Chapter Ten

Actions Speak Louder Than Words

What is truth? Many philosophers have asked over the years. Spencer thought she knew the answer to this question a few times before, but now she wasn't so sure. The truth is complex. Words aren't true, they are just words combined together to make a statement. Actions showed the real truth of a situation. Judging by Toby's actions, he didn't love her, he never loved her. How could he? How could you do those things to someone you love? You cant. Simple as that. But, then why did Spencer still believe their love was real. Why did she believe when he said sorry. Why did she think he was telling the truth when he told her that he did indeed love her in those dark ages. Actions speak louder than words, but in this situation, Spencer felt like the words were screeching out their vocal cords, trying to outdo the actions. Spencer didn't know what to believe anymore.

A few days passed since he told her the morbid truth of the story. She hadn't told any one what he had told her, not Emily, not Hanna, and especially not Aria. He hadn't called. He hadn't texted. Nothing. Now, after everything he told her, why did she want to hear from him? What on earth was wrong with her? She felt like a annoying middle schooler girl, checking her phone every five minutes for a text from a guy who didn't give a shit about her.

She had gone to a therapist before. Plenty of times before. But, right now she felt that she was in need of one, and desperately. "Mommy, can we get ice-cream?" Noah came racing to her from the slide.

"I don't think so kiddo," she told her son, standing up from the park bench.

"Why not?" He whined sadly.

"We're having dinner with Granny, and Grandpa." Spencer told him, taking his hand in hers. The last time she took her son over to her parent's house, and he hadn't wanted to eat any thing, they had told her 'You need to be more aware of when you are feeding him.' as if he was some pet goldfish, and they were scolding her because she forgot to feed him.

"But, I want ice cream noooow." The little boy whined.

"Spencer?" A slightly familiar voice called. Spencer whipped her head around; Larson. He was walking up to her with Sean walking close to him. Spencer stifled a breath, and brushed some loose hairs out of her face.

"Hey Noah!" Sean exclaimed with a big smile, "Want to play tag?"

"Mommy can we go play?" Noah asked, his little feet already jumping up and down with excitement

"Five minutes." She said with a sigh, as the little boys started running around the two adults.

"Funny seeing you here," Larson said.

"I'm here a lot actually." She clarified. "Practically everyday."

"Are you?" he asked. "I use to come here all the time when I was little, I would hide in that rocket ship." He pointed to the wooden rocket ship in the corner of the play ground. "My parents would want to kill me after but," Larson said with a shrug and a laugh.

"You grew up here?" Spencer questioned with a smile.

"Oh yes. Lived here till I was eighteen. I left after i graduated high school,"

"But you're back now?" She asked.

"But, I'm back now." He repeated with a nod.

"Why'd you come back?" She pried.

"Well I was in Michigan before, I figured I could own a car dealership, I love cars, but it didn't work out to well, so I decided to come back. All of my family's here, and Tiff. I figured she could use some help," He chuckled softly.

"Oh." Spencer nodded.

"Yeah," He answered. "So what about you?"

"What about me?" She asked playfully.

"Whats your story?" He asked.

"I don't really have a story," which was false. Some one could write a book about what she's been through.

"c'mon, everybody has a story." He urged.

"Not me." She smiled tightly.

"Well, I guess I'll just have to figure it out along the way."

"I guess." She mimicked softly.

"How about, you and me. We have dinner and I'll ask you about your life, and you'll ask me about mine." He went on.

"I'm not really in the dating scene at the moment." She replied, shrugging a shoulder.

"Never said it's a date, just two people, eating food and conversing about their lives." He persuaded her.

"Sure, sounds like a date." She responded cocking her head.

"Oh no. You see, you would know if you were on a date with me. It would be much more than just burgers and fries. No, Miss, a date with Larson Adams, is a date you wont forget."

"Cocky are we?" She teased.

"Confident." He corrected her, putting up a finger.

"Whatever it is," She went on "It is still a no. Sorr-"

"Now how is it, that someone as beautiful and awesome, as yourself , hangs out with my sister, who I must say is pretty lame, but won't hang out with me? Now, I must say Miss.-"

"Hastings." She informed him.

