1:01PM Saturday, September 14, 2013

Vanessa looked up from her reading.  “So, hmm, you know you can hang out here for as long as you want, right?”

Spencer, slightly startled, turned her head to face Vanessa.  “Oh man, am I bothering you?  I can turn the volume down…I’ve seen this episode so many times.”  Spencer’s voice trails off. 

“Spence, did you hear what I just said?  You can stay, but…you…how are you doing?”  Vanessa put her highlighter down. 

A sigh escaped Spencer’s mouth.  “I just…Kate’s called a few times already this morning…left me a voicemail.  I really don’t want to explain…well, everything.”

“Everything?  What do you mean everything?  Spence?  You haven’t told her anything?  Does she even know that you and Ashley dated?”  Vanessa looked like her eyes were about to bulge out of her head.  “I mean, she’s been your best friend for, what? A year now?”

“Since the beginning of law school,” Spencer answered, nodding.  “But, I didn’t even come out to her right away.  And then in January we moved in together.  I didn’t want to freak her out.”

“You are out to her now, right?  I mean, she comes with you to Here and Eleven.”

“Yeah,” Spencer looked down at her hands.  ‘I need a manicure.’  She pulled her knees to her chest and looked down at her toes.  ‘And a pedicure.’

 “Spence?”

“Oh, sorry.  Just thinking…Hmm, I never told her about Ashley.  It’s complicated and emotional and…and it depresses me…I…”

“It’s okay.  I’m sorry,” Vanessa interrupted.

“No…no, it’s okay.  I probably should have told her.  Thing is, I seem to keep things from her…” Spencer looked up from her toes and over at Vanessa.

Vanessa’s face scrunched up as if she was racking her brain, trying to figure out what other things Spencer would hide.

Spencer inhaled…one, two, three…exhaled.  “I…she doesn’t know, uh, well, she doesn’t know about you.”

“WHaT?”  Vanessa didn’t yell, but her voice was louder than normal and it cracked at the ‘a.’ She cleared her throat.  “I’m confused.  She doesn’t know you come over here?  She’s your roommate.  And best friend?  Where does she think you go four nights a week?!”