“Yes, you have.  But you’re doing what everyone is doing.  Everyone is showing up at her house, calling her cell, stalking her locker because everyone wants to talk to her.  Everyone who ‘loves’ her is doing the exact same thing,” Chelsea said, emphasizing her last three words to the point that Spencer actually looked into her eyes.  “You need to do what everyone else isn’t.  You need to prove to her that you’re not like everyone else.  You’re not Aiden.  You’re not MTV.  You’re Spencer.  And you need to show her how important that is.  When she realizes that, she’ll come around.  You gonna eat that?”

            Spencer slid her plate across the table, feeling defeated.  Chelsea was right, no surprise.  But how was Spencer supposed to prove that the only love that mattered right now was hers?

            “Unfortunately, hon, I don’t know how to help you any further then that,” Chelsea said between bites, answering what Spencer had not asked.  “You have to think of a way to get to her and to get her to listen.  And at this point, that might be the most difficult thing in the world to do.”

            “I don’t want to lose her.”

            “You won’t.”  Spencer raised an eyebrow in disbelief and Chelsea shook her head at her.  “You won’t.  I bet deep in that messed up brain of hers she’s secretly wishing you’d show up and be her knightress in shining armor, even though she’s not acting like it.  It’s how Ashley is – she wants people to prove their loyalty, their love.  And it’s how she lives her own life.  She’s constantly proving herself to everyone around her so she can never be accused of asking too much of the people she loves.”

            Spencer thought about what Chelsea said.  Ashley never asked much of anyone, at least not directly.  She wanted Aiden to take her side when Kyla arrived, wanted Spencer to come out to her family.  She had become angry when her wishes weren’t granted, but when Aiden made it clear that he could be friends with both sisters, and when Spencer told Paula she wasn’t breaking up with Ashley, they had regained her trust.  They had proven themselves to her, passed her tests.  But she’d always repaid them – she’d warmed up to Kyla, given Spencer time to come out on her own, even sucked it up for Carlin Family Fun Nights.  She made it very clear that she was dedicated to the people she called her family; she asked for nothing in return but their reciprocation.

            Chelsea had cleared the picnic table off and returned, jingling her car keys.  She smiled at Spencer and tossed them her way.  “Drop me at my studio.  You can borrow the car till six, then I have to pick your brother up for our dinner date.  Deal?”

            Spencer smiled, grabbed her purse, and the girls headed for the parking lot.