R&R
"Toby we need to talk."
Those were the first words that came out of Spencer's mouth that morning. He stopped by her house to give her a ride to school in his truck since her car is in for an oil change. They stopped for coffee along the way and she's been pretty silent all morning. He's done most of the talking. Spencer would smile and nodded occasionally. Toby wondered what she could be thinking. It wasn't until they arrived at school when Spencer finally spoke.
They walked hand in hand to French class and a lot is going through Spencer's mind right now. She thought a lot about her conversation with Melissa. She was right. There is something going on with Toby. She's suspected it for some time that Toby is having problems at home but didn't want to believe that it was a real big problem. Plus, she wanted to give him a chance to come to her about whatever problem he's facing. She wants him to know that he can trust her and he can come to her about anything.
"Toby," Spencer stopped him right outside the classroom. "We need to talk."
This Isn't working out. We're over. Our time together was fun while it lasted, but all good things must come to an end. I'm breaking up with you. Those were only some of the many bad thoughts going through his head when she said those five words. Everybody knows what comes after that. When a girl tells a boy that they need to talk, normally it's a sign that they're breaking up with you.
Why would Spencer want to break up? They were fine just last weekend. Spencer was smiling, laughing, and seemed to be enjoying herself with him. Unless it was all an act and she was allowing him to have his last weekend with her.
"Oh, no," he said. "You're breaking up with me."
"What!? No," she squeezed his hand and pulled him to a private place. "No, this is not a breakup. That's not what it is at all."
"Oh," he sighed in relief. "Then what's this about?"
"This is about you."
"Me? Why do you want to talk about me?"
"I'm worried about you. I've noticed you've been acting strangely. There are times where you seem perfectly fine. One day you're fine then the next, you seem really upset."
"Just the typical mood swings. Don't all teens go through that?"
"Sure they do," she nodded. "But I've been a little concerned about you. Is there anything going on that I don't know about?"
"No," he said. "There's nothing wrong.
"Are you sure? Ever since your attack I've noticed how jumpy you've been."
"Well, I guess I have been a little on edge since my attack, but that's only because it happened so unexpectedly."
"I guess that's understandable. Do the police have any leads on who they think did it?"
"Not that I know of. Then again, the cops in this town aren't the brightest."
"Do you have any ideas of who you think could've done this?"
He shrugged, "I don't know. All that I can remember is that the guy was big. For a second, I thought that I could handle myself when I should've called the police sooner. I don't know if they police will catch the guy and if he's still out there. I'm worried about him hurting someone else. I'm worried about him hurting you."
She moved her hands up his arms, "you don't have to worry about me."
"I know, but I do anyway. I'm your boyfriend so it's my job to worry about you."
"And as your girlfriend I worry about you. Which is why if there's anything going on with you at school, outside of school, or even at home, I want you to know that you can tell me. You know that you can tell me anything, don't you?"
Toby nodded, "I know that."
"Okay," she whispered.
"Is that all you wanted to talk about?"
Her lips curved up into a smile, "do I have enough time to tell you I love you?"
Toby twisted his lip and thought for a second. He finally nodded.
"Yeah, I suppose we have a little time."
"Good," her smile turned into a grin. "I love you."
"I love you too."
The one-minute warning bell rang and everyone started moving to their classes. Toby pecked her on the lips, grabbed her hand, and the two of them walked to their class.
"He's lying. I don't know what it is he's hiding, but he's lying. I just know it."
Spencer held onto her lunch tray as she and her friends make their way to their lunch table. She started ranting about the conversation she had with Toby just earlier that morning. All she wants to know is what's bothering him. George Cavanaugh is up to something and it's affecting Toby. Toby won't open up about it. What is going on that he can't tell me? The only thing Spencer got out of their conversation is that Toby's trying to protect her from something. From what, though?
Aria, Hanna, Emily, and Spencer took a seat at their table. Toby can't make it for lunch today because he's using his lunch period to get in some extra time in the workshop. Which is totally fine. He usually spends his lunch time in the workshop.
"If Toby didn't tell you what's going on, Spencer, he probably can't," Emily said.
"Yeah, but what can't he tell me?" Spencer asked while unwrapping her sandwich. "He knows that he can tell me anything. If there's something going on that he doesn't want to tell me, does that mean he doesn't trust me or is someone making him stay quiet."
"What if Toby really is telling you the truth?" Aria said. "Maybe he really is just nervous about what happened to him after the attack. He could be telling you the truth."
"Yeah, but he's not."
"Why are you so sure he's hiding something?" Emily asked.
"Because he looked to the left when he talked to me."
"Huh?" Hanna squinted her eyes.
Spencer sighed and put down her sandwich, "when Toby is lying he always looks down to the left. It's something I've picked up on when I first started tutoring him."
"When has Toby ever lied to you before?" Aria asked.
"When I asked him if he cried at the end of "The Notebook," and he said no."
