“I’m not nervous. I just don’t think it’s a good idea for us to…”

“Touch?”

“Exactly.”

“Ok,” Ashley said, allowing her hand to drop Spencer’s.

“We need to talk about last night.”

“Well, first you should have a seat.”

            They walked over to Ashley’s couch, sitting about twenty-five miles apart.

“So…are you going to start?” Spencer asked tentatively.

“If I remember correctly—and keep in mind that I don’t remember anything at all—I said quite a lot last night. Don’t you think it’s time for you to start talking?”

“And if I remember correctly, I said quite a lot the last time we saw each other.”

“Spencer, I was in a much different place then. I was…I was upset, ok? Our last few months together were really hard for me.”

“It happens, Ashley! That’s what relationships are about. You overcome hard times…you learn from each other. Things couldn’t be perfect all the time!”

“I know.”

“Obviously you don’t.”

“No…no, I do. I was immature and stupid and I wanted this unrealistic rose-colored relationship. I’m sorry…and when you asked if we could try again, I was in a time in my life where my career came first. It was all I cared about and I didn’t know if there was enough of me leftover to care about you too.”

“Wow, that’s just great, Ash,” Spencer said, crossing her arms.

“But the whole time, I was just using work to cover up the emptiness I felt from not having you in my life!”

“And now you expect me to just drop Rachel and let you have another chance? I don’t think so.”

“But I’ve changed! I’m a different Ashley Davies.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yes, really!”

The familiar sound of the doorbell halted their heated conversation momentarily.

“You should get that,” Spencer said, relieved for the distraction.

“Ok, but this isn’t over.”

Ashley opened the door, completely ready to tell whoever it was that she was very, very busy.

“Hey, superstar. I left my favorite undies here last night. Mind if I have them back?”

“You’ve got to be freaking kidding me!” Ashley exclaimed, overwhelmed by Melissa’s consistent bad timing, “I have someone here right now. Could you come back tomorrow?”

“Only if you promise me you’ll make it worth my while,” Melissa whispered in Ashley’s ear.