She picked up the pillow and placed it lightly to her face smelling the sweet smell of Ashley’s hair. She placed the pillow back down and grabbed her briefcase and keys. She headed out the front of the house and into her Toyota. She turned on her car and headed towards work.

****

Ashley had spent most of the morning immersing herself in her student’s projects and tried to clear her mind of anything else. She flipped over a page and began to read.

*RING RING*

She looked down at her phone and pondered whether she should pick it up. She really didn’t want to talk to Spencer and knew that she was only one of the few people who had a direct line to her office.

*RING RING*

Ashley took a deep breath and reached for the phone. She picked up the receiver and placed it to her ear.

“Professor Davies.”

“Hey Ash!” Aiden said in a nervous voice.

“Aiden…hi…how are you?”

“Oh I’m doing as well as I can knowing that today is the day that I officially start my rehab.”

“Right…sorry…not that smart of a question huh?” Ashley said lightly.

“It’s alright…I mean it’s something that I need to do. Anyways I just wanted to make sure about the time to come over tonight with Stephanie.”

Ashley thought for a second before answering him. “Ok I should be out of here by four so I guess if you can…you guys can come over around six or six-thirty. Sound good?”

“Sounds perfect. I’m not sure what to take over to your house for Stephanie so I’ll drop off a key to my apartment so that while I’m gone you can grab some of her stuff if she needs it.”

“Ok Aiden.”

“Well…I’m sure your busy so I won’t keep you much longer. I’ll see you tonight Ashley.” He said softly.

“Will do. Bye Aiden.” She said before hanging up her phone.

She sat back and looked out her window. Was she really ready to take on this new responsibility when everything else in her life was confusing her? She wasn’t really sure of the answer and really didn’t want to have to figure out the answer just yet.

****

Spencer sat in her office wondering how she was going to be able to make it through the day without talking with Ashley. She stared down at her student’s papers and the words just seemed to blend together as she couldn’t concentrate.

She shook her head and stood up abruptly. She stormed out of her office and made her way across campus. She walked into the familiar building and made her way down the hall.

She threw open the door to the room and walked inside searching desperately. She walked farther into the room and found the person she had been looking for.

“Marco…I need your help…” Spencer said standing with her arms crossed staring at her best friend.

Marco looked up at Spencer and gave her a stern look. “Guessing from the look on your face you haven’t fixed things with Ashley have you?” Spencer shook her head. “Ok well…if you have a plan…then I’m your man…”