Chapter Twenty Five
Days passed and Spencer was now out of the apartment, and now with her close friends of Aria Montgomery and Ezra Fitz. It sure was different, and Spencer still felt like she was on the verge of feeling as if she was intruding. Spencer, had never been exactly been the one with holiday cheer ever since she was a teenager, but her friends on the other hand, were full of it. Their apartment turned into a winter wonderland, and there was mistletoe everywhere; an excuse for her two friends to kiss each other all the time. It also smelled of the great scent, gingerbread, and pine trees. Spencer, couldn't deny that maybe her heart was at least leaning into the Christmas spirit this year. Although, the choice of Toby and Wren, still lingered upon her, and that didn't exactly make her the most jolly who, in whoville.
Spencer sat on the orange tacky couch wrapping a present with Rudolf paper, when a knock came to the door. Aria, who was behind the counter, making another batch of cookies said "Spencer, will you get that?" So Spencer did. She was quite surprised to see who was at the door, she wasn't expecting him to be here. He had helped her move some of her boxes, and she was stunned that he somehow remembered where she was now living.
He looked rather cute though. It was surely a pleasant surprise. He was all wrapped up in Winter clothes, and his striped sky blue hat brought out his fantastic blue eyes, and his cheeks were struck red. Most likely, due to the bitter cold. "Hey, Toby?" She said almost questionably. The brunette glanced back at her tiny friend, whom was spinning her cookie dough with a big wooden spoon. The tiny brunette smirked at her encouragingly.
"Hi," He breathed.
"What are you doing here?" She asked baffled. "I mean," She fluttered her mocha eyes a small smile twitching on her face. "Yeah?" She urged curiously.
"You weren't answering your phone." His voice trailed nervously as he shoved his hands in his denim pockets. "And I thought I remembered where you lived now, but I got the apartment numbers mixed up." His voice trailed. "I just met some guy named Wilson, and his wife Theresa, and they wanted me to come in and have a hot chocolate and eat some holiday cake, or something." He rambled. Spencer couldn't help but, let out a small giggle. Toby usually, wasn't the one to ramble.
"Oh I know them!" Aria shouted from the kitchen, not so far away. "They're actually really sweet and-" She continued before Spencer shot her a glare signaling for her to shut up. "Yeah," Aria said lightly returning her eyes to her cookie dough. Spencer looked back at Toby, still flustered. She's never seem him so nervous.
"My phone is charging," She shrugged softly as she let out a small laugh as she swayed the door back and forth lightly. "So, Did you come here to meet my neighbors?" She teased.
"No." He said a smile forming on his lips. "I came here to help you decide."
"Decide what?" She asked squinting her mocha eyes questionably. He cocked his head at her, as if she should know what he was talking about. Suddenly, realization kicked in. She widened her chocolate eyes, and nodded. The choice between him and Wren. "How are you planning to do that?" She asked lightly and swallowing hardly trying, to tame her own nervousness.
"Spencer, can you just invite him in at least? The boy looks like he is going to freeze to death." Aria shouted as if she was her mother. Spencer let out a laugh along with an eye rolling at Aria's annoying mother-like quality. It also amazed her how childish she could be, and then in a blink of an eye she was acting like a mother of five.
"Do you want some hot chocolate or something?" Spencer offered. "As annoying," Spencer said loudly, making sure Aria would hear her words. "Aria is. She's right."
"Uh okay," He said apprehensively as he began to walk inside. Aria lips went up evilly as she smacked the wooden spoon back down on the granite counter.
"Mistletoe!" She screamed at them, with a smug look on her tiny face. Spencer, did a total three sixty, and glared at her tiny friend behind the counter. Aria, simple just smiled broadly. Spencer, turned back to Toby hesitantly and placed a small peck on his cheeks after whispering 'I'm sorry'. Toby, let out a deep sigh after, and managed to walk over to the couch. Although, it was just a friendly peck on the cheek, the sensation of her soft lips against his skin was too much. Now, he would be thinking about how badly he wanted her even more than, he had been.
