Chapter 7
Jail Birds Break Loose
Sitting in a jail cell wasn't that bad. You had a toilet and a few cots. You got three meals a day. Toby thought that jail wasn't so bad. Spencer, on the other hand, thought jail was terrible. They were allowed to put their clothes back on before they were put into the squad car. She was so furious with Toby for making jokes in the back of the squad car the whole ride over to the police station. She thought it was even worse when he traded a guy in the police station five bucks for the guys new harmonica. He just kept playing songs about the blues.
"Come on, Spence. Lighten up. Jail isn't that bad." Toby nudged Spencer's shoulder with his, but she just glared at him.
"Toby, our parents are going to kill us."
"No, mine won't, but yours probably will. I'll be sure to leave beautiful flowers at your funeral." Toby patted her leg and she smacked his hand hard.
"This is going to go on our records. Oh my god, I have a criminal record." Spencer groaned and put her head in her hands.
"Spence, they let us off with a warning because this is your first offense."
"Is this your first offense?"
Toby grinned at her and cocked his head to the side."Have you meet me?"
Spencer giggled."What did you do?"
Toby shrugged and played a tune on the harmonica before he answered."It was just little stuff, nothing serious. I used to get in trouble a lot, sometimes with Noel, Sean, Caleb and Holden. But now I try to stop doing stupid things."
"Why did you stop?"
"Honestly?" Toby asked Spencer and she nodded her head."I stopped because of you."
Before Spencer could ask what he meant, a cop showed up outside of their cell. He told them they were being released and that their parents were waiting outside of the building. Spencer and Toby went to claim their things before they left the building.
"Do you want to go get ice cream?" Toby asked once they had all of their belongings.
Spencer looked at him like he had two heads."What? You can't be serious right now. We just got arrested and you want to go get ice cream?"
"Yep. You owe me an ice cream for my cheek. Besides we are already in trouble."
"So you want us to get in more trouble. I don't think so." Spencer said and walked away from Toby.
"Chicken!" Toby yelled out to her making her stop in her tracks."I didn't know you were that scared of mommy and daddy."
Spencer turned around and marched right up to Toby. He had a smirk on his face because he knew that make her more infuriated.
"Okay, fine. We'll go get ice cream and then we'll go home."
"Deal." Toby shook her hand and she reluctantly shook his.
"Okay, wise guy. How are we supposed to get out of her and drive to get ice cream?" Spencer asked because she wanted to hear Toby's intelligent escape plan.
Toby grabbed her hand."Follow me and act casual."
Toby walked them through the police station. The officers didn't seem to be concerned about them. Only one officer stopped them to ask where they were going and Toby told him that he was escorting his sister to the bathroom. They made it to the back door and they escaped.
"Okay, we made it out. What now?" Spencer asked and Toby looked around to make sure that no one saw them.
"Caleb only lives two blocks away. We could ask him if we could borrow his car." Toby suggested and Spencer agreed because this would be a perfect opportunity for him to talk with Caleb."Alright, hop on my back."
"What?"
Toby squatted down so that Spencer could hop on his back."I know that you're tired from this day, so don't argue you with and just hop on."
Spencer was going to protest, but she truly was tired and didn't feel like walking. She wrapped her arms around his neck and then hopped on his back as she securely wrap her legs around his waist. He stood up so effortlessly that it took her by surprise. In all honesty to Toby, she weighed as much as a piece of paper. He began walking and Spencer didn't even see him break a sweat. As he walked she could feel her phone vibrating in her pocket, knowing that her parents were looking for her, but she didn't care in that moment. They arrived at Caleb's front door a couple of minutes later. Toby was hesitant to knock, but Spencer nudged him forward. They waited until Caleb swung the door open. He smiled when he saw Spencer, but his smile faltered and then faded when he saw Toby.
"Yes?" Caleb asked sharply.
"Caleb, I wanted to apologize. I was way out of line, man. You're my best friend, we have a bromance. I shouldn't have done that. I am a bastard." Toby apologized and Spencer watched Caleb to see his reaction.
Caleb crossed his arms and stared at Toby."It's going to take a lot more than an apology. I expect dinner with chocolates and flowers."
Toby smiled and then pulled Caleb in for a bro hug. Spencer smiled as she watched her friends hug out their problems. Toby released Caleb from their hug and stood next to Spencer.
"Do you guys want to come in?" Caleb asked.
"No, we actually wanted to borrow your car." Spencer said and Caleb looked at both of them confused.
"What's wrong with your car or Toby's truck?"
"Well, you see, we are kinda on the run from our parents because we got arrested and we ditched them when they bailed us out and now we are going to get ice cream." Toby explained and Caleb looked shocked and amazed at the same time.
"Alright, you can take my car, but on one condition. You guys bring me a cone on your way back."
"We'll bring you the biggest ice cream cone ever." Toby promised and Caleb went inside to get them his keys.
