Lost and Found Chapter 10

Spencer

Spencer's internal alarm clock woke her up at 6 am. This gave her the right amount of time to get ready before heading downstairs for breakfast. This morning she seemed to move a long much faster than usual. She was anxious, and not just because of her new living situation. Today was the she would start digging for answers. She was going to search for her birth parents. It was only yesterday that she was put in a foster home after her parents fled town, only leaving her with a note saying they were sorry and to tell her she was adopted. Spencer was determined to find her real parents and to forget her adoptive ones altogether.

When she was ready, she collected her school things and headed downstairs. She found Caleb in the kitchen, seated alone at the counter.

"Morning," he spoke, once he noticed her.

"Good morning," she replied on her way to the fridge, pulling out a carton of milk. "Is it just us?

Caleb nodded. "Yeah. Carol wakes up at seven, since the kids don't have to be at school until eight."

Spencer sat beside him with a glass of milk and a plain bagel. She glanced at him, mid-bite. He was on his laptop, like he was the previous night.

"Whatcha doin?" she asked, playfully.

"Oh, you know, just stalking Justin Bieber on twitter." He joked.

Spencer laughed. "If you are, you'd get along great with my friend Hanna."

Caleb blushed, looking down in hopes that Spencer hadn't noticed.

She did.

"Woah, you're flustered! Got yourself a little crush, Caleb?" she teased.

He cleared his throat. "What? No way."

"Okay…" She made a note to pester him later. "So what are you actually doing on there?"

"Well, I've been searching for codes to add more data and stuff to a cell phone."

Spencer nodded, intrigued. "So, you're pretty good with technology huh?"

"Only the best of the best. You ever need to track someone's cell phone or hack into a website, I'm your guy."

"Okay. I'll be sure to come to you next time I'm in that sort of situation." She said, sarcastically.

After glancing at the screen for a moment longer, Caleb shut his laptop and stuffed it into his bag.

"We should probably start walking to school now or we'll be late." He told her.

"Oh, yeah of course." Spencer finished off her bagel in two more bites a put her glass in the sink. As soon as she grabbed her bag, they were out the door.

Spencer found herself enjoying the walk with Caleb. They talked and laughed the entire way there. It surprised her how easily they got along. When they got to school though, they went their separate ways. They both understood it would raise suspicion if someone saw the two of them walk in together.

Spencer weaved her way through the hallway to her locker. It wasn't long before Hanna stormed up next to her.

"Where the hell have you been?" she demanded.

"Well good morning to you too, Han."

The blonde rolled her eyes. "I'm serious. I tried calling you like a bajillion times last night and you never answered. And, you didn't show up at the Brew this morning either."

Spencer sighed. "I'm sorry. I just had some family issues come up, that's all."

Hanna's face softened. "Is everything okay? You and your parents seemed to be getting along yesterday. What changed?"

Spencer groaned internally. On one hand she really wanted to tell Hanna. She was her best friend and they told each other everything. But on the other, she wasn't ready for anyone to know.

The brunette shut her locker. "Everything is fine. My parents are just getting back to their old selves, I guess."

Hanna nodded. "Okay. Just promise me you'll never scare me like that again."

Spencer chuckled. "Promise."

The duo made their way to homeroom, taking the same seats as they did yesterday. Spencer smiled, noticing Toby was already at the desk beside hers.

"Hi!" Spencer greeted, taking out her notebook.

Toby smiled back. "Hey."

School turned out to be a great distraction for Spencer. She didn't once think about her parents, foster home, or the adoption. She spent her day focused on work (and Toby). But once lunch came around, she started the first step of her birth parents search. First, she made sure she was the first person in and out of the lunch line. She decided to eat out in the courtyard; it was more private than the cafeteria. After sitting at one of the round tables, she pulled out her cell phone and pressed in the number she had gotten last night. After three rings, the person answered.

"Hello? This is Garret Reynolds."

"Hi, Garret. It's Spencer Hastings."

"Oh, Spencer, hi. Is everything okay?" he asked.

"Yeah, everything is fine. I was wondering if we could talk in person. Will you be at the police station around three?"

"Yes. Are you sure everything is alright?"

"Yeah, positive. I have to go but I'll see you later. Bye." Without giving him a chance to reply, she hung up. Hopefully this would work.

"Hey, I was wondering where you were." A voice came from behind her.

