SpobyForever1106: They aren't flirting heh.
ShipHaleb: Hmm, read and you'll find out. (:
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Chapter Four
Questions
'They rushed into the abandon shed quickly, their feet quickly moving, their hair flying everywhere against the night autumn wind. There like 'A' had promised was Aria, her mouth covered in duct tape, and her watery eyes filled with fear. Her cheeks were stained with running mascara, and her dark hair was simply a mess. Her hands were tied up, and her legs were too. She was in the back off the dark, and damp shed, shivering with fear rather than the low temperature. She was on the ground, covered with mud and her clothes slightly damp, it looked as if some one had pushed her onto the ground, and into the mud during the large rainstorm that loomed over Rosewood earlier that day.
She looked up startled, but after realizing the dark shadows were her friends, her hazel eyes popped open as she squealed under the duct tape. She shifted her body slightly forward, and her friends practically jumped to the ground to help their frightened friend mumbling 'it will be okay' and 'we'll get you out of here'. Tears came to their own eyes witnessing Aria trapped like this. Wondering how long she had been tied up like this.'
It all started that morning, it just seemed like a normal-monstrous Rosewood day, but it was much more treacherous and dark than the days before.
Hanna looked startled, as she shifted her aquamarine eyes between the two, she gaped her mouth open and closed three times, trying to figure out what to say. She sighed after realizing she had absolute know idea what to say. She looked at her friend down the hall with a sympathetic and worried expression, fearing this would be too much for the brunette. Then she tilted her head at the little boy, who looked more confused than anything. He had no idea of the dark past the two shared, he had no idea who this man before him was, and that man, he had no idea who the little boy was, unknown of the connection they shared. Although, that man was smart, and would surely catch on to the hidden truth sooner or later of that little boy known as Noah Hastings.
Noah looked at his mother squinting his big sapphire eyes. Why was she acting so weird? "Mommy, come on, don't be rude, say hi." He told her, refraining what she had told him earlier that afternoon, nearly twenty minutes ago when everything was simple...well as simple as it could be.
Normally Spencer would laugh at her son but, at the moment she just gulped, taking her little boy's hand tightly and pulling him towards her. The man in front of them seemed baffled at the little boy's words, and seemed to finally come back to reality. He shifted his matching sapphire eyes at the little boy perplexed. His lips parted as his blue eyes seemed to widen, out of surprise or out of realization? He was unreadable.
"What are you doing here?" She finally asked her voice stern, and demanding. The little boy glanced up at her, and then at the man. He knew his mom's tone, and that little boy knew who ever this man was, she was not happy with him.
That morning ... that started off wonderfully...
She woke up from a good night's sleep as her phone chirped alarming her to wake up. She yawned, and drowsily reached for her phone, pressing the 'snooze' button. Two minutes later, her phone chirped again, but it wasn't her alarm clock, it was something much better. It was her sweet and loving boyfriend. 'Good morning. :) Have a good day at school, I can't wait to see you later.' She read, as the huge smile spread on her face. After dismissing her alarm, she went back to reply. 'Have fun working, but don't use all your energy up, because you're gonna need some later tonight. (; and I cant wait to see you either. xoxo' which he replied with a flirtatious text to parallel hers and wished her luck on the trig test she was making her self go crazy over all week.
Her morning was good, and she knew she aced that trig test. All was well until later that afternoon, after school, and before the evening came closing into Rosewood. To start off the events of troubles, Toby had called her and canceled on their date; saying he had to work over time. He seemed to be working a lot lately, and Spencer was happy for him, she truly was, he was working his way up to the business he was planning to start. Although she wished he would slow down the work load, and spend a little more time with her. Perhaps she was being selfish, and wanted her boyfriend all to her self, but how could she not act like that? He was perfect...so she thought.
"Who was that? You look like you just got a C." Hanna said from across the small table, taking a sip of her latte.
"Toby," She sighed looking at her phone screen which was occupied with Toby's picture, that was also her back ground. "He canceled our plans." She huffed, her mocha eyes still glued to her phone.
