Feliz Navidad! Not many reviews on last chapter... was it bad? Oh well, here is the new plan: 3 chapters (this being the first one) before the premiere of PLL on the eighth. Sound good? :D Im super scared for it just because the trailers make Toby look so bad like showing up with flowers and then talking to Mona... AHHHH!

Spencer's POV

"Come on Aria! We're gonna be late! You know I hate being late..." I called out, swiping on one last layer of lipstick in the hallway mirror. For the last week, the red slashes made with Sharpie on the Calendar had been counting down the last few remaining days of the Spring Semester. With finals over, there was little work to be focused on, so I had been able to fill my days with crashing at the Montgomery house, college preparations, secret dates with Toby, and applying for Summer programs. Now that a bright slash covered the last day, the whole gang was going out to dinner at the Grille to celebrate.

"I'm almost done!" Aria's chirpy voice called out. Her heels clanged against the wood as she appeared in the doorway, ready to go.

"DAMN! Someone's looking impressive..." I said, making her giggle in her girlish way. Her lace dress complimented her small frame, making her seem smaller than normal.

"Well look who's talking!" She said, linking her arm through mine. I had to admit, I didn't recognize myself in the mirror at first glance. All the bruises had faded and disappeared, allowing me to wear the cute pale pink nautical style dress I had picked up for three dollars at a clearance sale in February.

"Alright lets get going!" I blurted out, grabbing the keys off the mahogany side table with one hand and shoving her out the door with the other, closing the door behind me with the sole of my pink ballet flat.

xxx

Spencer's POV (still :)

The Grille was packed with people, just as we thought it would be. Aria and I pushed ourselves through the wall of cheaply perfumed patrons, looking around for our table.

"You guys! Over here!" Hanna's voice rang out, so loud it was almost obnoxious. The other customers rolled their eyes impatiently as we elbowed our way towards the table of our friends, my eyes immediately finding Toby's, who was sitting next to my empty chair.

"Han!" I said, pulling her into a gigantic hug and probably wrinkling the front of her blue sequined dress.

"Ah you made it! We were starting to think that you guys were murdered or raped or something!" I stiffened subtly as she smiled and hugged back, before taking her place beside Caleb at the table. Taking my seat, I felt Toby's hand grasp at mine, and I couldn't help but feel a little guilty that I hadn't told the girls about Ian yet.

"Hey Spence." Toby said, giving me a peck on the cheek and a warm but knowing smile. "I was getting worried too." Heat radiated off of him as he looped his arm around my waist.

"Sorry about that," I started, "Someone had to redo her hair five times!" Aria, sitting on the other side of Toby next to Emily, blushed a bright hue of pink before retorting with a bashful tone, "It was only four!" The whole table burst out laughing at her display, and I could feel Toby's hands gently massaging my back, sending relaxing waves up and down my spine. It had been so long since I had felt this type of comfort and safety. There in the overcrowded restaurant smelling of bacon and coffee with Toby's arm securely around my back I was truly able to relax and enjoy spending time with the gang.

"So, I decided what summer program I'm applying too! Its the UPenn business program in Philly!" I declared, causing Han to roll her delicately black lined eyes and scoff.

"The last day of Spring Semester is barely over and you're already looking at some business program to waste your time in? You're insane." Hanna called back across the table, shaking her blonde bangs out of her eyes.

"Well I think its good for her!" Aria chimed in, hitting Hanna straight in the forehead with one of Emily's french fries. "Its good to have the old Spencer back." She finished, ducking to prevent getting hit by Hanna in retaliation.

"What do you mean the 'old spencer' back!" A chuckle escaped my mouth as I said it.

"Well the last few weeks you were acting distant and very un-spencerly." Em called out, simultaneously checking herself out in one of the silver spoons.

"What I have not!" Five pairs of disbelieving eyes stared my way. "Okay maybe I have," I said, blushing slightly at the confession, "But at least I'm doing something productive with my summer!"
"Hey, my summers not un-productive!" Han retorted, stressing the un. This time all the eyes turned towards her and she held up her perfectly manicured hands in defense. "My summer will be full of hot shirtless guys and tonsil hockey on the beach!" Caleb stared at her with mock-surprise, before blurting out, "Did I hear guys in that sentence. As in plural! Hanna Marin!" He said sarcastically, before putting his arm around the back of her chair and playing with the ends of her golden locks.

"You know I meant you!" She replied, swatting the center of his gray flannel shirt playfully.

xxx

Toby's POV

Dinner was served and eaten in the blink of an eye. Looking down at my watch, I saw the silver hands had ticked to show that it was 10:45. Caleb was emphatically telling a story about California, using his hands to portray huge waves and the sizes of sharks. Spencer was curled up in her chair, snuggled into my side like a baby chihuahua. The story came to an end and the whole table erupted into a fit of laughter, Hanna banging her hands on the table hard enough to rattle the remaining silverware. A small chuckle escaped my lips too, even though I had heard the story dozens of times. I watched Spencers eyes light up as she laughed along, adjusting her headband. I'm glad she was finally able to enjoy herself again. At first, when Hanna had blurted out why she was worried about them I thought Spence was gonna be in a mood for the rest of dinner, but she barely even flinched once she sat down. I felt something under the table vibrating and Spencer reached down uncomfortably to pick up her phone, cradling it in her hands. I watched as the expression on her face changed from relaxed happiness to confusion to stressed annoyance.
"Spence? What's wrong? What does it say?" I asked, whispering into her hair so the others couldn't pick up the change in her demeanor. She flicked her wrist towards me, rotating the screen underneath the white tablecloth so I could read it.

