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"Hanna's Right. Everything's is going to be okay." Says Emily. The three of us sit there and hold each other. We stay like that for a while, but are forced apart when we hear shouting coming from just outside the waiting room. Something akin to a roar echoes throughout the halls of the hospital. It's the unmistakable call of a desperate grief ridden boyfriend. Toby.


Chapter 4 – All That Matters

Toby's POV

When Spencer first went missing, I couldn't sleep. I couldn't be still. If I wasn't actively out looking for her, I was thinking of ways to find her. And in the rare moments when I did sleep, I would dream of her. Some of the dreams were good. I would dream she was home with me, and she would laugh at me for worrying so much. Her eyes would sparkle as she smiled and told me she loved me. But some of those dreams were nightmares.

Instead of her laughter, I would hear her screams. She would reach out to me and beg me to help her. She would cry and plead and ask why I wasn't saving her. I would wake up in a cold sweat, and my mind would start running scenarios of different horrible things that might have happened to Spencer.

The days, weeks, and months were mostly a blur of nonstop searching and praying. The only time I would ever pause would be at sunrise. When the sun would rise, I would stop and watch as the new day came alive. And I would think, today. Today will be different. Today will be the day I find her. The day Spencer comes home. But it was never so. The sun would rise, and the sun would set, but she never came home. I never found her.

But I didn't give up. The others may have thought I gave up, but I didn't. Spencer's not the kind of person you give up on. She's the kind of person you spend forever looking for. The kind of person you go to war for. I would let the world burn if it meant saving her. And I would die before I gave up hope.

So I started today like every other day. I sat in my loft after another sleepless night, I watched the sun rise, and I prayed that today would be the day. When my phone rang and I saw that it was Aria, I ignored the call. I figured she was just trying to check up on me again. I never imagined that she had the answer to my prayer.

Spencer is alive. She's home. I was floored by the news. I barely managed to hold it together on my way to the hospital. Aria didn't give me much information about Spencer's condition. Only that she was alive. And right know the only thing between me and seeing the love of my life is this stupid, good for nothing, piece of shit doctor.

"I'm only going to ask one more time." I growl. "Where is Spencer Hastings? If you don't tell me I swear to god I'll…."

"TOBY!" someone shouts. I spin around and come face to face with Emily. I haven't seen her since our big fight a few months ago. I was awful to her. She was my best friend and I wasn't there for her when she needed me the most. The sight of her replaces my rage with shame and guilt.

"You need to calm down Toby, before you get yourself thrown out." Says Emily.

"But I have to see her." I say, my voice dripping with desperation.

"And you will, when the doctors say you can." Says Emily. "I'm sure they'll tell us the moment we can see her. Right?" she asks the doctor I was screaming at just moments before.

"Of course we will. Her parents will be arriving soon, and once we talk to them we'll be able to sort a lot of things out." Says the doctor.

"See." Says Emily. "Now why don't you come and sit down with us while we wait." It's then that I realize that Hanna and Aria are standing next to Emily. I nod my head and follow the girls back into the waiting room.

I sit down next to Emily. My hands curl into fists as I try to keep calm. Emily gently places her hand over mine and loosens my fingers. I look up at her. She's looking straight ahead. Her eyes are brimming with tears. This must be so hard for her, and yet she's the one comforting me. After I pushed her out of my life. I don't deserve her comfort.

"Emily." I whisper. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay." She says.

"No it isn't." I say. She sighs.

"You're right. It isn't, but I understand. You did what you had to do." She say. We all stay silent until I can't take it anymore. I have to have answers.

"What exactly happened?" I ask to no one in particular.

"I…. I really don't know. I opened my front door and there she was." Says Aria.

"Was she….did she look okay?" I ask. Aria bites her lip and looks down.

"No. Not really." She whispers. I notice something on Aria's clothes. My heart starts pounding. Blood. How did I not see that earlier?

"Is that Spencer's blood." I ask.

"I think so." Says Aria. "Everything happened so fast."

"Do you think she'll be okay?" I ask.

"I don't know!" she shouts, tears streaming down her face. I'm about to apologize for pushing her too far when the doors to the waiting room fly open. We all watch as Mr. and Mrs. Hastings stumble into the waiting room. The usually put together couple look like they're teetering on the edge of insanity.

"Girls, Toby, have you heard anything?" asks Mrs. Hastings as she rushes up to us.

"No, they haven't told us anything." Says Hanna.

"Aria, the police said you found her? How? Is she okay?" asks Mr. Hastings. Aria looks like she's been asked those questions more than a thousand times today. Before she can break down I jump up and intervene. It's the least I can do.

"Spencer just showed up on Aria's door step this morning, the police came soon after that so she doesn't really know much." I say.

"Is she hurt? She is isn't she? Is that her blood?" Mrs. Hastings bombards Aria with questions, and the rest of us are unable to defend her.

