Chapter 2.6 (Part 1) – The Morning After – Spencer’s POV

I wake up feeling like something bad is going to happen. I hope everything will be okay today, but I’m already panicking and we haven’t even gotten out of bed yet. Ashley is still asleep. I can’t look at the clock because it’s behind me and she’s holding onto me so tight that if I move even a little bit, then I’m going to wake her up. Finally my curiosity gets the better of me and I move to look at the alarm clock…it’s only 4:33 a.m. And Ashley is stirring.

“Hey.”

“Hey,” she answer back, “what time is it.”

“Um, it’s early,” I answer, “you can go back to sleep.”

She rolls over to look at the clock, and then back at me with raised eyebrows.

“Nervous?”

My silence must be enough of an answer because she just settles back down and squeezes me a little tighter. I rest my arms over hers, which are around my waist. She kisses my neck just under my ear. She pulls back a little and her warm breath grazes my ear…I fall asleep again…this time though I stay asleep. I have a feeling that it will always be that way…I have a feeling that I will always rest better when she sings me to sleep.

Two-and-a-half hours later Ashley is gently shaking me awake. We get up a little early so that we can stop somewhere and get something for breakfast. We stop at IHOP we decide to go inside since we have time before first period. Ashley goes to the bathroom while I order our food. She is gone for awhile, but she finally returns and we eat breakfast in near silence. I’ve never seen her this quiet before.

“Ash, are you okay?”

“Yeah.”

‘One word answer. So, no…she’s not okay.’

We don’t talk until we get ready to leave, and that is only to tell me that she is ready to leave. After a silent car ride we pull into the school parking lot. Ashley seems so calmer now. I’m panicking…what if someone notices…I take a deep breath.

“Are you okay?” Ashley asks.

“I’m fine…I mean…I don’t care who knows. I don’t…I’m just scared.”

“I know. It‘ll be okay.”

Something in her voice is less than reassuring, but I lean in to kiss her anyway. Her hands on my shoulders stops me. I look at her confused, and she nods toward the school. I sigh and get out of the car.

We start walking toward my locker. I take another deep breath and reach for her hand. She pulls away walking further from me.

“Ashley?”

That hurt…I’m not gonna lie that really hurt. Why is she doing this?

“Um, you know your class is right around the corner so why don’t I just go to my locker and let you get to class.”

“But we’ve got ten minutes before the warning bell…Ash…what’s going on. Why are you acting like this?”

By the time I have the question out she’s already half-way across the quad. I sigh and choking back tears…I go to class.

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I sit through English Lit, Trig, and Health before lunch. Ashley usually meets me by her car, and I only hope that she is there now. I reach the parking lot, but Ashley is not by her car. I sigh and turn around heading back toward the cafeteria. Someone taps me on the shoulder. I turn around…it’s Ashley.

“Where are you going?”

“Well, you’ve been ignoring me all day…I didn’t figure lunch would be any different.”

She frowns at me and at least she has the decency to look a little guilty, but when she doesn’t say anything I turn and walk back to the school. This time I don’t bother trying not to cry. As I turn the corner I see Ashley still standing by her car. I was hoping that she would follow me, and give some kind of explanation of her actions. I guess not.