“Why?” I could see her hesitate before answering.  I knew that I wouldn’t hear the whole story, but that was ok.  I was hoping that we would have time for the full one in the future.

“Well, I was just tired of LA.  I was miserable down there and I really want to focus on doing some recording and helping my dad start up our own label.  Aiden was moving up here for school and he convinced me that I should come up here too.  My grandma has the perfect little studio in her place and was ecstatic to have me stay with her, so here I am.”

“Very cool.  So do you write your own songs?”  I asked

She nodded while taking a bite of sandwich.  I started to ask another question, but she held up her hand and shook her head while she finished chewing.

“My turn!  So how long have you wanted to be a veterinarian?” She asked.

“That’s easy.  For as long as I can remember I have always loved animals.  Growing up on my parent’s horse ranch I have always been around them.  They are always so unconditional with their feelings.  That complete trust you can get from them, if you are kind, is the best feeling in the world.”

“So you are just as passionate about girls as you are about work?”  She asked with a smile.  The second question took a quick detour.

“Completely.” I said without hesitation.  I blushed realizing that I might have answered to quickly. “Well I mean that I am only attracted to women not men.  Not that I like lots of girls.  I mean I like girls…just not a lot at once.”  I rambled.  Uhg, how does she manage to make me talk like an idiot so easily?  She was smiling at my rush of words.  Alright then I thought, if she wants to play.

“So why did you tell me you were straight when we both know that you are not.” I asked quickly.  Her smiled faded.  I recalled Ellen’s words about letting her tell me.  I felt a little faint that I might have pushed it too far.

“True.  I put out a little white lie about that.  It was my instant reaction to the situation and honestly I have been using it as a means of protection.”  She replied.

 I nodded my acceptance.  My head was spinning.  I was kind of shocked that she admitted it so easily.  So where did we go from here?  Should I tell her I like her?  Duh, dumbass it was probably obvious.  What if she didn’t like me?  I was starting to let too many questions enter my mind at once and I didn’t know which one to try to find the answer to first.  Ashley beat me to the punch.

“Listen, Spencer….its been a long time since I have felt ok with liking other girls.  It is obvious we have an attraction, and I think it would be silly for me to deny that we don’t.  It is just going to take me some time to figure this out.” Ashley said quietly.

I let her words sink in.  My blood was rushing at the fact that she seemed to be interested in me.  At the same time I had to protect myself too.  Taking it slow seemed to be the way to go.  Did lesbians move slowly?  Apparently, I mean we were working on 3 full days of knowing each other and all we did was talk, nothing more than a touching of hands.  That has to be some sort of record.

“I think slow is good” I replied. “Listen I need to get to class, but I am really glad we got to hang out for a bit.  You are going to dinner on Wednesday, right?”

“Yes, for sure. I had a good time today too.” Ashley replied.  We walked out to the side walk and she asked if I needed a ride.  My class was actually pretty close so I declined.  She gave me a quick hug.

“Spencer, by the way, you clean up nice” she said winking at me.  “Not to say that the AC/DC beater wasn’t hot, but you are seriously killing me in that t-shirt.”

All I could do was stand there in stunned silence.  I tried to say thank you but it was just a whisper and she was already around the corner.  Take it slow…yeah fucking right.