Stay Alive

Spencer's POV

Today is my first day back home and I'm nervous. I've been home for three hours and so far nothing bad has happened. My parents and Melissa are all out of the house. Ian hasn't stopped by or snuck in. I'm still afraid to be here on my own. After roughing it out for a good four hours, I finally decided to leave my room and go downstairs. I slowly crept down the stairs and thank god he's not down there. My stomach growled, so I walked over to the fridge to see what we have. The only things we have are a few carrots, a head of lettuce, two tomatoes, butter, cheese, and bread. I decided to make myself a grilled cheese sandwich.

After I made myself a sandwich, I settled down on the couch with a cup of water in my hand. I set my cup on the coffee table and reached for the remote to turn on the T.V. Five minutes later I got bored and turned off the T.V. I finished my grilled cheese then put my plate in the sink. I'll just wash it later. When I was heading back up the stairs, my phone rang. My phone is lying on the coffee table. I walked over and made a face when I saw Caleb's name on the caller I.D. I ignore him the first time, but he called me right back a minute later.

"What do you want Caleb?" My eyes widened and my mouth flew open at what he said. "No!"

I dropped my phone and raced up to my room to get dressed. After I was dressed I raced out to my car and drove to the hospital. When I got there all of my friends were sitting in the waiting room.

"What happened?" I asked, sounding out of breath.

Caleb stood up and spook. "Toby was driving home from his dad's wedding and he ran a red light then got hit by a car. He's still getting checked out. When they picked him up at his car the paramedics said he had trouble breathing, but he seems stable now. The doctors said he might need surgery if he wants to live."

"The doctors also think that Toby was drunk when he was driving," Emily said. "He was suffering from a hangover when they picked him up."

"Oh my god." I ran a hand through my hair and started pacing back and forth.

Aria stood up to try and get me to settle down. "Spencer it's going to be okay. Just have a seat."

"Yeah Spence," Hanna said. "I've never seen you this worked up over Toby before."

I moved my hand from my face. "Why wouldn't I be worked up over Toby being in an accident that could be life threatening? He was my best friend!"

"Spencer, you and Toby haven't called yourselves friends in years," Emily said.

"That doesn't mean that I don't care! I was there for him when you guys weren't and he was there for me. Toby was always there when I needed him."

"Are you going to cry?" Hanna asked.

I squeezed my eyes before any tears came out. "Don't be silly Hanna. I'm scared for him, but I'm not going to cry."

Caleb got up from his seat and led me away from everyone else. I fallowed him down the hall and over to a corner that way we could talk in private.

"You're probably enjoying this show," I said.

"What are you talking about?" He asked.

"You know what, how come you didn't say anything? This is the perfect opportunity to make fun of me."

"I promised Toby I wouldn't say anything and I'm keeping my promise."

I ran a shaky hand through my hair and sighed. "Did he tell you anything else's? Why would Toby drink and drive? He doesn't do this kind of stuff. He's not careless like that."

"I talked to his cousin who just left here right before you showed up. He thinks that Toby was on his way to your house."

A pain of guilt came over me. "He was driving to my house. Why would he do that?"

Caleb shook his head. "I don't know."

"Caleb," I urged.

He sighed. "Well you know what they say. Drunk actions are sober thoughts."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

He patted my shoulder and said, "figure it out."

Hanna made a coughing noise from behind us. I turned around and saw Hanna, Emily, and Maya standing there.

"What's going on?" Caleb asked.

"The doctors said that he's awake," Hanna said. "But he won't be once they get him to the E.R, so if you want to see him you better come now."

"Only one person can go in at a time," Emily said. "Aria and Ezra already saw him, but there's only time for one more person to go in."

I looked at Caleb and figured he would want to go since that's his best friend. To my surprise Caleb gestured for me to go. The others didn't question it.

