I like to call this chapter Fifty Shades of Toby's pain. You'll see why in a minute. You might need some tape to fix your heart after reading how Toby is coping with all this.
If only she could see
What she means to me
Spencer runs through my mind all day
She's all that I think about
I think about her all the time every day
Spencer runs through my mind all day
Spencer this song I wrote just for you
So tell me why you can't see
How much you mean to me
It's after midnight on a school night and Toby can't seem to get any sleep. This is the second night he's stayed up all night. His heart got crushed when Spencer told him she didn't want to spend time with him anymore. He doesn't understand what happened. On Friday, they seemed to be getting along really well. It almost seemed like Spencer was having fun. By the way they talked and laughed together she made it seem like they were moving towards being friends. Now, she's shutting him out again.
Toby uses one arm to steady his guitar while he leaned over to pick up the bottle of Tequila that he has on the floor beside the couch. He takes yet another swig of it and flinches as it goes down his throat. He's not one to drink so much that he gets drunk, but it seems like tonight would be one of those nights. He takes another drink then sets the half empty bottle down. It was a full bottle when he started. He uses both hands to hold his guitar and starts playing another song.
It's a quarter after one,
I'm a little drunk,
And I need you now
And I said I wouldn't call
But I'm a little drunk and I need you now.
And I don't know how I can do without,
I just need you now.
By the end of the song, Toby was in tears. He doesn't know if it's because he's drunk or if he just really, really needs Spencer here. It could be both.
Across town, Spencer has been miserable too. Her parents have been keeping a close eye on her these last two days just to make sure she stays away from Toby. It sucks. On Friday, her father is leaving for a two-week business trip and her mom has a business dinner Friday afternoon. Maybe she can find a way to talk to Toby and explain what's going on. He should at least know that she's not shutting him out on purpose. Just until things cool down with her parents.
When she got to school on Thursday, she talked to her friends like she does every morning. They exchanged a few words, the bell rang, then they went to class. Spencer figured since her parents can't see her at school, why not talk to Toby at school? She could help him study in the library during lunch and talk to him during a free period. Toby walked into class after the morning bell rang. He came in wearing a dark blue tank top with a lighter blue shirt that wasn't buttoned up. He also had on a pair of sweatpants, brown slippers, and a black baseball cap put on backward.
"Toby, why are you late?" Mr. Rye asked.
Toby shrugged and mumbled, "because I'm the hottest pop star of the year and I do what I want."
"That does not excuse you for being late. You know that you're supposed to be in class when the bell rings."
"Oh, blah, blah, blah. Your mouth keeps moving, but that's all I hear."
"That's it," Mr. Rye says. "I don't care who you are. You have detention after school today now go take your seat."
"Nah," Toby shook his head. "I think I'm going to go get some ice cream."
Toby opened the door and walked out of class. He didn't even listen to the teacher when Mr. Rye called his name. Why is Toby acting like this? He's never acted like this before. At least not what Spencer's seen of him. Spencer got up from her desk.
"Um, Mr. Rye can I?" She says while pointing at the door.
He nodded. She walks out of the classroom and finds Toby walking towards the front doors. Her high heels knocked on the tile floor as she walked after him.
"Toby."
He didn't reply or even turn around. He just kept on walking. Spencer broke out into a slow run. She finally catches up to him and touches his arm to turn him around. He looks at her with anger. Something he's never done before. Well, not anger directed towards her anyway. Her eyes narrow.
"Toby," she repeats.
"What?" He snaps.
"What the hell is wrong with you?"
"What do you care!?"
"I think we need to talk."
He chuckles, "talk about what?"
"You're mad at me and I get that, but you don't have to be acting like this."
"Acting like what?" He challenged.
"Like an ass."
"How do you know I don't act like this all the time? Maybe this is who I really am. Maybe all that time I was nice to you was an act. I think I deserve an oscar for those performances, don't you think?"
"This isn't you. Even I know that."
"No," he chuckled. "You don't know me or anything about me."
"Can't we talk about this?"
He shakes his head, "it's too late for talking."
Toby rips his hand out of her grip and takes off down the hall. Spencer puts her hands on her hips and sighs sadly. What has she done to him?
When lunch time rolled around Spencer didn't feel like eating so she went to the schools library and looked for books. While she was there, she saw Alison Dilaurentis looking at some book called Fifty Ways To Wow Your Date. Spencer turned the corner and Alison saw her.
"Hey," Alison says.
Spencer looked up and said, "hi."
Spencer didn't know why Alison is talking to her. She's one of the cool girls. Alison's never really given her much of a problem, but she's heard people say that Alison can be mean. Alison leans against the bookcase and smile.
"You're Spencer, right?"
"That's what it says on my birth certificate."
Alison laughs, "you're funny. I think you know who I am."
"Alison Dilaurentis," She says. Spencer turns to look at her. "What do you want?"
"What makes you think that I want something?"
"Because you don't talk to people like me unless you want a homework assignment done for you."
Alison sighs, "look, Spencer. I know what people say about me and it may have been true last year that I was a bitch, but I've changed. I came to talk to you because I saw what happened between you and Toby in the hallway earlier."
She looks at her, "you saw that?"
Alison nods, "I know how it must have seen, but Toby didn't mean what he said to you."
"Are you some boy/girl expert or something?"
"Yes, actually. I've been keeping an eye on you guys for the last two weeks. You two have a lot of chemistry. I'd really hate to see that die out."
"I only tutored him in French. Theres not much to us."
"Yeah, I heard why you've been spending time with each other and I also heard why you're not. Do you always do what mommy and daddy tell you to?"
Her eyes snap up at her.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Hey, don't be taking this the wrong way. Your parents are bullies, I get that okay, but you have to stop letting them push you around. If you keep listening to everything they say then you'll never have a voice of your own. Your parents will always be that annoying whisper in your ear. Don't let your parents keep you from seeing Toby. He cares about you and you care about him. In the end that's all that matters."
"Thanks for the advice Alio…"
"Ali," she interrupts. "Call me Ali. Alison is what my mom calls me."
"Ali. Thanks for the advice, but I think I need to figure this out on your own."
"Okay," she nods. "That's better than having your parents figure it out for you."
The bell for the end of lunch rings. Spencer looks at the two books in her hands.
"Well, I better get to class," she says.
"Wait," Alison stops her.
"Yes?"
"You're friends with Emily, right?"
"Yeah, why?'
Alison bit her lip, "do you think she'd hang out with me if I asked her?"
"Sure."
Alison smiled, "great. Thanks, Spence. See you around."
Aw, man looks like Toby isn't taking their separation too well. This chapter is in two parts, so I might post the second part later today, so stay tuned.
