Chapter 11

Going Back To Normal


Toby was released from the hospital a few days later. His friends came over to his house for a surprise party and everyone showed up. Everyone showed up, but Spencer. Jason even came down to visit him once. Throughout Toby's stay in the hospital, Ashton would come everyday just to spend time with him. They both agreed to just be friends because Toby just really wanted to help her out with her issues and Ashton just wanted a person that would tell how much more she was than just a pretty face

Today was Toby's first day back to school in weeks. His parents were making Jenna drive him because he wasn't cleared to ride his motorcycle and they knew he'd try if they weren't watching. His step-mom made him breakfast and gave him a good luck kiss on the cheek before leaving for work like his father.

"Are you excited to be going back?" Jenna asked as she passed Toby the extra toast.

"Surprisingly, yes. I missed being around people and my friends."

"You know, I'm not gonna let you hangout with Sean and Noel." Jenna said sternly. To be honest, Toby wasn't going to even look in their direction. He got jumped for something they did and then they left him. Just thinking about it made his blood boil, they better hope they don't cross paths with him.

"You don't have to worry because I'm never talking to those guys again. Besides, I have bigger things to worry about like my grades."

"You could always call Spenc-" Jenna stopped talking when Toby's eyes turn sad and he hung his head down."Toby? Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I just screwed up like always. Jenna, why do I always put myself in a position where I make the wrong decisions?"

"Toby, you just have to change who you are. I've know the 'cool' Toby ever since you've met and started dating Alison. But I remember a time that you were just Toby. I liked that guy and I see it in you sometimes. Your friends like that guy. Spencer liked that guy." Jenna patted his hand before she stood up and but her plate into the sink."Come on. Lets go to school."


Jenna drove Toby to school and he hated it. He missed his bike. He missed the freedom and peace it brought to him. Toby just had to wait a few more days until he could get back on his bike and ride into the sunset or anywhere he wanted to go. Jenna took it upon herself to park in his usual spot in the school parking lot.

"Do you need any help? Do you need me to walk you to class or to your locker?" Jenna asked and Toby sent her a crooked grin.

"I've got it, Jenna. If I need you I'll just whistle."

Jenna rolled her eyes before she got out of her car. And Toby could a sworn he heard her mutter 'smartass' as she closed the door, making him laugh. Toby stepped out of the car and stretched his still slightly sore muscles. He was more than happy to see the sunshine and be outside, but now he had to go into the building and go to school.

Toby walked through the hallways of his school to get to his locker. He heard people talking and whispering about him. Some people would come up to him and ask how he was and pat him on the back as a show of compassion. He finally made it to his locker and a note fell out of his locker he opened it and it said:

To help with the French. I think you'll like it.

-Spencer

Toby furrowed his eyebrows at the book sitting in his locker. He pulled it out and scanned the book.

"L'attrape-coeurs?" Toby was confused because he didn't know what this book was. He felt something on the back and turned the book over. On the back was a sticky note. It said:

It's Catcher in the Rye. If you haven't read it in English, good. Read it in English too. It'll help you work on both English and French.

-Spencer

Toby chuckled to himself. He thought it was nice of her to get him this book. He also thought it was badass that she actually broke into his locker just to make sure he got some work done. He laughter was interrupted when someone cleared their throat behind him. He turned around and saw Alison standing there with her arms crossed.

"I've thought about us and I've decided to take you back." Alison said and Toby knew that he should have felt happy, but he felt indifferent."Now, that we are back together, Noel is having a-"

"No. Alison, I'm not going anywhere near Noel or Sean again."

"Toby, just give it some time. You, Sean, and Noel will make up and everything will go back to normal. Okay?" Alison leaned up to kiss him before she walked away from him without giving him a chance to say anything else.

He stood next to his locker dumbfounded. Alison always called the shots. He guessed that everything was going back to normal. He shut his locker and headed to his English class.


He took his usual seat in the back beside Caleb during English.

"What's up, man? How you feelin'?" Caleb asked as he saw his friend slide into the seat next to him.

"I'm good just glad to be out of bed." Toby answered before he pulled out his notebook and pen.

A motion in front of him caught his attention. He looks up to see Spencer coming into the classroom. She briefly looked at him and they locked eyes. Toby smiled at her, but she just turned her head and took her seat in the front.

"Is everything okay? Didn't you guys talk about what happened?" Caleb asked when he saw the interaction between Toby and Spencer.

"I can't get her to even be in the same room with me for two minutes. So, no, we haven't really spoken."

"You need to. Soon." Caleb said before he got quiet because Mr. Fitz began teaching.

