My authors notes suck anymore. I'm getting boring, shit. Have a joke... How did the Roman Empire get split in half? BY A PAIR OF CAESARS! hahahahaha. New favorite joke.

T-Minus one week until my Teach for America interview. Hello panic time.

Okay yeah. That's all that I got. Read and review because those of you who ARE reviewing are the literal best. Shouts to Kristhefangirl, caitycaites, Emily Amethyst, and .Eternity for reviewing literally everything. And like good reviews with content. You guys are the best in the world.

Chapter 11

TPOV

He pressed mute on the TV and looked down at his sleeping girlfriend with a smile. God, she was so beautiful. He smoothed her hair down and pressed a gentle kiss to her temple. Sometimes he forgot how lucky he was, but then he felt the gentle pressure of her head against his chest or a whiff of her scent. He had the most amazing girl in the entire universe on his side, and he was never letting her go. He never wanted to let her go even if she yelled at him for leaving his socks on the bathroom floor or she scared the shit out of him when she'd talk in her sleep. The little things didn't matter. He was as happy as he had ever been and it was all due to her.

She mumbled, the lack of sound obviously rousing her. He sometimes forgot how sensitive her ears were. "Toby?"

"Hmm?" He asked, brushing her hair back. Was it creepy that he didn't really want to do anything other than hold her?

She tucked her face into his neck. "You're so warm. I don't want to move."

"Then don't," he offered quietly. He didn't want to let her go either.

"We have to," she groaned. "What time is it? We have dinner with our moms at 6."

"Shit," he muttered, pulling her closer before letting her go all together. "It's 5:30. We need to get ready." He reached out and grabbed her hand, helping her to her feet. "Are you good in what you're wearing or do you need to change?"

"Is it wrinkled?"

He chuckled, smoothing down her shirt. "We're just going to see our parents. But yeah, you look fine."

They talked more, but he didn't really think too much about what was being said. Just being with Spencer was so comfortable, he didn't have to think when he was with her. They just were, and he loved that more than anything.

But maybe what he didn't love was being enclosed in a car with her. Because being close enough to feel her warmth... to smell her scent? He just wanted to grab her and kiss her senseless. But as he was driving, that was probably not an impulse that he should act on.

As he pulled up to Spencer's childhood home he took her hand to stop her from getting out. "Hey," he murmured, leaning in to kiss her. "I love you."

He felt her smile against his lips. "I love you too."

He saw the door open out of the corner of his eye and jumped away from her. "We're about to be ambushed by anxious moms."

She sighed. "I should have brought Tyrion. I think he's pining for your mom."

He rolled his eyes again. She would probably smack him if she saw how often he rolled his eyes at her. "Everyone loves my mom."

"Cocky?" She laughed, reaching for the door and pushing it open. He hopped out of the car and hurried to her side, wrapping an arm around her waist and helping her down. "I'm not an invalid, Toby," she said, not unkindly.

He smiled, pressing a kiss to her curtain of soft hair. "I know." He gently tugged on her arm, pulling her out of the way of a fallen branch that decorated the lawn.

"Spencer!" Mrs. Hastings squealed like a twelve year old girl. "I haven't seen you in like sixteen years!"

She snorted. "Or maybe like three days."

He smiled and passed Spencer's hand to her mother's who dragged her excitedly down the hallway. His mom appeared next to him out of literally no where. "How's the old married couple life?"

"Shut up," he laughed, nudging her with his shoulder. "How's it going, mom?"

"Veronica and I were just talking about when we took you kids to Disney World. So I'm feeling all weepy and nostalgic, if I'm being honest." She smiled sadly as they walked into the kitchen.

He laughed. "That was such a good trip."

"Mom! Can we ride Space Mountain?"

Mrs. Hastings frowned. "I think that ride will make me puke, Spencer. I'm not sure that's a good idea."

Spencer looked like she was going to protest, but in the end she just nodded, resigned. He didn't like the sad look on her face at all. "I can take her."

Mrs. Hastings hesitated. "I'm not sure that I feel comfortable with two twelve year olds running around Disney world on their own."

Spencer straightened her glasses on her nose. "We're not babies, mom! We'll be careful."

