Chapter 2
Hello Hello
Toby pulled his truck up outside of Rosewood's church at around 8:30. The meeting started it at eight and he was running terribly late. In all fairness, he was still slightly tired from the previous night events and needed some sleep. It was just a mistake that his twenty minute nap turned into a six hour nap.
He exited his truck and went around the side of the church to enter the basement. He walked down the steps on the barely lit stairwell. He opened the door at the end of the stairs and a few feet into the room were people sitting in chairs, gathered around in a circle.
He walked over to the group quietly because someone was speaking at the moment. He didn't want to be rude and interrupt, but after getting halfway there he fumbled over his own two feet and fell. He didn't fall because he wasn't watching where he was going, but he fell because something caught his eye. It was a girl.
But not it wasn't just any girl. This girl had beautiful chocolate brown eyes that could turn you to putty in just one glance. Skin so beautiful that it looked like it could feel just like silk. She had a petite body, but it looked in great shape and everything seemed to be in the perfect place.
Toby picked himself up off the floor and didn't expect for her to be standing right in front of him.
"Are you okay?" She asked and Toby just stood there dumbstruck, he even heard some of the group members chuckling at his frozen state."Hello?"
He snapped out it when she waved her hand in his face."Sorry, I'm here for the group counseling. Dr. Sullivan sent me. I'm Toby."
She slowly extended out her hand to him and slightly grinned."I'm Spencer Hastings, the group counselor, and welcome. We're really happy that you've decided to join us."
He shook her hand, but his smile slipped away from his lips. He knew that this girl looked familiar. She wasn't some girl he just probably hooked up with before, no, he remembered her from highschool. Spencer Hastings, the golden girl of Rosewood. He'd remembered reading about her or her family in the local newspaper over the years for multiple great accomplishments. He remembered how he'd see her in the hallways acting without a care in the world with her golden boy boyfriend, Andrew. But that's all Toby saw when he looked at her, an act.
He knew that she and Emily were friends and that they both ran in the same group of friends. He knew that her and Emily were still very, very close and there was no way he was going to share anything about his past with her. She could go back and tell Emily, then he'd have to leave town and start all over again.
"Thanks." He said solemnly and he quickly shook her hand before pulling away, then stuffing his hands into his pockets.
"Okay. You can have a seat next to Jake. He's sitting over there in the leather jacket."
He nodded his head at her words before walking over to the circle and taking the empty seat next to Jake. He shook Jake's hand and they made short introductions. He watched as Spencer stood up in the middle of the circle like she was ready to speak.
"Everyone, we have a new guest joining us today. Please, say hello Toby."
"Hi, Toby."' The entire group said in unison and some of the people even stood to shake his hand.
"Hi." He politely said back before he slumped down into his seat.
"Okay, we just got done having Simone share, so Toby do you want to share?"
"Pass." He said, looking straight into Spencer's eyes. He couldn't believe that she didn't recognize him at all.
"I'm sorry, Toby, but it doesn't work like that here. We have a pretty open environment and we talk to make others feel better. You can say anything don't worry you're in a safe place."
He scoffed and shook his head. What was safe anymore?"Fine, I'm a carpenter. Happy?"
"Yes. Thank you." Spencer said stiffly before taking her seat back down in the circle."Alright, lets continue. Jake, you're up next."
Toby couldn't believe how many problems some of these people had. Jake was here because he had anger issues and he once made the mistake of hurting someone he truly loved. A women was here because she had a drinking problem that started the same time her now ex-husband started beating her. Even an older guy was here and he'd been coming to this group counseling for months because those demons still haunt in his head from fighting in the war.
There were a lot more stories and they were all heartbreaking and Toby had a newfound respect for all of those people. They've faced everything possible and were not letting it get them down. He just wished that once day he could be as strong as them.
"Hey, Dude, it's time to go." Jake nudged Toby with his elbow to break him out of his thoughts.
