As the hours passed, he grew more and more nervous. By the time the doorbell rang, he was literally sweating buckets.

“Ha. Guess who’s five minutes early?” Ashley said with a grin as she stepped into the house.

“Wow, look at you. You’re smokin’ hot as always.”

“Were you expecting anything else?” Ashley asked as she surveyed the room, “ok, I said I’d help, but something tells me you need like, a force of nature to get this place ready for a party anytime before next year.”

“Yeah, well, I was going for a…a…conservative look.”

“By ‘conservative’, do you mean boring? Is this going to be a party or a chess tournament?”

The doorbell rang, giving Aiden the signal that drama was about to ensue.

“Ashley, will you go in the kitchen, see what we need to buy?”

“What we need to buy? Are you kidding? The first thing you need to buy is time,” Ashley said as she walked into the kitchen.

The doorbell rang again. Aiden took a deep breath and braced himself.

“What was I thinking?” he asked himself as he opened the door.

“What took you so long?”

“I was upstairs…uh…freshening up.”

“Um…ok,” Spencer said with a smirk, “where is everyone?”

Before Aiden could answer, in walked Ashley, “Aiden, you have less food in there than a fat camp. We need a major grocery run.”

Ashley came to a stand-still the moment her eyes met Spencer’s. She didn’t know what to do, and her body wasn’t cooperating with her enough to run.

“So this is some kind of set-up?” Spencer asked Aiden angrily.

“I guess you could say that, but it’s a necessary one,” he responded sheepishly.

“Did she know about this?” Spencer asked as though Ashley wasn’t in the room.

“No, she didn’t know either.”

“I can’t believe this. I’m outta here,” Spencer said, turning towards the door.

Aiden used his height and strength over the girl to block the door, “No one is leaving until you at least talk. Argue, scream, arm wrestle, I don’t care as long as you’re communicating.”

“I don’t have anything to say,” Ashley said, finally finding her voice.

“Of course not,” Spencer replied, her arms crossed as she glared at the brunette.

All three teens were silent for a moment, allowing Ashley time to figure out what to do next. Here was Spencer right in front of her. She had been rehearsing for days what she would say if such an opportunity presented itself to her and now she had it. It was time to win Spencer back…no more excuses.

“He’s right…Aiden is right, we really should talk, Spence.”

“Ashley, you’ve got to be kidding me. What would make you think I would want to talk to you ever again?” Spencer said, but her tone was noticeably less angry.

“Please…give me ten minutes and I’ll never bother you again. I swear.”

Spencer wanted to stay strong, but there was a sincerity…a desperation…in Ashley’s eyes that made her reconsider.

“Five…you get five minutes and then I’m leaving,” she said, taking a seat on the couch.

“That’s fine. Five minutes is perfect…”

Aiden tried to conceal a smile. He couldn’t have been happier. However, he knew it was time for him to make his exit, leaving the girls alone to finally talk.

Tbc……