A/N: I'm so, so sorry this took so long. If you read the A/N on my other story, it kindof explains why, but I tried. Anyway, I tried my best to make this chapter longer and I know it didn't work, so I'll try again. Anyway, enjoy!

Thank yooou so much to: HarrylovesGinny09, lightswitch100, MissFlorence.b, Waffleluver, GoddessArtemis1999, Nicole, channylover9753, and amichmusic! I love you guys

Oh and btw I meant to get this chapter up last night and this morning but ff wouldn't let me.

3rd person POV

Bright light poured into Spencer Hastings' otherwise vacant bedroom accompanied by the slight chill of early morning Rosewood. Sure, there was an occupant, but there was no life. No bursting personality of intelligence and eagerness to learn and all the usual emotions of the Einstein-in-training. No, instead she lay empty and emotionless under her warm brown duvet that lay atop her queen-sized bed. The energy was all gone, nothing was there. Physically and technically, there was life. Spiritually, nothing. Dr. Sullivan would be proud of all this psychological thinking, Spencer thought to herself with a humorless laugh. Her eyebrows knitted together as she realized she just laughed out loud. To herself. In an empty room.

The endless loop of thoughts running rampant in her mind exhausted her, and her unusually dull brown eyes began to droop once again around 8:45 am, but she wouldn't be falling asleep. Not on her one certain friend's bedazzled watch.

"Wake up, Sleeping Beauty! We're going to meet Duncan Donuts!" Hanna Marin called out as she burst into the room excitedly. A newly peaceful Spencer who rested in a state in between sleep and wake, jumped a mile at the sudden change of energy. Her eyes flew open sharply and landed on the blonde in front of her. Hanna flitted around the room, picking out an outfit for Spencer in record time, her bubbly demeanor filling the room much too unusually for such an early time.

"For the last time Hanna, his last name is not Donuts." Behind her in the doorway, Aria shot Spencer a sheepish look that implied Hanna's attitude was her fault. Her expression practically screamed I'm sorry.

After slowing her pulse and her murderous thoughts, Spencer threw a stray pillow at Hanna and mumbled into her own, "Go away."

Unexpectedly, Hanna approached Spencer's bed and, with a flick of her wrist, yanked the comforter off of her dejected and exhausted friend. "Hanna!" Aria chided, entering the room.

"Didn't you wear that like two days ago?" Hanna asked, her brow furrowing in confusion. Realization spread across her features slowly but surely, and she wrinkled her nose. "Spence, when was the last time you showered?"

"Han, seriously? Shut up," Aria cut in before Spencer had the chance to snap at her. The petite brunette pulled Spencer's blankets back on top of her and smiled sadly at her. Turning back to Hanna, she told her as sharply as Aria would, "If she wants to sleep, let's let her." To anyone else, it would've been a silly sight, somewhat like a mother scolding their child, or a teacher reprimanding a student, but to them, it was normal. Aria and Emily were always the peacemakers. "We can go to Brookhaven with just Em."

Sighing dramatically, Hanna justified, "I'm just saying that if she keeps this up, she's really going to push Toby awa—" Aria's hazel eyes widened and she glared deeply at her blonde friend's profile until the girl got the message. Hanna's face paled when she realized what she'd almost just said, but it was already enough to make Spencer cringe. Any mention of that boy's name right now was another dagger to her heart.

Maybe it really was her fault they were over. Hell, it was her fault they were over. She'd shut him out and it was only to keep him safe and alive and as unharmed as possible. But now, maybe just maybe, Hanna was onto something.

"No, she's right," Spencer added suddenly, sitting up quickly and rushing around the house like a cat chasing a mouse. Two very confused teenagers remained in Spencer's room for the duration of her fifteen minute shower.

When the tallest girl joined them again, slipping on the surprisingly appropriate outfit Hanna had chosen, their expressions had shifted from shock to surprised glee. They hadn't seen her this invested in anything in days.

The silence remained in the room for a few beats more until, naturally, Hanna was the first to break it. "Not that I'm objecting, definitely not," she started slowly, a slightly creepy grin spreading over her face, "but what exactly was I right about?"

Spencer took a deep breath and turned to face her friends, both of which rested on her unmade bed. "I can't let him send me spiraling downward like this. Maybe if I show him what he's missing, he'll want me more?" Her last statement was definitely more of a question than an assurance and she looked uncertain, but Hanna squealed and jumped up, grabbing her by the shoulders and jumping up and down nonetheless.

"Yes, yes, yes! That's exactly what you need to do!" Spencer gently pried Hanna off of her, then turned to Aria, her gaze questioning. Was she making the right decision or not? Maybe a little bit more recovery time would be therapeutic for her.

Aria just stared at Spencer speechless, her naturally large hazel eyes even wider in surprise. "I... um, yeah, I guess she's right."

