Dedicated to my readers, my reviewers, and everyone else who has given this story a chance.

A/N: Alright, I have a legit excuse. Sort of…for a while I just hated this story. I didn't know what I wanted to write and worse I didn't know how to write anything. Anywhoo, then I got into an accident in the first week of June and this time I wasn't so lucky. I was coming home from a friend's graduation and some idiot swerved into my lane and hit me head on. My car ended up flipping and I actually was found unconscious. That was on a Thursday night…I didn't wake up til Saturday night so you can see it was pretty serious.. I had a concussion and I broke three of my ribs…which hurts like a bitch to be honest. So…I've been recuperating and I finally managed to come out with something to offer you guys. It sucks, I hate it, but it's all I have and I apologize for that.

On with the story!

It's been three weeks since I left the house.

The first week was hell seeing as Spencer and I hadn't talked at all.

The second week had been almost as worse until Spencer had shyly called late one night explaining that she missed me.

The third week was an awkward one seeing that Spencer and I had only had conversations that bordered uncomfortable.

This wasn't going the way I had planned on it going.

Now I'm sitting here in the studio, tapping a pencil on the table and glaring at the complaining artist.

"Listen, I just don't understand what else you want from me!" Darren, an upcoming artist Kyla had discovered, storms in the room frustrated.

Gripping the pencil, I stand up barking at the unexpecting artist. "We're asking you to work harder. You aren't pushing yourself like you used to."

"I'm trying Ashley! I really am!"

Soft lips brushed up against mine and the sweetest voice breathes over my tingling lips.

"I'm trying, Ash. I swear I am."

The familiar words shoot through my anger and the pencil snaps suddenly in my hand. "THEN TRY HARDER!"

Tears spring to my eyes and I rush out of the studio, the quick tapping of heels behind me alerting me to Kyla's pursuit.

Reaching my car, I slip inside quickly when I hear the passenger door open and my sister climbing in.

"Get out, Kyla."

"No." Her voice was strong and determined very much the opposite of my own wavering one.

"Kyla, please. I don't think you understand-"

"Are you fucking kidding me? No-no-no. I don't understand? I've been listening to you cry every single night since you moved in with me. Three weeks of hearing my older sister sob over someone who still isn't trying. I'm the only one who would understand Ashley."

I watch as Kyla rushes out of the car and back inside the studio. Anger floods through me and I slam a fist against the steering wheel.

"Fuck!"

My hand throbbed in pain but I couldn't force myself to see past my self-loathing rage. I need Kyla now more than ever and I need to make this okay.

Sighing, I step out of my car and drudgingly walk through the doors of the building and inside the occupied studio.

Two sets of eyes meet mine the moment I step inside: Kyla's angry unforgiving gaze and the artist's frightened nervous gaze.

"I'm sorry. Everyone, I just- I've been having a rough couple of weeks and I didn't mean to take it out on you." I rub the back of my neck sheepishly and sneak a glance at the two people in the room.

Darren walks toward me resting a heavy yet oddly comforting hand on my shoulder, " 's okay, Ash. Stuff happens to everyone and that includes you so I'm pretty sure we can let it slide this time. So how about we go through the song one more time and do it just the way you want? I really think we can nail it this time."

I look up and grin at the young artist's genuine compassion and nod my head, still not meeting Kyla's gaze. I know I hurt her and this time, I really do think I might have pushed her too far this time.

Pulling out a worn book, I motion Darren to come over to me and point out a page, "Here look at this one. I really think it's better than the one we're trying right now."

Darren takes the book into his hands and nods eagerly, pushing the nearby guitar in my hands and telling me to strum out the beginning chords.

The soft sound filled the room and I nodded at the young artist to read the lyrics.

We were young and wild and free
Fighting in a love we couldn't leave
Even on the way down, even on the way down
You were standing there in your bare feet
Seeing in your eyes you wouldn't leave
Even on the way down, even on the way down

It's out of my hands
Breaking your heart
Letting you go and it's my fault
Fooling ourselves, there's no easy way out
When is it over?

