The answer makes her pause. Makes her step forward, walk over. She perches on the edge of the bed, hand hovering, then lays her palm on the sleep-warmed cotton over the girl’s shoulder. Spencer moves under her touch, mumbles. Her arm tightens around the pillow. Ashley presses down a smile, moves her hand in small, slow circles.

“Hey… Wake up, sleepy-head.”

Spencer moves her head, tries to look up from under the sheath of blond hair covering her face, slowly rolls over on her back. Blinks up at her owlishly, confused, brows furrowed.

“Ash?”

Ashley folds her hands primly in her lap, smiles at the girl.

“Good morning!” It comes out too bright, too chipper and she sees Spencer wince at the sound of it, winces along with her.

“What-…,” Spencer shakes her head, befuddled, “What are you doing here? What time is it?”

Ashley rubs her nose, suddenly fascinated by the scuff on her boots. “I was, um, just driving by on my way back, and I…,” she chances a glance; Spencer looks at her squinty-eyed, amused, and Ashley loses her train of thought. “I stopped by?”

Spencer is smiling now, rubbing her eyes. “You’re weird.” She looks at Ashley again, cocks her head. “You have sand in your hair.”

Ashley smiles back, touches her hair, feels the sand under her fingertips. Sees it sprinkle the heavy sweatshirt she is wearing, the bed covers she is sitting on. She stands up. “I’m a mess.”

Spencer’s head is still cocked to the side, and she props herself up on her elbows as she watches Ashley try to smooth her clothes down, comb back her hair with her fingers, give up, tie it in a lose ponytail. Ashley looks back at her, sees Spencer shake her head, smile. Hears her say “I don’t mind.”

They stay like that for a moment, two, smiling, and then Ashley yawns, feels her jaw crack with it, her eyes water. When it stops, she sees Spencer smother her own under a palm of an upturned hand. She smiles at the blond girl. “Sorry.”

“No worries.”