Paula had been staring into space thinking of Christine and how hurt she must be, “Umm… oh…sorry. I guess I was just in a daze.”

Arthur leaned to kiss her cheek, “I know I’m so irresistible that you can’t stop thinking about me.”

Paula returned a slight grin and chuckle knowing that he was so far from the truth. Why am I doing this to myself? I should apologize. I should see if she’s okay.

Paula picked up the phone to call Christine.

******

While Spencer was having dinner, Ashley had decided to hang out with Aiden at Gray to kill some time. Closing her phone, she sighed, “Man… I miss her”

“What? Did you just send her a text message?” Aiden asked.

“Yeah that’s my second one tonight.”

“Awww … I like this softer …lovey dovey Ashley”

“Shut up jerk!” Ashley snapped with a smile.

“Oh Wait! She’s back,” Aiden said slapping a high five with Ashley. Even though Aiden made her sick sometimes, she really did enough his company, especially when she needed it.

“Oh no….here comes Madison…be nice Ash”, Aiden whispered.

“Oh! Not another lesbo!. I am so sick of seeing gay people today! Geez!” Madison complained.

“Well then stop looking in the mirror…,” Ashley joked getting another high five from Aiden.

“Whatever! You will not guess who the next gay person is at our school. It’s a shocker I promise!” Madison said looking like she was about to burst with the information she had.

“Who?” Aiden wanted to know.

Madison leaned over like she actually wanted to keep it a secret.“…..Chelsea….,” she whispered.

“What! No! No way, not Chelsea. How do you know that?” Aiden slid a little closer.

Ashley sat quietly pushing back the voices in her head. Was it just a coincidence that Madison said Chelsea? Spencer had been flirting with her the other day. Please no. Please no. Ashley could feel the stress pains growing in her chest while bracing herself for the worst.

Madison continued, “Well, before lunch today, I went to the restroom to find the door locked. So you know me I started to bang on the door. And then I heard something. It sounded like a girl screaming more like …coming…and then I heard ‘oh….fuck…Spencer!’”

Ashley looked down at the table swallowing hard. She could feel the lump in her throat growing in its size. Time had stopped. She couldn’t move.

“Did you say Spencer?” Aiden asked glancing back at Ashley.

“Yes.. Yes.. ,” Madison continued without noticing the change in Ashley‘s nor Aiden‘s face. “.. …well, I had to really pee so I finally started banging harder and then this girl unlocked the door. I didn’t recognize her. I think she’s new. She’s blonde with very pretty blue eyes. Well, she just looked at me and grinned. And then I said ‘What’s going on in here?’ and that’s when Chelsea rushed out saying ‘nothing…nothing’. Her skin looked all heated. She had all the signs that this Spencer or whatever had fucked her brains out in the bathroom. I still can‘t believe it. Sweet little Chelsea….gay!”

Ashley didn’t respond. Her heart dropped. How could this be? Still in a daze, she’d barely felt her phone buzzing. Everything seemed as if it was happening in slow motion. Flipping open her phone, she read the text message from Spencer.

“Missing you too. Can you come out and play?”

Tears began to pour out of her eyes as she sat there quietly not saying a word. She could feel the pain starting to cause her chest to burn. After all she had tried to do to, this news was killing her inside. Madison looked puzzled at her. Aiden took Madison to the bar to give Ashley a minute. Ashley completely began to break down.

*****

Christine watched the caller ID and let the phone ring. She didn’t want to talk to Paula. At this point, what could she possibly want. Paula had everything she needed. Her happy life and her obnoxious man.

“Damn it, Christine pick up.” I know she must hate me now. I‘ve just got to fix this.. “Hey Arthur, I just got a page from the hospital. I need to go in. I will be back in a few hours okay.”

Arthur barely noticed as Paula grabbed her keys and scurried out the door.

*****

Spencer sat looking at her phone. Why hasn’t Ashley called back yet?