She took a deep breath and continued. “Then you came along and everything changed…you gave me a reason to stop being so bitter in the world and to enjoy life as it comes…you even dragged my sorry ass to Prom now that is a feat in itself though I am never going back to a school dance ever again…” She said shaking her head.

“Last night should never have happened the way it did…it was supposed to be our night…I wanted it to be our night…to make it special for you…for us…”

I pulled her out of her chair and scooted over slightly so that she could lie beside me on my bed. She slid herself next to me and rested her head on my shoulder. I picked up her hand and laid it across my stomach entwining our fingers.

“I never thought I would have to choose between my best friend…and the love of my life…I guess I was naïve in thinking that I could still be friends with Aiden after all that we had been through…I swear I never knew how he still felt about me…I guess I refused to see it…”

I stroked her hair not wanting to interrupt her while she spoke. She was telling me everything that I needed to hear and I knew it wasn’t easy for her. It never was easy for her to express how she was feeling underneath the rough exterior she put up to fend off feeling any pain.

“I should never have hesitated to say that I loved you Spence…just thinking about how I could have lost you and you not knowing that you were the one…that you were always the one…” She buried her head into my shoulder and sobbed.

I felt tears form in my eye as she cried into my body. The door to my room slightly opened and Kyla started to walk inside when she stopped suddenly. She saw Ashley crying and looked up at me with concerned eyes.

I mouthed for her to come back in awhile and she nodded softly before leaving the room.

I wrapped my arms tighter around Ashley’s body and kissed her forehead. I could hear her sobs subsiding and squeezed her hand. She pulled back and looked up into my eyes and I smiled down at her.

“Ashley…I love you…” I said softly before kissing her lightly on her lips. I pulled back and saw her eyes still closed and I kissed her forehead.

“Spence…you have no idea how much hearing you say those three words means to me…”

“Probably just as much as my hearing you say those three words means to me…”

“No…much more…much more…” She said before closing her eyes and falling asleep in my arms. I held onto her for a few more moments until I felt my eyes get heavy and I fell asleep as well.