The other girls chuckled and Spencer even cracked a smile. When the lunch bell rang, the girls wrapped up their stuff and threw it in a nearby trash can. Spencer grabbed her bag and headed towards the hallway. When she got to her locker, she felt somebody come up behind her. It didn't feel like Toby, so it had to be someone else. Someone she probably doesn't want to see or talk to right now.
Sighing, "what do you want Andrew?"
His lips curved into a twisted smile, "you didn't even turn around. How did you know it was me?"
"Easy," she shrugged. "I just caught the sense of a douchebag standing behind me."
Andrew chuckled, "you know, we used to be friends. What happened to that?"
"Um, you turned into a total jerk," she said like it was obvious.
"I can change," Andrew touched her arm to turn her around. "I have changed. A couple months ago I was a total jerk, but I'm not anymore."
Spencer scuffled, "I find that hard to believe. You're still hanging around with Alison, Noel, and their band of bitches and bastards."
"Bitches and bastards," Andrew repeated in amusement. "Is that what you're calling us now?"
"It's what I've always called you."
She turned back towards her locker to grab the book she needs for English. Right now, she's wishing he would walk away and leave her alone. The last thing she needs is more problems with Andrew and Alison. The bell rang and Spencer went on to her class without saying another word.
At the end of the school day, Spencer was walking down the hallway when she saw Hanna and Caleb down by his locker. Caleb was saying something to her and Hanna kept smiling. They ended the conversation with a nod and Hanna stepped up to hug him. Caleb pecked her on the lips then went down the hall. Hanna finally looked up and spotted Spencer watching them. Spencer walked up to her with a smile on her face.
"Did I just witness Caleb asking you out on a date?"
"Yes," Hanna grinned. "You did and I said yes."
Spencer smiled, "Aw Hanna I'm so happy for you. You're finally giving him a chance."
"Yeah, well, Caleb's really stepped up these last couple weeks, so I can see that he really is trying to be a better person."
"When is your date and where is he taking you?"
Hanna started talking while they walked down the hall. "Our date is Friday night at 7. He's going to pick me up and take me out for a lovely dinner at this restraint he's always telling me about."
"That's great, Hanna. Really, I hope things work out between you two. I think you and Caleb go well together."
"Yeah," Hanna sighed. "I'm hoping things work out between us too. I really like him and he seems to really care about me. Things could work out."
"It will, but it will also take some time."
"Yeah, well, I better get home."
"Okay, see you."
Hanna smiled and waved at her friend then exited the building. As soon as Hanna was out the door, Spencer turned back down the hallway hoping to catch up with Caleb before he left. He's moving in on one of her best friends, so she feels now is the perfect time to have a little chat with him. She searched the halls and finally found him in the cafeteria. He's by the snack machine sticking his arm up the slaught. Spencer wondered what he was doing while walking up to him.
"Need some help?" She asked catching him by surprise.
He jumped and turned around, "oh, Spencer it's only you."
"Yeah, you want to tell me why you're getting your arm stuck in the vending machine?"
"Uh," Caleb chuckled nervously and pulled his arm out. "The stupid machine ate my dollar and won't give me my bag of chips."
"So, you decided to stick your arm in the machine?"
"Yeah, it's not working too well," he said scratching the back of his head.
"Maybe I can help."
Spencer walked up to the machine and put a dollar in. After punching in the right code, the bag of chips sprung out and fell into the slaught. Caleb reached in and pulled the bag of chips out.
"There," Spencer said smiling. "Your chips are served and you now owe me one dollar."
"I promise I'll have it for you tomorrow. I'm guessing you didn't come in here to ask me why I was buying a bag of chips."
"You would be right. I'm here to talk to you about Hanna."
"You don't have to worry, Spencer. I won't hurt her."
"Oh, I know you won't, because if you do I will hurt you in ways that you can't even imagine."
"It's good that you're concerned about Hanna, but I can promise you that I have no intentions of hurting her. I really care about Hanna. She's the kind of girl any guy would be dumb enough to let go of."
Spencer nodded, "that I can agree on."
"I guess I should get home."
"Yeah, me too. I'll see you tomorrow."
Spencer tugged her bag more over her shoulder and headed for the door. Toby should be waiting for her in the parking lot. When she left the room, Caleb got a text from Alison.
Do they suspect anything? -Ali
No. -Caleb.
Excellent. Have you gained Hanna's trust yet?" -Ali
I'm starting to. -Caleb.
What do you know so far? -Ali
That Toby is definitely hiding something. It's something big he won't even tell Spencer about it. I think it has to do with his father. -Caleb.
Keep moving in on them and keep us posted. Andrew and I will be working to find out what secret Toby is hiding. Phase 1 of ruining Toby's life is a green light. -Ali.
Uh-oh, Alison and Andrew are working to find out what Toby's hiding. What will happen if they figure out what's going on before Spencer does?
I'm sorry that this chapter wasn't very good, but I have major writer's block when it comes to this story. Updating chapters is going to take me longer to give me more time to plan and write. That way I won't leave you all with crappy chapters much like this one. Until next time.