Chapter Ten: A Burn that Rekindled a Flame

Yet again our used-to-be lovebirds are getting along. You could even say they're becoming close friends. But, of course, life can't be that simple. Life may give you one happy thing and yet still fling an unexpected surprise when you're not looking. They say when life gives you lemons make lemonade, but what happens if the lemons are rotten?

There Spencer stood at the front door with her jaw touching the ground. For Spencer was expecting Lily to be at the door, but then again, Lily had a key to the house. But, Lily was not standing on the porch. Instead the two people Spencer had been hiding from the people who were standing on the porch: Hanna and Aria.

"What are you doing here?" was all Spencer could say still shocked by their presence.

Aria nudged her elbow into Hanna's ribcage. Hanna squeaked out an ow glaring at her small friend before bringing her attention to Spencer. "We-ow!" Aria had elbowed her once again. "I came here to apologize."

"Well, um, come in." Spencer opened the door wider so the two outside could enter. "Though, please be quiet: Jace is taking his nap," Spencer added as they came into the home.

Hanna and Aria followed Spencer while looking around the house. To their surprise everything looked the same as when Emily and Maya lived here. Spencer led them into the family room offering them a seat. Once seated Spencer asked if they wanted any refreshments listing off what was available. "Water," they both mumbled surprised by Spencer's hospitality.

With water glasses in hand and Spencer sitting down Aria gave Hanna a look to get her started. Hanna took a quick sip of water filling her mouth and looked around the room awkwardly. Aria rolled her eyes. "Do I have to elbow you for a third time today?"

"No, no! Not my precious ribcage!" Hanna scooted away from Aria on the couch.

"Then get on with it. It's short and sweet."

Hanna glanced at Spencer sitting in the recliner next to her. "Well-uh-I'm here to apologize for the things I said, so I am sorry for the things I said and asked." Spencer was once again feeling like she was with Lily during the time she was apologizing. Both had said things that caused Spencer to act out impulsively. "But, we all just want to know why you disappeared three years ago without an explanation."

"But," Aria interjected before Hanna screwed this all up. "We respect that you want to keep it a secret. As you said, it is your business and we shouldn't be putting our noses in it. It's just that we are your best friends and we worry about you."

"Are?" Spencer picked up in Aria's sentence.

Hanna rolled her eyes and shot air out of her mouth. "Even though you disappeared Spence we still count you as one of our best friends."

Spencer was generally shocked by Hanna's statement. "Really?"

"Really," both girls on the couch agreed getting up to give Spencer a hug. Spencer indulged herself in the embrace glad to have her best friends back.

When they let go Hanna and Aria sat back down on the couch unlike Aria who sat back, Hanna was on the edge of the couch looking at Spencer with excitement in her sparkling blue eyes. "So I know we can't ask why you left, but I think we should at least know what you've been up to these past three years. Rumor has it somebody was up in New York City. We have some serious catching up to do."

Hanna and Aria had left when it was time to wake Jace up from his nap. Though, Spencer let the actual time to wake up Jace to slide a little so she could catch up with her friends. Hanna was right in the fact that they had major catching up to do. She learned things that happened to them as they learned how New York and the law firm she used to work for from her. Now Spencer found herself standing outside of Jace's door peeking in. Was it technically stalking if you're standing outside the bedroom door listening to someone sing? Spencer thought. No, no, it wasn't. And if it was, it really shouldn't be. Toby had a wonderful voice and she loved hearing it.

Sighing, Spencer exited the hallway going downstairs to cook their dinner. It had become a thing for them to hang out and have another dinner after Jace was put to sleep. Though, Spencer was the one to suggest they only get takeout two nights a week. The rest of the days they took turns cooking dinner and tonight was Spencer's night to cook.

"Hey whatcha cooking?" Toby asked as he came down the stairs seeing Spencer chopping up vegetables.

"Stir fry," Spencer commented not looking up from slicing her carrots. Even though she lived in New York City with the ability to order takeout or go to any restaurant she wanted to, she promised herself she wouldn't order takeout every night or go to restaurants too often. So she learned to cook a few meals here and there.

"Sounds good." Toby sat down at the island.

Spencer smiled leaving the sliced carrots to check on the steak. "How was work?" That was another thing about their hand outs, it centered on mostly them. Most other times of the day conversation was focused on Jace. During this time they could learn about each other's day and what was going on days to come.

"Less work than usual. We lost a company, so that affected the work load."

"Was the loss bad for the company?" Spencer asked.

Toby shook his head. "Not a terrible loss. It was a smaller job."

Spencer nodded her head focusing her attention back to the stir fry as she started to mix ingredients in with the cooked steak. They continued to converse as Spencer cooked their dinner. Spencer told him about the visit with Hanna and Aria telling him that they were once again friends again. Toby smiled at her understanding how important that really was for her. When Spencer completed the meal they ate in slight silence with a question or comment here and there. It was nice and comforting though. After dinner they decided to watch a movie with Toby choosing an action movie.

Near the end of the movie Spencer got up from her seat to go clean up the aftermath of dinner since they'd be going to bed when the movie ended. With the plates and glasses cleaned up and in the dish washer Spencer moved on to go get the pan she cooked the stir fry in. But, a dancing flame was still lit under the pan making the metal still searing hot. As Spencer grabbed the handle closer to the pan the immense heat transferred to her fingers burning her greatly. With a sharp yelp Spencer dropped the pan and held her injured hand.

Hearing Spencer's yelp Toby jumped into action running into the kitchen. Seeing the pan upside down on the floor and an open flame on the stove Toby assumed Spencer burnt her hand. "Here." Toby grabbed Spencer's wrist bringing her over to the sink. Turing the tap over to cold, water rushed over Spencer's burnt fingers with muttered curses from Spencer.

Being this close to Spencer seemed to shut off Toby's brain and kick his senses into overdrive. He felt the softness of her skin under his calloused hand and took in a lemony scent drifting off her hair. Without thinking Toby spun Spencer around leaving the faucet on. Taking a mere second to look into Spencer multicolored brown eyes he detected the flecks of mocha and hazel mixing together to form her coffee colored eyes. Then he leaned down and his lips met hers for the first time in a few years.

Now Toby could tell every tiny detail that had changed about Spencer. Her lips felt familiar, but he didn't taste the strawberry lip balm she used to wear. Instead her lips tasted like French Vanilla coffee: sweet and luxurious. He breathed her in noticing the change in perfume from something fruity to the smell of a perfect summer night. Everything seemed perfect. The kiss itself felt like fireworks were being shot off and an explosion of perfection went off as his lips moved with hers in perfect sync. One hand slid into her luscious brown waves feeling how soft her hair was while the other hand gripped her thin waist bringing her even closer.

But, suddenly the perfection ended. Spencer snapped her head back tearing her lips away from his. She only stood frozen for one moment to see Toby's crystal blue eyes open in confusion before she brushed past him and bolted up the stairs to go hide in her room. For what Toby did not know was that Spencer had actually become close friends with his girlfriend Lily, and Spencer felt like she was betraying her even though that kiss was all Spencer wanted.