"Again?" Hanna furrowed her blue eyes. "That boy sure is busy."
"Or just doesn't want to see me." She mumbled unconscionably.
"C'mon Spencer, he's not avoiding you. He's just been busy, you're the whole reason he's still in Rosewood." She exclaimed. Although Hanna's words were true, Spencer still felt doubt running through her mind. Ever since he came back, she was scared he would leave again. Scared he would get tired of her complicated life, and leave. But, this time never come back. She felt so foolish, but she had fallen in love with him. Yes, Spencer Hastings had fallen in love with Toby Cavanaugh. Perhaps, she had fallen in love with him a long time ago, but only now admitting it to her self.
"Yeah, you're probably right." Spencer said taking one last glance at her phone before stuffing it into her sweaters pocket, and squeezing her eyes shut as she felt tears gathering up. She had been so emotional lately. Especially, when dealing with a certain Cavanaugh boy.
"I am right." Hanna said with a smirk flicking a blond piece of hair out of her eyes. "Me and Aria were gonna go catch that new movie later, considering were both single," She winked. Half of the statement was true. Hanna was secretly dating Caleb due to A's threats and Caleb's protection. Aria on the other hand, was single or at least on a break from Ezra. After telling Ezra the truth, of how she knew about Malcolm before Maggie had broken the news to him finally, he had said he needed some space. That he needed some time to think about all of this, and he needed to do it alone. Aria, was heart broken, but she knew it wasn't over for the two. She wouldn't let that happen. "We can have a girls night. Em should come too, but I think she's going to some concert with Paige." Hanna giggled.
"Knowing that Paige is safe now, they actually make a pretty cute couple." Spencer smiled taking a sip of her black coffee.
"Who makes a cute couple?" Emily said as she sat down with them, now on her break gladly.
"You and Paige." Hanna smiled teasingly.
"I'm glad you guys like her now." Emily said solemnly. But the blissful moment between the friends didn't last long, for their phones simultaneously started to chirp, vibrate, and ring. They all exchanged nervous mixed with annoyed glances before opening the text. "I wonder who it is." Hanna said sarcastically as she opened the text.
They all sat there reading the text slowly, scanning their eyes pass each word trying to understand what it meant. " Look at you pretty little liars all together and giggling. Oh wait, one's missing? Can you find her before it's too late? - A" Spencer read aloud timidly. "Aria." She breathed darting her frightened mocha eyes at her two other friends, whom mirrored the same expression.
"Has any one talked to her since school?" Emily asked.
"No, but-" Hanna said dialing Aria's number quickly, but that did her no good. It went straight to voice mail. "Her phones off." Hanna said with a sigh.
"That's it. Were going to the police-" Spencer began interrupted by the music of their ringing cell phones.
"If you bitches ruin my agenda, Aria's time will be up before you even walk out of that police station. Follow my rules, and play the game the right way and you'll win your friend back." Emily recited swallowing hard.
"Ps. The game starts at the last place you spent with Ali." Hanna said quietly.
"My barn?" Spencer asked nervously.
"Probably." Hanna responded hesitantly. They had all seen Ali a couple times since then, at the hospital, out side of the barn Emily fainted in, in Spencer's living room, but 'A' couldn't have meant that. Looks like they were on another one of 'A's little scavenger hunts. What fun.
"I'm-" He spattered finding it hard to keep his eyes off the confused little boy. "I-" He stuttered. It's like he forgot English, no he had forgotten how to speak all together. His mind went blank, and his tongue fumbled around the insides of his mouth as he returned his eyes back to Spencer nervously. She looked livid. Her death glare was worse than the ones she gave him when she thought he had killed Alison. Her brown eyes were full of furry, and lips were quivering as if she was keeping so many harsh words in, only because there was a four year old present.
The blond stood on the side lines moving her head between the show down. This was not going to be good, "Hey Noah," She cleared her throat nervously. "Wanna come in and get some lunch?"
