So this is chapter 4 and it is sort of a continuation of last chapter. And I want to thank everyone that reviewed, especially the guest reviews I've been surprised at home many of those I've gotten. And since I couldn't reply to those I'll tell you now that the end of this chapter should tell you about Toby. Sorry in advance for no flashbacks this chapter but I still hope everybody enjoys it.
"So, I saw you sitting with the girls today at lunch. How was that?" Jason asked me from his kitchen where he was attempting to cook some dinner.
"It felt good. It's still strange to have Mona in our group but it's a nice sort of strange."
"Well, I'm glad you're getting back with your friends. Maybe it will make you get a life instead of spending all your time with me listening to really bad music." He teased. "Dinner is served."
"Would you be insulted if I said that I was slightly afraid to eat?" I asked cautiously as I pushed the plate away.
"Yes, Spencer, I would be. In fact I'm considering throwing you out the door for even thinking such a thing." He said with a raised voice. He was trying to sound threatening but I could hear the barely contained laughter.
"Go ahead, Jason, throw me out. I would actually appreciate it because you might be saving my life by not allowing me to eat whatever you tried to cook."
"I probably would be saving your life because I'm not even sure if I can eat that without it coming back up later." He said finally laughing.
"Wait, you're telling me that you wouldn't even eat it but you still offered it to me?"
"Yeah, you see I thought that since you can't see how burned it is that maybe, just maybe, you might actually eat and like it. Then if it didn't kill you I would consider trying it myself."
"Jason DiLaurentis! What kind of horrible person are you?" I shouted.
"Relax, Spence, I was joking. Like I would really do that? I might be an idiot and be a mean older brother but I'm not that bad. I know you don't willing eat anything I cook so I was already planning on asking if you wanted to go to the Grille." Jason explained to defend himself.
"The Grille? Jason, we can't go there, everyone from school hangs out there." I said desperately.
"Why, are you scared people are going to think you're a dork for hanging out with a teacher outside of school?" Jason laughed as he handed me my sweater.
"Yeah, it's something like that. Jason, there's a rumor going around that you and I are dating." I told him hoping that he would realize that this was serious. But it only made him laugh harder. "Jason, this isn't funny!"
"Oh yes it is." He said still laughing like a mad man.
"Jason, this is serious! You're on the school staff as a counselor and I'm a student and also a minor. You could get in major trouble and I don't even want to think about what Daddy Dearest would do if people found out the truth."
"Alright, Spencer, calm down. We won't eat at the Grille; we'll just get take out." Jason said casually.
"It's more than that, Jason. The whole reason the rumors started was because Noel Kahn and a bunch of others saw us arrive and leave school together today and yesterday. And since you walk me to most of my classes, people think it's more than you just helping a poor blind girl."
"So what do you want me to do, Spence? Drop you off a block away from school so it looks like you walked? And make you get a ride home with one of the girls while I completely ignore you all day?" He asked sarcastically. "Look, Spence, I hate to say it but there's nothing we can do except ignore them."
"But what if people really believe it and you lose your job?"
"If any of the staff believe the rumor then I'll tell them the truth and make sure that they don't say anything. And it doesn't matter what a bunch of kids think because something else will happen and they'll forget about us." He assured me. "So, where should we order some take out from?"
"Hey, do you mind if we stop by my place?" I asked once Jason got in the car.
We had just gotten take out from the Grille but I stayed in the car so people would think Jason and I were on a date.
"Sure, what do you need?"
"I left my charger there this morning."
This morning my parents had left for New York for one of their cases. In the mean time I was going to stay with Jason rather than be home alone with Melissa and Wren staying in the barn.
"What the hell?" Jason mumbled a few minutes later as he slowed down and pulled over.
"Jason, what is it? There's no way you're getting pulled over for speeding." I said in confusion as to what was happening. It was times like these when I wished I had my sight.
"I didn't get pulled over. But there are a bunch of cop cars in front of our houses. There's also an ambulance or something." He replied as I heard him open his door.
A few seconds later I heard my door open and Jason helped me out. Together we walked towards what I assumed was his house.
"Spencer!" I heard one of the girls call out, but I couldn't tell which one because of all the surrounding noise.
"Go with Aria, Spence, I'll find out what's going on." Jason said as he placed my hand in Aria's.
"Aria, would you please tell me what the hell is going on?" I asked as we walked back across the street. "Jason sounds scared and worried and I'm feel the same because I can't see what's going on."
"The St. Germain's are having the gazebo in the backyard taken down. Some workers found a body buried beneath it." Aria said quietly.
"You don't think…" I trailed off unable to say the words out loud.
Since Aria didn't answer I took her silence as a yes.
"Spencer, I'm glad you're here. I need someone who can think logically to tell me that this isn't happening." Hanna sighed and she sounded on the verge of tears.
"I wish I could, Han. But this seems very real." I told her sadly.
"Hey, guys, they…" Emily said as I heard her walk over to us.
"We know." Aria whispered.
