CHAPTER 6: Poof! And She's Gone
HANNA'S POV:
When I got to school the next morning I immediately looked for Spencer. After hearing Aria explain some serious stuff to me last night, I was not about to let the dark haired girl out of my sight.
"Hey Hanna." I turned and saw Emily.
"Hey Em. Have you seen Spencer?" I asked.
"No, have you?" She had dark circles under her eyes, and it didn't look like she had slept much.
"No. How'd you sleep last night?" I knew the answer, but I wanted to make conversation.
"I slept horribly. I was too worried about Spencer." Emily tapped her fingers on her binder nervously.
"I think we all were." I pat her on the back sympathetically.
"Hey guys."
I turned, Spencer had approached us. She looked worse than Emily. Her hair was tangled, and it looked as though she hadn't showered for the past few nights. She had darker circles under her eyes than both of us, and her eyes had lost all shine.
"Hey Spencer! Are you okay?" Emily asked hurriedly.
"Yeah I'm fine." Spencer smiled, but it was a strained effort.
"Are you sure? You look horrible." I asked.
I felt Emily elbow me hard in the stomach.
"She's wrong, you don't look that bad." Emily said, shooting daggers at me through her piercing eyes.
"No, I'm sure I look horrible. I just haven't been sleeping very well." Spencer laughed dryly.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Hanna asked.
"No it's fine. I can deal with it." Spencer smiled (once again strained) and started walking.
"I have to get to class." She had gotten a few yards away when I decided to go after her. I grabbed her arm and dragged her into the closest bathroom.
"What's going on Spencer? You're not yourself. Something's wrong." I sated bluntly. Spencer frowned.
"I'm fi-"
"Cut the crap Spencer. You are not fine. What's going on." I demanded. I was not going to leave this bathroom until I had some answers.
Spencer hung her head, and I could see tears starting to form in her eyes.
"T-Toby broke up with me." She whimpered. I gasped, and felt myself pulling her towards me.
"Oh god Spencer, I'm so sorry. I'm so so sorry." I repeated, as she started crying into my shoulder. I wanted to ask why, but now was not the time.
Spencer must have realized what was happening because she jolted back and started frantically wiping her eyes.
"I'm so sorry Hanna, I didn't mean to get so emotional. I should go."
Before I could say anything to stop her, she was out of the bathroom.
SPENCER'S POV:
I speed walked to my next class. I couldn't believe I had let my walls down for Hanna. At least I didn't tell her the whole truth. I paused outside the classroom door. Most of the kids were still lounging around the school waiting for the last few minutes to get to class. Making a last minute decision, I turned around and headed for the parking lot instead. I was careful not to let any of my friends see me as I walked out of the building.
Once outside, I contemplated calling my sister to pick me up, but I knew she would tell my parents and raise hell about it. I decided to call a cab instead.
I waited by the curb, looking at the ground. Tears of anger and disappointment welled in my eyes.
How could I? I wasn't supposed to tell Hanna about Toby, I wasn't planning on telling anyone. Why was I so foolish? Why did I crack so easily?
I was so busy scolding myself that I didn't notice the cab pull up.
"Did you call m'am?" The driver asked nicely.
"Huh? Oh, yeah!" I jolted back to reality and stepped inside the vehicle.
I gave the driver my address and we were on our way.
"Shouldn't you be in school?" The driver turned around and asked me.
"It doesn't matter." I snapped.
"Alright. If you say so." He turned back, and we rode the rest of the way in silence.
ARIA'S POV:
I walked to class, keeping my eye out for Spencer. I hadn't seen her since that morning, when she left for class.
I walked into my science class, and turned eagerly to where Spencer normally sat. However, she wasn't there.
Maybe she's in the bathroom, I thought.
A few minutes passed, and Spencer still hasn't shown.
Maybe she's getting some help on an assignment, I reassured myself.
However, when the bell rang, and Spencer still wasn't there, that's when I got worried. Where could she be?
The rest of class went by slowly, and I was relieved when the bell finally let us go. Spencer hadn't shown up all hour, and my anxiety was building.
I walked over to the lunch tables and sat down next to Hanna.
"Hey Hanna, have you seen Spencer?" I asked.
"What do you mean? I saw her this morning?" Hanna questioned.
"She wasn't in my science class." I chided.
"Who wasn't?" Emily sat down next to me.
"Spencer, she never showed up for fourth hour." I repeated.
"She wasn't in my math class either." Emily realized.
"Do you think she ditched?"
I looked at Hanna, who posed the question.
"This is Spencer we're talking about. She'd never ditch." I reassured her, and myself.
"I don't know Aria. Spencer hasn't been herself lately. It's very likely that she skipped." Emily said.
I sighed and looked down at my lunch. The anxiety building in me was about to explode, and I lost my appetite.
"Oh that reminds me, I know what's wrong with Spencer." Hanna remarked casually.
"What?! Seriously!?" Emily practically shouted. "Tell us!"
"Calm down, you're yelling louder than Jenna." Hanna commented.
"Jenna's blind, not deaf." I reminded her.
"So what? Anyways, when Spencer walked away from us today I took her into the bathroom to talk. We shared some thoughts, and she confessed what was making her upset!" Hanna replied excitedly.
"Okay, but what's that?!" Emily demanded.
"Toby broke up with her." Hanna stated.
Emily gasped, and I felt my skin grow cold.
"You're kidding..." I mumbled. Spencer and Toby shared a unique bond that I had always assumed would never be broken. I guess I had been wrong.
"What happened? Why would he do that?" Emily panicked.
"How would I know? That's all I could get out of her before she realized what she was doing and escaped." Hanna shrugged.
Emily nodded, and looked away, lost in thought.
I looked over at Hanna, and I could tell we were thinking the same thing.
What happened to separate them?