Caleb returned shortly with his keys and handed them off to Toby. Toby decided it'd be best to take Caleb's old car instead of the new car his birth mom gave him because everyone thought he sold the old one, but it's just been hiding out in his garage. He and Spencer hopped in and headed off for their ice cream.
"We have to make one stop before we get ice cream." Toby said as he passed the 'Now Leaving Rosewood sign'.
"Where?"
"To your car to get my book that you held hostage."
"Why is that book so important to you?" Spencer asked and watched sadness flash across Toby's eyes and his knuckles turn white as he gripped the wheel tighter.
"I'll show you when I get it back. Promise."
They pulled up along side Spencer's car twenty minutes later. Surprisingly the cops haven't towed it away yet. Toby asked if she needed anything from her car, but she said she just needed her purse. Toby took her keys and unlocked her car. He grabbed her purse from the back seat and grabbed his book from out of her purse. He locked up her car before getting back into Caleb's car.
"So? What is the book for?" Spencer asked impatiently and Toby just smiled at her.
"Ice cream, then book." Toby said and Spencer didn't argue because she really wanted to know what that book was.
Toby drove them to a nearby Dairy Queen. Spencer got just a simple vanilla cone, while Toby got a bowl of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry ice cream covered in sprinkles. They went back to the car and sat and ate their ice cream.
"What?" Toby asked through a chuckle as he took a bite of his ice cream.
"How can all of that be good, let alone healthy for you?" Spencer as she observed Toby's lips devour the ice cream on his spoon.
Toby scooped up some of his ice cream on his spoon and held up to Spencer. She was going to tell him she didn't want it, but when her mouth opened up, Toby put the spoon in her mouth. She couldn't the moan that escape her lips because it tasted really good.
"I take it that you like it." Toby teased and Spencer rolled her eyes at him."The book isn't mine. It's not even a book, it's a journal"
Spencer turned back to him and saw that the silliness in his eyes were replaced with sadness."Who's book is it?"
Toby picked up the book that had been sitting on his thigh and handed it over to Spencer. He turned the book over in her hands and pointed to a name engraved at the bottom. Spencer read the name and it said: Marion Cavanuagh
"Toby..."
Toby didn't say anything, he just started the car up and pulled out of the parking lot.
"I've only read the last page of her journal."
"Why?" Spencer asked barely above a whisper because she was at a lose for words.
"Because when I first opened the book, she wrote a letter to me. I couldn't even read the first sentence because I knew it was a goodbye letter that she wanted me to find. But on the last page, she writes about how happy she is and I know if I read the first page, then I won't be happy because its basically her suicide note ."
"How old were you when you found this book?"
"I was eight, but even then I knew what the letter was gonna tell me. Jesus, Spence. I was only eight years old and I didn't want to read her note alone."
Spencer could see the tears falling down his face even in the dark. Her heart ached and she knew that she had to do something.
"Pull over." Spencer said as Toby looked at her funny, but did as she told him. He stopped the car along side the road."Now, get out."
Toby was still confused, but got out like she said. He thought they were about to walk somewhere, until Spencer got in the backseat and he got in the back with her.
"Spencer, what are we-" Spencer hushed him by placing her finger on his lips. She grabbed his mothers journal from the front seat and turned her body towards Toby.
"Do you have the key with you?"
"I always have the key with me." Toby pulled the key from his pants pocket and handed over to Spencer and she started to unlock it."Spencer, I don't think I'm ready for this. I don't want have to do this alone-"
"You are not alone. You have me." Spencer reassured him and grabbed his hand and laced their fingers together."Do you want me to read it to you?"
"Please." Toby croaked out and wiped the tears away from his face with his free hand.
Spencer cleared her throat and began to read Toby's note from his mother. The note said:
Dear Toby,
I want to start off by saying anything that what happens to me is not your fault. Mommy has been sick for a long time. I've tried to make it work for you, but I just feel this emptiness everyday. The only thing that filled the emptiness was your smile. I'm going to miss you so much because I know it's going to be a while before we see each other again.
"Do you want me to stop?" Spencer asked and Toby shook his head.
So she continued to read his mothers note:
I want you to stay strong. I want you to stay happy. When you grown up into a man, I want you to still remember the things that I taught you. I don't want you to get sucked into the darkness like me. I want you to grow up, graduate, go to college, get married, and give me lots of grandkids. I want you to stay true to yourself. Live life to the fullest. Love with all if your heart. Know that I'll always love you and know that this has nothing to with you. And know that you can't get rid of me that easily, I'll be watching over you until I see you again.
Love Always,
Mom
Spencer finished reading the note and looked up at Toby. She saw the tears in his eyes and streaming down his face, she immediately pulled him into her arms.
"I miss her so much." Toby cried out and Spencer could feel his pain, so she held in tighter.