"Miss. Hastings, is it? I must say you Miss. Hastings, are simply just lying." He informed her.

"You barely know me." She shook her head laughing softy, glancing at Noah, as he ran from Sean.

"Exactly why I want to have dinner with you, if not dinner, than drinks. Lets grab a few drinks." He offered a sheepish smile

"I have a son."

"Obviously, Miss. Hastings. This is where Tiffany comes into the picture. She'll watch Noah and Sean, and they'll all have a grand time. Tiff loves kids. "

"And you know for a fact that she'll be willing to do this?" Spencer asked.

"Oh, I am most certain." He went on.

"Maybe a little to much confidence there, buddy." She said patting him slightly on his arm.

"Not enough actually. So how bout it?"

"Mmmmm," She smacked her lips together. "No." She exclaimed. "Noah, time to go!"

"Five minutes!" He called back.

"5 seconds!" Spencer yelled back, "One, two, three-" She began counting off, but the little boy was light on his feet and very quickly, next to his mother once again.

"I'll see you around, Larson." Spencer said. "Sean," She saluted at the little boy, who saluted back.

"So how about coffee?" he called, and in return she simply just shook her head at him laughing.

"We're at a dead end." Hanna declared. "We aren't getting anywhere. Jenna was no help, and Mona just made everything way more confusing, than it already is."

"So, what do we do?" Emily asked.

The girls sat in silence. Each of them thinking desperately of a lead, or a clue. Something that could help them finish this. They all were tired. Tired of the constant paranoia, tired of the hassle, tired of their love ones being abused simply because they are connected with the wrong people.

"Maybe, Lucas could help us?" Aria spoke up softly.

"Lucas?" Spencer spat in shock. "I thought he was on our A-list."

"So was Jenna." Aria fought back. "He's been less sketchy lately, maybe he'll help us." Aria shrugged innocently.

"It wouldn't hurt to just ask..." Emily supported. Although Emily was wrong. Maybe, it wouldn't hurt them. But, it would surely hurt someone else entirely.

When she got home she was surprised at Hanna's enthusiasm, and strange behavior. She still didn't tell her anything, as far as Hanna knew, Spencer hadn't even talked to Toby. Spencer wouldn't even know where to start if she did tell Hanna. "Why are you acting so weird?" Spencer asked as she started up Noah's bath. Hanna had been following her around like a excited dependent puppy since she stepped through the door. "Since when do you like watching me give Noah a bath?"

"I don't." Hanna rolled her blue eyes using strange hand movements. Spencer just stared at her, like she was insane. "Spencer!" Hanna screamed, shifting her eyes to her hand to Spencer. Spencer followed the blond's gaze, and her eyes widened at the sight of an engagement ring.

"Oh my god!" Spencer beamed standing up to embrace her friend with a hug. "Caleb proposed?"

Hanna nodded her head frantically, the smile on her face just becoming bigger.

"I'm so happy for you!" She squealed, hugging the blond again. "Congratulations."

"Thanks," She smiled giddily letting go of her friends, and letting her arms flop down to her sides. "He proposed in the most romantic way, I didn't know he had it in him. Oh my god, I'm going to be Mrs. Rivers. Mrs. Rivers!" She exclaimed, her voice increasing a pitch.

"How did he propose?" Spencer asked curiously.

"Well," Hanna clucked her tongue. "We went to my bakery last night. He wanted to know how to bake, which I thought was strange because he declared that he was never cooking with me again in high school, when his favorite beanie caught on fire, but I went along with it." She went on. "And I guess when I wasn't paying attention, he slipped the ring into one of the cupcakes, and then we decorated them, and he put a heart on his, and it wasn't that nice looking, but it was so sweet," She gushed. "And he practically forced me to eat it, saying I need to tell him how he did, so I did, and then I feel something hard. And I started to freak out because I didn't know what what I bit into. And then he started laughing at me, and then I got annoyed. But, then I took out the thing I bit into and it was a ring!" She smiled brightly. "And it was just amazing." She sighed happily.

"I'm really happy for you guys Han," Spencer stated again.

