“I cannot even BELIEVE this,” I mumble as I turn the corner on the way to Ashley’s house.  All the plans that we had made, everything that I wanted to do seemed to be falling apart in front of me.  Ohio? I can’t even imagine living there again.. I don’t even like my old friends anymore. Can’t my parents see that I’ve changed.. 

            I kick a loose stone off the sidewalk and wipe the tears from my face.  Four blocks to go..

            And what about Ashley? I don’t know if I can even function without her.  How am I gonna tell her about this? 

            I imagine her smiling face as she opens her front door, surprised to see me, but happy all the same and I feel the tears start to swell again.  It’s so hard sometimes, just being together, how are we going to withstand thousands of miles? 

            After a half hour of reckless speed walking, Spencer shuffles up the cal-de-sac of Ashley’s driveway sweaty and spiritless.  Loud music rumbles from somewhere inside as Spencer’s fingers reach for the brass knocker.  After three loud bangs, Ashley’s head pops up in the window and her face lights up.  Spencer sighs as the doorknob twists and the entryway slides open.

            “Hey!! Great surprise! Come on in,” Ashley says as she stands aside and moves her arm to guide Spencer in.  The music seemed to be coming from the kitchen, along with a few rather toxic fumes. 

            “Sorry about the smell. I was attempting to make cookies for tonight. Kind of backfired really.”  She wiggled her eyebrows and hustled into the kitchen.  I however approached with caution, holding my nose.

            “Good lord Ashley it smells like Glenn’s feet in here. What kind of cookies were those?” I say, laughing as she dumps the contents of two baking sheets into a white hefty bag.

            “Mhm act like you don’t want to try them. Whatever Spence, can’t fool me,” Ashley replies, carrying the trashbag an arm’s length away with her fingertips and tossing it out the backdoor as I take a seat at the bar. 

            She’s so cute.  The way she wrinkles her nose up with her disgusted face as she throws a couple missed bits into the kitchen trashcan.. I love her so much..

            She looks up at me and smiles and I know she’s noticed how quiet I am being.  I try to keep my face straight as she walks over placing her palms on my shoulders, running them down my back and around my waist.  “What’s up Spencer?” She coos, placing her chin on my shoulder.

            I roll the pencil on the bar between my fingers as my lip starts to tremble.  I’m not ready to talk about it..but I know there will be no good time.  Stopping the pencil in mid spin I mumble, “Ashley I’m moving.”

            She pulls her chin away from my shoulder and sits on the stool next to me, her forehead crinkled with confusion. “What did you say?”

            I look down at my hands as I hear her front door open and her mom drop her keys on the table.  Glancing up, the hurt is spread across her face like butter on bread.

            “I’m…I’m moving Ashley. Back to Ohio.”