When I walked into Toby's room, he was there lying helplessly on his bed. He didn't look as bad as I thought he would. He has a couple cuts on his face, a few on his arms, and a scar on the left side of his face. His admen is wrapped up in bandages, so that must be where he's hurt. I walked to the side of his bed and his eyes were closed. His breathing is calm and steady. When I slipped my hand into his, his eyes opened. He turned his head and looked at me as if he couldn't believe I'm here.

"Spencer," he spoke in a barely audible voice.

"I'm right here."

"I'm sorry," he tried to speak, but it came out as a shaky breath.

"Shush," I whispered, while brushing my hand through his hair and down his face.

"I can't believe you came." His voice was more audible this time, but still scratchy.

"Of course I came, so I could yell at you for being such an idiot," I teased.

He smiled, but he couldn't laugh. Clearly it's painful for him to laugh right now. "Of course you would be here to nag me. Even when I'm in pain your hardheaded and stubborn as hell."

"Do you remember anything?"

"I don't remember much. The only thing I can remember is ordering a bottle of whiskey and after that I zoned out."

"Didn't anyone ever tell you to hand your keys to someone before you start drinking?"

"No, I don't think I was informed about that."

"Are you in any pain?"

"My chest kind of hurts. I think the doctors said a shard of glass is lodged in my chest. It flew there when I crashed my truck."

"You crashed the truck?"

He nodded sadly. One of the nurses came in and told us that they would be taking him up to surgery in a minute. We both nodded then watched the nurse walk out. Toby looked at me and for the first time he noticed how sad, scared, and worried I am. I looked down at him when I felt him squeeze my hand.

He looked at me and shook his head. "Don't do that."

"Don't do what?"

"Don't act like this will be the last time you'll see me alive."

The doctors and nurses came back in to start getting Toby ready for surgery. I never let go of his hand, while everyone worked around us.

"Ma'am," one of the nursers said. "You're going to have to leave we're taking him now."

I caressed the side of his face and said, "don't die in there."

He chuckled silently. "I'll try not to." He looked at me for what seemed like forever, but was only a couple seconds. His eyes watered when he said, "I hate you."

My eyes watered and a small smile crept across my face. "I hate you too."

I brushed his hair back then kissed his forehead. Then I stood up to my normal height. I finally let go of his hand as the doctors rolled him out of the room and down the hall. When I walked out of the room, all of my friends were waiting for me by the door way. They all looked at me with concern. Aria came over to and wrapped a comforting arm around me.

"Spence are you okay?"

"Yeah." I spoke in a high pitched voice. "I'm fine."

"What were you saying about Toby being there for you when we weren't?" Hanna asked. "When weren't we there?"

I looked at all of them and said, "I have something that I need to tell you guys. You might want to sit down for this."

We all sat down in the waiting room and I told them everything that's happened. I told them about when Ian tried to rape me in the past. I told them about Ian attacking me many times before. Each time he did attack me Toby would always show up and save me. I told them everything that's happened in the last few months. The only thing I didn't tell them yet is that Toby and I slept together more than once.

"Ian is the one that's trying to kill you," Emily said. "Are you sure that it's him?"

I nodded and said, "I'm sure. I found the hoodie that he would wear when he attacked me in his bag. He tried to kill me when I found his book."

"What book?"

I pulled the little black book out of my coat pocket and showed it to them. Everyone squeezed together and looked at the pages, while Aria flipped through them. There were some names that they did know and others are a total mystery to us.

"What are you going to do with it?" Hanna asked.

I took the book and stood up. "I'm going to do what I should've done when I found it."

Aria stood up with me and put on her coat. "I'll come with you."

Hanna and Emily stood up and said, "us too."

"Someone should be here when Toby gets out of surgery," I said.

"Don't worry about that, we'll be here," Ezra said, while pointing between Caleb and himself.

The girls and I raced out of the hospital and drove to the police station. I know I should've done this a long time ago, but I was scared. My friends will be with me, so it will be a lot easier for me to tell the cops what happens. If they don't believe me hopefully my friends can back me up.

OH no poor Toby! Spencer's going to tell the police. Finally! What do you think will happen. Review and keep reading to find out.