Toby's POV
I was writing down the last couple of sentences for my writing essay prompt before the bell rang. Everyone filed out of Mr. Fitz's room and headed towards their lockers, except me. I strapped my backpack on and marched to Mr. Fitz's desk. He was scribbling something on the chalkboard for his next class.
"Mr. Fitz?" I exclaimed, tapping on his shoulder, in which was covered by a striped button up shirt.
"Toby, how can I help you?"
"Well, I was looking at my grades yesterday and I saw that my score went up..." I blurted.
"Ah, yes. You're book report you handed in, was incredible. The descriptive words and the personal connection. Just wonderful. You made me think I was in the book." Mr. Fitz replied.
"Well, alrighty then. Thanks!" I smiled, rushing out of the door.
"Wait, Toby!" Mr. Fitz called after me.
"Yes?"
"Try not to stare at Spencer all class." Mr. Fitz whispered flashing me a smirk and an eye roll.
"Sorry, won't happen again sir!" I blush, running to my locker.
When I turned around, a pair of brown eyes gleamed in front of me. And a couple of books and binders fell onto the ground. I just bumped into someone. Great.
"Watch where your going, jerk!" The student demanded, leaning down to pick up their books.
I tried to help her get the books but she pushed me away. "Sorry." I stammered, before I realized it was her.
I flattened out my t-shirt with my hands and apologized once more. "I'm really sorry."
"Okay, I get it." She groaned, walking off with her possy, Hanna Marin, Emily Fields, and Aria Montgomery.
I'm so stupid. Why did I keep saying sorry?! I sounded like a little girl who spilled juice on her dad's car seat. Oh, well.
It was time for seventh period. Now that meant I had to face Spencer. Again.
Everyone fled into the classroom and took their seats. Spencer sits literally right next to me. Just dandy.
"Settle down... Settle down..." Mr. Fitz sputtered, gesturing a football jock to get in his chair.
"Alright, I want to introduce you to a new project that we are going to be doing." Mr. Fitz announced, "We are going to be working in partners, though. I get to pick them!"
Boo's and oh no's came out of a lot of people's mouths. "Quiet! Lemme explain what you'll be doing. You and your partner will be doing a project in which there will be several things asked for. First, your partner and yourself will be presenting an oral presentation on things you learned about each other. And yes, that means both of you have to speak. The second thing you will be doing is writing a story. Not just any story, though. A fiction story from you're imaginations. The 'team' with the best story will get to be accepted into their dream college." Mr. Fitz explained.
"What!? How is that possible? It's just a stupid story. How can that get us into our dream college?" A terribly annoying girl in our class, Mona, questioned.
"You didn't let me finish." Mr. Fitz started, "The story has to be a ten-thousand word essay.
WHAT!'s came out of everyone's mouths, including mine. With my luck I'll probably get someone who sucks at English.
I guess I can understand how that can get us into our dream college. If we want something, we must work hard. College isn't easy.
"I will be announcing the partners as soon as everyone is quiet."
The room grew silent. I sank down in my chair and covered my face with my hands. Because my name was the first person on the attendance list, stupid Cavanaugh.
"Toby Cavanaugh, Spencer Hastings." Mr. Fitz blubbered, winking at me.
Then everyone else's name was a blur. I felt the world turn on me. Why god? WHY? Why must this beautiful soul be my partner? I'm just going to ruin this, embarrass myself. Seriously...?
After he said all of the partners, he clarified everything about the project it was time to leave this prison- I mean school. Today, I decided to walk home. Spencer was following me to my locker.
"Hey, Cavanaugh." I sighed and faced her, "You're the guy who knocked my books down, weren't you?" Spencer squinted her chocolate eyes at me and tilted her head to the left.
"Uh, sorry about that." Awkwardly I continued to walk to my locker.
"I wasn't done talking." Spencer whined, slapping her pale hands on the side of her thigh.
"Oh, sorry. Um. Yes?" I apologized again, SERIOUSLY? I'm such a shit.
"Dude, why do you keep saying sorry? Anyways, are you going to be one of those guys who doesn't do any of the project and leave me to do it by myself?" Spencer hummed, glaring at me.
"No. I thought it was going to be the other way around." I whistled, adjusting my backpack. I stared at the tiled floor, not wanting to look at her gorgeous appearance. Because if I did, I would most likely drool.
"Well, in that case. My house, tonight, six o'clock. Sharp. Okay?" Spencer grumbled matter-of-factly.
"Uh, where do you live?" I verbalize, holding my hand up as she saunters elsewhere.
"I'll text you my address."
"But, you don't have my phone number..."
"I have my ways." Spencer twirls around and gleams at me, I just could see the glimmer in her eyes.
It was around five-thirty. The sun was slowly falling from the sky and hiding in the back of pink and orange clouds. My mom always told me that if there are pink or orange or even both colors of clouds that it would be a beautiful day the next day.