He looked at the man, and then his mother curiously. "Go with Hanna." Spencer said to the little boy as calmly as she could. This wasn't his fault, and although the anger inside her was boiling, she wasn't going to take it out on her innocent little boy.
The little boy seemed dazzled and weighed his options. He knew his mother was in a bad mood, and he didn't want to get in trouble and have to have a time out like the last time he didn't listen to her. "Okay," He mumbled looking up at her with his big blue eyes. Next, she let go off her little boy's hand and watched him make his way towards Hanna. Hanna came over and took the groceries from her friend and cased a worried glance at her and whispering 'If you need anything, scream.' before following the little boy into the apartment, and closing the door behind her.
Toby glanced at the door as it slammed, and Spencer crossed her arms with a sharp inhale. "What are you doing here, Toby." She demanded again, this time a little more forceful than before. "How did you even find me?" She went on. "Did you come back to start torturing us again-"
"No." He said finally.
"Then what."
He took a step closer, and she took a step back. "Who is he?" He asked softly.
"Who's who?" Spencer asked, even though she knew exactly whom he was referring to.
"That little boy; Noah?" He asked with uncertainty.
"It's none of your business." She spat. "Tell me why you're here."
The three best friends went to Spencer's barn as fast as their legs could carry them. Surely enough, they found a note. A note from no one other than A, taped to the small door leading into the barn. Spencer pulled off the note, and studied it carefully.
"Good luck bitches, you're going to need it
First off, something simple, if Aria's parents ask, she's with you. This shouldn't be too hard for you liars.
Emily, how's your dad? You don't know? Looks like we'll just have to make something up, won't we? Give this letter to your mom, it wouldn't be the first time you lied through a letter.-A"
Spencer read pulling the page back to reveal an unsealed envelope stapled to sheet of paper. Spencer handed the envelope over to Emily reluctantly. Emily shakily took the envelope, and took the letter out. She read it over, tears coming to her eyes. "A wants me to give this to my mom?" Emily breathed out, her watery brown eyes shifting between her friends and she let her arms fall to her sides.
"What does it say..." Spencer asked glancing worriedly at Hanna.
"That my dad went missing a couple days ago, and they aren't sure...they aren't sure he made it." She choked.
"Em," Hanna said softly wrapping an arm around her.
"Emily it's not true. A's just messing with us,-" Spencer tried.
"I know." Emily whimpered. "But my mom doesn't know that."
Spencer shot her a sympathetic look before comforting her along with Hanna. "Look, I know it's going to be hard, but we have to do what A wants, Aria's life depends on it." She said softly.
"I came back a couple weeks ago..." He said hesitantly. "I looked you up, and it said you went to a community college around here, and I started looking for you. I found Hanna's bakery and-" He sighed, "Look you should talk to Hanna about this."
"No, I want to hear it from you." She demanded.
"Well, she told me to leave, and never come back. But, I didn't listen. I kept coming back, but you never seemed to be there. Then I ran into Aria, and she told me where you lived. So I came here, and I probably shouldn't have-"
"Aria told you where I lived?" She asked baffled.
After Emily reluctantly gave the letter to her mom, and listened to her mothers sob echoing through their home, 'A' probably was satisfied. "I can't believe I just did that." Emily said staring hopelessly into space.
"It was for Aria." Spencer said taking her friends hand and squeezing it, Emily glanced at her, and mustered her best smile she could do.
"What do we do now?" Hanna asked almost afraid of the answer.
"Wait for A." Spencer answered, the same fear lingering in her own voice. A did not keep them waiting, next came a rhythm of texts, followed by three groans, and three clicks.
"Emily, don't be such a mope. Just keep playing, and you'll get the other letter." Emily read her brown eyes filled with anger, and her voice low and full of guilt.
"Hefty Han, you've tried destroying your fathers wedding, and now your going to destroy your mom's relationship with holy pastor Ted. Be creative, but you better get the job down this time - A" Hanna read aloud, annoyance in her voice which quickly faded to sorrow. "I have to ruin my mom's relationship?" She looked at the other girls who returned a soft gaze. "I guess A got tired of ruining our lives, and decided to move on to our parents." Hanna sighed, hints of sarcasm in her voice.
