“Okay, if I can’t count the parking lot, I can still count the kitchen.  I talked to you in my kitchen,”  Ashley continues her quest for a reasonable explanation. Instead of meeting Spencer’s gaze, Ashley lets her eyes roam all over the girl standing in front of her.  Spencer face becomes flushed as the familiar tingle rushes her entire body.  and I used all the perfect defense mechanisms…No, she’s not getting away with this again.

    “You had to talk to me.  I was the only person around.  You couldn’t just find a stranger in your kitchen and not ask what was up.  So that doesn’t count either.  So, I ask again, why are you talking to me?” Spencer speaks through an uneasy smile.  She becomes completely unnerved suddenly when she sees Ashley’s eyes find their way to her breasts. 

    She almost shocks herself when she puts her hand under Ashley’s chin forcing eye contact, and says, “And Why do you keep looking at me like that?”  Her voice sounded loud and uncontrolled.  OMG! Spencer immediately removed her hand from its place on Ashley’s face, and enjoyed a few moments of personal freak-out time.   

    Ashley, completely surprised, raised her eyebrows and allowed her jaw to drop, but only for a second.  Soon, she was smiling again.  Of course, she’s going to ignore me.  That’s the wonder of Ashley Davies.  She doesn’t actually have to conform to the rules of normal human interaction.  She gets to make up her own rules, and apparently, smiling and looking all cute and crinkling her nose and staring with those eyes is all that it takes to get her out of responding to any question that she doesn’t want to answer..Wow, obssess much, Spencer? …ahhh, just stop smiling at me..

    Spencer’s shoulder sagged slightly as she realized that her outburst had been in vain.  Ashley was still staring at her with that piercing gaze, not making any attempt to rescue her from her confusion.  She hadn’t said a word since Spencer had removed her hand.  

    Ashley must have noticed the look of defeat because she decided to speak finally, “Hey, sorry.  I can be a little difficult sometimes.”  Wow, is that honesty?… admission of fault?..wait.. is this still Ashley in front of me?….Spencer is watching her eyes as she speaks, and she notices a sparkle that tells her the sincerity will soon be gone from Ashley’s voice.  “But I’m so worth the hassle once you get to know me,” she continues as she crinkles her nose.  I guess the honest and humble thing comes in tiny spurts…

    The bell for class rings, and she turns to leave.  Over her shoulder she offers, “Oh, and you’re not a stranger.  You’re Spencer.  Spence.  So, the kitchen totally counts.”  With that she disappeared into the crowd.  Spencer stared after her, more confused than before.  She turns back to her locker to find the book for which she was originally searching.  Algebra, History, English.. which class is next?….She finally settled on her history book and notebook, pulling them out before closing her locker.  She then hurried to class knowing that the little talk with Ashley had distracted her, and she would now be late. She smiled to herself as she realized that it didn’t really bother her at all.