The next morning, or rather afternoon, I got a call from Toby, saying he and Spencer had kissed, and were back together basically. I was happy for him, and told him that, and we chatted excitedly for a while, until I heard Spencer walking down the hall, saying she wanted to break into my house, despite Aria believing Jason was really out of town, she didn't buy it. This infuriated me, so I hung on, glared at her, letting her know I'd heard her, then when she got wide-eyed, I spun around on my heel, and walked the opposite way.
So I left the school, ditching the rest of my classes, not even caring. I had bigger problems. Legal problems with the bitches I called my friends. At least Aria was the best of the four, but I saw her most, her being Jason's and my friend, as well as being the older sister of my boyfriend. How dare they try to make a plan to break into my home! My home! Mike had tried it, but I hadn't been nearly as tingling with anger all over, like wanting to beat something to a pulp, when he had done it.
I stomped my way to his house, and climbed in through his window, his parents never the wiser.
He was there in his room, because of his depression, he was missing school days. He immediately got up and came over to me, seeing the anger radiating from every bone and muscle in my body, and came closer cautiously, as if he were afraid it was him who I was mad at, which from another point of view, would make sense, because in my anger, I'd come to him, and still wasn't talking.
I moved my lips on that thought to explain myself, but then I burst into tears, and told him the story. He wrapped his arms around me, one hand protectively holding me to him by pressing his hand on the back of my head, and comforted me while I sobbed quietly. He seemed glad though that his sister was better than he was, not wanting to break into the house he had almost broken into.
I was quieting down and wiping my tears away, the tears rolling to a stop, when we heard it. His parents were arguing. About Aria and her relationship with Ezra, and how much it was like a certain scenario for the reason for their initial split a few months back. They yelled about how they were bad parents, as Aria fell in love with her teacher, and Mike is depressed. I looked slightly to Mike as they spoke about him, but he was frozen with panic. A kid's worst nightmare, after your parents fight and fight, is to see history repeat itself. So it was my turn to wrap my arms around him and reach up to kiss his cheek while we listened. Finally, it died down, but I decided I had better return to the school, or I'd be in even bigger trouble than I was sure to be in already, and then I went on my way, thinking of what I'd just overheard.
Back at school, a few days later, I was getting my something to put in my purse from my locker, and I shut it to see Noel drop a bracelet in the trash, and Mona ran off crying. Was I ever glad I never went out with him. I shook my head, and walked away. But as I was doing so, my phone rang. I almost jumped.
No one called during school. Not even Jason or my parents. The exception with Ali going missing, but that was different. I dug the phone out of my purse and answered.
I listened to the person speaking calmly on the other end and then my phone slipped from my hand and clattered to the ground as I stared on, gaping, at nothing in particular, my mouth trying to find the words. I picked up the phone.
I then took off, running. I got a taxi, and I rushed through the hospital doors and up to the area where I needed to be. I never thought being one of his emergency contacts would ever have come into play. I asked for him, and they pointed down the hall, and I immediately sped away, not even thanking the secretary.
I got to the door and looked through the window to see Toby there, on the bed, with a broken arm…I turned the doorknob and walked in.
"Hey Tobes." I said quietly, looking as if I may cry.
"Hey Mads." He opened his eyes to look at her. "Mads, why are you crying?"
"I'm not crying." I protested, but he was right. I wiped the tears away, but they didn't stop.
"Come sit next to Uncle Toby." Toby joked.
Ugh. I was such a loser. He was the one in the hospital, and he was the one smiling!
I did sit down in the chair beside his bed though, and pulled it close to speak with him.
"Toby, what happened? I got the call, and I thought the worst immediately."
"Madeline, I'll tell you everything I promise-"
"Toby! Toby!" Spencer burst through the door and saw he already had a visitor.
"Spencer." Toby straightened up, as if she'd made his day.
I stood up and walked out past Spencer. "Take care of him, will you?" I asked her as I passed. She didn't respond. She seemed stunned though that I had gotten the call first, as if Ali's sister being best friends with one of Ali's victims was implausible.
When I came back late, after school, I held a steaming hot vanilla coffee, but I heard Spencer saying that Toby being there was all her fault, and I lost it. I went over and pulled the cover off the coffee, then threw the hot liquid in Spencer's face.
Then I dropped the coffee, which splattered at her feet and got over her shoes. I snickered, then went in to Toby's room to see Jenna standing there.
"Who else knows you as well as I do?"
"I do." I folded my arms across my chest and looked at the blind girl.
"Ah Madeline. How are you? Behaving like your poor deceased older sister yet?" she smirked, as if she knew what I had just done to Spencer, then she left.
I stood there a moment, taking in what I'd just done, and I ran, Toby calling after me. Toby was as good as family. He was like another Jason…just…he was never a druggie.
By the time I decided I should go back and apologize for my momentary lapse in judgment (I never wanted to be like my sister), I walked in to see Emily walking out, looking like she'd just commited a crime, and I knew she must've been lying about something. I didn't grab her arm as she passed though, because I saw Toby, and he was a wreck.
And like a good friend, I ran to him, and let him tell me everything. Spencer was with the doctor, Wren.
So was the old Spencer back? I hoped not. I thought she loved Toby.
"I thought you had a date tonight? You were talking all about it last night on the phone." Toby sniffled.
"I cancelled. Mike understands. My best friend needs me tonight." I shrugged, then looked up to him and smiled. He smiled back.
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