"I told you!" Spencer screeched at her ex-boyfriend, Toby, loudly. She could feel her blood pulse behind her ears. Her heart rate quickening. She paused for a second to inhale some air before continuing, "I told you what happen-"

"Yeah, you said somebody tricked you into finding it and I believe you, " he said. Spencer sighed relieved. He believed her. All she wanted to do was throw her arms around him. Or cry her eyeballs out. Or pretend that her life is perfect for a second. She looked at him and opened her mouth but he started speaking before she could. "But ever since that night, the four of you have been acting like..."

"Acting like what?"

"Like Ali is still running things!" He told her. Spencer looked up him. She couldn't believe he had just said that. "Today at school, you sounded just like Ali when you talked to Emily. " Spencer felt the tears form in her eyes but she kept blinking them out.

It is hidden, and it stays hidden until I want it found. She had said today.

Spencer remembered Alison's words one day when the five of them were hanging out.

When I hide something it stays hid, until I want it found. That is why your secrets are safe with me.

All she wanted to do was throw her arms around him. Sit down next to him and cuddle up with him. Or cry her eyeballs out. Just break down and tell him everything. Everything. Or even better than that; kiss him. The tears stung her eyes and made her vision blury. She wanted a hug. She needed one right now. Especially from him.

But she couldn't.

She knew she couldn't be late. Her friends needed her right now. And this was their only shot exposing -A. Finding out who on earth has be threatening them and harassing them.

Then she could cry as much as she wanted. Then she could settle down with him. When this was over, she hoped it would, she could kiss him as much as she wanted or hug without worrying -A could and would hurt him.

"It's not like that! " She said through the tears.

"Then what is it like?" He questioned.

She breathed. Spencer didn't bother debating whether to tell him the truth or not. She knew she couldn't. She knew her friends wouldn't allow her. And even if they did, she knew Toby wouldn't stop asking question. "I can't do this! Don't ask me!"

"Spencer-"

"No! Don't ask me now! Ask me after tonight!" Spencer told him.

"What difference is one night gonna make?"

"It could change everything! " Spencer told him in a whisper. She held his hands tightly as she said, "but I need you to let me go. And I need you to promise that you won't follow me."

"Oh, my god," Spencer exclaimed through the phone as she shut the door to her car. She pictured her petite friend right now, clasping the phone against her ear right this very moment. "He told your parents?"

"Yeah."

Spencer couldn't stop the smile that was pushing it's way onto her face. She was picturing the whole thing in her mind this very moment. Ezra-Mr. Fitz-standing in front of Ella and Byron Montgomery explaining how (and why) he was seeing their daughter while he was her teacher. God knows if Mike, Aria's brother, was there when the whole thing, listening to Aria say, endless times, I love you to her previous English teacher.

"What happened?" Spencer inquired curiously.

"They sent me to my room," Aria answered.

Spencer stopped in her tracks.

"No," She commented on her friend's response. " No!" She repeated herself. "This is not good!"

Again, she couldn't help but image her friend right this very moment. Probably sitting on the foot of her bed with the phone clutched in her hand and a scowl plastered to her face.

"I'll get out some how," Aria calmed her. "Where's Hanna?"

"On her way, I hope!" Spencer said.

Toby had no idea how he was going to explain to Spencer this. She made it clear that she didn't want to be followed. And he promised her that he wasn't going to follow her.

But he needed to know what was going on. He had to make sure she was going to be okay. That would be enough to make all of the trouble worth it. He knew Spencer was strong, but he knew that Spencer couldn't take care of herself and stay out of trouble. It was Spencer Hastings he was talking about after all.

He made his way out of his truck and, slowly, he started tiptoeing quietly. He sighed against the cold, thick air.

What exactly are you getting yourself into, Spencer?

He searched the area again. He could not tell exactly what he saw due to the darkness surrounding him. He saw a vehicle-a car-ahead of and recognised it immediately. It was Spencer's. His heart leapt in his chest when he saw what was inside. Nothing.

Nothing was inside.

He started walking towards the greenhouse, pretty sure it was where Spencer has gone to.

"Emily!" Spencer shouted. A tall figure hovered over her friend who lied helplessly on the ground. Spencer breathed, grabbing the first shovel that she found and lunged at -A.

Spencer wasn't sure what she was doing, running to the enemy. She knew she was going to hurt herself; but when she saw a long, shiny knife in his-her-it hand her heart jumped in her chest.

She ran as quick as she could to her friend, but the heavy object that was clutched tightly in her hands slowed down her pace. She held the shovel up in the air and thrashed it against -A's back. She expected her or him to scream in agony but the hooded-figure just straightened up and spun around. Spencer held up the shovel again and slapped it across -A's face. It didn't cause any harm to whoever the hell stood in front of her.

Spencer threw the shovel to the ground and ran breathlessly, like a coward, away from -A. She turned away but the figure pulled her back and she screamed. His or her hand clasped her neck and tightened. She coughed, trying to break free but her arms and legs and her whole body felt numb.

Emily was shouting her name loudly and she was pretty sure she heard Aria's voice call her again.

But the other voice she knew better than anyone's sent a shiver up and down her spine and she felt the hair behind her neck stand.

She felt -A's hand loosen and her body fall to the ground. Her vision was blurred but she knew she saw Toby run after -A.

Spencer lifted herself off the ground and ran out of the greenhouse after the boy with the piercing blue eyes.

"Toby!" She screamed his name. "Toby!"

Her throat throbbed as she screamed endless times through her tears. Her face felt warm. Really warm. Her cheeks were burning with the hot tears that ran down her face. She covered her mouth to stop the countless coughs. Her throat was aching.

"Toby!"