Characters: Spencer, Toby and Melissa

Toby tapped on the glass of the patio door. He could see Spencer sitting in the main room but she was too busy staring into space to notice him standing outside waving at her like an idiot. Her head jerked up at the sound and she frowned at the door looking worried. When she saw it was Toby however she relaxed. She unfolded herself from the couch and came to greet him.

"Hi," Toby said quietly as she opened the door a crack.

She smiled sadly and Toby noticed the gleam of tear tracks down her cheeks.

"What's wrong?" he asked worriedly.

In the house Melissa stalked passed the kitchen. She paused when she saw Spencer talking to Toby and glared in their direction. Huffing a sigh she disappeared out of sight. Toby heard a door slam and the window panes rattled.

"You guys have another fight?" he asked.

"I'm not sure I can distinguish where one starts and the other finishes" Spencer replied, slipping through the door and shutting it behind her. "Do you mind if we sit out here for a bit?"

"No that's fine," he replied and followed her to the outdoor dining set.

Spencer ignored the chairs and took a seat on the edge of the table, letting her legs dangle over the sides. Smiling at the peculiarity Toby took a spot next to her.

Spencer didn't seem inclined to speak first so Toby reached out and gently brushed the tears from her cheeks. At his touch she sighed and leant into him, resting her head on his shoulder. Toby placed an arm around her and hugged her to him.

"I wish I could remember when we started hating each other," Spencer said softly into Toby's shoulder. He remained silent, waiting for Spencer to say what she needed to say.

"No, that's a lie. I've never hated her. I don't." She lifted her head slightly and looked at Toby. "Do you think she hates me?"

"You're her sister," Toby replied simply. He didn't feel it was his place to tell Spencer whether her sister hated her or not.

"Mmm..." Spencer mumbled, having placed her head back on Toby's shoulder.

"I remember a summer when I was eight. We were at the beach house with my parents. It was the worst summer we ever had. Halfway through Dad got called back into work and left. And Mum was constantly at the club there with all her friends. And then on top of everything I rained for three weeks straight. Well, that's what it felt like anyway. But it was also the best summer I can remember. Melissa and I spent all our time together. We were making a fort a little way up the beach. Day after day we scavenged driftwood and anything we could find about to build this little hut. It was perfect. Most days we would come home at dark, completely soaking and covered in dirt but I was so happy..." Spencer trailed off into silence.

Inside the house another door slammed and Toby could hear Melissa talking loudly on the phone to someone.

"When we came home and started school again everything had changed. Melissa made these friends at school and suddenly she didn't want to know me. At first I couldn't understand why she turned so cold on me every time I ran up to her at school or on the bus or at the club. After a while I just accepted that it was different and stopped trying. It's just been like that ever since."

"People change as they get older," Toby replied. "And change isn't always for the better."

"Have you changed?" Spencer asked suddenly. Toby thought for a second.

"I like to think I'm a bit wiser. Once upon a time I would have trusted people to be automatically good. That was before I met Jenna I think."

"Oh Toby."

"You've changed you know," he told her, changing the subject.

She lifted her head again and looked at him curiously. "Have I? How?"

"Not too long ago you wouldn't have told me that story. I suspect you wouldn't have told anyone that story."

"I trust you. Completely," she replied.

"And I love you," he said, leaning in to kiss her.

They were interrupted by the sound of Melissa noisily entering the kitchen and opening the patio door.

"Oh. You're still here," she said bitterly.

"Let's go," Spencer said quickly, grabbing Toby's hand and pulling him from the table.

As she led him around the house towards the street Toby risked a glance back at Melissa. She was watching her sister leave, her hands on her hips.

She looked angry but Toby could also detect some jealousy in her expression. And there was something else that ever so slightly softened her gaze as they disappeared. Toby suspected that, after all, it was love.