Prompt: Part two of the July 4th chapter.

Disclaimers: I do not own PLL or the characters.
Spoilers: None.
Rating: K+

Reply to reviews (chapter 20):

Boris Yeltsin: Thanks for the review! I have several on video also, mostly Scooby–Doo.

Guest (VivianDarkbloomFlower): Thank you for the review! Here is the next chapter – it has some Spoby in it. If you want me to do an actual Spoby–based chapter, let me know. I might have something in mind that you would like. :)

Notes: Toby does not like pineapples on his sundaes and he usually gets two chocolates and a strawberry. So, for this chapter, he is going to let Spencer get two pineapple toppings while he gets one chocolate.

Also, all items listed came from a Sonic menu list from 1997. The items are real and I do not own the rights to them.

Enjoy! :)

*Hastings Residence*

Later on in the evening, the dads get the grills out and begin cooking. Since there are so many people here, Tom and Ashley had loaded up their own grill and brought it over to the Hastings, so Tom, Peter, and Byron man the grills while the moms make ice tea, Kool-Aid, and get the rest of the food ready and the tables set.

The kids are coming in and out now, in the house, outside, in the barn. Mel seems to be feeling better. She's moved downstairs to the couch and is watching a movie on the TV. After eating dinner, everyone just chills for about 30 minutes before loading up to go get ice cream at Sonic.

"All right, everybody, be thinking about what you want," Veronica tells the group of kids. The little girls and Toby are in the Hastings' van, a car used specifically for carrying all the kids or a large number of people. Luke, Mel, and Jason are with Ashley and Tom while Mike is with Ella and Byron.

The girls and Toby chatter among themselves.

"I'm gonna get a strawberry shake!"

"Yeah, me too!"

"I'm getting a banana one."

"I want a hot fudge sundae!"

"I'm going to get a banana split," This is said by Toby, although it is quiet and only Spencer hears him. Spencer smiles at him and then ducks her head shyly when he returns it.

"What are you gonna get, Spence?" And suddenly, with him say the nickname everyone uses, her stomach feels all weird. She's unable to say anything, unexpectedly at a loss for words.

"I dunno." She finally says. "I want ice cream and not a shake. I guess I will get a banana split, also."

"We can share mine!" Toby practically shouts and then shrinks back as Emily, Courtney, and Alison look at him from the middle row. "I-I mean if y-you want to…you don't have to, though."

Spencer just smiles at him. "Okay. We can share."

Finally, they arrive at Sonic and pull into the parking places over on the side before unloading and going to the tables. Everyone orders for themselves, except for Courtney and Mike (because they are too shy/young).

Emily and Alison get a banana milkshake. Melissa gets a Hot Fudge Cake Sundae and Luke gets a plain Hot Fudge Sundae, while Aria and Courtney get strawberry milkshakes. Jason gets the Pineapple and Vanilla Milkshake, Hanna gets a small Banana Fudge Sundae, and Mike gets a small Vanilla Cone.

"What kind of toppings do you want on your Banana Split, sweetie?" Veronica asks Toby. He just shrugs and looks at Spencer.

"Spence can choose if she wants."

"I want pineapples, but you don't like that."

"We can get it, anyway," Toby says. "I don't care. You're eating, too, so you should have something you like. We can ask them to put the pineapples beside each other! That way you can have pineapples and I can have chocolate."

Spencer nods and goes up to one of the ordering stations. She presses a button and after the person asks for her order, she says,

"I would, please, like a Banana Split with two pineapples and one chocolate, but can you put the pineapples beside each other?"

"Yes, we certainly can. Anything else?"

"No, ma'am," Spencer politely answers before adding a rushed, "Oh! And I need two spoons, please. Thank you!"

Once the ice cream arrives, everyone with actual ice cream has to eat at the table while those with milkshakes can bring them to the fairgrounds for the fireworks show. Toby gets his Banana Split and gives Spencer one of the spoons.