She looked up as he sat beside her. "Oh, hey Toby. I just came out here to make a phone call."

He nodded. "It is much more quiet out here."

"Yeah," Spencer agreed.

The two of them looked at each other for a moment. Spencer watched as Toby began to speak until another voice interrupted him.

"There you guys are!" Hanna exclaimed, slamming her tray down on the other side of Spencer. "I have been looking everywhere for you two!" Hanna then noticed how Toby and Spencer were avoiding her gaze and how their cheeks were redder than usual. "Did I interrupt something?"

Luckily, neither of them had to answer that question, because at that moment, Wes and Lucas were joining them at the table.

Lunch went on as usual, which Spencer was thankful for. They talked and joked. Half way through, Spencer caught Hanna staring blankly into space. It took her a moment to realize her friend was actually staring at a person. He was sitting on the benches attached to the school building, typing on his computer.

"Wow, Hanna. Caleb Rivers?"

Hanna immediately snapped out of her gaze. "Huh, what?"

Spencer giggled. "I saw you staring. You were exactly being subtle."

"So, you like that guy?" Wes asked, raising his eye brows.

Hanna's cheeks flushed. "What? No!"

The whole table laughed.

"Sure you don't, Hanna." Spencer said. She'd let it go for now. It seemed that both of them were interested in each other. This could be fun.

The rest of the school day went on smoothly. She spent the better half of economics making fun of Mr. Heck with Noel. When she got the French, she couldn't have been more happy to see Toby. She glanced at him once, mid-way through class. He looked over at her and mouthed 'help me' as the teacher ranted about the complicated language. As soon as the bell rang, the two were joined at the hip, walking out the door.

"Wow, only day two and you're already confused." Spencer teased.

Toby groaned. "I don't understand any of it. I can't grasp it." Spencer chuckled. "Is it too early to cash in that tutoring date?"

Spencer blushed as he referred to it as a date. "Nope. I'd be happy to help today if you'd like."

Toby smiled. "That sounds great."

"Awesome. How about 3:30. You'll text me your address?"

Toby nodded right as they got to her locker. "It's a date."

Spencer left the school building and began to walk in the direction of the police station. She had called for a taxi to meet her a few blocks from school. That way no one would see her get in and she wouldn't have to walk.

Once she had met the taxi and it dropped her off, she was running up the stairs to the station. Right as she reached the top, Garret was walking out one of the doors.

"Hey, Spencer. I just got on my break. What was it you needed?"

Spencer took a deep breath, nodding to the side where they could talk more privately. Once they were out of ear shot from any passing officers, Spencer began, "As a cop, you have access to all sorts of records, correct?"

"Um, yes. But why-?"

Spencer cut him off, "This might sound crazy, but yesterday I read the letter my parents left for me. In it, they told me that I was adopted. Now, I want you to help me find my birth parents." She explained.

"Spencer, I don't know if that's possible."

"I'm not asking you to track them down. I just want you to find any information on them that you can. Anything that could give me a lead. I would go to the hospital, but I don't have a place to start."

"I could lose my job for looking into private records without a real reason." Garret tried to reason.

"Garret, this is a real reason." Spencer could feel tears forming. "My adoptive parents left me. I don't my birth parents did too, but maybe they had a good reason. Maybe they'd want me now. I need to find them, please."

Garret sighed. "Okay, I'll do what I can."

"Thank you!" Spencer threw her arms around him, surprising the officer. Once she realized what she was doing, she pulled away. "Sorry I-I just got excited."

Garret chuckled, shuffling his feet.

"My birthday is December 14, 1996 by the way. I was born at 8:42 in the morning. If that helps."

Garret nodded. "I'll call you as soon as I find something."

"Thank you."

Ding Dong. Spencer glanced at her phone to make sure she was at the right house. Her question was answered, though, when a certain blue eyed boy opened the door. He smiled when he saw her.

"Hey Spencer," he glanced around her, "did you walk here?"

"No. Actually, I took a cab. My car is –uh– getting worked on." She quickly said.

"Oh, well, come on in." he stepped aside, making room for her to pass through. Glancing around, she could see that his family was still in the process of moving in, but so far the house looked nice. There were already some pictures hanging up. One with a younger looking version of Toby caught her eyes. He was so adorable.

"My room is still sort of a mess, so we'll have to work in the kitchen if that's fine." He told her, leading the way.

