Strange concepts come and go. This one was certainly one for the books.

It was late morning. Ashley was sitting with her back against the headboard of the bed, while Spencer was still asleep beside her.

Ashley had been in that same position for a while. Once again, she hadn’t slept very well through the night – waking up hourly, due to discomfort or bothersome thoughts.

That’s where this strange concept shows itself.

Ashley recalled sleeping soundly when there was tension between her and Spencer. It happened every time. Over the two months they’d been together – and even when they were just ‘friends’ – if there was any problem between them, Ashley slept fine – got in more than the recommended hours, even. However, when things were good between them, the brunette barely slept at all.

“God, I don’t get it,” she said quietly to herself, as she rubbed her tired eyes.

It’s easily explainable, however.

Upon meeting Spencer, Ashley found that she had someone constantly invading her thoughts. Someone to distract her from her dramatic lifestyle. Someone to make her feel like she meant something. Someone to care for.

And from there, you know how it all goes.

When you have that kind of person in your life, you spend most your time – if not every waking moment – thinking about them, worrying about them, making sure that they’re always safe.

Hence, sleepless nights.

On the flipside, the random nights where Ashley did get sleep – always mysteriously occurring when her and Spencer hit a rough patch.

Given Ashley’s past, she was used to people just giving up on her and moving on. So whenever her and Spencer fought, she felt like that was it…this was the time when Spencer would finally just leave her altogether. And when Spencer would leave…there would be no one to care for. No one to intrude Ashley’s thoughts, all the time, preoccupy her time, in general.

Ashley would put on the mindset that it was over between them, so instead of staying up all night thinking about the blonde, she’d sleep…and it was always a dreamless sleep.

Ashley turned her head to look down at the girl sleeping beside her – taking in her presence, her curves, the look of peace on her face, the little snore that she did that Ashley thought was the cutest thing in the world. The very essence that was Spencer Carlin.