Jenna drove Spencer home after the brunette had her shoulder checked at the school clinic. Spencer was silent for most of the ride. After a few minutes, Spencer finally spoke. "You shouldn't have done that."
"Done what?" Jenna asked, stealing a quick glance at Spencer as she drove.
"You shouldn't have punched her. You could've been suspended or expelled." Spencer said as she looked at Jenna. She was genuinely worried about the green-eyed girl. She didn't want Jenna to get in trouble because of her.
Jenna pulled the car to a stop as they reached the Hastings' driveway, but neither girl moved to get out of the car. Spencer was the first to move after a few minutes of sitting in silence. She reached for the door handle, but sat back as Jenna started to speak.
"You have no idea what it was like to be constantly taunted by Alison. I was the newly-transferred student who was immediately hated by the queen bee. I never even had the chance to adjust, to make friends. Then I was blinded by that accident. I've lost a lot after that. Apart from my eyesight, I've also lost my confidence."
Spencer was surprised at Jenna's words. They've never talked about that incident before, even her best friends shied away from that topic. She wondered why Jenna decided to bring it up now. Spencer turned in her seat to face Jenna. She patiently waited for her to continue.
"When I came back, I thought it will be easier. I have my vision back and Alison is no longer here…but it's still hard to walk around with everyone's eyes on me all the time. People still whisper as I walk down the hallways. For a while I thought coming back was a mistake, until that day - the day that you stood up for me. I know we've never been in the best of terms before, back when Alison was still here. I know you and your friends hated me and I never really had friends here to come back to, but you were there for me that day. You were a friend to me that day." Jenna paused and turned to face Spencer, taking the brunette's hands in her own. "What I'm saying is I don't regret what I did earlier and I won't think twice about doing it again to her, or to anyone who'll try to hurt you. I've never hated you, Spencer. Back in the day when you and your friends hated me, I always knew that you were different. You're not like Alison and you don't seem to take orders from her. I knew that you have a good heart."
"I don't hate you Jenna. I never did." Spencer offered a genuine smile to Jenna as she spoke. "And thank you for sticking up for me earlier."
Jenna smiled and nodded at Spencer. She let go of the brunette's hands and exited the vehicle. She immediately went to Spencer's side to help the brunette. She took Spencer's gym bag and books and walked with her to the Hastings' house.
Jenna went downstairs to get Spencer a glass of water so the brunette can take some pain medications for her shoulder. As she walked back up the stairs towards Spencer's room, she heard the brunette arguing with her older sister. Not wanting to interrupt the two, Jenna decided to stay and wait outside Spencer's room.
"What the hell were you thinking? Didn't we agree that you'd quit the team? Are you seriously trying to kill yourself?" Melissa raised her voice as she stood at the foot of Spencer's bed, glaring at the younger Hastings.
"It's just a sprain and a few bruises, Melissa. I'm not gonna die from them. It's not a big deal." Spencer rolled her eyes at her sister's seemingly exaggerated reaction to her slight mishap earlier.
"Are you kidding me?! This is a huge deal, Spencer! I told you not to play anymore because aside from your frequent headaches, you vision is being affected as well. I told you that something like this could happen, that's why I specifically said no more extra-curricular activities. No field hockey, no lacrosse, no tennis. Come to think of it, no more sports in general. God! How could you be so stubborn?!" Melissa threw her hands in the air for emphasis.
"What the hell do you want me to do? Just lie in bed all day and wait for my demise? What am I supposed to do with the few months that I have left? Will I just wait for the Angel of Death to come get me? What difference does it make if I get into an accident and die? You and I both know that that is where I'm going anyway. I'm dying, Melissa. I've accepted it. Please don't make me stop living like a normal human being with whatever time I have left." Spencer tried to fight back the tears as she spoke but to no avail.
Melissa sat beside her sister. She couldn't help but cry as well. "I'm just trying to protect you, Spence. I honestly don't know what else to do. I don't know how to…" Melissa's words trailed off as she sobbed.
"To keep me alive?" Spencer finished for her. "There's nothing more we can do, Melissa. I appreciate you being here for me, trying to protect me, but you're kind'a holding me back here." Spencer said as she wiped the tears from her cheeks. "I know that I don't have much time left, but I don't want to wake up everyday thinking about it. I want a normal life. I don't want people to treat me differently just because I'm sick, just because I'm dying. That's why I haven't told any of my friends about it. I'm trying to push it to the back of my mind, push it as far away as I could. I want to be normal. I want to be happy, Melissa. Please don't take that away from me." Spencer pleaded as she reached out and held her sister's hands in her own.
"I'm sorry. I thought I was doing the right thing. I just want what's best for you. I'm sorry if you felt like I was smothering you. You're my sister and I love you. It's my job to look after you." Melissa said through her tears.
