The doorbell rang and I cursed loudly before standing and making my way down the stairs. I didn’t know who came over at three AM but I was about to give them a piece of my mind. I stopped when I saw her though. She was only half standing up, being held up by a girl I vaguely recognized as the girl Spencer had bagged that night.

                “Hi, sorry, she wouldn’t tell me where she lived; she kept saying that she couldn’t go home.” I barely heard the girl as I stared at Spencer, her eyes glazed over and a sloppy grin on her face. She looked as if she were about to pass out. “She said to bring her here, is tha –“

                “It’s fine.” I replied, cutting her off. “Has she already thrown up?”

                “Yeah, twice.” The girl answered, making me nod.

                “Great, that means she’ll pass out soon.” I said mostly to myself as I stepped forward to touch Spencer’s face. “Spence, can you walk?” I asked, making her eyes focus in on me.

                “Hi Ash,” She said sleepily and I couldn’t stop my smile. Those were the first words she’d spoken directly to me in months.

                “Hi babe,” I replied, jumping forward to catch her as she started to slump. She fell right into my arms and I hoisted her up as best I could before finally just picking her up. I was glad that she was so light even when passed out. Her arms went instantly around my neck as if by instinct. “I’ll take it from here, thanks.” I said to the girl, staggering under Spencer’s weight as I closed the door and did my best to carry her over to the couch. Her eyes were open as I laid her down and she smiled lazily up at me. “You gonna sleep here or do you want to go upstairs?” I asked gently, making her blink a few times.

                “I think I can make it up.” She answered, slowly sitting up and groaning in frustration when her hair fell into her face. She pushed it back with the back of her hands before letting me help her to her feet. She leaned heavily into me but we eventually made it up the stairs and into my room. She crawled into the bed and flopped down on her stomach, her arms spread out on either side of her. I watched, standing uncertainly by the bed as her breathing slowed. Finally I climbed in beside her but sat down with my back against the headboard so that I could stare down at her but I wasn’t actually touching her.