Natalie took a step forward and put her hand on Spencer’s shoulder to get her attention. “Look Spencer, we both know that I’ve only been filling in. I can’t fill in the empty space in Ashley’s heart, only you can. I know that one day I’m going to have to give her up… I have to let her live her dream if you feel the same. So, what is it- do you feel the same as her, or not?”

Spencer looked at Natalie and couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Are you serious right now? Ashley loves you and you just want to let her go!? God, and I thought I was stupid to give up on our friendship… you’re an idiot for just letting her go without a fight! If I were you, I’d never let her go, ever. Natalie, she’s been hurt enough in her life… she doesn’t need the one person she has to hurt her too. If you leave her… you might as well just kill her, because it really will kill her, just like I did.”

With that said, Spencer walked away to the guest room and left Natalie alone. Mean while, Ashley had heard everything that was said and sat down on one of the twin beds. She’s going to leave me? No… she can’t… she promised me she’d never leave me. Ashley started to cry, realized that everyone she really does get close to ends up leaving. Natalie didn’t return to the room but went outside for a walk to think about everything that Spencer had said.

Sitting in her room, Spencer heard quiet sobs so she went to see what it was. As she exited her room she saw Ashley lying on the twin bed crying. Spencer knew that Ashley must’ve heard something that either she or Natalie had said because they weren’t really talking quietly. Spencer went into the twin room and sat on Ashley’s bed. Ashley looked up and stared into blue eyes.

“Why is this happening Spencer? Why can’t I just be good enough for someone, anyone?” Ashley started to cry again but Spencer moved closer. “Ash, move over for a minute.” Ashley moved closer to the wall as Spencer lied down and pulled Ashley closer to her. Spencer shifted onto her back and moved Ashley onto her shoulder, but Ashley moved even closer and rested her head on Spencer’s chest. “Ash, you are so amazing. You’ve got it all wrong baby girl… no one is good enough for you. You don’t know how truly amazing you are, Ashley. If Natalie can’t see that, than maybe she’s not worth it. I know that you two have been really close for a long time, but Ash, if she’s just ready to give you up, just like that, than she’s not worth it.”

Spencer absent mindedly stroked Ashley’s lower back which made Ashley shiver from the touch. “How am I ever gonna know who’s good enough, Spence?” Spencer smiled and looked down at Ashley. “You’ll know from the little things that they’ll do. The littlest things that normal people think don’t matter. If that person does everything just to make you smile, then you know that they’re worth it Ash. And I hope that you see someone like that because you deserve it. You really do.” Spencer locked eyes with Ashley as Ashley raised her body up. Spencer looked from Ashley’s eyes down to her lips and then back to her eyes again. Ashley smiled and leaned in closer.

“Are you worth it, Spencer Marie Carlin?”