So Toby waited on the couch awkwardly, as Spencer prepared him a hot chocolate. Toby's body soon became warmer and the coldness melted away as he sipped the very hot chocolate. Spencer, offered him some of the cookie dough, that she stole from Aria, and Toby gladly took it. Aria cooed at the two and Spencer subtly told her to go away by saying 'Aria, don't you have to like do that thing in your room?'. It wasn't the best Spencer could come up with, but she got Aria to leave.
"So," Spencer said awkwardly. "You came here too?" Her voice trailed curiously.
"Ask you out." He said nervously, looking in her brown eyes, which were staring back at him flustered.
"Toby," She said softly. He just looked at her still, his crystal blue eyes bouncing off her mocha ones. Spencer let out a huff, and a short laugh. "I'm not exactly dressed for a date." She said gesturing to her outfit which was just jeans, a wool gray sweater, and a messy pony tail.
"I think you look beautiful." He complimented softly, admiring every inch of her. Spencer ducked her head down, as her cheeks became more rosy and the smile on her face spread like wild-fire.
"Thanks," She offered sheepishly pulling her head up again, as she ran her fingers through her bangs. "But, I don't know-"
"Spencer, just go on a date with me." He said sternly, as more of a statement. Not a question. " Give me another chance." He pleaded, his blue eyes begging her.
She spoke hesitantly, "Okay," Her voice led out as she stepped off the very tacky couch. "Just let me get my coat, and um, stuff." She said in a hurry, backing out of the living area, pass the kitchen, and into the small short hall way. She skipped into her room and plastered on some quick make up, and sprayed some perfume on. Before covering herself in layers of clothing, and readjusting her brown hair. Before, attending back to Toby she had a short visit with Aria.
"I'm going on a date with him." Spencer said closing the door behind her quietly.
"Really?" Aria said happily throwing down an old magazine she was reading on her and Ezra's queen size bed she was laying on. She hopped off the bed, and stood in front of her friend eagerly looking up at her enthusiastically. "That's great."
"Is it?"
"What?" Aria furrowed her eyebrows. "Yes of course!" She exclaimed.
"But, should I be doing this? I mean, like what about Wren? Is this against like, I don't know."
"What about Wren?" Aria shot back as she readjusted her friends scarf.
"I don't know." She mumbled her eyes drifting away from her friend, as her tiny friend's mother like quality's went into over board, as she tidied up her, friend's already perfect appearance.
"Exactly. You don't know. Now stop worrying, and have fun." She smirked giving her friend an encouraging hug, before she left the room. "Not too much fun though!" She said jokingly. "Be back by ten!" Aria yelled with a tiny giggle, as her taller friend slammed the door. After, Spencer left her tiny friend she made her way out to Toby.
She followed him to his familiar truck, after protesting to take her own car. After driving through the light midday snow for about twenty minutes, Spencer spoke up over the music blasting in the truck. "So what would happen if I wasn't home?" She asked curiously.
"I would be having a very awkward conversation with Aria." His voice trailed playfully.
"So where exactly are we going?" She pried moving her head back to the road straight ahead.
"You'll see." He stated calmly keeping his eyes on the road.
"You know I hate surprises," She groaned.
"This is why it's so fun." He teased a devilish smile forming on his face, as Spencer playfully rolled her eyes at him.
"When are we going to get there?" She asked an hour later, as impatient as ever.
"Soon." He said calmly.
"We've been driving for like an hour and half." Spencer mumbled under her breath. Although, Spencer suddenly realized her surroundings of the signs on the road. "Wait are we going to New York?" She exclaimed a smile of disbelief covering her face as she gaped at the boy next to her amused.
" I know you're not the biggest Christmas person, but Christmas in New York will change your mind." He shot her a small hopeful smile.
