“Well, that sounds like a lot of fun.  Except, Aiden’s birthday is this weekend, and I think the best-friend has dibs,” Spencer says while tilting her head toward Ashley, emphasizing that she is the best-friend.  “Apparently, there is a surprise party,” she continues, and in a whisper that only Ashley can hear she adds, “not that we were invited.”

    “Oh, well I didn’t know that.  I’ll cancel,” Kevin said in a disappointed voice.

    Ashley was smiling at Spencer, and it wasn’t lost on Kevin that Spencer seemed to be a little unnerved by it.  Spencer was standing with her hands crossed, shoulders slightly slumped, and her bottom lip curled in between her teeth.  He could tell that something had her really nervous, but before he could say anything, the most obnoxious voice caused all three of them to turn their heads.

    “Um, hello, Ashley!  Are we going to leave today?  Come on, you promised me a ride!” an extremely loud blonde girl was yelling from the other side of Ashley’s Porsche. 

    Spencer was busy giving the girl a once-over, while Kevin noticed Ashley roll her eyes and mutter, “Coming, barbie girl.”

    To Spencer, and not at all to Kevin, Ashley said, “I’ll see you later.”  Then, she turned to leave.  and I’m sure it’ll be when I least expect it..  Spencer watched her leave before turning back to her boyfriend, who was giving her a questioning look, or a knowing look.  She wasn’t quite sure what kind of look he was giving her, but it was making her skin crawl.

    “What?”  was all she could come up with. 

    He looked at her a second longer, glanced toward the Porsche that was now speeding away, and shook his head saying, “Un, nothing.  Are you ready to go?”

    “Yeah.”

    The ride home was tense to say the least.  Kevin hadn’t bothered to turn on the radio, so Spencer didn’t dare touch it either.  As he drove, Kevin stared at the road like he was watching a movie, an incredibly intense movie that, had he taken his eyes away from the screen for a microsecond, he wouldn’t understand.  As he stared straight ahead, Spencer watched him.  The silence grew unbearable, so she decided to venture into the murky waters by way of simple conversation.