"Look, you guys." Spencer sighed shifting her brown eyes between her distraught friends. "It's been two hours since Aria went missing, and I don't know if this will make you feel better or worse, but a lot of stuff can happen in two hours." Spencer said worrying dearly for her tiny little friend with the name of Aria.
"I know, I just" Hanna fluttered her eyes looking up at Spencer. "I wish there was another way than doing everything A tells us to do."
"Me too," Spencer said honestly, "But for right now we just have to play A's sick game, we don't have enough time for any other option."
"Spencer's right," Emily supported glancing at the brunette first and then meeting eye contact with the blond. "If we don't do what A says, who knows what will happen to Aria."
"I know," Hanna dropped her eyes on Emily's bed spread. "It just sucks."
"Yeah," He answered softly. "Look Spencer I've made some mistakes but, if you would just listen to me. Please." He begged, his blue eyes filled with hope, but looking deeper you could see the despair. The hurt, the pain and suffering the man had been through. The hope, was just a glaze, it could easily be broken away to reveal the misery inside.
"Some mistakes?" Spencer scoffed nastily. "Right, some."
"Look, you have every single right to hate my guts, but Spencer? You can't act like you're a saint. And maybe I shouldn't be talking but, if it will get my point across-" He knew he shouldn't have crossed that line, that line from talking, to fighting. But he knew it had to be done. He needed her to know that he wasn't perfect, but neither was she. He needed her to look at this situation with a newer perspective.
"I said I was sorry for treating you that way, okay? But, guess what? You kissed me. You didn't have to help-" Spencer began to say, the frustration in her voice rising.
"I'm not talking about that. I'm not talking before we were dating, I'm talking about during." He said coldly. "The whole time we were dating, you don't even think to take the blame for what Alison and you all did to Jenna? The police were done with, and that was fine. You helped me get away from that town, and Jenna. But, you could have at least fessed up to my parents who still gave me crap about it, till this day." He exclaimed harshly.
"I didn't-" She began to protest.
"I'm not done. I may have lied about a lot of things, but you did too."
"I was trying to protect you!"
"And you never thought for a second, I was doing the exact same thing?" He asked the question that caused silence in the yelling chaos transpiring between the two. She breathed heavily, her chest moving up and down, her frustration visible. Their eyes didn't drop the fierce eye contact, and she couldn't find a single word on her tongue.
He sighed, a more distraught rather than, angry look washing over his face."Then for weeks you were totally playing with me, in every way you could. Then you don't even have the decency to tell me yourself, that you were with some other guy, and now that he came back, I just meant nothing to you." He said his voice fading as he breathed heavily watching her every move diligently.
"Are you talking about Wren?" She asked slightly confused. All he did was nod. Spencer's forehead knitted almost unconscionably. How did he not know that was just another lie to protect him, he was A? He was the reason he needed protection, so she thought. He was the reason she had to lie every single day to him. Sure she could tell him, that was just another one of her little lies to protect him, but she saw the hurt that took place on his face and she almost wanted it to stay... at least for a little longer. He had caused her so much pain, and sadness, that she wanted him to at least feel a fraction of how she felt. "Look whatever I did, nothing compares to what you did. Why would you do that to Aria?"
After deciding to frame Ted of cheating, they had to wait. Wait for Ted to leave so Hanna could obey A's orders, and ruin her mother's relationship even if it killed her to do so.
Hanna sat cross legged on her bed, her fingers tapping together anxiously, and her eyes focused on a blond strand of hair hovering over her face. Emily, sat on Hanna's couch occasionally stealing a nervous or worried glance with one of her best friends. Spencer, sat at Hanna's desk, her lips tight and her thumb pressing into her palm roughly due to all her nerves building up as the dark night came upon them quickly.
"When will he leave already?" Hanna finally huffed, the strand off hair blowing away from her face for a mere second. "He's been here all day," She said stepping up to walk towards her door to peek outside."I just want to get this done with."
