They stood in silence for what seemed like an eternity, neither of them knowing what to say. The last time they had spoken had ended on such unpleasant terms that it seemed impossible to just be polite and forget about their past.

Suddenly their silence was interrupted by a weedy thirteen year old, who had stumbled out of the classroom and was tugging on Spencer’s arm urgently. As if awoken by a daze, Spencer shook her head violently and turned to the boy, who had his head back, and was holding a red tissue to his nose.

"Robert not again," Spencer sighed. She turned hastily towards Ashley and dropped her gaze. "I… I need to go and help Robert, his nose bleeds are somewhat severe… would you be able to just go in and just introduce yourself?"

Ashley swallowed the large lump in her throat and nodded hastily, her feet remaining stationed as she watched Spencer quickly walk down the corridor with the boy until they had disappeared around a corner. Not quite ready to walk into a room full of crazy kids, Ashley turned and crashed her back again a locker, slowly sliding down it until she was sitting on the floor.

Why is she here? Ashley’s breathing was heavy, and she closed her eyes, trying to slow it down a little. Spencer Carlin… The name resonated heavily in Ashley’s brain. Spencer Carlin…

"Ashley?" The brunette looked up to find Spencer standing above her, a worried expression on her face. Looking around, slightly embarrassed, she realised that she must have been sitting there for a few minutes at least. She hastily got up, swiping at all the dust on her jeans before looking up at the blonde once more. Without saying anything to her, Ashley walked past her and into the classroom.

Finally that long awaited bell rang, and Ashley sighed in relief as the students seated in front of her got up and bolted out the door. Slumping into her chair, Ashley rubbed her head, feeling the beginnings of a very strong  headache forming around her temples.

"Ashley?" That voice again. The one that sounded so familiar and yet so different. Although, given eight years, Spencer’s voice was bound to change at least a little. "Ashley I…"