"Shut up or I’ll…"

"You’ll do what?  There is nothing more you could do to me!"

"Nothing more I could to do you?  What about what you did to me?"  He yells as he points to his missing appendages.  She says nothing to that and just leaves.  "Spencer wait…"  He says more, but she just tunes him out.  She goes to her room and locks the door.  She rubs her throat feeling the burn.  She has stressed it too much lately and she hopes that it can take some more.  For tomorrow is a whole new day.

=====================================================

The next day Ashley tries to avoid Aiden but is unsuccessful.  He catches up to her around midday.

"Hey babe.  Last night was great, want to sneak off for another round."  He asks while throwing his arm over her shoulder.

"Aiden we need to talk."  She pulls him off the path, but then has to push him off of her.  Apparently he does not understand the word "talk".

"What’s the matter babe?"  He asks when he sees he is not getting any.  Ashley decides to be blunt.

"Aiden it’s over, we can’t do this anymore."  He backs up not really understanding.

"What do you mean?  I thought we really connected last night, you seemed to enjoy it." 

"Ever seen When Harry Meet Sally?"  She asks and seeing his blank look she knows she is going to have to be more harsh.  "Aiden I did what I thought you wanted, in other words I faked it.  I just don’t feel that way about you anymore and last night was a mistake.  I’m sorry and I hope we can be friends."  But as she says this she knows that there is a slim possibility of that happening.  She walks away just wanting it to be over with.

"I love you Ashley and you love me too.  I will prove it."  He yells at her back, but she ignores him.  She does think about what he said and she hopes that he doesn’t push the issue.  She heads off to her next activity only to stop when she hears what some councilors are saying.

"…that the freak is headed to see Ms. Stoner right now?  I thought she never came out of hiding?  I bet she is going to…"  Ashley didn’t need to hear anymore.  She knows she promised herself to stay away, but eavesdropping is a different story.  She heads off to her next activity and comes up with a plan.  She goes to the councilor in charge and thanks god that it’s a man.