Hey guys! wow, it's been way to long. I'm sorry for such the long wait; I'm in the process of moving and training for a half marathon, so I don't exactly have a lot of time to free write. Anyways got this chapter up as fast as possible, so I'm apologize if there are any errors. This chapter focuses on Spencer and Sid and Ashley and Glen. I hope you enjoy. Let me know what you think.

Chapter 27

Spencer's POV

I sat of my desk scribbling notes down in my journal. I was still getting over the fact that Glen was finally awake. Miracles like this don't happen every day, but when they do it's incredible. In three days Ashley and I would be graduating, and then I leave the day after. Every time I thought about it, I felt my heart breaking a little more. I'm afraid. I felt my fingers run over the metal bracelet that Ashley had given me, thinking back on all of the amazing times that we've shared.

I glance up at Ashley's room. Her room was dark. I was about to grab my phone, when the doorbell rang. I forgot that my parents weren't home, so I quickly rushed down the stairs.

"Hey Spencer," I heard Sid say before brushing past me into the house.

"Um, Sid, hey," I said a little stun. I quickly shut the door and followed him into the kitchen.

"May I?" he asked pointing at the plate of cookies. I nodded and he grabbed one and stuffed it into his mouth.

"So Sid, what can I do for you?" I asked leaning on the counter.

"Well, are you doing anything today?" he asked.

"Um, no, not that I know of."

"Good! How you like to go out with me?"

"Excuse me?" I repeated, trying to make sure that I had heard him correctly.

"You and me," he motioned, "do something fun, like go to the movies or something."

"Like a date?" I questioned.

"Exactly, except you're driving," he said smiling.

"Okay," I laughed, grabbing my purse and keys.

Sid clambered into the front seat and buckled his seatbelt. He had this weird smirk on his face. Sid had those warm chocolate eyes and the Davies's smile. Everyday Sid started to get more defining features like Ashley. If I was straight and Sid was a little old I would totally fall for him.

"So what to tell me why were are going on a 'date'?"

"Well, Ashley is really busy, and she promised me that we would do something today, but then something came up. So, I came over here."

"Ah, and what was Ashley so busy with that she couldn't take you?"

"She's helping my dad with setting up the back porch, cause he promised that he would have it done soon."

"Well, I guess then we're going to have a make a day of it," I said putting the car in reverse and backing out of the driveway.

"I guess we have to," he said smiling back at me.

Ashley's POV

I had been searching through boxes and boxes trying to find lights, any lights if I could. After about an hour of digging, I had found about half of the lights that I needed.

"Damn," I muttered under my breath. I grabbed my keys and got into my car. I headed to the hardware store and bought out their entire stock of lights. I'm sure my parents can find a use for them after. On my way home I drove passed the hospital.

I decided to stop and visit Glen. When I first met Glen he seemed like a nice guy, but you never know. I walked through the entrance and into the hospital waiting room.

"Can I help you?" a nurse asked me as I walked down the hall.

"Oh, um I'm here to see Glen Carlin," I replied.

"Are you family?" she asked.

"Well, sort of."

"Only family is allowed to see him at this time," she said before turning away from me.

"Ok," I said back tracking and returning to the waiting area. I waiting until the nurse had her back turn before sprinting down the hall. I hope she didn't see me. I managed to make it to Glen's room unseen.

I peered into the room, the TV was on, but the room was empty. I walked in and took a seat in a chair. I heard the sound of a shower turning off, and about ten minutes later, Glen came out in khaki and a button down shirt.

"Uh," he said stopping dead in his track, "hi."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to come here unannounced," I said getting up to leave.

"No, no, it's okay. But, I thought only family was allowed in."

"Yeah, well I kinda ran pass the nurse," I said rubbing the back of my neck.

"You're alright Ashley," he said laughing.

"Good to know," I laughed. "How are you feeling?"

"Great actually, the doctor's is bringing around the discharge papers sometime this afternoon."

"Wow, that's fantastic!"

"Yeah. It will be good to finally be home. These hospitals are finally getting to me. Anything tells me you didn't come here for nothing."

"Well, no, I actually came here for some advice."

"Ah, I see, about Spencer, right," he asked in a quirky way. I nodded and continued.

"I wanted to do something special for her before she leaves, and well because our school is stupid and thinks that it's a good idea to have prom after we graduate, which I don't understand at all, she won't be able to go and I know how much she wanted to," I said rambling a little bit too much. Glen started laughed silently during my ramble.

"Ashley," he began tapping his chin with one finger, "you intrigue me."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. I can see that you love Spencer very much, and I can tell that Spencer loves you. So much advice, do what you think is right, love should define how you portray is physical, but emotionally, mentally. Love is love, nothing can get in the way of that. Spencer loves everything that you do, she talked none stop about you while I was in my coma. 'Ashley this, Ashley that, Ashley, Ashley, Ashley' I think anything that you do will make Spencer fall more and more in love with you."

"You think?"

"I know my sister."

"So a midnight dancing…?" I questioned.

"Perfect!"

"And I know Spencer says that she loves all desserts and food, but if there a particular things that she really really likes?"

"Well…" he started.

"Mr. Carlin," there was a knock at the door. "I have your discharge papers for you."

"Oh great," Glen said signing some paper. "Have you got anything to do right now?" he asked turning back towards me.

"No…"

"Good, I'm taking you out to lunch," he said packing the rest of his things.

"Glen, you don't have to do that," I said.

"Well, I want to, but you're driving, and then we can talk about this little 'arrangement' of yours."

"Okay, where are we going?" I asked grabbing Glen's bag.

"I'll show you," he said walking out of the room.

Spencer's POV

Sid and I pulled into a parking garage of the city mall. We sat in the car for a few minutes before either of us talked.