"I can't believe you drove all the way out here." She went on with a laugh shaking her head. The evening came rolling in quickly as the two strolled around central park and had dinner at a very busy local restaurant. Then, he took her five blocks over to a small cafe for 'the most amazing cup of hot chocolate, in the world' as Toby phrased it. Which Spencer had to agree with. After, the two strolled the streets admiring all the beautiful lights hung up on the street lights as Christmas carolers filled their ears with Christmas tunes. They admired all the extremely tall Christmas trees with awe, and Spencer's eye's lit up with joy, when she saw an ice skating rink.
"Let's ice skate." Spencer smiled widely as she tugged on his leather jackets sleeve roughly.
"I don't skate," He mumbled.
"Okay," She rolled her eyes. "Well you will now." She said a smirk taking hold off her face as she glanced in between the rink and Toby.
"Neither of even have skates." He laughed, trying another excuse.
"I'm sure they sell them." She cocked her head, and pursing her lips knowing he was just looking for excuses.
"I can't skate." He admitted sheepishly.
"Well, I can. And I'll help you." She offered warmly. Although the temperature was low, and the wind was bitter, a wave of warmness rushed through him, at her words. She looked at him with her big brown eyes, and a pouted lip.
"Fine," He sighed sheepishly before, Spencer grabbed his hand, and began hurrying her way over to the rink a couple blocks away. Her touch made him smile abruptly, and shot thousands of butterflies in his stomach all at once.
Around twenty minutes later they were on the ice and Toby wasn't exactly the best skater. He had nearly fallen twice in last five minutes, but he must say he was glad he gave in to the brunette with the soft mocha eyes. Their hands were constantly intertwined, and if that meant he had to make a complete fool of himself in front of her. He wouldn't argue.
"It's probably the skates." She supported as she reached out her hand to her friend who had fallen on the ice. "Some times they can be rough, and they really aren't in the best shape." She said as he stood up with her help.
"You seem to be doing fine." He smiled at her warmly, he knew she was just trying to make him feel better.
"I've known how to skate forever, and I was a dancer, so I mean." She shrugged sheepishly as a grin took form on her red lips.
"Can't say I'm not surprised. You are a natural at basically everything." He complimented honestly boring into her mocha eyes, as her cheeks became more pink than they already were from the cold. When most people said this to her, throughout her life, they were being sarcastic. Toby was being sincere though, and his words made her feel special. All her life, she tried to be the best at everything, and with Toby she didn't feel that way. But, at the same time his kind words seemed to mean the most.
"Okay," She bit her lip, and ducked her head down to look at their feet. "Just slide your feet forward with me," She guided as they gradually skated around the rink, slowly. Eventually, it seemed Toby had gotten the hang of it, except she didn't let go off his hand. She didn't want too. He made her feel warm, and cozy inside. Although, there was goosebumps forming all over her body, her heart was melting slowly.
"So," She cleared her throat hesitantly. "Have you found a new place yet?" She asked looking up at him.
"Almost." He said tightly.
"I'm sorry," She said lowering her head down with a sigh.
"Sorry for what?" He asked softly.
"You and Wren." She gulped. "It's because of me you guys aren't friends anymore. I'm the reason you have to move out." she said glumly.
"Hey," He said softly as he stopped in his tracks of skating and stared at her. "It isn't your fault. I want to move out."
"Toby," She chuckled. "It is." Toby huffed and let out a deep breath of air into the coldness.
"Don't say that." He said his words filled with sorrow. He hated seeing her upset, in the past year he had hurt her. So, if she ended up choosing Wren, if he made her happy, Toby would understand. Although, he wanted to be with her more than anything. Her happiness was more important.
"It's true." She her voice escaped lightly. Spencer wasn't usually the one for to self-pity to others, but she felt awful. She felt like Holly. Toby turned to her slowly, due to his lack of skating skills, and bored into her brown chocolate fountain eyes.