Toby's heart sank when Mr. Fitz said that there was going to be an test. He made it clear to Toby that if he didn't take the test he could possible fail for the rest of the year. The tests were passed out and one plopped down on Toby's desk. He picked it up and began looking through it. All he saw were words in sentences that didn't make any sense. He was completely frustrated. His body felt sore because his muscles were still aching. He had to deal with Alison. He had to deal with Spencer. He was still failing some classes. And this test in front of him was just another frustration.

He abruptly stood up from his seat, making his chair screech across the floor. His actions caught the attention of everyone in the room. Toby felt like the walls were closing in.

"Toby? Are you okay?" Mr. Fitz asked with a concerned expression as he slowly started to walk over to Toby.

Toby didn't want to talk. He didn't want to do anything. He just wanted to get out of there. He just wanted to run. So, he did.


Toby went the place he least expected he'd go. He went to the school library. He found the table in the back and sat down with his French Catcher in the Rye book. He scanned the shelves for the English copy. He found it and sat back down at his table to read it. He wasn't sitting there long until someone tapped his shoulder. He looked up and was faced with those familiar brown eyes.

"I think you stole my table." Spencer said and grinned at Toby before sitting down in the seat next to him.

"Sorry, I just couldn't be in that classroom anymore."

"What happened, Toby? You looked fine when I looked at you."

"What happened?" Toby repeated and chuckled sadly to himself."What happened is that I'm a loser. All I do is drink and hook up with girls. I'm still failing some of my classes. I can't do anything other than be Toby the screwup."

"Okay, then change it. You don't have to do those things, Toby. Who do you want to be, Toby?"

Toby put his book down and turned his body, so that he was fully facing Spencer."Why did you come after me? Why do you keep giving me second chances?"

"I only give them to people who deserve them." Spencer reached over to grab his hand that was resting on his knee.

"I don't think I deserve to have a friend like you. I'm sorry about the whole Vegas thing and about upsetting your boyfriend-"

"Alex isn't my boyfriend." Spencer admitted and Toby looked at shocked and confused."After I got back, I told him about what happened. I told him about you and me, so we broke up. He broke up with me."

"See, Spence l ruined your relationship. I am so sorry." Toby apologized, but Spencer just waved it off.

"It's okay. Yeah, I liked him, but he didn't like you, so I guess it was the best decision." Spencer stood up and laced her hand with Toby, tugging him up to his feet."I want to show you something."


Toby followed Spencer through the school and outside. They walked a short distance until they were by an old building that was on school grounds. Some of the windows were boarded up. It looked like the space hadn't been used in years.

"What is this place?" Toby asked as Spencer opened up the door for them.

Toby looked around the room to see long wood tables and some desks. There tools aligning the walls and counters. And there was wood everywhere.

"This," Spencer gestured to room around them."is the old wood shop classroom."

Toby actually laughed."Okay, so why are we here."

"You are going to make something."

"Wait, What?" Toby said as Spencer pulled him over to where all types of equipment was.

"I remember the time you told me that you and your mom used to make little figurines out of wood. You say you're not good at anything, but I think you'd be pretty good at this."

"Spence, I was little when I did that stuff and my mom did most of the work. I can't do that."

"Wow, I didn't know the word can't was in Toby Cavanaugh's vocabulary." Spencer teased and nudged him with her elbow."Come on, Toby. I know you can do it and I'll be here with you."

"Alright, but if I cut off my fingers with a saw just know it's your fault." Toby joked half-serious as he picked up a piece of wood and placed it on one of the tables.


After spending an hour of sawing, shaving, and craving, Toby was finally finished with his project. He told Spencer to close her eyes and he led her over to the table. He told her to open her eyes and knew that she loved it. He made a wooded 'S', but craved in words in cursive that described her like smart, funny, strong, independent, and most importantly beautiful.

"Toby, this is really sweet." Spencer wiped away her tears and threw her arms around his neck."I really love it."

"Who said it was for you?" Toby teased and she smacked his arm."I'm glad you like it."

For a few minutes they just stood there. Spencer, looking at her letter while Toby looked at her. He felt like he needed to say something.

"I'm not dating Ashton." Toby blurted out and cursed himself for picking something so stupid to say. Spencer turned to him and furrowed her eyebrows."Yes, I did sleep with her, but that was one time. When I was with her to me it wasn't her who I was sleeping with."

Spencer didn't say anything and that scared the crap out of him. He didn't know why he said what he said, but there was no going back now. He knew that she knew what he meant when he saw her cheeks heat up. Finally, she turned around to face him after she composed herself.

"Do you want to come over tonight and study?" Spencer asked and that took Toby by surprise.

"Ummm, yeah sure. Wait, aren't you grounded? What would your parents say?"

"Don't worry about it. Just show up at my house at eight. Okay?"

"Alright, sure."