Back with another chapter! There's more on how Toby coped thinking Spencer was dead. How Marion reacts to the news and how Spencer reacts to finding out Toby thought she was dead. It's all right here in this chapter. Enjoy!

His throat felt raw as his aching sobs turned into soft hiccups. The tears rolled down his cheeks like raindrops rolling down a car window. As time passed, the gray sky turned darker meaning it's probably close to sundown. Toby should be getting home now, but can't seem to find the strength to get up. If anyone would happen to see him like this, they would call him pathetic for wasting his tears. What they wouldn't understand is why. Why he dropped down in the middle of the woods and started sobbing like a little boy? It's because Spencer Hastings is dead.

Others would just shrug their shoulders and say, "so, she's just a girl." No, she wasn't. Spencer wasn't just a girl. Spencer was his best friend. They grew up doing everything together. They went to school together. They walked home together. They played outside together. They slept in the same bed. Not in a way people would normally suspect a boy and a girl to do in bed. They actually would lay in the same bed together. Some nights, Spencer would come over, crawl into Toby's bed, and he would let her. In fact, he practically invited her to come over anytime she wanted to. They told each other everything. They helped each other with their problems. On Halloween, they used to go trick or treating together.

"Get over the girl!" People would say. "There are million other women just like her!" No, they would be wrong if they said that. Yes, it's true that there are other women out there, but none like her. There will never be another girl that could even compare to her. Spencer was his best friend and he loved her.

Outside it's pitch black and pretty much all the lights in the Cavanaugh house are on downstairs. Marion couldn't keep still. She would alternate between sitting down at the table or in the family room. Even while she was sitting, she couldn't keep her legs from bouncing up and down. When she wasn't sitting down, she would be pacing around the room.

"Where could he be?" Marion asked for the tenth time.

Daniel sighed and said, "I don't know, Marion."

Marion came home from work this afternoon to an empty house. At first, she figured Toby was just out looking for Spencer. Everyday, Toby would go out looking for her. He would be out there for eight hours straight looking for her before coming home. Sometimes longer. Every time Toby goes out, he would always make sure to be back before 9 pm. He's been doing that ever since he found out she went missing. Right now, it's 11:30 and he's still not home yet. Mr. Cavanaugh got home at 10 and Marion ran out to inform him that Toby hasn't come home yet. He tried calming her by saying he's probably just out looking for Spencer. That boy really doesn't like to give up. Now that it's so late, Marion is more worried. Daniel is starting to worry too.

"I know he wants to find Spencer, but he's looking in all the same places. If he hasn't found her yet, she's probably miles away from Rosewood by now," Marion said.

"I tried explaining that to the boy, but he just doesn't want to listen. Everyday, he's back out there looking for her. I don't understand why he keeps pushing the matter. Clearly Spencer doesn't want to be found."

"Oh, cut him some slack, would you? She was his best friend. Toby really cared for Spencer. I think he may have even loved her. Spencer missing is like a part of him is missing."

"I get he cares for her. Hell, we all care about Spencer," he sighed and put his hands on his hips. "I just hope he knows when to finally quit."

As if on cue, the front door swung open and slammed shut. Loud footsteps thumped into the living room and Mr. and Mrs. Cavanaugh stood looking at him. His whole body is shaking and his clothes are dripping from the rain. Despite how dirty he looks, which doesn't please Marion very much. The sight of seeing her son's blue eyes full of tears is what caught her attention.

"Toby, where have you been all this time?" Marion asked. "And why are you getting home so late."

"Mom," Toby hiccuped.

"What is it?"

"Spencer," he sniffled. "S-she's d-dead."

"What?" Marion's face fell.

Toby walked into the room, "I was out looking for her today. I stopped by her father's house to see if he might have a clue on where she could be. He told me the police found Spencer's body by a river a few miles upstream."

Daniel stuck his hands inside his pockets, "Toby," he sighed. "I'm a cop and I didn't hear anything about the police finding her body."

"It wasn't the Rosewood P.D that found her. Didn't you call in attorneys from other places to help search for Spencer?" Toby asked. His father remained speechless. "Even if they didn't find her body, Spencer being dead makes sense. I mean, they did find her bag and some of her other stuff in the woods. If the cops can't find Spencer at all, that can only mean one thing. She's dead."

"You don't know that, Toby…"

"I do," Toby nodded. "If Spencer was still alive, she would've contacted me by now. She would find a way to. There's no way she wouldn't contact me if she could and she knows she can at any time day or night."

"If Spencer really is dead…" Marion trailed off.

"Peter Hastings told you that they found Spencer's body?" Daniel asked and Toby nodded. "I don't like you talking to that man."

"I only went over there because I wanted to know where Spencer was. Now that I know, I don't have to look anymore. Spencer's gone and there's no way of bringing her back."

"Don't ever go near Peter Hastings again, Toby. Do you understand?"

"You don't have to worry about me talking to him again, dad. I have no reason to. I'm sorry for going behind your back, but Spencer was my friend. She was my best friend. As her friend, I had a right to know what he knew. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to shower. I'm a mess right now."

Toby walked across the living room and took the stairs up to his room. Marion watched him with a worried expression then looked at her husband for some guidance. He too doesn't know how to handle this situation. Toby's best friend died and there's no real recover from that. A little while later, Marion came up to Toby's room to check on him. When she walked in, Toby was sitting on the side of his bed looking down at some photo.

"Toby," her knuckle rapped softly against his half-open door.

"Yeah," he put the photo back in a box, wiped his eyes, and sat up straight.