"Thank you." She cooed. "I think I'm going to tell Aria." Hanna said shyly.

Spencer nodded, her smile fading.

"I just," Hanna sighed. "I want to end this drama. It was in the past, and she's my best friend. I want her to be a part of this."

"Hey Lucas." Hanna said shyly as she sat down with him in the court yard. Most already left school. Although, Lucas had rejoined all of his excessive amount of clubs. Which meant he would stay after school till it started to get dark sometimes. Normally, Hanna wouldn't stay after school. But, she had to take a make up test. So, here she was. Sitting next to Lucas, in the almost empty courtyard.

The girls agreed on that Hanna would be the one to talk to Lucas. Spencer thought that they should go together, since Lucas still couldn't be trusted, but Hanna reassured her she would be fine. She could take care of herself.

Lucas closed his laptop, and turned his head to her. "Hey," He said nervously. "What are you doing here so late? Don't you have parties to be at? It is Friday." He offered a small smile.

"Make up tests." She answered, "Usually anything with the word 'make up' in it, is my favorite thing to do, but some how school ruins that." She shrugged.

Lucas let out a small laugh.

"What are you doing here?"

"Working on the yearbook," He glanced at his laptop. "I'm sort of behind..."

"Yeah, you were kind of scaring me. I'm glad to see you like this again." She said with a small smile.

"Yeah," He dropped his head, "I was a little preoccupied." He said. The coldness in his voice, matching the coldness in the air.

Hanna gulped. "With what?" She asked hesitantly.

"Hanna, there's things I need to tell you." He looked up, his eyes desperate. "And please listen this time."

"Okay," She breathed shakily. "Tell me."

"I can't here." He rushed out. "We aren't alone." He looked around skeptically. Hanna looked around too. There were three other people out here. One freshman waiting for his ride to pick him up at the curb, and a junior working on his homework. Usually, there were a lot more people. But, it was freezing outside. Hanna didn't even know how these people could stand the bitter cold.

"Um," She swallowed. "Where do you want to go?" She asked warily.

"Um," He looked down. "Out of Rosewood." He announced.

Hanna knew this wasn't safe, but for some reason trusted him to be alone with him. Nethertheless, she texted her friends where she was going with the curly headed boy.

Hanna was getting married. Spencer was happy for her. Caleb and Hanna had been through hell and back, and deserved a lifetime of happiness. She was happy Hanna had someone like Caleb, completely devoted and in love with her. Caleb proved just how great of a guy he was in high school. He helped with 'A' multiple times, and was always there when you needed some one to talk to. Spencer was happy for Hanna. She really was. But, she couldn't help but feel a little jealous. A little jealous that after all this, they get to grow old together, get to build a family together, and be together despite everything that's happened. Hanna will go on living life, slowly moving past all of the troubles from high school, while Spencer remained still. Unmoving. Frozen. The feeling of paranoia, and fear, never going away. Her trust issues making it impossible to develop a normal relationship with any one. Her friends will move on, go on, living their lives, happily, while Spencer would try to fight of her hidden feelings of someone she should despise. It was an endless battle, but she wouldn't hold up that white flag. She wouldn't give in to her feelings. Not yet. She still had some fight left in her.

This was waaaaaaaaaaaay short compared to my other chapters. Sorry! Sorrrrrrry sorrrry sorrrry. It was kind of a filler/builder. By the way, if anyone remembers Trevor, he isn't a big part of the story. He was kind of just to show that Spencer doesn't really have good relationship with guys. But, he hasn't fallen off the face of the earth, but he isn't going to really have a big part. He'll be mentioned a couple more times, but yeah.

And Okay, don't worry. This story isn't going to focus on Hanna's wedding.

And I know that the last three chapters were like kind of the same layout, but that was because I needed to get that all out there. So, yeah? hahah.

Anyways this wasn't the best chapter either. :p. But, oh well.

The next chapter will be focused on someone else who isn't Spencer (;. I'll give you that.

Any ways, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE REVIEWS! ((: i'm over 100! And just, you guys are awesome. Please tell me what you thought of this (crappy/short) chapter.

Adios amigos!