"You can't control how people feel." Toby said insight-fully. "Me and Wren both fell for you because, you're," He huffed a smile spreading across his face. "You're amazing. Don't be sorry for that."
"Thanks," she offered glumly. Toby squeezed her hand and shot her a crooked smile. The brunette forced a smile back and she wondered if he knew her bright smile, was a façade.
"Spencer," he sighed tilting his head to the side. "Stop being so hard on your self. You deserve to be happy. Wren's an asshole, and you aren't the reason for that." Apparently, he did catch on to her fake smile. That just added to her list of things she was scared off, but it also made her feel content. Most guys would get annoyed of her, and drop it. Toby actually cared.
Although she didn't necessarily agree with Toby's choice of words for Wren, she understood he wasn't his biggest fan at the moment. She wasn't going to argue with him, that is. So instead she smiled softly at the warm feeling of Toby's caring ways and changed the subject. "Do you think you've mastered it yet?" She asked.
"No," He lied a small toothless smile took hold off his face as they glided across the ice once again. Spencer could tell by the little grin on his face that he was obviously lying. She yanked her hand away with a hearty laugh. Toby looked at her with a low chuckle.
"Try." She advised flatly crossing her arm. So, with a sigh he slowly glided across the ice on his own, as the other skaters flew past him though. Although, he couldn't skate fast, he could manage. He turned around looking at her with an expression of approval. "Sorry, i'm not as good as the Olympic figure skaters, like yourself." He teased as she skated her way to him.
"Shut up." She scoffed with an eye rolling.
"Help me." he pouted lowering his crystal blue eyes that reflected off the christmas lights hanging on the trees near the rank. He held his hand out to her and she knew he was just using this as an excuse to hold her hand, but maybe she was too.
Spencer grabbed his hand, a shock instantly electrifying through her arm and offered a smirk to the man lacing his fingers with hers. After another fifteen minutes of skating aimlessly around the rink, Toby came to a sudden stop at the exit.
The mocha eyed girl squinted at him dazzled. "It's getting pretty late and we still have one more stop." He murmured.
Spencer honestly didn't even know what time it was, she didn't care if it was three in the morning and they still had a two hour trip home. She didn't want this perfect night to end. "one more round," she pleaded. As per usual, Toby gave in to her widened puppy dog chocolate eyes, and pouted bottom.
Once hopping into Toby's truck, Spencer was immediately agreeing with Toby's decision to leave, after the heat gradually kicked in. After about ten minutes of driving, Toby came to a stop in front of some of Manhattan's apartment buildings, Spencer shot him a glance of confusion before he hopped out of the car, opened Spencer's door and demanded she stepped out of the truck.
So, Spencer reluctantly did as he said, taking his hand to help her out off his truck, even though both knew how capable she was in hopping out on her own. Keeping hand contact, Toby dragged her to the small allies behind the old apartment building.
"If you're going to murder me back here, can you at least make sure to tell someone not to let Aria dress me for my funeral? I rather not look like a space astronaut preschooler with a necklace made of old candy wrappers." Her voice trailed, as she kept the most serious expression.
Toby laughed at her remark, but didn't comment on it. Instead he guided her to one of the old wobbly staircases. "Toby, where are we going?" She asked frantically for the fifth time. "Are we going to get arrested?" She rambled. "How safe is this? Because it's not-" She continued until the metal staircase creaked, echoing loudly through the narrow ally. Spencer let out a tiny squeak of panic, as she moved closer to the boy leading her. "Toby," she shouted sternly. but nevertheless followed him up the wobbly stairwell.
Finally, they reached the roof. The snow really started to come in now, and not to mention the four inches of snow they were already walking through. At this point it was nearly two a.m. Although, the christmas lights lit up the city perfectly, making it seem earlier. Toby smiled at her softly before walking near the edge and wiping of the snow on an air-conditioning vent. After the snow was now piled on the ground, Toby took a seat on the sturdy air-conditioning vent. Next, he gestured the brunette to come over with him, and as she shifted her brown eyes between the boy and the view as she slowly made her way to the messy haired boy and snuggled into him gladly.
