It was six in the morning. Spencer had been sitting in Ashley’s oversized tub, the water around her gradually dropping in temperature and her skin feeling as though it was stretched loosely across her body. But Spencer didn’t care. The news of Glen’s departure had been a shock, yes. However, more than that it forced Spencer to re-examine her own life…every single part. The reality of losing a family member—a brother—was brutal and unforgiving. And that’s exactly the way Spencer had been a few years ago when Glen told her he was joining the army. She didn’t want her brother going off to some war-torn country where he wasn’t wanted when he could be in LA surrounded by the people who did.

“Spence, are you ok?” Ashley asked. She had quietly opened the door, wanting to give the blonde space, but also afraid to leave her alone.

“I’m fine.”

“You’re shivering, how long have you been in here?”

“I don’t know…an hour. Maybe longer.”

            Ashley didn’t respond, instead she got on her knees in front of the tub and took Spencer in her arms. She knew what it felt like to lose someone. Her father had died a few years ago when his tiny jet crashed two minutes after taking off. Ashley had felt as though every cell in her body was screaming in pain and now as she looked at Spencer, she knew she felt the same thing.

            Spencer allowed Ashley to hold her, grateful for the safety she felt in the brunette’s slender arms.

“Are you ready to get out of here?” Ashley asked after a few minutes, “I don’t want you to get sick.”

“No…just five more minutes.”

“Do you want me to leave you alone?”

“No.”

            Ashley nodded in silent understanding. If she could have she would’ve crawled inside Spencer’s body to take on some of her emotional load, since she couldn’t, she stood up and stepped right into the tub with the blonde.

“Your clothes are going to get all wet,” Spencer said.

Ashley still wore the clothes from the previous night, too busy holding Spencer to discard them before falling asleep.

“It’s ok.”

“You have to come with me…to his funeral.”

“Of course, it’s not even a question. I’ll be there. But I wanted to ask you something.”