So many things that I should say
If it even mattered anyway
The war has long been lost
Two sad souls that can't count the cost
With love it's just an open flame
We burn ourselves just to feel the pain
Oh when it over now when is it over now
Over now over now over

"Wow." Kyla breathes out from behind me.

Without looking back at her, I stood up shakily. "Could you help Darren record that, Ky? I need a break."

At her agreement, I walk silently out of the room and into my private section of the studio. Walking inside, I take a seat on the stool in front of the piano. I pull out a small folded paper out of my pocket and smooth it out in front of me.

So the story goes on down a less traveled road.
It's a variation on the one I was told,
And although it's not the same, It's awful close.

Yeah
In an ordinary fairy tale land,
There's a promise of a perfect happy end.
And I imagine having just short of that,
Is better than nothing

So you'll be my Forever and Almost Always,
And I'll be fine, just love me when you can
And I'll wait patiently, I'll wake up every day
Just hoping that you still care

In the corner of my mind, I know too well,
Oh that surely even I, deserve the best
But instead of leaving, I just put the issue to bed,
And out of my head,
Oh and just when I believe, you've changed for good.
Well you go and prove me wrong just like I knew you would
When I've run out of second chances, you give me that look,
And you're off the hook,

You'll be my Forever and Almost Always,
It ain't right to just love me when you can
I won't wait patiently, or wake up everyday
Just hoping that you'll still care
Forever and Almost Always,
No it ain't right to just love me when you can, baby
Ain't gonna wait patiently, I won't wake up every day just hoping that you still care.

"Ash?"

I tear myself away from the piano and stumble over my feet, cursing at myself for the obvious clumsiness I had recently acquired.

"Uh- hi, Spencer. What are you doing here?"

The blonde shrugs and walks in, "I was in the neighborhood and thought you might like some coffee."

She smiles sheepishly, holding up a cup before handing it to me.

"Spencer, there's nothing in the neighborhood. We're in the middle of nowhere…"

The blonde looks away and takes a seat by the piano, "Oh, right. So…?"

I scrutinize Spencer, watching the way she pulls at the loose string on her shirt, the way she won't meet my gaze, the distance she's put between of us. This is how it's been whenever we've seen each other and I never thought that we could have gone from the touchy feely best friends we used to be to this.

But then again, here we are.

"About that song…it's really good."

I perk up and look at the girl in front of me who still finds her converse sneakers much more interesting than me. "What song?"

"The one that you were singing right before I came in. Who is it for?"

"Ahh- no one. I have to go back to work, Spence, sorry." Panicking, I begin to look for a way out because explaining that the song is about her is not something I was planning on telling Spencer…ever.

The blonde's face falls and she nods, "O-oh. That's fine. I just-"

"You just what?"

"Ashley, I uh- I was hoping to ask you something."

Watching the other girl warily, I encouraged her to go on.

Spencer tilts her head, eyebrows furrowing. "I miss you. Ash, all I've done these three weeks is think things between and now I want to do something about it instead."

"Like what?"

"I want to take you out on a first date. I want to do this the right way so Ashley Davies, would you please accompany me to dinner and a movie, and if time permits, ice cream, this Friday night?"

I'm standing there gaping, I know I am but the sound of Spencer's giggles snap me out of the trance. "Absolutely! I mean, uh yeah sure. That sounds like fun."

Spencer breaks out into a huge grin and I can't help but smile back at her.

The blonde starts leaning towards me and I feel my eyes flutter closed when she enters my personal space. I lick my lips unconsciously and part them slightly in anticipation when I feel a pair of soft lips press against my cheek.

Spencer pulls away slowly, dragging her lips to the shell of my ear. "Let's save the actual kissing til our first date."

She winks at me on her way out, her crystal blue eyes twinkling brightly.

Three days until Friday.

Three days until our date.

Three days until I can finally breathe again.

I can wait.

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