Spencer watched him from the open doorway until his car pulled out of the driveway and he drove away. Shutting the door she turned, jolting slightly when she saw her mom was right behind her.

“I really like that boy.” She commented with a pleased nod, watching her daughter, “I can tell he makes you very happy.”

Spencer nodded, looking down at the floor for a moment, “Yeah, me too.” It was awkward having this conversation, although Paula hardly seemed to notice.

“Much happier than Ashley ever did. It seemed like every other day you were upset about something.” Paula commented as she rearranged some photographs.

“Mom, I’ve told you. All Ashley talk strictly off limits.” Spencer had to admit, she had a point. Things had been pretty solid with Michael. With Ashley it was constant drama. Between her sister, her fear of commitment, and her abandonment issues Ashley was quite the handful. But she was her handful.

Paula gave a nod, assuming Spencer just wanted to bury that part of her past. Everyone goes through  a experimentation stage, some with drugs, others with alcohol, and in Spencer’s case- girls. At least that was her opinion. “Sorry,  I am just so relieved to see you smiling again.”

“I know.” Spencer acknowledged as she turned away, heading in the direction of the stairs, “Well, I should get to my room. Got homework,”  It was a lie, but a white and believable one.

“Oh, okay. Good night then.” Paula dismissed, allowing Spencer to slowly climb the stairs up to her room. She still felt sick, but after Michaels visit and a good dinner she was definitely feeling a whole lot better.

The next morning, Spencer woke up feeling like she had a hangover. Her head throbbed, her throat was as dry as cotton, and her stomach turned threateningly. Shuffling into the bathroom, she dragged her sorry self into a hot shower, her head leaning against the wall. God, today was going to be a long day. But, she didn’t want to stay home from school. She wanted to talk to Ashley, as much as she dreaded it, and she didn’t want to make Michael worry.

After a shower she looked a good deal better, although her skin was still a little pale and there were slight dark circles beneath her eyes. Nothing makeup couldn’t fix. After dressing in a pair of well fitting light blue jeans and a blue tank top layered with a white tank top below it, she was set to go to class. And right on time, because Glen was hollering for her once again at the bottom of the stairs. He could be so impatient sometimes.