"Oh, right sorry." He stood up hastily and grabbed his leather jack off the back of his chair. He turned to the exit, but Jake grabbed his elbow.
"You have to get Spencer's number." Jake instructed as he pointed over to Spencer standing around the exit, smiling and talking with members as they left.
"What?"
Jake chuckled and patted Toby's shoulder."Not like that. We all have her number because she gave it to us for whenever we needed to talk."
"Alright. Have a goodnight." He shook Jake's hand before he walked over to the exit. He walked over there slowly because he didn't know exactly what to say to Spencer.
"Hi, can I have your number?"
She furrowed her eyebrows at him and looked at him questioningly."Excuse me?"
"No, not like that! Jake said that you give your number out to all the members for whenever they want to talk."
"Oh, right! I'm sorry for thinking that you'd...never mind." He noticed the blush on her cheeks from embarrassment and he couldn't help, but smile.
"It's fine." He pulled out his phone for her to put her number in. While she was doing that, he looked around the room and noticed that everyone was gone expect for Jake."I thought the meeting was over?"
She glanced over at Jake as she handed Toby back his phone."It is. Jake sticks around to help me out clean and put away stuff."
"He's your boyfriend?" Toby questioned and didn't know why he even cared.
"No, he's not. He just has a little crush on me. He's harmless." She looked up at Toby and smiled before holding out her hand for a handshake."It was nice meeting you, Toby. I hope you'll join us again soon."
"I'd love to come back." He shook her hand and slowly retreated it back into his pocket.
"Maybe next time you'll be more willing to share more about yourself." She said as she walked away from him to go clean up.
He watched her walk away and he couldn't tear his eyes away. He watched her walk over to Jake and politely thanking him for cleaning. He watched as Jake asked her out and she politely rejected him. Jake weakly smiled at her before grabbing his things and headed towards the exit. As he was leaving, he saw Toby standing in the doorway of the exit.
"Hey, Cavanaugh, you up for some fun?" He asked Toby smiled at the question and both of them men left the church.
"I just don't get why she won't go out with me. I've asked almost every Saturday and I still get turned down by Spencer." Jake explained as he threw back another shot.
Toby and Jake arrived at a bar a little while ago. It first started out with them playing pool at the bar, but then Jake started to get depressed about Spencer. That's when the pool games ended and the drinks started coming in. Toby even called up Caleb and Ezra to join them. He promised him that he'd be on his best behavior tonight. In all honesty he kind of owed them for always taking care of him because no one else would.
"It's because people like us are broken. And perfect people like Spencer Hastings doesn't date broken people." Toby explained as he took a sip of beer.
"Perfect? You say that like you know her?"
"I did in highschool, but she doesn't remember me because she was perfect and well, I was invisible." Toby said solemnly, but perked up when his friends Caleb and Ezra walked through the door.
"Looks like you're already getting a head start on us." Ezra teased as he pointed to Toby's beer bottle.
"Nope, I've got myself on a limit tonight." Toby said as he stood up to hug his best friends. He made the introductions to Jake and his friends before they all sat down at their table.
"So how was the meeting?" Ezra asked.
"It was very interesting. You'll never guess whose the group counselor is."
"Who?" Caleb and Ezra asked in unison with curious looks on their face.
"Spencer Hastings."
"Spencer Hastings? You mean the Spencer from highschool? The same one who's still friends with Emily?" Caleb asked and Toby nodded his head.
"Wow, did she know who you were?" Ezra asked.
"Nope and I want it to stay that way. I don't want her going back to tell Emily anything I tell her."
"Well, that may be a little hard since she's here." Jake slurred out and everyone turned to look at him curiously. He nodded his head over to the bar where Spencer stood with Emily, Caleb's girlfriend Hanna, and Ezra's girlfriend Aria.
"The night just got a little more interesting." Ezra teased Toby as he and Caleb stood up from the table and made there way over to the bar.