Scooping up a bite, Spencer holds up her spoon to Toby. "Cheers, Tobes!" And Toby smiles a little, bumping his spoon against hers. The kids eat their ice cream and then load up and head to the fairgrounds.

They chatter about what kinds of fireworks they want to see. Seeing that Toby isn't participating, Spencer bumps his shoulder with hers.

"What's wrong, Tobes?" Spencer asks but she is met with Toby just shaking his head. "You have your thinking face on. That means something is bothering you."

After a few seconds of silence, Toby sighs heavily before turning to Spencer and says, "Okay, but you have to promise not to tell anyone else."

Spencer nods immediately. "I promise!"

"Pinky promise," He stresses, holding out his pinky to link to Spencer's pinky. She does so and then he takes another deep breath.

"This is my first time seeing fireworks." As Toby says this, he keeps his head down, too embarrassed to look at Spencer. He's afraid she is going to do what his friends from last year did, and laugh at him. Because, what 8-year-old boy has never been to a fireworks show before?

Spencer stays silent for a moment. She's not sure what to say. Being smart for her age still doesn't equip her with how to respond to her 8-year-old best friend who just confessed that this is his first time seeing the "big" fireworks.

Finally, she makes up her mind that she doesn't care. And it's ok. Toby only has a dad at home. He said his mom died in a car accident when he was just four years old (which he confessed on the anniversary of her death when he missed school that day).

Spencer takes a deep and wraps an arm around Toby. "That's okay, Tobes. I don't care. I know that your daddy works very hard. Sometimes, he may not have time to do fun things. But since we are friends now, you can do fun things with us! Okay?"

Toby gives a small smile and nods back at Spencer. They are silent for the next few minutes before Toby taps Spencer on the shoulder and whispers something in her ear.

She smiles and jumps down from the tailgate of her MeeMaw and Papa's truck. She runs over to Veronica and Peter who are on a blanket sitting in some lawn chairs. Spencer asks them for some sparklers and confetti poppers and then brings them over to Julia.

"Please, will you light these for me and Toby, MeeMaw?"

Julia nods, taking James's lighter. "Yes, I certainly will. Thank you for using your manners." Lighting them, she adds, "Be sure to hold at the end, okay? And hold them away from your face so you do not get burned."

"Here, Tobes!" Spencer hands him his. "Let's write in the smoke!" For the next several minutes, Spencer and Toby play with the sparklers before it gets dark and everyone begins getting situated to watch the show. Once it begins, Spencer scoots closer to Toby. The first firework shoots up into the sky.

"That one is called a Crackle," Spencer says. "That's 'cause when it goes up it makes a crackling sound." The next one is an upside down one.

"What is that one called?" Toby asks. "It looks like an upside-down chandelier!"

"Yeah, it does! But it is called a Willow because it looks like a Willow tree." Toby tilts his head, thinking about it. Another firework shoots up. "That's called a Ring!"

"A Ring? That's cool! It looks like planets with rings around them."

Spencer continues to tell Toby what kind of fireworks each one is until the show is over with and people start packing up. After everyone heads home, the Hastings drop Toby off at his house. Spencer and Melissa head to bed since it is late while Peter and Veronica watch some TV.

And here it is. I had fun writing this. The Spoby part was especially fun and I added some in the Valentine's Day chapter.

1997 is coming to an end. I have two more chapters left and then it will be January of 1998. I'll introduce a new character. If you have anything you would like to see in '97, let me know! Otherwise, we will be moving along.

1998 will go quickly also. I have 6 out of the 8 chapters prewritten already. Let me know of anything you want to happen between the ages of 8 and about 11 as 1998–2000 will be over before you know it. :)

Anyway, please review! Let me know what you thought. I love hearing what you guys think. Any comments, questions, etc. leave in a review or send to me in a PM. And to those that celebrate it, Happy early Thanksgiving! Please be safe everyone. :)