Spencer's phone beeped which caused both friends to dart their alerted eyes at her. "Is that A?" Hanna asked rushing over to Spencer, with two large steps.
"Toby," Spencer's voice trailed with relief. Her friends both let out sighs of relief, before Hanna re-positioned her self on her bed...continuing to wait for the torture she would soon cause.
The text read 'How's your night? I'm so for bailing on you:/ .' Spencer quickly replied with 'No, don't be, it's fine. I'm with the girls'. It wasn't a lie technically...
"I'll..." "It was nice seeing you" "Goodnight, Ashley." Came in mumbled and distant voices from the Hanna's ajar bedroom door. Hanna locked eyes with her two other friends, before jumping up and dashing to her bedroom door to peek at the scene taking place downstairs. As she watched Ted leave, and her mother giggling strolling into the kitchen, Hanna couldn't help but feel tears as she thought of what she needed to do, and how heartbroken it would leave her mother.
"Wish me luck." Hanna murmured to her friends before walking out of her room, and into the hell she was about to cause.
Toby sighed, rolling his head down, and threw his hands outwards. "You know what? You're wasting my time. Leave me and my friends alone, and just stay out of my life.." She said harshly, before stomping off into her apartment, past Toby. She shut the door behind her swiftly, and she could feel her heart racing, and her oxygen levels drop. She felt as if she just ran three miles, when in reality she had just had a short conversation with Toby Cavanaugh.
After breaking the news, which wasn't true, to her mother of seeing Ted with another woman. Her mother seemed reluctant to believe her daughter, but Hanna did her best to convince the lies to her. Although A seemed satisfied, because the trio had received three new texts saying 'Nice work bitches,' accompanied with an address that Hanna recognized slightly. "I think I know this place, it's Mona's old cottage. We use to go their all the time." Hanna said fear in her voice.
"Mona's behind this? How could that even be possible?" Spencer asked widening her mocha eyes.
"It's fifty minutes away," Hanna said briskly avoiding her friend's question.
"We'll I guess were going on a road trip..." Emily's voice trailed as they all exchanged worried glances.
Her son looked up at her, startled by the slam at the door, from the small table he was coloring at, and Hanna glanced at her from the small kitchen where she was making mac and cheese for the starving four year old. Hanna looked more worried than before, and her little boy was now running up to her with a grin on his face and a piece of paper in hand. She crouched down, displaying her best smile, and picked him up. "Mommy, here. I made this for you." The little boy said, as she took the piece of paper from him. She looked at it, a genuine small smile forming on her lips. It was a picture of her in a castle, with a crown, and the little boy was also featuring in the picture with a sword guarding the castle. Hanna also was in the picture, wearing a crown also that resembled a bakers hat. The sun was smiling, and the bright colors made the picture shine. He was quite the drawer or color-er in this case for a four year old. She assumed the ability was passed on by his father, considering the artistic talent he displayed in high school. The thought of him made her cringe, and her genuine smile faded, which was quickly covered by a false one.
"I love it." She cooed at her son, "Thank you." She said placing a peck on the top of his head. Hanna stood from afar the worried look still glued on her face.
"Noah, you're mac and cheese is done." She announced with as much enthusiasm as she could muster.
"Yum," He beamed "I'm starving." He announced before Spencer walked her way back to the table, setting him down on the small chair, and removing the papers so he could have room to eat. Hanna served the little boy his food, and then nodded her head towards the hall at Spencer desperate to know the details of the conversation that just took place. Spencer reluctantly did so, after making sure Noah didn't need anything else.
The two women hurried into Hanna's room, Hanna closing the door behind her swiftly.
"Why didn't you tell me Toby was back?" Spencer asked folding her arms across her chest, beating Hanna to whatever she was planning to say. "I thought you guys were done lying to me about all of this." She exclaimed.
"I'm sorry, okay?" Hanna said frowning. "But, I just couldn't let him hurt you again. I was trying to keep you safe."