"I know, and I love you too. But it's also my job to take care of you and call you out when you're being too much." Spencer chuckled.
Melissa smiled through her tears at Spencer's remark. "Spence, I know it's not my place to say, but I really think you should tell your friends. They have the right to know. They care so much about you. They're basically your family as well. You owe them the truth. Put yourself in their shoes. I mean, if Aria was the one who's in this predicament, how would you feel if she hid this big a thing from you?" Melissa let go of Spencer's hands to wipe the tears off her cheeks.
Spencer pulled her legs up on her bed so she can lean back on the headboard. She wiped the tears off her cheeks as well. "I know, but I'm not ready yet. I promise I will tell them."
Melissa nodded, silently conveying that she respected her sister's decision. Jenna took the few minutes of silence as her cue to announce her presence. She softly knocked on Spencer's door. Both girls looked at the door to find Jenna there with a glass of water in her hand. Seeing the surprise on Melissa's face, Jenna immediately explained herself. "I went downstairs to get a glass of water so Spencer can take her pain medications." The green-eyed girl explained as she stood uncomfortably on the doorway.
Melissa's eyes grew wide. She thought that Jenna left right after dropping Spencer off. "How much did you hear?" The older Hastings asked.
"Enough. I didn't mean to eavesdrop, I was returning with the glass of water when-" Jenna stated anxiously, but her words were cut off by Spencer.
"It's alright, Melissa. Jenna's my friend and I trust her." Spencer said as she gestured for Jenna to come closer.
Melissa looked from Spencer to Jenna, silently contemplating. "Alright then." Turning to Jenna, Melissa held out her palm. "Give me your phone." Jenna shot her a questioning look.
"Look, if you're going to spend more time with my sister, it will be best if you have my number. That way, if anything happens you can call me right away. So give me your phone so I can save my number." Melissa explained.
Jenna handed her phone to Melissa and the latter saved her mobile number as well as the Hastings' house phone.
"I guess I'll leave the two of you alone. Take your meds, Spencer. I'll be at the barn if you need me." Melissa got up and gave her sister a kiss on the forehead before leaving.
Spencer motioned for Jenna to sit on the bed. Jenna nodded and sat beside Spencer's now outstretched legs, facing the brunette. "I'm sorry. I really didn't mean to –" Jenna began, but was cut-off by Spencer yet again.
"It's okay. I'm sorry you had to find out like that. I meant to tell you, all of you. I just wasn't ready yet." Spencer said as she gave Jenna a small smile to ease the girl's uneasiness.
"I promise I won't tell a soul. I can't promise though that I won't be concerned all the time and try to take care of you all the time. But don't worry, I'm not gonna smother you. I already know how that turned out for you and your sister. I just hope that you'd trust me to take care of you, that you can call me anytime you need me. I'm not exactly sure what's wrong with you though, I uh, I mean-" Jenna stammered, blushing as she caught Spencer's eye.
"Hey, it's alright. I'm sorry if I put you in this spot right now. You don't have to take care of me or anything. I'm not requiring you to. I do owe you an explanation though. I have to explain my case so there's no gray area here." Spencer said.
"Oh god no, I'm not implying that you're requiring me. I am offering, I mean, as your friend. And we don't have to talk about it right now if you're not ready." Jenna replied, giving the brunette a slight smile.
"Thank you Jenna." Spencer said, smiling genuinely at the girl.
"No worries. Spencer, please don't think that I'm pressuring you, but I just want to say that I'm willing to come with you to support you when you tell your friends about it." Jenna offered, touching Spencer's leg as she spoke. She meant to hold Spencer's hand as she made the offer, but Spencer's leg was closer to her, as she was sitting next to the brunette's leg so she opted to touch it instead. Spencer nodded and gave her a shy smile.
"Oh, hi, Emily!" Melissa said as she opened the door. She was on her way to the barn when the swimmer knocked on the door to the Hastings' main house.
"Hi Melissa! Is Spencer here?" Emily asked. Melissa looked like she'd been crying, but the tanned girl didn't want to ask her about it. She didn't want to intrude. She knew too well that the Hastings believed that crying is a sign of weakness.
"Yes, she's upstairs in her room. Go on right up." Melissa said as she held the door open for Emily.
"Thanks." Emily said as she went inside the Hastings' home and straight up to Spencer's room.
Emily heard voices as she approached Spencer's room. Thinking that Aria and Hanna were already there, she went right in without bothering to knock. Instead of finding Aria and Hanna though, Emily frowned as she heard the last words coming out of Jenna's mouth "-when you tell your friends about it."; and as if that wasn't enough to confuse her, Emily's jaw dropped as her eyes landed on Jenna's hand in Spencer's leg.