For a while we just stood on the sidewalk together in silence. None of us knew what to say or how to react. I could hear Hanna and Aria crying softly and Emily sounded like she was trying not to. But all I did was stand there and try to listen to what was going on around me. I waited for a rush of emotions to overcome me but tears never came and I just felt numb.
After a while Mrs. Marin, Mrs. Fields, and Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery arrived. They tried to comfort us but nothing they said made us feel any better. Eventually they went home and I was left standing alone. But I didn't mind, I wanted to be alone to think about what was going on.
Just like Hanna, I couldn't believe that this was really happening. Alison just couldn't be dead. There were times when I didn't like her, and times when I thought we were better off with her gone, but never did I wish that she was dead.
"Hey, I'm sorry you've been out here by yourself." Jason mumbled as he came up to me.
"Don't worry about me. Are you okay?"
"I don't know, everything just feels so surreal right now. I know this is happening but I still can't believe it." He said soundly upset and bewildered.
"There seems to be a lot of that going around tonight." I said quietly. "Do you want to go home? Or do the police need you here?"
"My parents are on their way so I can go. But I don't think it would be a good idea for me to drive right now."
"You can stay in one of the guest rooms at my house." I offered.
"That's probably best." Jason sighed and then he put his arm around me as we headed towards my house.
I showed him into the room across from mine and told him to let me know if he needed anything. I was about to walk out and go to bed when Jason started to laugh a little.
"What's so funny?" I asked him completely confused.
"You were supposed to be staying at my place so I could take care of you. But you end up taking care of me."
"I don't mind, Jason. You would do the same for me." I said as I sat down beside him on the bed.
"I would, for you. But if it were Alison I would have told her to suck it up. I would have said 'Deal with it on your own and to leave me out of it.' That's pretty much what I said to her when she was eight and our grandfather passed away." He said and it sounded like he was holding back tears. "She's gone, Spence, she's gone. And do you know what the last thing I remember saying to her was? I was yelling at her to stay the hell out of my room."
And with that the dam broke and Jason was no longer able to hold back his tears of sadness over the loss of his sister.
"Poor Ali." Emily whispered as she slid into the church pew. The sadness in her voice was overwhelming.
Today was Ali's funeral and everything felt just as unreal as it had a few nights ago when we she was found. Mrs. DiLaurentis asked the girls and me to sit with her husband and Jason in the front row. The others and I agreed and I was glad that we were here together. And I was lucky enough to be sitting beside Jason; he could use all the support he could get these days.
"Can you believe what a scene this is? Or even that we're here at all." Hanna commented as she started going through her purse.
"Alison would have loved it." Aria mumbled.
"Popular in life and death." I said quietly.
Since I couldn't see I could only imagine how packed the small church was. According to the girls the entire town had showed up. I couldn't help but wondered how many people were here just to see if this was real or another one of Ali's brilliant schemes. Or how many people were here to celebrate. As awful as it sounded it was probably true. The police ruled Alison's death as murder and there was an innumerable amount of people in town who had wanted her dead at some point.
"No, thanks, Hanna, I don't drink." Emily politely declined.
Had the circumstances been different I probably would have laughed. Of course Hanna would smuggle some sort of alcohol into a church. But I couldn't blame her for wanting to take the edge off of all this. Jason had told me more than once that he wanted to get wasted hopefully wake up to find things back to normal.
"Today, I think you do." Hanna insisted and I heard Emily gulp loudly as she took Hanna's drink.
"My turn." Aria mumbled and I assumed that she too decided to drink a little.
"How about you, Spence?" Hanna asked as she placed a metal flask in my hands.
The flask was pretty light and I guessed that it was less than half full. Usually I didn't drink because I had a low alcohol tolerance and even though it was hard being blind it was worse to be drunk and blind. But I knew I could handle a small sip and I couldn't deny that it might help a little. Nothing concerning Alison was ever easy to experience.
I handed the flask back to Hanna and suddenly I heard several gasps and everyone started whispering about something.
"It's nice to know I can still be right about something." Jason mumbled as he sat down beside me.
Before I could ask what he meant I heard Hanna gasp and then she whispered, "This definitely isn't real."
"Oh my…" Aria started.
"It's Jenna." Emily said sounding scared.
I didn't blame her. Jenna hated Alison and The Jenna Thing probably only fueled her hatred. If Jenna was back she probably wanted some sort of revenge and would most likely take it out on us now that Alison was dead.
"Who's she with?" Aria asked.
"It's Toby." Emily answered and I couldn't help but gasp.
When I heard Emily say his name I could've sworn that my heart skipped a beat. So that's why Jason said he was right about something. Toby was back in Rosewood and despite that fact that I was at my best friend's funeral I couldn't stop the small smile that spread across my face.
Okay so once again I hope you enjoyed this even without a flashback. But I will make it up to you next chapter by having two. And parT Of it will B from somebodY elses POV. Speaking of next chapter, it is one of my favorites and I am super excited about it. And I want you guys to be excited too so I will PM a sneak peek to anyone that reviews. But since I can't PM guest reviews I've left a hint in this AN especially for you guys.