hey guys so the last chapter to this story is up! i'm sorry the ending isn't what i thought it would be but my schedule is becoming really hectic and I haven't had much time to pop out these chapters. I'm still debating on a sequel...but know me I'll probably write one, you're just gonna have to be patient. It might take me a while. I'm working on finishing my other story, so as soon as that one is done I will probably start writing the next one! anyways just wanted to say thanks for staying with me throughout this story, I know I wasn't the best updater, but THANK YOU! love you all so much! let me know if you have any ideas for a sequel. ENJOY!

Chapter 31

"What exit?" I heard Emily's voice say through the speaker. I glanced up at the road.

"Next exit," I said. I was following Emily's car down to Maryland. I should be leading since I actually know where I am going but she insisted. We got off at the next exit and headed for the nearest rest stop.

"Someone should become the leader of the pack," I said getting out of the car next to Emily's.

"Shut up, my GPS was giving me the wrong directions. Blame the technology," she said thumbing to her car.

We walked into the rest stop to stretch and grab a quick bite to eat. We didn't talk much during Worlds because out schedules didn't really match up and she wasn't allowed to have much computer or phone time during the summer, but she called or texted me whenever she could. It was a rough couple of weeks after but now in just a few hours I'll see the love of my life again.

We didn't have much time to spend together; Spencer and I would only get a couple of hours together before Emily and I had to head down to UNC for training. Spencer had a few days in between to get home and spend some time with her family before she left for UPenn to train.

"How far away are we again?" I asked Carmen before getting into the car.

"About an hour, hour and a half," she said looking at her GPS, which decided to finally start working.

"Okay, we can see if there is a parking garage near the academy," I suggested. Not that I would leave my car on the streets of Maryland, but I don't want all this crap that I have to bring to be stolen. She nodded and got into her car. I followed her the rest of the way and soon we were in Annapolis. We managed to find a parking garage near by which was relatively close to the academy. Every once in a while we would see a few people in uniform. Whenever I saw a blonde, I hoped that it was Spencer, but I knew that it wasn't because she was training until like six or something.

It was around 6:30pm when we got everything sorted out and headed over the to main building. The campus was crowded with students, because the classes just ended. It began to dissipate within the next couple of minutes. We were left sitting on the stairs waiting for Spencer and Carmen. My eyes kept scanning the crowd looking for a sign, but I didn't know if Spencer was going to be in her dress wear or casual clothes. I thought that I spotted Spencer a couple of times, but it just turned out to be some other blonde wondering around.

"Hey!" I heard a familiar voice. I turned around a saw Carmen standing there in her white uniform. Her hair was significantly short than it was when I last saw her, but it was pulled into a short ponytail.

"Hey beautiful," Emily said getting up and giving Carmen a kiss on the lips.

"Hey Ash!" she said giving me a hug. "So, how was you're drive?"

"Good we only got lost a few times," Emily replied.

"Actually, you got lost a few times," I corrected her.

"Whatever Ash," Emily laughed.

"Well, I'm glad you both made it here safely," Carmen said embracing us in a hug once more.

"So where's Spencer? I thought she would be in training with you."

"She's in her room," Carmen said pointing towards a dorm building.

"Thanks!" I said starting to head towards the stone building.

"Meet back at 10!" I heard Emily shout. I waved my hand in the air to tell her that I heard her before walking away. A few minutes later I was standing in front of residence hall hoping that Spencer was going to come out. I didn't know if Spencer was still in the dorm, but I waited for about an hour until I toughened up and walked in.

"Excuse me Miss, Can I help you?" I heard the security guard ask. I turned around and saw this big beefy man standing there.

"Um, I looking for Spencer Carlin," I said approaching a desk.

"Friends are not allowed in the dorms, without the resident's consent," he said sternly. "I can call up to ask."

"Oh I'm a cadet at West Point and Carlin in my sister," I said lying my ass off.

"Oh I'm sorry I didn't realize," he said looking at me one more time. "Room 514."

"Thank you," I said walking pass security.