"I know, Spence, but there are so many people..."

That was almost offensive. "I won't let her get hurt, Mrs. Hastings."

She opened her mouth again, hesitating, but his mother grabbed her arm. "Let's go get a drink."

Mrs. Hastings still looked reluctant, but she nodded. "We'll meet you two back at the hotel in an hour, okay? If you're later than that I'm going to panic."

"She'll be safe with me, Mrs. Hastings. Just go have fun," he tried to keep his voice light, but the fact that he didn't trust her was slightly annoying.

She nodded and walked away. "Is she gone?" Spencer asked him softly.

Toby looked at her and couldn't stop his grin. He grabbed her hand and gently lead her in the direction of the ride she wanted to go on. "We finally ditched the parents."

She smiled and sighed dramatically. "Excellent. What do we do now?"

"Ride Space Mountain until we puke?" He suggested with a laugh. He was rewarded with a happy laugh from Spencer. "I'm glad we're here together, Spence."

"Me too!"

"Why are you two grinning like that?" Mrs. Hastings asked them with a laugh.

He chuckled, lowering himself into the chair next to Spencer. "Just remembering the time that Spencer puked on Space Mountain."

She gasped and smacked his arm. "Toby!"

Mrs. Hastings looked confused for a second until comprehension colored her eyes. "Wait, you really puked? I told you, Spencer!"

She waved dismissively. "It was only after Toby insisted on going on it three times. And I mean I'm pretty sure he felt squeamish too."

He had totally thought that he was going to lose his lunch in the trashcan, but he certainly wasn't going to admit that to Spencer. He just laughed and ruffled her hair. "Whatever you say, Hastings."

"You two are ridiculously adorable, you know that?" Mrs. Cavanaugh said conversationally as she speared a piece of broccoli.

Spencer snorted. "You make us sound like two puppies you saw in the window at the mall."

He nodded, a mock offended look on his face. "I'm definitely more adorable than any puppy."

Spencer took off her sunglasses and put them on top of her head. He knew that she wasn't comfortable without her sunglasses, but he loved it when she took them off. He could look into her expansive brown forever. She squinted her eyes thoughtfully as she chewed on a piece of chicken. An adorable crease appeared between her eyes. "What is this?"

It was such a simple question that made him so sad. But it was also one of the things that he was the most grateful for in his life. It gave him a unique perspective. Never take anything for granted.

"Do you want half of my sandwich, Spency?"

Spencer giggled. "Did you just call me Spency? But yeah, sure. My mommy packed me peanut butter, and I think that peanut butter is icky."

Hanna wrinkled her nose. "Peanut butter smells funny." He smiled as he watched Hanna pass Spencer half of her sandwich. He was so glad that his friends liked Spencer too, because she was so cool. He wanted everyone in the whole world to think so too.

Spencer frowned as she chewed. "What is this?"

Hanna laughed, not meaning to be rude but coming across that way anyway. "Haven't you ever had chicken salad?"

"Yes," she mumbled, embarrassment coloring her cheeks. "Just not since my accident, and- I don't know, some things are hard to figure out when you can't see them."

Toby didn't like people sad, and for some reason that went triple when it came to Spencer. He never wanted her to be sad. "Leave her alone, Hanna."

Hanna protested, but he didn't hear her words. All he saw was the thankful smile on Spencer's face. Girls were kind of gross, but maybe Spencer wasn't so gross. He liked it when she smiled.

"It's chicken, sweetie. There's garlic and Parmesan cheese on the outside," Mrs. Hastings explained. "Oh, also don't forget your doctor's appointment tomorrow. Dr. Simmons said that she had something to discuss with you."

Spencer sighed. "I won't. I'll take the bus after class."

He rolled his eyes again. They were going to get permanently stuck one day. "I can drive you."

"You don't have to," she deflected. "I don't mind-"

"Shut up," he sighed, reaching for her hand. He brushed a kiss over her knuckles, ignoring the awws from their moms. "I don't mind."

And he really didn't. If there was one thing he realized after nearly a lifetime of loving Spencer Hastings it was that he never wanted to be without her.