"So what would you like to do?" I asked turning to Sid.

"Well," he said pulling out a piece of paper. He eyes scanned it quickly before putting it away. "I think that first we should have some fun, and then we can get to the serious stuff."

"Okay…when you say serious…you're talking about…"

"You and Ashley…yes and no."

"Okay…" I finished a little confused.

"How about a movie?" Sid suggested.

"Alright, you pick," I said following Sid towards the theater.

Sid eventually ended up picking some horror movie, Annabelle. I spent most of the time hiding behind my knees while Sid laughed every time I screamed or flinched. It was a struggle to get through those two hours; I thought that I might have actually died. I was going to have nightmares for a while.

"That was cruel," I said putting a tray of food in front of Sid. He laughed uncontrollably for a few minutes before finally settling down.

"You did that on purpose," I said pretending to be angry.

"Well, in a way yes, but I also helped you."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, you see, you're terrified of horror movies, and I know you have night mares or trouble sleeping after them, Ashley told me. So…by the transitive property…you get more time with Ashley."

"The transitive property…when did you get so smart," I asked smiling. Sid was right, I would probably force Ashley to spend more time with me so that I could get those horrible images of Annabelle out of my head.

"I've learned a thing or two from Ashley, but I that's not why I want to hangout with you today."

"Okay, why did you?" I asked taking a bit out of my sandwich.

"I watched you become part of my family. This is the first time that I have seen Ashley in a long time. I don't know how much you know about Madison, but they were both in the car when it happened, and Ashley blamed herself for the Madison's death. She would spend hours sitting at Madison's grave. When you would look into her eyes, it was like this dark empty space. She would try to convince herself that she was okay, but I knew that she wasn't. Then all of the sudden something changed. One day, she came home and there was a small light in her eyes, a genuine smile on her face, and it felt like the Ashley that I knew and loved was back. That was the day that you became part of her life."

"Ashley is the best thing that happened to me."

"I know, but I also know that by the end of the week, you two won't be together anymore. I don't want to pressure you, but I don't want Ashley to slip back into that state again, because I don't know if I can stop her from doing something she'll regret."

"What are saying?"

"I don't want you to go academy."

"Sid, the academy is in my blood line."

"Spencer you define yourself, don't let others do that. I know that the academy I a family tradition, but is that what you want?"

"I-I don't know," I said quietly. I didn't know what I wanted. I wanted to be with Ashley, but I wanted to make my family proud.

"Spencer you're my family too, and I care about you. I want you to do what you want to, not what your family wants. I know that it's none of my business what you do with your life, but I was looking into the ROTC programs."

"Sid, I know you want to help, but it's impossible for me to back out now. I leave in less than a week, not to mention that my parents would have a heart attack if I told them what I wanted."

"That's just it Spencer. Your family should support your decisions not freak out about them."

"Sid…."

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't pushed," he said backing off a little.

"No, it's alright. You're just doing what you thought was right."

"Spencer, I care about you, I want you to understand that, but I don't want my sister to get hurt again."

"I would never hurt her on purpose."

"Then think about what your doing."

Ashley's POV

"I didn't think that it was humanly possible for one to eat that much," I said flabbergasted.

"Well, when you've been in a coma for six months, you've got a lot of cravings."

"I just hope you don't exploding getting up," I laughed.

"Well at least I'll die happy and full," he said patting his full stomach. "So, this little arrangement of yours…"

"Yeah…"

"You asked me what was Spencer's favorite food, right?"

"Yes."

"Well, her favorite dessert is white covered chocolate strawberries and you can never beat a good bruschetta."

"Bruschetta…I think I can make that happen," I said smiling.

"Add some shredded cheese on top and you can't go wrong."

"I'll keep that in mind, actually, maybe you would want to help me? If you don't mind?"

"Well, I'll help with setting up everything, but the cooking is all up to you. I'll set the kitchen on fire if you make me shred cheese."

"Deal!"

I drove Glen back to my house. He helped carry the lights to the porch. We worked with the music blasting for a little while before Glen turned it down.

"So Ashley, I know Spencer's told me a lot about you, but I want to hear what you have to say about yourself."

"What do you want to know?"

"Spencer tells me you're from Santa Monica?"

"Yeah, I moved here a couple of years ago."

"Why leave California? It's beautiful there, why come to gross, cold, Ohio?"

"M-my mom got transferred."

"That's not the only reason though, is it?"

"A few years ago, I was in terrible car accident."

"I'm sorry, was anyone hurt?"

"My g-girlfriend was in a coma for a few weeks, before they decided to take her off of life support."

"Ashley, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to bring it up."

"No, it's okay. You need to know. It's just hard to talk about it. I thought that time would make it better, but it hasn't. I can still feel the pain like it was yesterday."

"It's gets better Ashley, but you have to accept the truth, and not drag yourself down."

"Does it ever stop hurting?" I asked wiping the tears from my eyes. I felt his arm wrap firmly around me.

"It's has it's good and bad does, but my pain has never fully stopped."

"How do you handle it?"

"I think of the positive things that have happened to me, my life, my family, my friends."

"Spencer's the best thing that has ever happened to me. I haven't felt the pain in a long time, but all of the sudden it's started to become stronger, sometimes to the point where I move. I feel like I'm loosing…."

"Spencer?" I nodded. I felt like I was slowly letting Spencer slip through my fingers.

"I know that your family has a long history with the armed forces, but I don't want Spencer to have to live with the pain that we're both experiencing."

"Spencer's a strong woman, but I've had my doubts about her joining the academy. I know that she can handle the physically part, but can she handle the emotionally component of it."

"I want Spencer to be safe."

"If I know my sister, she always makes the right choices in the end."

"She leaves in less than a week."

"I hope she finds the right answer soon," he said pulling me into a tight hug.