So this is my first official story fanfic.. and I'm a little nervous about publishing it, so reviews are so helpful! I don't care if they're mean or complimentary, anything will be a huge favor :). So a little about this story that's au, Toby and Spencer are both in the same grade (seniors) along with Aria, Hanna, Caleb, and Emily. Also, Caleb and Toby are best friends. Also, each chapter has been inspired by a song (hence the title), I'm not sure if i'm going to be putting the lyrics into each chapter, or just title the chapter that. Either way though i'll make sure I give you a heads up about the song and artist so you can feel free to listen to it the first one is one is Thunder by Boys Like Girls :)
Chapter 1: Thunder
Skin to Skin, their hearts race with anticipation. As they hold onto each other close, it's almost as though they're afraid if they let go their world would shatter. Toby takes in a deep breath, exhaling slowly as he asks her softly, "Are you sure you're ready?"
Spencer nods slowly, not willing to break eye contact until absolutely necessary. She leans in, preparing herself mentally and physically. He holds onto her so tight, she can feel the pulse racing through his veins. Sweat covers their palms.
"One, two, three, four, I declare a thumb war! Five, six, seven, eight, try to keep your thumb straight!" They shout in unison, preparing for battle.
Thumbs clash, teasing each other, each fighting to take control. Finally, with the upper hand Toby pounces on top of Spencer, but she's too quick and escapes just in time to pin Toby down.
"Suck it! I win again." Spencer cheers. "So that's what? 10 to…hmm…what was it again? Oh yeah two."
"Not fair you so cheated!"
Today is a winding road that's taking me to places that I didn't want to go
Whoa.
Today in the blink of an eye I'm holding on to something and I do not know why I tried
They sit side by side in the back of Toby's rusty old truck parked on top of the highest point in Rosewood. Not many people know about this secret hide out, only their friends who come to hangout and now to reunite after being apart for the entire summer. The sun was just about to go down as Spencer and Toby pass the time waiting for their friends' homecoming arrival.
"Yeah and I cheated the last nine times too" Spencer remarks, rolling her eyes.
"Well, how about a rematch, but this time winner gets championship?"
"Oh, you're so on." She narrows her eyes at him as she attempts to give him her harshest stare-down.
Toby laughs at her attempt. It was ironic how she tried to be intimidating but looked nothing short of adorable in his eyes. To him, she was as scary as a puppy. It amazed him how close they had gotten over such as short period of time. They had been friends ever since his best friend Caleb started dating her best friend Hanna, but they always hung out as a group. It wasn't until all their friends went away the summer before their senior year that they had become so close. Now he couldn't imagine his life without her.
I tried to read between the lines
I tried to look in your eyes
I want a simple explanation
For what I'm feeling inside
I gotta find a way out
Maybe there's a way out
Suddenly a black jeep pulls up beside them and Caleb and Hanna jump out. Spencer and Hannah only have enough time to glance at one another before the squealing commenced. Caleb and Toby cover their ears as the two best friends jump up and down making enough noise to wake a small village.
"Hey man."
"Hey." The guys greet each other with a quick one-armed hug. Although both would never admit it, they both missed each other about as much as the girls had.
"How was roaming around Europe with Hannah?" Toby asked.
"Expensive" Caleb snorts a chuckle. "But well worth it since I got to spend the entire summer with the most beautiful girl." He quickly adds after given a dirty look from Hanna.
Hanna turns back to Spencer, squealing one last time.
"Gah, I feel like it's been a year since I saw you!" Hanna hugs Spencer closer.
"It was only three months, not that long! How was Europe? I can't believe Caleb's mom took you for the entire summer!"
"I know. It was so nice of her! It was so beautiful there you have no idea."
"I hope I can go someday soon. Wouldn't it be nice to just spend a year traveling the world? Spend a week in Italy, then out of the blue go to India for a month?" Spencer's eyes drift off with her day-dream. Toby looks over at Spencer as he overhears her thoughts. He gets lost in her eyes as he wishes he could spend that year traveling with her. Going wherever they desired? Getting away from Rosewood? Hell, anywhere away from Rosewood constituted as paradise to him.
"Hello? Toby? You there?" the sound of Caleb's voice suddenly broke Toby away from his thoughts.
"Yeah, your right. It's going to get dark soon, we'd better start the bonfire." Toby responds quickly.
Your voice was the soundtrack of my summer
Do you know you're unlike any other?
About an hour later, the Toby, Caleb, Spencer, Hanna, and the rest of their friends gather around the fire. They swap horror stories from the past three months as they catch up. The music from the radio in Toby's truck acts as an anthem, reminding them to be young and free. The bonfire glows in the darkness of the warm August night. Fireflies dance around the group of friends, and in this reunion they feel as though they're unstoppable. Their senior year inches closer each day, but they're ready to conquer it and then take on the world.
