The ringing of my cell phone pulls me out of my sleep. I glance over at the clock on the nightstand. Who's calling me at nine in the morning on a Sunday? I groan as I grab my phone off the dresser, looking at the caller I.D. I should have known.

“Yes, Madison?” I answer in my sleepy voice. Hoping she would get the hint.

“So you get there and forget me. I see how it is.” Madison half yells at me through the phone.

“I'm sorry Mads, I told you, yesterday was really hectic.”

“You think I care?” She snaps. I can't help but giggle. “You promised me we'd talk every day Spence, everyday!” She yells. “Missing a day is not every--”

“I got it, I got it.” I chuckle out. “It won't happen again.” I add after a moment.

“Damn right it won't!” She says sternly, followed by a 'hmph.' “So what happened yesterday that made it so hectic?” I sigh as I remember yesterdays events.

I roll over and scream into the pillow. “I don't want to talk about it.” I mumble.

“That bad huh?”

“You have no idea.” I say as I turn over.

“Maybe if you tell me about it I can--”

“Spencer.” A knock on my door cuts Madison off. I shoot up in bed, knowing who that voice belongs too.

“Just a second.” I yell back to her. “Madison I gotta go.” I tell my friend quickly.

“Oh no the hell you don't.” Is her reply. I really don't have time for stubborn Madison.

“Madison I swear I will fill you in on all the details, but it's gonna have to be later.” I reply quickly as I run into the bathroom to freshen up.

“Fine!” She says and I can tell she's pouting. “But I want every single detail later.” She adds.

“Promise.” I tell her and quickly hang up the phone. I brush my teeth and wash my face quickly before running out the bathroom to answer the door.

“Good morning.” Ashley smiles when I finally open the door.

“Hey.” I force out a smile. “Sorry I was um... I--”

“It's cool.” She waves me off with her free hand; the other one occupied by her guitar.

“Were you writing?” I question, glancing down at her guitar.

“Yeah.” She nods and smiles. “I um, I have the urge to write most mornings. It's just something I do.” She shrugs it off.

“Cool.” I nod, pursing my lips. We stare at each other for a moment before I drop my head. I see her smile in my peripheral vision.

“Anyways, I came to see if maybe you wanted breakfast or something. I cooked some...” She thumbs towards the kitchen. “Lexy's gone to work and I didn't want it to go to waste so if you want some it's um.. it's here.” She finishes, awkwardly stepping back. Glancing from the kitchen back to me.

“Sure.” I nod and smile. “Let me just put some clothes on and I'll be right out.” I tell her.

“Okay.” She nods and backs up away from the door. I bite my cheek to hide my smile as I close the door to get dressed.

After getting dressed I headed towards the kitchen.

“Sittin' here, on this lonely dock. Watch the rain play on the ocean top. All the things I feel I need to say. I can't explain in any other way.” Ashley's voice stops me before I get around the corner to the kitchen. She just has this way about her when she sings. She gets so completely lost in her music. Kinda like how I am with my photography I guess.

“I need to bold. Need to jump in the cold water. Need to grow older with a girl like you. Finally see, you were naturally. The one to make it so easy when you show me the truth. Yeah, yeah I'd rather be with you. Say you want the same thing too.” I smile as she continues to sing. “Now here's the sun, come to dry the rain. Warm my shoulders and relieve my pain. You're the one thing that I'm missing here. With you beside me I no longer fear. I need to be bold. Need to jump in the cold water. Need to grow older with a girl like you.”

“That's really good.” I cut her off, coming around the corner as she sings the chorus again.

“Um thanks.” She tells me with a smile as she places the guitar down beside her, hopping off the counter.

“You wrote that this morning?” I question, finding it hard to believe that she's that amazingly talented.

“Yeah.” She shrugs and nods. “But it's not done yet. At least I don't think it is.”

“Sounds pretty done to me.” I tell her as I take a seat at the table. “This looks amazing.” My mouth waters as I scan over all the food that's set out for me. I pile a bunch of it on my plate. “A musician and a cook.” I look up at her as I take a bite of my french toast.

“Among my many other talents.” She says, sitting down across from me. “What about you? I know photography's your thing, right?”

“Right.” I nod.

“Can I see some of your work?” She questions, grabbing a piece of bacon and eating it.

“I um...I don't know.” I shrug and smile shyly. “I'm pretty private when it comes to my pictures it's a--”

“I get it.” She cuts me off with the wave of a hand. “No need to explain.”

“Okay.” I smile and go back to enjoying my food. Which is delicious by the way.

“Did you have any plans today Spencer?” She stands from the table suddenly and asks.

“Uh.” I swallow the food in my mouth. “I was just gonna go visit my parent's I didn't get to see them yesterday. Why did you wanna--”

“No it's cool.” She shakes her head. “I was just gonna ask if you wanted to go check out some spots with me that we're thinking about using for the photo shoot. It was Lexy's idea.” She adds quickly as she starts to clear the table. I smile at the fact that she even felt like she needed to add that.

“Yeah. I can do that.” I tell her.

“Really?” She turns back to me and asks.

“Yeah.” I smile. “It's no problem.” I stand from the table with my plate in hand. “As long as you don't mind going to meet my parent's first.” I add, dumping my scraps in the trash and placing my plate in the sink.