I decided on a pair of shaggy jeans and a green t-shirt that said THE RAMONES on it. My hair was in it's normal swoop at the top. In my closet, all the way under my shoes, sweatshirts, and other personal items, is a cologne. It was my dad's, before he passed away last summer. Well he didn't pass away. He was murdered.
It was the summer of 2013. I'm sitting in my bedroom listening to my favorite band, The xx, on my mini- suckish-speakers. The smell of italian food filled the air as because my mother was cooking chicken parmesan just below my bedroom.
I was just finishing up my homework just as my mom called me down for dinner. Yes! Chicken Parmesan! Was all I was thinking about, not that my dad (closest 'friend') was about to be man slaughtered.
When I got downstairs, my mother had had a horrified expression on her well-made-up face, and our house phone pressed to her ear. There were three placemats, three forks and knives, three drinks, and three napkins set on the dinner table. But, there were only two people here. Where was Dad?
Later, I found out he was choked to death when he exited his work building. How could someone do that? He was an innocent man who did nothing wrong.
"Honey, how was you're day?" My mom asked, as she spun a strand of spaghetti on her fork and slurped the sauce off while swallowing her bite of pasta.
"Uh, okay. I have to be at friend, I mean someones house at six o'clock sharp. So, I have to hurry." I reply, looking down, blankly at my plate.
"Oh. So who's you're friend?" My mom grinned as she ate another bite of her chicken.
I can explain why my mom is flipping out about Spencer. First of all, I never went to someones house except for when I was younger. So, that explains a lot.
"No one."
"Well, I didn't know they made a name called 'No One.'" My mom glanced at me and gave me a half smile while widening her eyes and making a 'surrender' sign with with her hands.
"Her names Spencer. Now can I leave? I'm going to be late." I whined, gazing at her.
"The keys are on the counter." She mumbled.
"Love you, be safe!" Mom sang as she finished up her meal, alone.
"K, bye mom."
And with that I left.
I punched in the address that Spencer texted to me into my G.P.S. It was about five minutes away from my house. I turned right onto her street to find a ton of humungous houses standing with four-car garages, precise cut bushes, and two cars max. in the driveways of almost every house. Once I saw Spencer's house I suddenly felt self-concious. I mean, it's not that my family didn't have a lot of money, or anything. It's just that... I don't know...
I knocked on the door, and within seconds, it opened. A beautiful figure stood with curly brown hair, in the doorway. Rain prickled down my cheeks and arms.
"You could come in." She greeted. I nodded and walked in.
The inside was way better than I imagined. There must have been a million rooms. A gorgeous tan couch and a fire place in the living room and marble countertop and cabinets enough for a family of twenty in the kitchen.
"We can work in my room." She said, grabbing her books off the high stool chairs.
"Alright." We walked upstairs into a large room where there was a queen-sized bed, a window-seat, and a huge dresser.
"So, let's get started." Spencer said, digging through her vera bradley pencil case.
"Hmm."
"Are you hungry? Did you eat?" She pled, looking into my blue eyes.
"Uh- I ate."
"What do you want to have the story be about?" Spencer asked.
"Anything is good."
"Well, that doesn't help at all. What first comes to mind when you hear the word, "Imagination?" Spencer tested, writing something down in her five-star notebook.
"I don't know. That Spongebob episode?" I said, trying to force a smile.
"Hahahahahaha. You're funny, I like that." She chuckles.
"Um, thanks...?" I choked, taking out my mini laptop. "Do you wanna type or write?"
"I've always liked typing, I'm faster at it." Spencer beamed. Why was she being so nice to me?
"Me too." I said, flashing the front of my white-pearly teeth.
Spencer's face went pale. She stared at her phone. It was as if all the blood in her face drained out.
"Is there something wrong?" I ask.
"No, it's just my friend, Aria."
"Oh, well. In that case, what comes to you're mind when you think of the word, "Imagination?" I questioned, getting the Word Document cleared and ready for typing.
"Love." Spencer grinned at me.
"What kind of love? Animals, family, relationships..?" I enquired.
"Relationships. Because, well, I don't know how to explain it." Spencer mentions.
"So, do you want it to be about a girl and a boy?" I say.
"Yeah. They should be like in, seventh grade. And their desperately in love with each other and they don't even know it." Spencer said.
I nod and type away what she just said.
We planned and started to even write our story. On the plus side we even had fun.
It was around nine o'clock when we finally noticed the time. My mom wanted me back by nine. Tomorrow was school. Yay.
"Spencer, my mom said she wanted me back by nine. Maybe we can do this again, possibly tomorrow? Over coffee?" I say, not trying to be strange. I mean, was this asking her out? Well, yea. But, there was noooo way, she would say yes. She is the most popular girl in Rosewood Day. Spencer would not go out with a guy like me.
"I would love too." WHAT!? DID THAT SERIOUSLY JUST HAPPEN?
"Alright. The brew, after school? I can give you a ride, if you want." I ramble.
"Cool. See you then."
A/N: What do you guys think? Should I update? Please review! I really want to know what you guys think of this story. Reviews are nice, you should leave one in the box below please!
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-Lindsay