“When did you date her?” Spencer asked, staring at the menu.

“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe the year after we broke up…who knows?”

“So, are you going to see her again?”

“I don’t know…maybe. She got my number, I got hers. I really only did it to get her to shut-up.”

“You know, it’s ok to admit that you like her.”

“What are you talking about?”

“If you like her, just say you like her. It’s ok…it’s not going to bother me,” Spencer lied, unable to make eye contact with the brunette.

“I mean, we used to have a lot of fun together. She’s definitely a cool girl…I mean, what do you want me to say? I’m confused.”

“No, whatever. I don’t know. Forget it. I just don’t want you to feel like I can’t handle it if you like someone that’s…you know, not…not…”

“You?”

“Yeah,” Spencer said, finally looking up and meeting Ashley’s eyes, “yeah, exactly. A girl that’s not me.”

“I tell you about the dates I go on all the time!”

“I know, but that’s different and you know it. You go out with those girls, most of the time you end up hating them…you know. It’s not the same. This is a girl that you actually like. I can tell. You get this look.”

“I get a look?” Ashley asked with a trademark smirk.

“Yeah, and you start moving around a lot and you…”

“I start moving around a lot? You’re kidding me right? That’s just what I do! I move!”

“But it’s different. I can’t explain it.”

“Obviously.”

“Stop, don’t be mean. I know you know what I’m talking about.”

Ashley laughed, “Maybe I do…maybe I don’t.”

“Maybe you do. So, when are you going to call her?”

“Spence…”

“What?”

“You have a look too, you know. And you’re wearing it right now.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You’re jealous,” Ashley said plainly.

“What?! I’m so not. I can’t even explain how not jealous I am.”

“Oh really?”

“Really!”

“Fine, you’re not jealous.”

“Don’t say it if you don’t believe it.”

“I don’t believe it.”

“Then don’t say it.”

“I won’t.”

            Spencer studied the menu, her cheeks burning hot with embarrassment. She was jealous, and she knew it was obvious. Her face had always read like an open book and she seemed to only grow more and more apparent in front of Ashley Davies. When the waitress came back to take their orders, she breathed a sigh of relief.

“So, what’s going on?” Ashley asked after the waitress walked away, “how are you?”

“Everything’s fine. Work is stressful right now, but other than that everything’s great. How about you?”

“My friend, Brian got me this gig at a coffeehouse on Grand Street. It should be pretty small, but I’m excited. You’ll come, right?”

“Of course, you know I’ll be there.”

“Good, I invited Maureen too.”

“Who’s Maureen?”

“The girl I ran into today.”

“Oh, you mean the one you said you probably won’t see again? I know you can’t be talking about her,” Spencer said sarcastically.

“I said that I might see her again. I mean, she may not even show up. Who knows?”

“Great.”

“It’ll be fine. You’ll see, she’s really nice.”

“I’m sure she’s an angel.”

The next day, Ashley sat on the edge of the stage, waiting for her turn to go on. She had scanned the audience for Spencer’s face, but she couldn’t find it. However, Maureen’s smile stood out in the crowd and she waved at her as she tuned her guitar.

“Next we have a young lady on the stage who’s fairly new to the music scene. Actually this is her first show ever,” the host said over the microphone.

Ashley started to correct him. This was definitely not her first show, but before she could she recognized a familiar head of blond hair.

“She came in today and begged me to let her perform, and hey, who am I to deny a beautiful woman? So, without further ado, Spencer Carlin!”