Hanna's jaw dropped, she placed her hands on her hips defensively, and she glared at Aria. "You guess?" she demanded. "Of course I'm right, even Spencer agreed with me!" The emphasis on the other girl's name clearly suggested that it was an unusual occurrence.

Aria just sighed and nodded, and minutes later, they were out the door on their way to pick up Emily, then to Brookhaven.

"Toby!" Jenna's angelic voice rang throughout the grand house, causing a pair of Caribbean blue eyes to roll. If only her personality matched her voice. She was treating him like her personal lap dog again, but he had to play along with the charade. "Can you tell me if this outfit matches?"

Every single morning it was the same thing. She always waited until their parents left to ask him to make her breakfast, then he had to help her brush her teeth—barf—and finally, pick out a suitable outfit. Since apparently she couldn't tell her closet by texture now. Yeah, right. How long had she done this on her own, and now suddenly she was running to him for help?

"Coming!" he called back with an exasperated sigh, placing the last dish in the sink. The fact that she was allergic to any form of nuts didn't help either, since so many damn things were processed in factories that also carried nuts.

He bounded up the stairs only to find her waiting at the top, looking down as if she'd seen him coming. It gave him a chill, one that he suppressed, thankfully. Clearly she hadn't needed help with her clothes. "Why were you with Spencer Hastings again? I thought we agreed you'd stop seeing her."

He practically foamed at the mouth. It literally hurt to be apart from his love for so long, and it'd been 2 days since he'd seen her, and seemingly, she hadn't stepped out of her house all weekend. Now, Sunday morning, the only activity across the street was a compact grey car pulling up in the driveway. It looked familiar, like he'd seen it there before, but it wasn't her parents.

"Yes, Jenna, I talked to her. We didn't make up, and she still hates me. Satisfied?" He bit back more harsh words, they would only negatively affect his chances to get out of this hellish agreement. She was so manipulative.

Jenna laughed evilly, then shook her head. It was only then that he noticed her bandage had been removed, but she still wore her glasses. His eyes narrowed suspiciously, but he didn't say a word about it.

"I don't think that'll do. She may have to pay the price..." His heart dropped to his stomach at her words. What would she do to Spencer and her friends now? What could be worse than the guilt they had to live with everyday knowing they could've done something to stop Alison from blinding Jenna but didn't?

He knew what could be worse. Being forced to... eugh. Not going there. Ever again.

Toby crossed his arms over his chest, though he wasn't sure if she could even see any move he was making, and finally decided to take a stand. This had gone way too far. "I know you think you control me, but that's over. Long past, Jenna. I can protect her from anything you're throwing her way. Believe me, I'm way stronger than you think. So don't test me, especially not through her, because I can guarantee you'll be a lot worse than just blind." It was clearly an empty threat; he'd never hit a girl. That was way against Toby's morals and values, even if the girl herself was pushing him off the edge of a deep cliff.

Without another word, he left the hallway, pushing past a stunned Jenna in a frustrated fury and slamming his door shut. It was then that he allowed his body to slide down the door in a hopeless slump and crumple into a ball. The only thing that made his life actually worth living was torn away from him, and there was really nothing he could do about it. Except maybe, just maybe, he could make Spencer open up. Sitting up straighter, the trace of a smile began to form on his features, his blue eyes crinkling slightly in hope. Yes, if he cornered her, what else could she do except talk to him?

Flitting down the stairs, he took his sweet time walking over to the Hastings home, only because he knew he had it. The sky was a beautiful baby blue color, cloudless and sunny. It almost seemed as if it reflected his mood. Things were looking up, and this had to be the end of the rock bottom they'd seemed to hit. You can only go up from there, right?

After trying her doorbell a few times over the course of five minutes, he decided to give up because she either wasn't home, or was unwilling to answer the door. The first option seemed more logical, but who even knew anymore?

Sighing, he headed back towards home and his shoulders slumped. The excited emotion had been sucked out of him already, just because of one simple obstacle. No, he wouldn't let this stop him from talking to her! They needed to have a real conversation with no interruptions. His pace picked up steadily until he reached his home, then he had the million dollar idea. Leave a note. Her parents were never home, so she'd be the only one to see it right? And if it were vague enough, it wouldn't even matter.

Entering the house as quietly as humanly possible, he quickly snatched a pen, tape, and a flier for the Rosewood Junior Masquerade Ball, why was that even there?, off of the counter and returned to Spencer's front door. Toby jotted down some words in a rush and taped it to her door. It was a beautiful day, so he wasn't worried about the wind taking it away.

We need to talk. Meet me at 8, our spot. -T

I originally was going to leave it at the paragraph after he stands up to Jenna, but then I got an idea and I felt bad about making you guys wait for so long, and this was the result!. Here's hoping someone enjoys it. Review, please? I worked extra hard on it and everything's just been stress.

Oh and one last thing: What do you guys think of me answering my reviews at the bottom instead of sending you PM's to answer a question or something?(: