Chapter Six
Hey guys! Loving your positive feedback and comments, keep them coming! As a trivial side note, the entire reason I fabricated this fanfic was to find a way to rationalize why Toby wasn't at Ian's funeral, being there for Spencer…so now we know, clearly he was in Yardley, lol. We're fast-forwarding a bit, to after Ian's discovery and funeral…because of course, we already know what happens in that time frame. Hope you enjoy!
Xoxo, Jenn.
Time Period - After 205:
The girls discovered Ian's body on Sunday, the day after Toby left, and Monday was the funeral. Tuesday, the girls turned to side with Emily on the fact that Ian's suicide was staged by A - but as of now of course the entire town, including Peter and Veronica Hastings, all assume that Ian killed Ali. It's now early on Wednesday, and Toby is due back on Thursday night.
Spencer woke with a start on Wednesday morning, shaking off yet another bad dream. She had been feeling safer now that Ian was six feet under, but of course, there was still A.
Even though she had been trying her best to prevent it, the events of the last three days skittered their way across her mind yet again. Talking to Wren, desperate for answers. Making a plan to follow Melissa. Holding her sobbing sister when they found Ian's dead body, the gun, the suicide note. How finally, she was allowed to speak to her friends. The funeral, how she'd wished so desperately that Toby could've been there, to rub her shoulders or to hold her hand. How now, after Emily's discovery, everything was a big jumble of confusion and fear all over again.
Spencer sighed. Her parents had apologized profusely for not believing her and her friends, but they had yet to utter a single word about the events that had occurred on Saturday morning. She wondered what would happen when Toby came back on Thursday night - would they finally give him a break, or would they still suspect he was trouble?
Outside, the birds were chirping as Rosewood came alive for the day. The town was clad in an atmospheric euphoria - for all of them, the mystery of Alison's death was over, case closed. Ian had confessed, and then killed himself, the guilt being too much. The town liked the story, and the residents were finally calming down. Don't hold your breath, Spencer thought ruefully.
Stretching, Spencer sat up in her bed. She carefully folded Toby's grey shirt, and tucked it under her pillow. She glanced at the clock, frowning at the glowing red numbers. 6:30am. Heading toward her bathroom, she frowned again, thinking of how much she wished she could hug Toby at this very moment.
Spencer peeled off her pyjamas and got in the shower, shivering violently as the water first came in contact with her skin. She let the hot water drench her completely, standing still for a long time. When she was finished in the shower she threw her hair up into a wet ponytail, refusing to blow dry and curl it when the only person she cared to impress wouldn't see.
Throwing on a cotton tank, a navy sweatshirt, and matching juicy sweatpants, Spencer let herself fall into her red leather chair by the window. She still had loads of time before she had to be at Rosewood Day, so she closed her eyes, combing through the memories of sleeping on this very chair, peacefully in Toby's lap.
Spencer was absolutely revolted by her father. She'd always known he didn't particularly like Toby, but threatening to call his contractor and accuse him of sexual assault? She just couldn't fathom how his mind functioned.
When the clock hit 8:15, Spencer sighed, dragged herself down the stairs, slung her school bag on her shoulder, and headed for the door, not bothering to eat anything. It was the last day she and her friends were required to be at school for the week - they had Thursday and Friday off because midterms began on Monday.
Surprisingly, Aria's car was parked in front of Spencer's house. She could see Emily in the passenger seat, and guessed Hanna was in the back. Spencer opened the side door, sliding in next to Hanna.
"We thought you'd want a lift," Aria said.
Spencer smiled at Aria, who could see her through the rear view mirror. "Thanks," she said sincerely.
Emily turned around to face Spencer. "How are you?" she asked gently.
"Definitely not fashion forward today, apparently," Hanna said, appraising Spencer's hair and sweatpants. Emily shot her a glare.
Spencer leaned her head on Hanna's shoulder. "I just miss him," she said.
Hanna patted her head sympathetically, smiling down at her. "We know, Spence. Your missing him is directly correlated with us missing your fab fashion sense."
"He'll be home tomorrow night," Emily said, ignoring Hanna's jab, "Don't worry."
Spencer tried to smile, and Aria pulled her car into the Rosewood Day lot. The girls all opened their respective doors, grabbed their bags, and got out. Hanna applied a healthy coating lip gloss, and before heading to her first class, she declared, "Btw, we're hitting King James after school today, ladies. I need shoes and a new shirt that Caleb can take off me."
Spencer groaned, dreading the thought of being dragged around the Rosewood mall. "Not me," she pleaded.
"Yes you, Debbie Downer. Don't you want a new outfit to wear for Mr. Carpenter's romantic return?"
Spencer rolled her eyes. "No, thanks. I'm good."
Hanna ignored her, flouncing off with Aria to their first class. Emily and Spencer had first period Biology together, and Emily loped her arm through Spencer's. "Don't worry, Spence. If you don't feel like shopping, we'll just hit Starbucks and chat while Ria and Han shop. I don't really need anything, and there's this rumour going around that you like coffee," Emily said kindly.
Spencer smiled at her friend. "Thanks, Em."
The school day passed blurrily. Spencer travelled robotically from class to class, mechanically answering the questions her teachers asked. She barely ate anything at lunch, picking apart her Caesar salad, sorting the lettuce into colour-coded piles. Her friends continued to smile at her, and she knew that, despite their jokes, they truly felt sorry for her. It wasn't like their relationships were easy, either.
When the final bell rang, the girls met at Aria's car. "Finally," Hanna said, "This is going to be fun!" she declared enthusiastically. The four clambered into the Subaru, and Aria sped off in the direction of the mall.
Hanna picked at Spencer's hair, which was haphazardly wavy in its messy ponytail. "You know, you really should have at least done something with this," she chastised, tsking her disapproval. "You're going to regret it."
Spencer did her best to tune her out. Aria skilfully backed into a parking spot, and the girls headed for the entrance. "Starbucks," Spencer pleaded.
"Okay, okay, Debbie needs caffeine," Hanna laughed.
Aria headed to the counter to order their lattes while the remaining three girls found a round, clean table. When Aria joined them, Spencer ripped her coffee out of the tray and started gulping it down, the hot liquid scalding her mouth and throat.
"Slow down, Spence. You're going to have a heart attack," Aria said.
Emily laughed. "She won't. Her body's used to daily overdoses of caffeine."
Suddenly, Hanna's phones beeped. She grabbed it out of her purse, smiling. "Uhh, Mona says there's this huge sale at the jewellery kiosk," Hanna announced. "It's right over there," she said, pointing down the strip of stores.
Spencer and Emily were sitting next to each other, their backs to the kiosk. "You go," Spencer said. "I don't need any jewellery."
Hanna and Aria exchanged a knowing glance, and Emily was also smiling encouragingly. "Yes, Spencer, I think you do," Aria said quietly.
Spencer shook her head, "I don't."
"Spencer, I'm pretty sure you need some new earrings." Hanna said.
"Hanna, I'm pretty sure you should shut up."
"Spence, don't deny it. You are in desperate need of new gold hoops," Hanna shot back, half laughing.
Spencer stood up, her annoyance flaring and getting the best of her. "I DO. NOT." She said, her back still to the jewellery kiosk, refusing to even look at it. "I don't need earrings. I don't need jewellery. I don't need my best friends bugging the hell out of me. The only thing I really need is this really sweet guy with blue eyes," Spencer cried, her voice growing thicker as she thought about Toby. "He's sweet and he's loving and I need him. But he's not HERE, NOW IS HE? NO, OF COURSE NOT, HE'S-"
Suddenly. Aria interrupted Spencer's exasperated rant, gripping her shoulders firmly, and forcefully spinning her body around, so that she had no choice but to face the jewellery kiosk.
Spencer's coffee slipped out of her hands and crashed to floor, her mouth popping open. "Right there," Aria whispered, knowing that Spencer's eyes had finally fallen upon an archangel with sparkling blue eyes smiling at her from beside the jewellery kiosk about 30 feet away from their table. "He's right there."
TO BE CONTINUED : )