PREVIOUSLY

ASHLEY’S P.O.V.

Emily: “She is right though. You can’t save her from everything.”

Ashley: “I know. I know she’ll get hurt. I know she’ll regret a lot of this. And I know I can’t protect her forever.” I sigh. “But I can try.”

Emily: “It’s not gonna work.”

Ashley: “It will, for a while. I’m gonna go find her.”

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ASHLEY’S P.O.V.

I walk away from Emily.

I’ve been searching for her forever. I’ve missed a class, just looking for her. I checked her classes, she was in none of them. I looked in the restrooms, she wasn’t there either. Not in the library, or the computer room. I’ll check one last place. The football field. Well…I’ve looked all around here. But I can’t find her. I finally give up and sit on the bleachers. I hear sniffling.

Ashley: “Spencer?” I ask looking around.

I get no response, but I still hear the sniffling. I look everywhere around me, yet I see no one. I hear the sniffle again and glance down. I can see her. She’s under the bleachers. I crawl under and sit in front of her.

Ashley: “Spencer, why are you hiding?”

Spencer: “I can’t deal with…anyone right now.” she says through her tears.

Ashley: “Well, what about me?” she sniffs and looks away.

Spencer: “You want to talk to me? Even after I just…went postal on you.”

Ashley: “Well…yea. Of course. I mean…you’re still my best friend.” she chuckles through her tears.

Spencer: “Why can’t you hate me Ash?” WOW, definitely thrown into confusion here.

Ashley: “Wh-what do you mean?” I ask frowning in confusion.

Spencer: “No matter how badly I treat you, how much I reject you, or how much I hurt you…you can never seem to hate me. Even when I deserve it.” she says sobbing.

Ashley: “Spen, no…” I say shaking my head. “You never deserve it. You’re just confused, I’ve been there, I know how it feels. It’ll get better. You will never deserve to be hated, especially by me.” I sigh. “I could never hate you anyway.” I say looking at my hands. She slightly chuckles.

Spencer: “And why is that?”

Ashley: “You know why.” I say ashamed, avoiding eye contact with her.

Spencer: “Remind me.” she says nonchalantly, but still sounding teary.

Ashley: “You know!” I say sternly, still avoiding eye contact. “I’ve told you before. Don’t make me say it again.” I say tearfully.

I look up to see she’s closer to me than she was a few minutes ago. She’s looking at me, our breathing picks up. She looks repeatedly from my eyes to my lips. She moves closer, licking her lips. She leans into me.

Ashley: “I have a girlfriend.” I say, turning my head before our lips touch.

Spencer: “I know.” she whispers, backing away.

Ashley: “We can’t…”

Spencer: “We can…”

Ashley: “But we shouldn’t…I shouldn’t.”

Spencer: “It could be an accident.” she says suggestively. “No one would have to know.”

Ashley: “No-” I say shaking my head. “I would know. It would kill me, I’m not like you Spencer, I can’t just kiss someone because they’re there, I have a conscience. I have a girlfriend.” I say sternly. “You’re just too late Spencer. You’re chance has come and gone. I’m with Emily and as I’ve said before, I am not leaving her for you, so stop being selfish and back off.”

She’s looking at me, teary eyed, biting her lips together. She shuts her eyes and her tears fall. Yea, I feel bad, and it hurts, but I’m not backing down, I can’t.

Ashley: “I have to go.” I can’t sit her and watch her cry, because if I do, I’ll break. I stand up and take a few steps away. “Be at my car when the bell rings.” I say, never looking back at her, then I walk away.