At first I thought I had the wrong number. It sounded like a kid had answered the phone. The voice sounded a bit childish, borderline whiney. There was a hint of an accent, but I couldn’t place it. It wasn’t overpowering enough.

"Hello?" the voice said again, almost as if they were a little scared.

"Um, I’m looking for Spencer Carlin. Is this the right number?" I asked.

"It is, but can I ask who’s calling, please?"

"Ashley." I stated. Simple enough. I thought.

"No last name?"

"Could I just please talk to Spencer?" I asked again. The girl told me to hold on and I could hear what I figured were her footsteps as she went to find Spencer.

"Hello?" the voice caught me off guard. For one it wasn’t the girl I’d been talking to and secondly it wasn’t Spencer.

"Who is this?"

"Cheri, um. Josey said you wanted to speak to Spencer?" she asked.

"Josey the little girl I was talking to?"

"She’s 23 actually, and yeah. Can I ask who’s calling?" she asked me too.

"Ashley Davies." I said. For some reason, and I didn’t know why, but I felt like I was getting the run around. When ‘Cheri’ spoke again, her voice had changed. Taken on an edge.

"She’s asleep." was all she said.

"Could you go wake her up?" I aked.

"I could, but I won’t." she said, and I heard what sound like shuffling as if she was trying to get up to move around. Then I heard Josey in the background, but she actually sound like she was an adult, somewhat.

"Don’t get up. That’ll wake Spence. Just tell her to call back later."

"I don’t think Spencer wants to talk to her," she said as if I couldn’t hear her. "This is Ashley Davies. THE Ashley Davies. Hell, I don’t even want Spence talking to her." she continued. In the background I could hear Josey but I tuned her out.

"Spence told me to call." I tried. In the background Josey spoke again.

"She’s been waiting for a call. Maybe this is it." Yes, I thought. Now give her the damn phone. It’s not that hard, just hand it to her damnit. I kept thinking.

"I don’t think it is." she said to the other girl. Then to me, "I’ll tell Spencer you called. If she wants to talk to you, she’ll call you back." and then she hung up. Okay, now I was pissed. Spencer was that close. Josey had said for Cheri not to move cause she would wake Spencer.