"She….She looked bad. Really bad." Says Aria. "I'm sorry." Before they have time to process this, a doctor walks in the room.

"Are you two Spencer's parents?" the doctor asks.

"Yes! Yes we are. Is Spencer okay?" Asks Mr. Hastings. The doctor glances behind Spencer's parents and looks at the girls and me as we stand there eager for news.

"Perhaps it would be better if we speak privately." Says the doctor.

"No! I need to know, we need to know." I yell. I turn to Spencer's parents. "Please." I beg them.

"They can stay." Says Mr. Hastings. A grim look crosses the doctors' face.

"Mr. and Mrs. Hastings. Believe me when I say that it is in Spencer's best interest that we speak privately. After we speak you can use you own discretion about what you tell her friends." Says the doctor. The Hastings faces pale.

"Why don't we step out into the hallway." Says Mr. Hastings. The three of them start to walk away.

"Wait!" I shout. "Just….please tell me. Is she alive?" the doctor pauses and frowns.

"Yes. She's alive." He says.

"So she's going to be okay?" asks Hanna. The doctor seems to choose his next words carefully.

"She'll survive the injuries she received." He says. That statement both clams and disturbs me, but I'm not sure why.

We watch in silence as the doctor leads them into the hallway. We stare at them through the glass window of the waiting room door. Their expressions change as the doctor speaks. Mr. Hastings starts to cry, and Mrs. Hastings crumbles against her husband. I don't know how long the doctor speaks to them, or how long they stand out in the hallway trying to pull themselves together. It seems like hours, but it can't be, because I swear I hold my breath the entire time. When the pair finally come back into the waiting room, I let myself breathe. I need to be calm.

"What did he say?" asks Aria, her voice heavy with tears after witnessing Spencer's parents' breakdown. Mrs. Hastings hands shake and Mr. Hastings clears his throat.

"They said we'll be able to see her in about an hour." Says Mr. Hastings.

"What's wrong with her?" asks Hanna.

"She has a lot of scrapes and bruises. She had some deep cuts on her body and needed several stitches. They're giving her antibiotics to clear up any infection." He says. "Mostly she's just weak. Exhausted, dehydrated, and extremely malnourished. They want to keep her here for a couple of days to help her get her strength back. She's going to be fine." Mr. Hastings voice cracks towards the end.

"What aren't you telling us?" I ask. "As bad as all that is, you wouldn't be this devastated if that was all that was wrong. What's so bad that you think we can't know?"

"I've told you what you need to know. I suggest you leave it be for now." He say as he puts a protective arm around his wife. I'm about to argue when Emily puts a hand on my shoulder. The look on her face tells me that this isn't the time. She's right.

My shoulders sag in defeat and I let her lead me to a chair. One hour. Just one more hour and I can see her. I'm dying for more information on how she is, but I keep quiet. Spencer's alive. That's all that matters right now.


Spencer's POV

I keep my eyes closed long after I wake up. It's a habit I developed over the past few months. I like to catalog my surroundings before I let him…..anyone know I'm awake.

I'm confused by my environment at the moment. It doesn't seem right. The smells and sounds aren't what I'm used to. But the thing that catches me off guard the most is the soft, warm bed beneath me.

It takes me longer than I'd like to admit to realize I'm in a hospital. But how did I end up here? Oh yeah. That's right. I'm back in Rosewood. I went to Aria's house. I must have passed out. I'll have to apologize about that.

A small smile spreads over my face. I'm back. I'm home. I did it.

I slowly open my eyes and take in the sight of the bright, crisp, clean hospital room. I never thought I'd be so happy to be in the hospital, but it's the best sight I've seen in a long time. Besides seeing Aria of course.

I almost didn't go to her house. After I found my house locked and my parents gone, I almost just went to the police. But the overwhelming need to see a familiar face won out. Aria lives closer to me than anyone else I know, so I went there. And I'm glad I did.

I didn't truly realize I was back until she hugged me. I had almost cried. I never thought I'd see my tiny friend again. She looked different. Her clothing and makeup were so plain. Nothing like the overly vibrant girl I remember.

I wonder what else has changed since I was….away. When I was gone, thinking about my friends and family was the only thing that kept me going sometimes. And Toby. My Toby. I thought about him so much it hurt. I couldn't keep him from my mind, even when it was painful to think of good things. I wonder if he's here. Seven months is a long time.

He never said it, but I know he only stayed in Rosewood for me. Maybe he moved away. I hope he didn't, even though it might be for the best. I'm not the girl he loves. Not anymore. It wouldn't be fair to ask him to love what I've become.

I shake my head. I can't think like that right now. I'm back. I'm alive. That's all that matters. For now.


Hope you all liked the chapter. PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW. Thanks for reading.

-Rin Shade