“Right, yeah.” She nods. “Um...parent's... I could totally do that.” She says, uncertainty evident in her tone. I stifle a laugh.

“Is there something wrong?” I turn back to her and ask.

“No.” She shakes her head, poking at her bottom lip. “Parent's love me.” She nods and visibly gulps.

“Okay, I'm gonna go get ready.” I thumb towards the room, turning on my heels and heading in that direction.

“Parent's love me Spencer.” She yells to my retreating figure. I can't help the smile that appears at my lips. I shut the door behind me, leaning up against it for support while I gather myself. Today is definitely going to be interesting. I finally composure myself, kicking up from the door to finish getting ready. After doing my hair and making sure I look cute enough, I gather the rest of my things and before I can leave the room my phone goes off again. I smile shaking my head. This girl…

“It’s later, now spill!” Madison practically shouts at me and I can’t help the laugh that escapes. It only annoys the Latina more as she quickly grows impatient on the other line.

“Madison it’s been like twenty minutes.” I finally get out.

“You said later and it’s later.” I can imagine her face as her sassy attitude builds with every second. New Yorkers really are impatient.

“Okay well I can’t talk now but I promise to call you when I have time.”

“Uh excuse you, I’m your best friend you’re just supposed to make time for me.” I sigh, quickly growing frustrated. I love the girl but she does not quit.

“Don’t go breathing all heavy on me Spencer. You're already forgetting about me and acting like its no big deal. You left me here without anyone to play with.” I chuckle as I pace the floor of Lexy’s spare room.

“Play with Aiden.” I laugh at her obnoxious groan of disapproval.

“It’s not the same.” She whines out.

“Spencer you almost ready?” I hear Ashley call from the front of the apartment. I cover my phone so not to damage Madison’s hearing as I shout back.

I know right, how considerate of me.

Thank you for noticing.

“Yeah, be out in a minute.” I remove my hand and focus my attention back on my friend. “Mads I really gotta go.”

“Was that the best friend stealer?”

I erupt in laughter. “Technically you’re the best friend stealer cause you came after Lexy.” I retort.

“Well you know me... always getting what I want.”

That’s for sure. Like right now she wants a conversation with me and I’m the ass staying on the phone when I know I have to leave.

“So who was that?”

“Nunya…”

“Don’t try to pull that nunya business on me Carlin, I taught you that. You might as well start talking chica because my ass will keep calling you until you do.”

She really will.

“Remember the lead singer of the band at the party?”

“Shut up!”

“Yeah and she’s waiting and I have to leave so can you retract your claws so I can go?”

“How did this happen?”

As much as I would love to tell her everything, right now I can’t. I sure as hell can’t talk to Lexy about everything and Madison was always a great…well, not listener because she's always cutting me off but I can tell her anything. I just can’t indulge in that luxury right now.

“Madison I really have to go I will talk to you later.”

I hear her suck her teeth and groan, clearly unhappy with the short phone call. “Fine but you better tell me everything. And when I say everything I mean everything like every mother…”

“I got it Madison, everything.” I cut her off. “Bye.” I hang up the phone, stuffing it into my pocket, grabbing my camera bag. As I'm about to leave the room my phone goes off again. “Madison!” I shout into the receiver. “Thirty seconds is not later!”

“You were always feisty in the morning.”

And now I’m nauseous. Sad, 'cause breakfast was so good too.

I probably should’ve checked the caller ID before answering this call.

“I’m not doing this.” I say, pulling my phone away from my ear. Her urgent pleas cease any further motion. “What do you want Carmen?” I put on my best bored tone but I know that if I stay on the phone too long with her I’ll get weak.

“I just…” I hear her sigh as she tries to formulate something to tell me. “I miss you.”

“And I miss the Animaniacs, but you don’t see me calling the WB asking for them back. You need to stop this Carmen. I can’t do this back and forth with you anymore.”

“Spencer I love you.” I close my eyes as I let her words wash over me. There were times when those words would overtake me. When I would drown in them, but no...not now. Now they're just a mist of emptiness.

Before I can say anything Ashley is knocking on the door. She must be part ninja because I didn’t even hear her walking towards the room.

“Hey, I was afraid you got lost.” I smile as she closes her eyes in embarrassment at the bad joke.

“Who’s that?” I hear Carmen ask.

Sorrowful to jealous in less than a minute. Is it mean that I kind of feel good about it? It is? Well whatever. I think I deserve to gloat a little after everything she put me through.

“Don’t worry about it.” I answer coolly. “I’m hanging up now.”

“So that’s it? You find someone else and forget about everything between us, everything we had?”

I laugh sardonically at her choice of words. It’s my turn to undergo a mood swing as I easily fall into anger.

“Why not?! You most certainly did, you forgot all about everything between us, everything we had when you fucked another girl! I was gonna try with you Carmen, I was gonna try to forget but now...now I'm not. Now, this is done. Don’t call me again.” I tell her coldly before I hang up my phone and release a deep breath. I look up to see Ashley staring at me wide eyed. I smirk a little as I walk out of the room. “I like to channel the Hulk sometimes.” I shrug as say as I walk past her. She laughs and follows me down the hall.

“I bet you’d look good in nothing but purple pants.” She calls after me.

I chuckle inwardly, but keep my cool as I reply, “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

–

Song Used- Joshua Radin – I'd Rather Be With You