Disclaimer: I do not own Pretty Little Liars!
She had made a mistake.
It wasn't often that Spencer Hastings had to admit that to herself, but this was one of those rare times. Still, it was a simple mistake, an error that anyone desperate to learn the truth about their best friend's death would have made.
Unfortunately, the police weren't buying it, and now Spencer had officially been labeled a "person of interest." In other words, she was a suspect in the murder of Alison DiLaurentis.
It wasn't easy being accused of killing Ali. The police searched her room, and people she thought she could rely on turned against her.
So she went to the only person who could understand what she was going through. The only person who knew what it was like to be wrongfully accused of a crime and end up feeling hurt and confused.
Toby Cavanaugh.
Sure, Spencer's friends believed that she was innocent, but having them wasn't quite the same as having someone who had been in her shoes before. Toby could help her in ways that others couldn't.
Slowly, Spencer began to let her guard down around Toby. She revealed to him a side of herself that even those closest to her never got to see: her vulnerable side. When she was with him, she could be completely open and honest without fear of judgment. Toby became a safe haven for her, a source of comfort when she had nowhere else to go.
She supposed she should've been a little more wary of Toby. After all, most of Rosewood saw him as, for lack of a better word, a creep. But Spencer trusted him wholeheartedly, and it seemed like he trusted her, too, a fact that was confirmed by their first kiss.
They were standing in the motel parking lot after Spencer had spent the night in Toby's room when he leaned in and kissed her. It was everything that Spencer could have asked for and more. The kiss was sweet and tender, and it all felt so right. In that moment, she knew without a single doubt that she loved Toby.
Then one day, her parents dropped the bombshell that she was to stop seeing Toby. It wouldn't be good for her to associate with him, they said, especially in her current situation.
Spencer had never really been much of a rebel, but this was going too far. Couldn't they tell how happy she was with him? Didn't they know how much he had changed her life for the better? So she secretly defied her parents' orders and went over to the Cavanaughs' house to visit him.
They planned a meeting at the Founders Festival behind a tent. Nobody would notice them there. They would be able to slip away and escape into the world they'd created only for the two of them. Just the thought of it brought a smile to Spencer's face.
Seven o' clock on the day of the fair couldn't come fast enough. Spencer anxiously passed time in the church tent, waiting for the hour to approach.
She made her way to their appointed meeting place outside a funhouse a few minutes early. Toby was nowhere in sight, but Spencer was confident that he would show up soon. She glanced around, anticipating the moment when his arms would encircle her and his lips would press against hers.
Spencer's phone rang, alerting her to the arrival of a new text message. It was from an unknown number, but it was signed by Toby, saying that he'd lost his phone and he was inside the funhouse.
Had she considered things for a while, Spencer might have realized how suspicious the message seemed. She would have done something more levelheaded, such as texting back and asking Toby to come outside to make sure it was him. Instead, she entered the funhouse without a second thought.
The so-called "funhouse" was, in reality, dark and eerie. Spencer walked through the halls cautiously. "Toby?" she called out. She received no response but a high-pitched laughing sound. A grotesque clown figure popped up in front of her, causing her to jump in surprise.
"Toby!" she shouted again, her worry increasing. Again, there was nothing. Spencer started to panic; her breathing quickened. Then she caught sight of the writing on the wall, and her heart stopped.
Having fun yet? Shut up or I'll shut you up. –A
Spencer's terror had reached its pinnacle. She spotted a door handle and slid it open, then slipped inside. The room she was in was barely large enough for her to squeeze in. Suddenly, the door slammed shut, leaving Spencer in total darkness. She pushed on the door, but it wouldn't budge.
"HELP!" Spencer screamed, now bordering on hysteria. "Somebody, please help!" She banged against the door; it remained securely closed. If only this could be like a fairy tale, where her knight in shining armor would come rushing in to save her.
Whether she stayed trapped for a few minutes or several hours, Spencer had no idea. She continued to yell for help for what felt like years. The tiny room seemed to be growing smaller. She didn't know how much longer she could stand it.
Finally, finally, someone yanked the door open. Certain it would be Toby, Spencer began to say his name, but the word died on her lips.
It was Ian, standing before her with a crowbar in his hands. But he didn't attack her, as Spencer instinctually expected. He turned around and called out, "I found her!"
Instantly, Spencer was surrounded by her mother and Melissa. Her mother embraced her and whispered reassuring things in her ear. Once Spencer had managed to calm down, the group left the funhouse.
And there he was at last. Toby stood there, not saying a word, merely staring at her with his gentle eyes. Spencer took a moment to drink in his appearance.
"Spencer," her mother said, calmly but firmly. Spencer reluctantly followed her away from the funhouse.
What are you doing? she admonished herself. Forget your mother. Forget your image. Forget A. He's waiting for you.
Spencer halted and spun around. Toby was still there, silent and patient. Before she could stop herself, she walked over to him and hugged him tightly. Then she tilted her head up and kissed him, in full view of her mother and anyone else that happened to be in the vicinity.
This was where she belonged. For a few glorious seconds, she wasn't Spencer, person of interest. She was just Spencer.
And that was exactly how she liked it.