You'll always be my thunder, and I said
Your eyes are the brightest of all the colors
I don't wanna ever love another
You'll always be my thunder
So bring on the rain
And bring on the thunder
Toby sits in between Caleb and his oldest friend Emily, who was away working as a camp counselor. He nods along listening to her talk about the horror of teaching ten-year-olds how to canoe, trying to make it look like he's paying attention. They'd been best friends since the fateful day of sharing crayons in kindergarten; she knew all of his deepest secrets and they had always promised to be there for each other through thick and thin. He felt bad about neglecting his best friend, but in truth, he kept on getting distracted by the brunette sitting 10 feet away from him across the fire. The way her skin glowed in the light of the roaring fire was captivating. She looked like a greek goddess. Spencer catches Toby's eye and smiles down at her feet, embarrassed he caught her sneaking a peak too.
Today is a winding road
Tell me where to start and tell me something I don't know
Today I'm on my own
I can't move a muscle and I can't pick up the phone
I don't know
"Ok, since when are you two so close?" Hanna questions.
"Since we were the last two stuck here. Besides we were always friends, it was just inevitable that we got closer as the rest of our friends decide to ditch us to go gallivanting across Europe. Not that I blame you. If my boyfriend's mom offered me an expense paid trip I'd take it in a heartbeat." Spencer retorts.
Spencer chances another glace at Toby. Spencer had never expected to be quite as good of friends with Toby as she had become that summer. But she really had no one to hang out with. It was either go to the beach with him, or intern at her dad's law firm. Not that it was a bad thing to see Toby in nothing but a bathing suit every day.
And now I'm itching for the tall grass
And longing for the breeze
I need to step outside
Just to see if I can breathe
I gotta find a way out
Maybe there's a way out.
"It's just weird. I mean the only time you two would ever talk was when you were with me and Caleb - even then you seemed to pay more attention to Caleb. I just never thought you two had that much in common? I mean you're little-miss Harvard bound and he's a nice guy and all, but he's going to community college next year."
"Yeah, I didn't think we had that much in common either. Until a certain someone bailed on me and front row tickets to Elvis Costello, and forced me to take him." Spencer eyed Hanna knowingly.
"Hey my plans were last minute! I would have loved to go with you."
"… yeah, yeah I know it was a once in a lifetime trip, I get it. I would have done the same thing to you."
Hanna had felt so guilty to bail on Spencer, but when Caleb told her about his mom's offer, she couldn't say no. Who says no to a summer in Europe with their boyfriend? So when Caleb told her to ask Toby if he would take her place, she called him immediately. Having great taste in music, Toby couldn't deny taking the free ticket –especially front row? It was an offer too good to resist.
It was only a matter of time before Toby and Spencer were bonding over more than music. They soon realized they had a lot of other things in common as well. Things like how no matter how hard either of them tries, neither of them are ever going to be good enough to meet their parents expectations. And how they both have siblings that overshadow every accomplishment they ever had. Neither of them had ever met someone who had understood these challenges quite so well. Sure, their friends understood and were sympathetic, but their friends never experienced it to know how badly it sucked to always be second best.
I'm walking on a tightrope
I'm wrapped up in vines
I think we'll make it out
But you just gotta give me time
Strike me down with lightning
Let me feel you in my veins
I wanna let you know how much I feel your pain
Laughter filled the night air as the group bonded with stories of the summer. They stayed out there until the fire was about to go out only to leave the dancing fireflies to light up the night sky.
Spencer was listening to Hanna talk about getting lost in Paris due to a cab driver who didn't speak a word of english, when she felt a gentle tap on her shoulder.
"Hey, I'm going to head out soon. I have to be up early; Jenna needs me to be her personal slave tomorrow. Do you need a ride?" Spencer inhaled the heavenly scent of his cologne mixed with the smell of smoke.
"Yeah, just let me say goodbye to Hanna."
As Toby drove down Spencer's street, he thought back to three months ago. Three months ago it would have been weird to be driving her home. Hell, he didn't even know where she lived until he picked her up to go to the concert. He never wanted to forget this summer. After the concert, they spent almost every day together.
Your voice was the soundtrack of my summer
Do you know you're unlike any other?
You'll always be my thunder, and I said
Your eyes are the brightest of all the colors
I don't wanna ever love another
You'll always be my thunder
He hoped it would stay that way, he couldn't bear going back to school and pretending this summer didn't exist. He loved going to the beach with her, staying up late watching scary movies. She always pretended not to be scared but he always saw through her charade.
And I said
Your voice was the soundtrack of my summer
Do you know you're unlike any other?
You'll always be my thunder
He never met anyone who understood him quite so well. It took him so long to realize it; he didn't want to lose her friendship. But there were complications, like everything else in his life. Without complications, the world would be flat instead of round and love would be a daily occurrence instead of a once in a lifetime event. But if there was one thing Toby was sure of, it was that he would never fall in love. He saw what love did to his parents, and he was sure he would never let that happen to him.
So bring on the rain
Oh baby bring on the pain
And listen to the thunder
pssst. in case you didn't know, I'm not marlene king, nor am I martin johnson, therefore i hold no rights to pretty little liars, or to the song "Thunder". also in the future i hold no rights to any other songs i quote in this story.
Again, it doesn't matter if it's nice, mean, funny, random, or critical. If you write a review i'll love you forever :)