“Guitar mainly,” I smiled, suddenly feeling the urge to return to the studio, “though I can pretty much play anything I get my hands on.”

“A prodigy, huh?” Spencer winked.

“It’s in my genes,” I informed her, stubbing out my cigarette and leaning back again in much the same way Spencer was.  “My dad’s a musician.”

“A star, by all accounts,” she smiled at me.

“You’ve heard the stories, then?” I laughed.

“I’ve heard many stories about you,” she said coyly, “surprisingly many, considering I’ve only been here for a week.”

“It doesn’t surprise me… considering who your friends are!” I said pointedly.

“They talk shit,” Spence cried, taking me by surprise.  I hadn’t heard her swear before, and doubted she did it very often.  Obviously a positive effect of being with me, I thought sarcastically.

“They do,” I smiled, “although that doesn’t necessarily mean the stories aren’t true.”

“Well they haven’t been enough to put me off hanging out with you, if that’s what you’re suggesting,” she told me.

“Then you can’t have heard them all,” I laughed.

“So educate me?” she raised an eyebrow.  Oh, how I’d love to be your education, I thought to myself.

“I would, but I don’t wanna freak you out,” I smiled.  “Careful, though – hanging out with me could seriously damage your reputation.”

“Maybe you’ll be my secret,” she winked, making the blood suddenly rush in my ears.

Before I lost the fight against my desperate urge to touch her, I quickly got to my feet and held my hand out towards her to help her follow suit.

“Back to the studio?” I suggested.

Her soft hand found mine and she was soon standing by my side, casually bending back down to pick up our rubbish.  I studied her closely, wishing I could run my hand across the small of her back that exposed itself to me as she bent down.  Her skin looked so inviting to the touch.  I was suddenly snapped out of my thoughts when my cell phone started vibrating maniacally against my thigh, ‘Maneater’ soon following the buzzing, filling the comfortable silence that had fallen between Spencer and myself.  I didn’t have to look at caller ID to know it was Nikki – she was the only person the tone was assigned to.

“Hey,” I answered, feeling awkward.

“You finished in the studio?” she enquired fiercely.  It was obviously a business call, not a personal one.

“Just on our way back after having a break,” I said as nicely as I could manage, squashing my anger down as deep as it would go.  “Why, what’s up?”

“Nothing, it doesn’t matter,” Nikki said, still sounding pissed.

“C’mon Nik, don’t be like this,” I quietly pleaded, turning away from Spencer.  I saw her eyes follow me questioningly.

“Now isn’t the time, Ash,” she whispered.  I figured she was in the office, so I didn’t want to push it.

“I’ll let you know when we’re finished, yeah?” I hoped she would see it as a hint for her to come and see me when I was done, so we could clear the air.

“Just bring the keys back to the office,” she demanded before hanging up on me.

“Fuck,” I sighed to myself, wishing girls were easier to understand – especially Nikki.  I turned to find Spencer looking at me concernedly, her eyes shining brightly in the sun.

“Is everything okay?” she asked, linking her arm through mine.

“It is now,” I smiled, leading her back to the window we had climbed out through.