Toby cried and cried for hours. Their cell phones were ringing every minute, but Spencer shut both of them off. Eventually, Toby grew tired and he cried himself to sleep in Spencer's arms. Spencer wasn't tired, she was more worried about what type of place Toby would be in when he woke up. She knew that she her family and friends deserve an explanation on why she disappeared. She reached up to get her phone from her purse in the passenger seat, but as soon as she moved Toby wrapped his arms tighter around her waist and pulled her back down to him.
"Please, don't leave me. I promise I'll do anything, just don't leave me." Toby pleaded in his sleep.
"I promise. I'm not." Spencer said and Toby seemed to relax a little bit. She just decided to wait till the morning to make a call. She got comfortable in the backseat and drifted off to sleep.
Spencer woke up the next morning with the sun shinning in her eyes. She looked over and saw that Toby wasn't wrapped around her. The next thing she noticed that the car was in motion. She sat up and her muscles ached.
"Morning." Toby said when he looked up in his rear view mirror to see Spencer sitting up."How do you feel?"
"Like someone kicked my ass." Spencer groaned as she stretched her soar muscles. That was the last time she was going to be sleeping in a backseat.
Toby actually laughed. Spencer thought she'd never be so happy to hear him laugh. Last night she was afraid that Toby would be different after reading his moms journal, but he still seems the same.
Spencer climbed back up to front and sat down in the passenger seat."So are you okay, you know with everything that happened last night?"
"I have to admit at first I wasn't. But then I re-read my mothers words to me. She told me to not to blame myself and that she loves me. I really needed to hear that. Thank you, Spencer." Toby said sincerely.
"You're welcome and you can come to me anytime for anything because that's what friends are for." Spencer said and reached into her purse to pull out her phone. She saw how many missed calls she got from her friends, parents, and siblings."This is not good."
"I know what you mean. People have been blowing up my phone ever since yesterday."
"Well, what did do?"
Toby glanced at her briefly and smiled to himself."I shut my phone back off."
"We can't avoid them forever because we're going home soon. We are going home soon right?" Spencer asked and Toby just shrugged.
"If that's what you want."
"What do you mean if that's what I want? Of course I want that Toby. We have to go home sometime."
"Fine, I'll take you home and then I'll leave."
"Leave? Where are you going?"
Toby sighed and ran a hand through his hair."I'm don't want to go back to Rosewood yet. If you want I can drop you off at home and then I'm outta there for a few days."
"Toby, it's the beginning of the week. Where do you plan on going? What are you gonna tell your family? Why are you doing this in the first place?"
"Because I want to live my life like my mom wants me to. I'm just gonna spend a few days on the road to clear my head. Now, if you want you can come with me."
"Are you insane! I can't just up and leave and neither can you."
"Spencer, when was the last time you lived. Have you ever really lived? I'm asking you to just spend a few days away from everything stressful in your life and go on a mini vacation." Toby looked over at Spencer's face and was glad to see that she might be considering his offer.
"Toby, I care about you, but I can't just up and leave important stuff behind."
"Okay, how about this. Do it for you. Do something spontaneous for the first time in your life. Come have a good time. I can guarantee that you'll thank me for it in the long run."
"Toby-"
"How about this. We are coming up on an exit. The exit leads us back in the direction of Rosewood, but if we continue going straight then we'll be off on an adventure. So just tell me what to do. Take the exit or go straight?"
Spencer knew she had a choice to make. Her parents would kill her for just running off with some guy that they don't even know. Alex wouldn't be too thrilled either, he doesn't like Toby very much. The pleading look on Toby's face isn't helping her make the choice any easier. So she decided to follow her gut and not her brain.
"Go straight." Spencer said and a huge smile broke out on Toby's face. He sped past the exit ramp and Spencer knew there was no going back now.
"I can't believe we're doing this. I promise we'll go back home on Saturday. I just...thank you, Spencer."
"I better have a good time like you promised me. So where are we going anyway?"
"I don't know. I just figured we'd drive until we both agreed upon a place to stop. You know, I've never been to Vegas." Toby said mischievously.
"It's too bad, but I am not going to Vegas. Pick someplace else." Spencer pulled her phone out from her purse and was about to call her friends, but Toby took it out of her hand."Hey!"
"Sorry, but there are no cellphones on this little road trip. I don't want anyone finding us." Toby said as he threw both of their phones into the backseat.
"So what? We're just gonna disappear?"
Toby turned his head towards her and sent her a crocked smile."Yeah, that's the plan. Unless you can't handle it, Hastings."
"I can handle whatever you throw at me, Cavanaugh." Spencer retorted and watched as Toby's smile grow bigger.
"Good, because if you can handle anything, then you can handle four days in Vegas."
Spencer knew he was baiting her and she couldn't help it. She took the bait."I can handle it."
"Great, but remember, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas." Toby winked at her and turned the radio up in the car.
