Natalie let go of the ring and stepped in front of Ashley. “Ash, it’s okay, really it is. The way I see it, Spencer’s the one who lost someone amazing. I would give anything and everything to be loved the way you love Spencer.” Natalie looked down and blushed after saying that. Ashley turned away from the sea and towards Natalie. God is she ever cute. “Hey Nat… help me? Help me get over Spencer. I can’t be stuck on her forever. I don’t want to be.” Natalie nodded her head and grabbed onto Ashley’s hand again as they continued to walk, not saying anymore words.

Natalie and Ashley walked along the shore until they reached Ashley and Spencer’s spot. They sat down on the rocks and just watched and listened to the waves hitting the sand. Ashley looked over at Natalie and saw that Natalie was looking straight back at Ashley. Slowly, Ashley and Natalie leaned towards each other, meeting in the middle in a small kiss. Natalie pulled back but Ashley reached out and held Natalie in place and continued kissing her. Natalie moaned into the kiss and Ashley smiled. Slowly, the girls pulled away from each other and both hesitated to open their eyes.

“That was… wow.” Natalie nervously chuckled as she turned away from Ashley’s intense eyes. “Nat, are you okay? I mean… I didn’t mean to… I just… thought…” Natalie turned back towards Ashley and held her hand out, waiting for Ashley to grab it which she did. “No Ash, it’s perfectly fine, really. I just… I don’t know. It’s just different… but… a good different? I don’t know.” Ashley smiled at her and held onto her hand firmly. “It’s okay Nat. Sometimes, different is good. I mean, I’m good… and I’m different.” Ashley smiled wide as Natalie laughed. “There you go, making wise cracks when it’s all serious.” “Natalie, if you don’t want anything to happen, it’s okay, I understand.” “Ash, it’s not that… I just… I don’t want to be the rebound. I don’t want you to be with me because I’m there for you. I… I want emotion there too, not just the feeling of being safe. So… what do you say?”

Ashley shook her head. “Natalie, you know everything about me… you know how I felt about Spencer… how long I’ve had those feelings for her. But, with you, it’s not just feeling safe. I really do like you… maybe not love… but that doesn’t mean that I won’t ever love you, because I know I will. I’m just going to have to need some time for all these feelings to sort themselves out so I don’t end up hurting you in the end… so, I say… I’m in if you’re in. We just need to take things slow… and have patience.” Natalie laughed at Ashley saying patience. “Yeah, like you have any patience, haha… I’m in Ash. I really think that this could work.” Ashley leaned over and kissed Natalie again, this time with more passion than their first kiss. “To a new start at love, right?” Ashley laughed, “Right.”