this year, maybe she will protect you" Maddy says winking at her.

"I believe she will be protecting her girlfriend"

"I don't think they are dating, Ashley always introduces her as her friend." Maddy was coming up with a plan, she would have to get Kyla alone she would need her help.

Once they arrived Maddy quickly grabbed Kyla's arm leading her towards the ticket both "I'll buy, you two wait here we will get the tickets."

"We can come" Both Ashley and Spencer said, neither wanting to be alone with the other.

"No reason for all of us to stand in line, you two wait at those tables" Maddy and Kyla quickly walked away.

"So are you and Ashley dating?" Maddy was quick to point not having a lot of time.

"No, we are just friends. We dated once but her heart belongs to someone else."

"Oh good" She looked at Kyla about to apologize but Kyla spoke first "So what's the plan to get our friends together?"

Maddy smiled liking the other woman more; they then spent the rest of the time in line coming up with a plan to get Ashley and Spencer alone together.

"Why do I have a feeling our friends are up to no good" Spencer mumbled as she led Ashley to an empty picnic table near the bomb fire.

"Oh I don't know maybe because they are as subtle as a train wreck"

Spencer laughed "Well nothing Maddy does is subtle."

The women sat in silence for several minutes Spencer was about to speak when the brown-eyed girl spoke first "Look Spencer we both know that I am only here because of Kyla" Ashley saw the other women coming their way "here they come."

"Well it won't be long before we know their plan" Spencer could tell by the look on Maddy's face that she was up to something. Sure enough it didn't take long, just as the two woman arrived to the table Kyla said "You will never believe it but just as Maddy bought two tickets for her and Spencer my phone rang, its work I have to run." Ashley was about to say she would leave with her when Maddy spoke "So I told her that I would give her a ride, you and Ashley can have my tickets." She looked at Spencer who only just put her head in her hand, knowing there was no point in arguing.

"What? No it's fine I'll go with her, you were the one wanting to do this."

"No No its fine, Spencer's the one that really like's haunted houses I just join her."

Spencer glared at Maddy before she could say anything Maddy was handing her tickets pulling her into a hug whispering "talk." Kyla did the same to Ashley and the two walked quickly away.

"What the hell just happened?"

Spencer stood up "we can always just leave" feeling both relieved and disappointed.

Ashley stood there not looking at Spencer battling with herself, she didn't want to be around Spencer but she did love haunted houses "well since we are here and we both love haunted houses we should stay but this does not mean that I have forgiven you."

Spencer groaned she wanted to spend time with the brown-eyed girl but she did not love haunted houses "I understand so where are we starting?"

Spencer nerves were shot "why do I keep doing this to myself" she groaned as she waited in line for the haunted hay ride. Ashley had gone to get drinks, the blonde was thankful to have a few minutes away from her. They hadn't said more than a few words to each other, every time Spencer had tried to start up a conversation Ashley would quickly stop the conversation. She overheard the couple in front of her talking about their plans for the holidays, she hated the holidays another thing that Mother was able to ruin for her.

19 years ago; age 8

Spencer and her dad had spent the day decorating the Christmas tree she hadn't had that much fun ever. Her dad had left for work shortly after they were done, no sooner did her dad walk out the door Mother started drinking. She was looking at the tree smiling remembering how her dad had lifted her up so that she could put the star on the top of the tree. Lost in the memory she didn't hear Mother walk up behind her "what are you smiling at" she grabbed her by the hair dragging her over to the tree "do you think you deserved this?"

Spencer didn't answer quickly enough causing Mother to smack her across the face "answer me now girl."

"No ma'am"

"What do you deserve?"

"To be punished" Spencer knew that she had done the one thing that would cause Mother to punish her no matter what, she had looked happy.

Mother smiled "Yes you deserve to be punished, how should I punish you?"

Spencer didn't answering know that was a question that didn't require an answer. This was part of Mother's game, the planning the punishment. She was looking at the tree when she smiled bending down to be face to face with Spencer "Lets see how much you like this tree after your punishment."

Spencer could smell the alcohol on Mother's breath but didn't flintch only watching as Mother grabbed a glass ornament off the tree. She was confused not knowing what Mother planned to do when all of a sudden Mother smashed the glass ornament on the top of her head. Spencer could feel the glass cutting into her head, one after another Mother would grab an ornament and then smash it on her head. Each ornament hurt more than the one before it as the glass was pounded into her head, blood slowly started to trinkle down her face. She didn't move to wipe it nor did she allow her mother to see the hurt in her eyes.