Spencer was on the fifth floor of the residence hall. I managed to find her room, but the numbers were completely out of whack. Her room had her initials and her last name print on it, along with another name, which was probably her roommate. I gently knocked on the door, but there was no answer. I took my chances and pressed down on the handle. The door swung open. There was an empty bunk in view and there was another one behind the open door. I glanced at the first bed to see if it was Spencer's, but it was her roommates. I rounded the corner and saw piles of boxes lying on the empty bed.

"Spence?" I asked to the empty room. I glanced around waiting for a response. I heard a sounds from the closet and carefully made my way into the room.

"Spencer?"

I watched as the person that was in the closet come out with a pile of clothes in her hands. She had headphones in and was moving to her own groove. It was Spencer all right, lip singing and sway while carrying the clothing. She really was a sight that I couldn't take my eyes off. She turned around and dropped everything, staring at me in utter surprise.

"Ashley," she breathed out.

"Um…I'm sorry, I knocked but the door was unlocked," I said fumbling with my words, "Sorry."

"No, no, it's okay," she said pulling out her headphones and embracing me in her arms, "Wow, I've missed you."

She planted a light kiss on my lips before picking up her clothes and throwing them into a box.

"Sorry I'm late, I thought you were in training with Carmen. Oh and if the officer downstairs asks, I'm a cadet at West Point and your sister."

"Good to know," she said smiling. "My classes got out early so I thought that I would get a head start on packing so that I would have more time with you. How much time have we got?"

"Three hours," I replied glancing at my watch.

"Well I'm sure we can make the most of it," she said pulling me closer. I felt my heart skip a beat. It hasn't done that in a while. Spencer wrapped her arms around my waist and pulled me in closer to that our faces were almost touching. Her warm breath made me shiver with excitement.

"I missed you so much," I whispered into her ear.

"I missed you more."

I could hear the soft music through her headphones and Spencer started swaying to the beat of the music. I felt secure being wrapped in Spencer's arms, feeling her warmth, feeling her heart pounding against mine. We held each other tight until the sun was starting to descend.

"There's some place I want to show you," Spencer said softly into my ear.

"Show me."

Spencer's hand wrapped around mine and pulled me in the direction of the door. We walked out of the dorm building and headed towards the town. I thought that we were going to town but Spencer pulled us off into a wooded are. A couple of minutes later we were on top of a hill looking over a small lake.

"I found this place running a run one time and it just reminded me to much of our spot and all the times we spent there."

"It's amazing," I said gasping as I saw the view. It was a smaller version of the our spot.

"I love you Ashley," she said sitting in between my legs and resting her back against my chest.

"I love you Spencer," I said kissing her softly on the temples before wrapping my arms tightly around her. "I have something for you."

I had some time in London to do some shopping and when I saw this it reminded me so much of Spencer. I pulled a small box out of my pocket. I gently place in her hands while resting my chin on her shoulder.

"Ash…" she gasped opening it and looking at the small gold ring inside.

"I know that it's not much, but it's a promise," I said wrapping my hands around hers. "I promise to care for you, to be there for you, to hold you, to laugh and cry with you, and to love you with everything I have."

"I promise," she whispered reading the inscription inside the ring. She slipped the ring onto her right ring finger before pulling me closer. She leaned her head back to rest it on my chest. I felt her hands wrap around mine before something cold slipped onto my finger. I glanced down and noticed that Spencer had slipped a ring onto the same finger. I glanced at it one more time before realizing that it was the ring that Spencer's great-grandmother always wore. Spencer would never take it off, not even for games. She made the excuse that it wouldn't come off because she'd been wearing it since she was little.

"My promise to you," she turned and smiled at me.

"We're gonna be okay," I whisper pulling her closer to me. "Not matter what happens, all always be there for you. You know that, right?"

"Of course! I'll never leave you alone, ever, you can count on that."

"We can do this."

"We'll talk as often as we can."

"We'll see each other at games."

"We'll be with each other on holidays."

"We can do this," I whispered.

We spent the rest of our time holding each other, trying hold on for as long as we had. I memorized every each other Spencer, they way she tucked that strand of hair behind her ear, the way she moved closer to me, the way her hand felt in mine, everything. It seemed as though I had just gotten Spencer back, and now I might lose her again, but this time…it felt like our bond was stronger than ever. Maybe the distance will help our relationship grow, maybe not. But something about it left me with this strange feeling, like everything was going to be okay in the end.