The smile on her face grew wider and wider by the second as her mocha eyes roamed the view. It was truly beautiful, the city from up here was even prettier than, down there. The lights sparkled everywhere, and the moon shined upon them. It was simply perfect enough, to forget that it was below freezing point. To forget about how she had work tomorrow afternoon. To forget about Wren...
"So, in your spare time are you a tour guide?" She teased as she finally tore her mocha eyes from the marvelous view to gorgeous man beside her, whom had his arms wrapped around her shoulders protectively.
"No," He said with a small crooked smile. "I use to come here with my mom sometimes, my grandma owned one of these apartments, and I use to come up here to clear my head." his voice trailed as Spencer just stared at him with a glimpse of sympathy running through her mocha eyes. She knew Toby's mother had passed, when he was fairly young. She knew he was close with her, and although it's been a long time, he still missed her.
"I haven't been here in a while." he huffed as the smog from his breath filled the cold air. " When, my mom passed, we stopped coming to New York. We even stopped celebrating Christmas for awhile," his voice trailed glumly. "It was her favorite holiday, and she made these amazing gingerbread cookies." he went on as a small toothless smile formed on his face. Spencer listened to every word, and squeezed his hand comfortably every now, and then for reassurance as he told stories of his mother.
"Thank you for this," she breathed after a few minutes of comfortable silence. She met his blue jewels once again. "It was great." she broke out into a smile. "Last Christmas wasn't the best," her voice trailed lightly.
The crystal blue-eyed man stared at her deeply, lost in a trance of her beauty. He looked at her if she was the most precious thing in the world, and to him, she was.
She gulped staring back into his big deep blue eyes, and suddenly it all made sense. It was like a light switched on in her head.
"Toby," she said meekly. "I wouldn't want to be anywhere else but here, with you." She admitted. " I wouldn't... I don't want to be with any one else but you, not Wren, not Andrew, not anyone. I want to be with you," She professed, her chocolate eyes melting into his oceanic orbs. "and I just really missed you," she said quickly as he gleamed at her speechless. "I know, it was only a few days, but I just love you, so much." She scoffed in disbelief. "I want to be with you." She said again cupping his face, his huge smile mirrored hers before their lips pressed together passionately.
He pulled her closer, the small space between them was too much. "I love you." He murmured against her lips, almost desperately, as if someone was going to come and snatch her away from him.
"I love you too," He pulled out of the kiss her eyes watering with tears of joy. She had never felt happier in her whole entire life.
How'd you like the chapter? (:
Do you finally not want to kill me? Well, I'm glad that all my curve balls, and take backs, that you guys were unsure of who she would choose. I didn't want it to be too predictable, you know? Well, I'm not sure, how many chapters I'll have left.
I still have some things to do in this story, but not much. So, as much as a pleasure this story was, and how many amazing reviewers read/follow/favorite it, it might be coming to an end soon.
So, honestly. 312 reveiws on 24 chapters? Honestly, thank you so much! You guys are great(:
I hope you liked this chapter, so please tell me if you did. I except all kind of reviews, even critical. So tell me the truth. I tried to make it as least cheesy as possible, but that was sort of hard. So yes it kind of was. BUT it's a love story-fanfiction, so it can be? Right? Any way please review!
P.S
Sorry it took awhile to update, on Friday, it wasn't finished. Then I didn't have a computer yesturday, and most of today, and I've been using my ipod. And it's really had typing on my Ipod, because it randomly exits out of everything, and autocorrect sucks, and without auto correct, I don't know what I spelled wrong. (I'm a terrible speller) lol. But, this chapter was long, so that's good ey?
And Also sorry if i messed up New York, I've never been there.
Well, um yeah. So, that's enough of my ramblings. xoxo.