From: Mom 10:48 P.M.

Spencer it's time to come home. You're being difficult. We need to talk about your summer plans. Come home quickly, there is no discussion.

"Fabulous..." she swore under her breath. "This is just fabulous." I reached down and took her narrow chin in my hand, tilting it up to look at me.

"Do you want me to come with you?" I asked, concern evident in my furrowed eyebrows.

"No, I'll be fine. I'm pretty sure they would freak out more if they knew I was with you." She smiled sweetly. "Can you take Aria back to her house?" Of course, I replied leaving a soft kiss on the top of her perfect button nose.

"Sorry guys I've gotta run!" She declared, pushing her chair back from the table with a dull thud. "Family stuff." A chorus of goodbyes and promises to text filled the now lifeless restaurant as we watched her disappear out the double glass doors of the Grille.

xxx

Spencer's POV

I killed the engine as the car came to a stop on the crunching gravel driveway. I took a deep breath, filling my lungs with the warm, stale air. I looked up at the now unfamiliar house, filled with tainted memories and frosty inhabitants. Opening the car door, I swung my legs out and was met with a burst of refreshing, cool summer air. Walking up to the house, I could make out voices talking in the living room, but couldn't make out who or what they were talking about. I took out my jangling keys, nervously flicking through to find the bright brass key with the house number on it. I pushed through the door, and immediately the buzzing voices stopped. Standing in the middle of the living room was an irritable looking Melissa, clutching her swollen belly, both of my icy parents, and Ian. An involuntary shudder ran down my spine as I saw him, his mouth twisting into a perverted half smile.

"Uh.. Hi?" I said, closing the door behind me and trying not to look weak. The last time I was in the house, this same position awaited me, though then I had Toby to support me and keep me upright. Spread out on the table were tons of obnoxiously printed brochures, a couple of which my mother was grasping in her hands.

"Spencer." She said coolly, folding her arms over her chest. "I see you got my text."

"No," I replied sarcastically, "I just like visiting this dysfunctional family because I enjoy it." I said, leaning against the beige wall, blatantly refusing the seat on the couch my mother was gesturing too.

"Don't be fresh Spencer." My dad said, adjusting his silver rimmed glasses from the plush overstuffed armchair.

"Anyway," my mother began again in her monotone voice, "Tomorrow is the first day of summer, and we know you'll have a lot of free time. Time you will probably spend with that insufferable Cavanaugh boy." Rage boiled inside of me, consuming my fiery limbs and mind. I opened my mouth to retaliate but was cut off with a swift motion of my mothers wrinkling hand. "Now. You have been just as insufferable lately. Lying, running away to the Montgomery's, blatantly disobeying our wishes. So, your father and I decided the best course of action was to send you to this." She paused, throwing a flimsy brochure towards me. Catching it, I read the white lettered title. University Of London College Preparatory Summer Program.

"What Mom you can't be serious! You're sending me to London?! That is 3,000 miles away, you can't do that!" I started, raising my voice towards her, "I already got accepted to the UPenn program." This time, It was Ian's shrill voice that cut me off.

"Look Spencer. You can't get everything you want all the time. Your parent's already signed the paperwork, and they already called UPenn, informing them of your refusal to attend. Your plane leaves in three days." He picked up a thick manila envelope of information and tossed it on the floor in front of me. Bending down, I scooped it up in my hands, tears starting to blur my vision. I flipped through the packet quickly, seeing a one way ticket to London in three days time, a printout of my schedule, a map of the campus, and a packet of what I'll need, where I'll be staying and a sheet informing me of monetary expenses and roommate profiles. "This- This isn't fair. What about my friends, what about T-" I stopped short, refusing to give them the fight they were anticipating. There was no way I could fight my way out of it. The only way I wasn't going was if I was dead. The tears started to subside, as I icily met their stares.

"I'll be back in the morning to pack." Ian's face subtly lit up at the opportunity to get me alone once more. "With friends." I added for good measure. That's one thing this Summer Program could offer me, a whole two months away from the conniving monster that haunted me whenever he was around. I turned on my heel and fled the house, leaving the door ajar and running out breathlessly into the yard underneath the midnight sky. I grappled for my phone, hitting the first person I had to talk to. It rang in my ears, once, twice, three times before a voice answered the line groggily.

"Toby?"

hehe i know what you're thinking that things couldn't get worse and all but you will be so super surprised at the next couple chapters! SO. SUPER. SURPRISED. :) Please review because they inspire me to write more/faster/better so YAH! Happy New Year xxx Lottie