Chapter 1
"Hey." Emily greeted as Spencer shut her locker.
"Oh hey. Did you hear about the construction happening at school?" Spencer asked.
"No. Why?" Emily asked. "What's happening?"
"Since the principal's been out, Vice Principal Tamborelli wanted to have some renovations done to the school, so a construction crew's going to start working like next week." Spencer explained.
"You're always on top of things." Emily chuckled. "How do you even know this?"
"As a part of the school's committee, it's my job to be on top of things." Spencer said.
"Are you planning out the construction?" Emily asked.
"Sort of. Tamborelli's in charge, though." Spencer responded.
"Who'd you hire?" Emily asked.
"We have two crews coming in today, and we're going to pick which one today." Spencer answered.
"What are the two crews' names?" Emily inquired.
"Um... Well we have Sweeney's & Rosewood Carpentry. I'm leaning towards Sweeney's, but I'm not sure just yet. And it's up to the principal & Tamborelli." Spencer said.
"Ooh, go with Sweeney's!" Emily exclaimed. "When I moved to Rosewood, my parents hired Sweeney's crew to work the place, and they got the job done real well."
"Sweeney's built the barn at my house, too. I agree with your decision," Spencer said.
"But it isn't up to you." Emily frowned.
"Yeah, I know." Spencer sighed. "Rosewood Carpentry's name is so official, yet nobody knows about them."
"Sweeney's is more popular, that's why." Emily said.
Later that day...
"Miss Hastings!" Principal Hackett called her name out. Mr. Hackett had been promoted to the principal of Rosewood High recently. He used to be the VP, alongside Mr. Tamborelli.
"Mr. Hackett, you're back," Spencer smiled. "Good morning, sir."
"Good morning, Miss Hastings." Mr. Hackett said. "Are the crews for the renovations here yet?"
"Yes. Sweeney's Crew arrived twenty minutes ago, and Rosewood Carpentry has just arrived." Spencer said.
"Well, get to the conference room. I'll bring Rosewood Carpentry in." Mr. Hackett said.
Spencer nodded, and sat herself down in the conference room, alongside the other members of the Rosewood High School committee. She sat at a table with Alex Santiago, Andrew Campbell, Mona Vanderwaal, Lucas Gottesman, and a few others that she didn't know too well.
Alex was her ex-boyfriend, so it was kind of awkward being around him.
Principal Hackett entered the room, followed by a young gentleman and an older gentleman. The older one was the boss and owner of Rosewood Carpentry.
"Hello," the older man greeted. "I'm John, and this is my spokesman and worker Trevor Grey."
The interview went by slowly. John and Trevor seemed like great people, and great workers, but they weren't... interesting. Spencer didn't expect them to be, since they were just workers trying to get the job.
After John and Trevor left, the committee discussed their results.
"They did decent," Spencer commented.
"I agree," Alex nodded.
"They weren't the best, but from what I've heard, they've got talent on the job." Andrew said.
"True. I'm considering them deeply," Tamborelli said.
"Yes, but it all depends on how Sweeney's does," Hackett spoke.
After the standards were set, Hackett allowed Sweeney's crew in. Old Mr. Sweeney entered the room, followed by a much younger gentleman with attractive blue eyes. Spencer wondered why all the spokespeople for the carpentry companies were so good looking. Trevor was good looking, and so was this guy.
"Good morning, Rosewood High." Sweeney smiled. "You know me, I'm Sweeney. This is my little spokesman, Toby Cavanaugh."
Toby smiled. He took a seat across from Spencer. She really liked the color of his eyes for some reason.
After Sweeney and Toby presented, they exited. Lucas and Mona were shuffling through photographs of their work.
"This is some good stuff, but so was Rosewood Carpentry's," Lucas pitched in.
"So, we'll take a vote now." Hackett said. "Alex?"
"Rosewood Carpentry." Alex said.
"Andrew?"
"Rosewood Carpentry." Andrew said.
"Mona?"
"Sweeney's." Mona said.
"Spencer?"
There was no response. Spencer was too busy thinking about the cheerful, blue-eyes guy. She wondered if he caught her glancing at him from time to time.
"Spencer Hastings?" Hackett repeated.
"W-what?" Spencer looked up, startled and confused.
"Take your vote, Miss Hastings. Please pay attention from now on." Hackett said.
"Oh, sorry... Uh... Sweeney's." Spencer said blankly.
"And you, Lucas?"
"I guess Sweeney's seems better." Lucas said.
A few more people voted, and Sweeney's had more votes. Tamborelli wanted Rosewood Carpentry, but Hackett wanted Sweeney's.
"So Sweeney's it is." Hackett confirmed.
Spencer smiled to herself. This wouldn't be the last time that she saw that blue-eyed Toby guy, for sure now.
He'd be back in a week, and she'd get to discover more about him. Something about Toby was... intriguing.