"Is it okay if I come in?"

He nodded, "sure."

Marion came into his room and looked around. The door to his closet are wide open and there are boxes all around the room. Toby had some clothes all folded up at the end of his bed. By the designs on the clothes, Marion could tell that they belonged to Spencer. Then it clicked. He's packing up the stuff that belonged to Spencer. Marion came over and sat beside him on the bed.

"How are you doing?" She asked.

"I'm fine."

"What do you plan on doing with all of Spencer's stuff?"

"Pack it away in those boxes and put it in the closet."

"You're just going to pack her stuff away? All these photos you have of her and you're just packing it away."

"I'm putting them in my closet, mom. It's not like I'm burning all of her stuff in order to forget her completely."

"Are you trying to forget about her?"

"It seems to be the only way for me to move on. Just try to forget about Spencer."

"You can try, son, but deep down, you know you're always going to remember her. She'll always be a part of you. Just like you were a part of her."

The tears started pouring out again, "I should've told Spencer I loved her when I had the chance. I really did love her mom."

"I know," Marion wrapped her arm around him and pulled him in for a side hug. "I know you did. You still do. Just because Spencer's gone doesn't mean all those feelings you had for her went away."

"All that I know is that if I ever had a chance to talk to her again. Even if it would be for the very last time, I would tell her how much I love her. How I always loved her.

For a long time, Toby stood with his arms crossed looking into those brown eyes he hasn't had a real chance to look at since he found her. Back then he may have been a little naive to actually believe Peter when he told him Spencer was dead. Peter Hastings has never given a rat's ass about her daughter. What else was he supposed to think after not hearing from her for years? He spent all this time thinking Spencer was dead and he's never heard from her. She didn't call him to let him know that she's okay. Not even once. Right now, he's furious with her. He's furious with her for putting him through that.

Why didn't she contact him? He understands that she was in a dangerous situation, but did she really have to cut him out completely? She acted like he was a complete stranger to her. Like nothing they had in the past meant anything to her. It was almost as if she was playing some kind of sick joke on him. He spent years thinking she was dead and all this time. All this time she's been out there getting high with her friends and didn't even bother to send him a freaking postcard to let him know that she was not only alright, but freaking alive!

"Who told you I was dead?" Spencer asked.

"Your father."

Spencer tore her eyes away for a brief second and looked at the ground. She understands how hard her disappearance must've been on him, but she had no idea. She had know idea that Toby thought she was dead this whole time. If she had, she would have tried to let him know that she was very much alive. Just as long as he promised not to try to come find her. If Gary knew that Toby had any connection with her at all. It's possible Toby would have tried to find Spencer wherever she was hiding out. He could've lead Gary right to her. Then they would both be in trouble.

"I can't believe you would go as low as to fake your own death," he said shaking his head. "You let me believe that you were dead."

"No," she shook her head and whispered.

"You did."

"No, I didn't know my father was telling people I died. Faking my death was not in my plan book. I swear, if I knew, I would've tried to let you know I was alive."

"Oh, right," he shouted. "Just like you've been doing such a good job letting me know you were okay. Of course, I'm going to believe you when you say that," he said rolling his eyes.

She stood up, "I did not fake my own death. I was only trying to distance myself from everyone. This guy is after me and anyone who tries helping me. I couldn't risk that. I couldn't risk you finding me and you leading Gary right to me."

"You were okay with running away with that girl from foster home and her group of friends, but you couldn't come to me about it?"

"No," she snapped. "I couldn't. Gary already knew who Mona was. He already knew the people we ran away with. We ran together, so we could stick together without putting the people we care about into trouble. You still don't believe me? Maya had to leave her sister and mother. Jake left his wife and his newborn son. We didn't have a choice."

"What does this guy want with you?" When she didn't answer, he raised his voice. "Tell me!"

"Me," she said softly.

She walked across the room and is now standing a foot away from him. He never thought this would happen. After everything that's happened and everything he thought. He never imagined he would see Spencer alive and standing in front of him. Here she is now, standing right before his eyes. She's very much alive. Toby's been trying real hard not to let the tears out and she can see that.

"Maybe I should have left you a note or something."

"I just…" he ran his fingers through his hair and gripped his scalp. "I can't believe you actually put me through this. You ran away from Rosewood without telling me anything and for the last few years, I thought you were dead. You've been out there all this time and here I was thinking you were gone. My god, I-I hate you for this. I really hate you."

"Toby…" She stepped closer and reached for his hand.

"No," he slowly pulled his hand away. "I can't with you right now. I've spent so much time wishing that I could see you one more time, but right now, I can't even look at you."

"Toby," she tried again."

"What!?" He snapped.

He turned his head back in her direction and caught her looking at him. Something in her brown eyes twinkled and he swore that she was smiling a little. Seeing her smiling like that nearly ticked him off even more.

"What the...Are you seriously smiling right now!? I tell you all the crap I've been through and now you're standing there smiling? This is not a smiling matter. This is a…"

Before he could get another word out, he found himself being shushed by the warm feeling of her lips on his. Inside, he was burning with rage and wanted to push her away. He wanted to grab hold of her arms and yell at her until she understands just how much pain she put him through. That's not what he did. Instead, he held her gently by the waist and kissed her back.

Hey! There's the long-awaited kiss we've all been waiting for! Seems like Toby is now at lost for words. Did Spencer kiss him because she missed him or was it a distraction to keep him of asking the wrong questions? The only way to know for sure is to keep a look out for more updates in the future. Peace out until next time! As always, don't forget to leave a review.