"Of course." She said, following him. She set her school bag on the kitchen table, taking a seat.

"Would you like anything to drink?" he asked.

"Water would be great."

He nodded, pulling open the fridge.

While he did that, Spencer took out her French book and assignment to get ready.

Seconds later, Toby was seated beside her with two glassed of water.

"Thanks. So what exactly are you struggling with?"

"Everything." He admitted, bashfully.

Spencer bit her lip, "Well, let's start with the basics…"

The two carried on conjugating verbs for what seemed like forever. Every time Toby said something correctly, his eyes would light up, making them even bluer. On a number of occasions, Spencer had to stop herself from getting lost in them.

An hour later, Toby was practically fluent.

"Well, it looks like you won't be failing after all." Spencer joked.

"And it's all thanks to you. You're an amazing teacher." Toby leaned over and hugged her. When they pulled away, their faces were extremely close. As soon as they saw this, they sat back quickly.

Toby looked back at her again as she was picking at the corner of her text book.

"Spencer."

She looked up at him anxiously.

"I was wondering if you-"

Before he could finish, Spencer's cell phone because to ring. Damn it.

"I'm so sorry." She said, pulling it out of her bag.

"It's fine," he assured her.

Spencer was about to ignore it when she saw the caller ID. She stood up. "I'm really sorry, but I have to talk this." She didn't hear his reply, as she was already out of the room.

"Garret, have you found something?" Spencer answered, once she was out of the kitchen.

"Yeah. Do you think you could come down to the station?" he asked.

Crap. "I don't have my car, remember? And I'm all out of cash to pay for a texi."

"Okay, then I'll come to wherever you are."

Spencer glanced back at where Toby was still seated in the kitchen. "Meet me at the corner of Oakbrook and Savannah. It's within walking distance for me."

"I'll be there in 10." Garret said, before hanging up.

Spencer made her way back into the other room and began shoving all of her things into her bag. "I'm sorry, but I really need to go." She told him, pulling her bag over her shoulder.

"Is everything okay?" he asked, standing up.

"Yeah, I'm fine. There's just something that I really need to do."

Toby followed her to the door. "Okay. Thanks again for the tutoring."

She gave a quick smile. "Oh, it was no problem. I'll call you tonight, okay?"

"Alright." He smiled. "Be safe."

"I will." She called back as she descended the steps to his house. As soon as she was down the driveway, she was racing up the street.

When Garret's car pulled up next to her, she hopped into the passenger's seat.

He turned to face her. "Before I tell you anything, you have to promise this remains a secret."

"I promise." She told him honestly. "What did you find?"

"Well, it isn't really about your parents, more about your family. But I think this'll help." He told her.

"Uh-huh. What is it?" she urged on.

He took a deep breath. "I typed in your date of birth and found two other people who were born on the same day, within minutes from you. From the same person."

Spencer digested this information. "So that would mean….I'm part of a set of triplets." She said in disbelief.

Garret nodded. "So then I looked further. The two other children were put up for adoption and were adopted by families in Rosewood that are still here today."

Spencer's heart beat rapidly. "Do you know who they are?" When Garret nodded, Spencer continued. "Who?"

Garret released a breath.

"Noel Kahn and Aria Montgomery."

A/N Dun dun dun! Who saw that coming? I know a few of you kind of guessed that but I hope you are still pleased or shocked or something-ed by it. So Aria, Spencer and Noel are siblings. Now you all probably can see how there was never going to be anything romantic between them. Now a couple things.

1. I can't speak French. So the Spoby tutoring scene was very vague, I apologize. But I couldn't just pick a different subject. French is the official language of Spoby!

2. I have never been in a situation like Spencer and am 99.99999% sure I never will be so I have no idea what really happens in that situation. So, like in this chapter and the remainder of the story, you all need to bare with me. This is obviously fiction and even if it seems unrealistic, just go with it. I'll try to make it believeable and hopefully it is but really who can tell?

3. The rest of the story will no longer contain individual story lines. Aria/Spencer/Noel are all together now. Expect longer and better chapters. Also, I could throw some Toby/Hanna/Caleb/Emily POV in there too.

4. Who liked my Haleb reference?;)

Anyways. I hoped you enjoyed the chapter. It is my fave so far. Please review and let me know what you think!

Up Next- Spencer talks to Aria and Noel

If you want to see that chap. Soon: 5-10 Reviews!

xoMel