After what felt like forever but was only thirty minutes Mother had broken all the glass ornaments on Spencer's head she went into her bedroom to pass out. As she walked by Spencer she patted her on top of the head causing the shards of glass to dig in farther "how do you like your tree now" not waiting for Spencer to answer before slamming her door.

Spencer jumped smacking Ashley hand, not hearing the brown-eyed girl walk back up to her and say her name she was startled when she felt someone shaking her. Ashley recognizing the look in her eyes "what's wrong?"

"Nothing"

Ashley seeing that she was shaking gently took her arm, leading her out of line, and away from the crowds. She tried to pulled out of Ashley's grasp "honestly I'm okay, let's get back in line."

"No, you don't even like haunted houses" Ashley finally stopped when they were alone turning to look at Spencer.

"Yes I do"

"Uh huh that's why you have looked as pale as a ghost and have made me go first all night. I was pretty sure you were going to faint after the last one."

Spencer couldn't argue even after not being together for ten years Ashley could still read her better than anyone else "I'm sorry"

"Don't apologize but don't lie either. Are you ready to leave?" Spencer just nodding as they started to walk towards the car.

At first they drove each in their own thoughts when they were almost to Ashley's the brown-eyed girl asked "want to talk about what you were thinking about in line?"

Spencer didn't answer right away, for ten years she hadn't talked to anyone about her past. This wasn't just anyone though, out of anyone Ashley would know exactly what Spencer was talking about. Pulling into the parking lot of Ashley's apartment she decided she was tired of not talking.

"I was remembering the first year Mother had smashed ornaments on my head as a punishment."

Ashley remember that day like it had just happened yesterday, it was the first night that the blonde had snuck through her bedroom window.

19 years ago; age 8

Ashley walked into her room flipping on the light having just come from taking a shower she jumped when she saw someone move in the corner of her room. It didn't take long for her to know it was Spencer or to tell that something was wrong but she was not prepared for what she saw when the blonde turned to face her.

Spencer stood there with a mixture of dried tears and blood covering her face "I'm sorry I" she couldn't finish has the sobs took over. Ashley went to her wrapping her arms around the girl "It's okay, don't apologize." After the tears stopped Ashley let go of her "I'll be right back."

Spencer looked panicked "No don't tell anyone."

"I'm not I'm going to go get a wet rag to wash your face" Ashley quietly shut her bedroom door turning and running right into her mom "Ashley who were you talking to?"

"Oh um, no one I was talking to myself."

Her mom looked at her than said "Okay well its bedtime honey"

"Okay mom, I just have to use the restroom first" giving her mom a quick hug and kissing, telling her good night not wanting her to come in the room later. She watches her mom walk back down the hallway than went to the bathroom. Returning to her bedroom she was worried that Spencer would have left when she heard her mom outside the door but the blonde was still in her room hiding in the corner. When Spencer saw it was Ashley coming back into the room she sat back in the chair.

Ashley gently washed the blondes face noticing the shivers of glass in the girls hair "Spence what happened?"

"Mother punished me."

"How?"

"Breaking Christmas ornaments on my head."

Ashley starting picking the glass out of her hair, apologizing when she saw her flinch after an hour she was sure she had gotten all the glass. "Spence how did you get in my room?"

Spencer looked away, the brown-eyed girl saw the embarrassment in her face "Spence I'm glad you came here, you can come here anytime you want, I was just curious."

"I climbed through your window; I didn't want your parents to see me. I'm sorry"

"No it's okay; you can climb in my window anytime."

"I remember that night, that was the first night you climbed through my window." Ashley put her hand on the blondes arm, feeling the need to comfort her and remove the pain from the passed from her eyes. Spencer just stared into Ashley's eyes seeing the comfort that was there when they were younger. Without either of them realizing they were moving both were leaning towards each other just as their lips were about to meet a car door slammed bringing Ashley back to the present. The hurt and anger replaced the previous feeling stopping her in her tracks "I can't."

"Ash"

"No don't call me that, I can't do this" the anger returning to her voice "you broke my heart once I will not allow you to do it again." She got out of the car running to her apartment never looking back.

Again this chapter will go through some change when I edit it.

Thanks so much for reading and reviewing.

Be back in a month!