"Why is this so hard?" Ashley sniffed, pulling back.  Rodney fished his pockets for his handkerchief; she took it and he pointed to his heart, before curling a fist and hitting it against his chest.

"I know love hurts, but this hurts too much.  I’m doing what she wants, but…I know it’s hurting her, too."  Rodney pointed over his shoulder, then to his heart, then to Ashley.  Spencer loves you.  Again over his shoulder, then he made a goofy grin.  She wants you to be happy.  He pointed at Ashley, then at her head.  You understand, right?

"Of course, I understand.  But it doesn’t mean I like it."  He nodded.   Then it dawned on Ashley.  "She’s told you about Cate, hasn’t she?"  Rodney nodded.  Ashley sighed again.  He lifted her chin.  He moved his hands like a bird beak, pointed over his shoulder, then to Ashley, then to her head.  Talk to her and you’ll understand.  She nodded.  The microwave beeped; Rodney kissed her forehead and patted her cheek.  She handed him his handkerchief and pulled the rice out.  When she turned around, he was gone.

Ashley returned to the room to find Spencer standing wobbly by the bed, attempting to screw in a lightbulb on a battery-operated candle that sat on her bedside table.  Ashley stopped, noticing the fancy napkins, the real bowls, and the goblets of ice water.  The light finally went on, illuminating the real smile that was now on Spencer’s face.  She looked up, catching Ashley’s eye.

"Hey you," Spencer said, a noticeable change in her voice, as she hopped back into the bed, swinging her good leg up and under the table with grace.  Those two simple words still made Ashley tingle.  "I figured since you’re gonna start dating again, we should practice those social graces you…well…never had.  I had Dad bring this stuff, too."

"Hey, that’s not fair," Ashley retorted, setting the bowl on the table, nearly knocking the candle over.  Spencer grabbed it before it hit the water glass.

"See!  In a real restaurant, you’d have started a four-alarm fire before the first course.  Welcome to the Spencer Carlin Institute of Dating.  Lesson One: How Not to Ruin a Date BEFORE it Starts…"  Ashley settled onto the bed and listened while Spencer explained the use of utensils, the proper way to serve a guest, and how to hold a wine glass.   Spencer was so caught up in her explanations, she didn’t realize their food was actually getting cold.  Ashley also noticed that Spencer would not meet her eye.  It was then that Ashley put a hand on Spencer’s leg.  Spencer stopped in the middle of explaining how to use a napkin, her breath catching in her throat.