"I'm so sick of people saying that," She rolled her eyes exasperated, throwing her arms out and pacing around the small room. "I don't need your help, I need the truth."
"Okay!" Hanna said sternly. "I'm sorry Spencer, okay? I'm really sorry. I should have told you."
Spencer sighed, and stopped in her tracks, looking at Hanna as if she was lost. And she was. "No I'm sorry." She sighed, brushing her hands through her bangs stress-fully. "Look, you were just trying to help, I get it. I just, I don't know."
"What'd he say?"
"Not much," She sighed. "Just how he came back here for me? And Aria gave him our address?" Spencer said still flustered.
"What?" Hanna blurted with a gape. "Why would she-?"
"I don't know. I need to talk to her, who knows if she even did." Spencer said biting her lip to restrain the frown twitching on her face. "Will you watch Noah, I need to talk to her. Now." Spencer asked pleadingly.
"Yeah," Hanna nodded with no hesitation. "Of course."
After arriving at Mona's cottage, the girls looked around frantically into the darkness, trying to find some sign of Aria. Then they spotted the large spray painted 'A' on the shed, the girls hysterically rushed over, and pried the doors opened, eventually making their way inside.
They rushed into the abandon shed quickly, their feet quickly moving, their hair flying everywhere against the night autumn wind. There like 'A' had promised was Aria, her mouth covered in duct tape, and her watery eyes filled with fear. Her cheeks were stained with running mascara, and her dark hair was simply a mess. Her hands were tied up, and her legs were too. She was in the back off the dark, and damp shed, shivering with fear rather than the low temperature. She was on the ground, covered with mud and her clothes slightly damp, it looked as if some one had pushed her onto the ground, and into the mud during the large rainstorm that loomed over Rosewood earlier that day.
She looked up startled, but after realizing the dark shadows were her friends, her hazel eyes popped open as she squealed under the duct tape. She shifted her body slightly forward, and her friends practically jumped to the ground to help their frightened friend mumbling 'it will be okay' and 'we'll get you out of here'. Tears came to their own eyes witnessing Aria trapped like this. Wondering how long she had been tied up like this.
After pulling off the duct tap, and Aria letting out a painful wail. They did their best to untie the poor girl as quickly as possible and then helped her back to Hanna's car. Aria's mouth was red, and her wrists and ankles were stained with rope burn. Her hysterical wails hadn't stopped, and she was wrapped in Spencer's arms as Hanna drove away out of the horrible setting and back to Rosewood; which wasn't much better.
Eventually, Aria calmed down. They also had arrived back in Rosewood. They took shelter in Spencer's house, settled before her fire place where most of their sleepovers took place on days...like today. Spencer had made Aria some tea, and gave her a fresh pair of clothes. After Aria seemed to calm completely, her friends warily began to ask questions.
"Aria what happened?" Spencer asked urgently tilting her head with compassion.
"Did A hurt you?" Emily asked more worried than anything.
"Did you see A? Who did this to you?" Hanna asked more urgent than Spencer.
Aria nodded weakly eyeing Spencer warily. "Yeah," She sniffled.
"You know who A is?" Spencer said almost bulging her eyes out.
"Yeah," Aria breathed, more weak than before.
"Well who is it?" Hanna asked pressing her on for answers.
Aria swallowed hardly, letting her eyes fall to the floor. "Toby." She breathed silently.
"What?" Both Spencer, and Emily blurted baffled, it was almost humorous. Toby? A? Sure...
"What are you saying Aria? Did A like drug you or something?" Hanna added sarcastically, but there was hints of worry in her voice.
"Aria," Spencer demanded more serious time. She shot up with a large exhale.
"It was him."
"No, you have to have gotten it wrong." Spencer shook her head.
"Spencer, it was him. I was told to go to that shed, alone or else A would hurt Ezra's kid, and make it look like my fault, and I walked into the shed...and then someone closed the door, and it was dark, but it was Toby. He tied me up, and duct taped my mouth, and he said I better keep quiet, but I couldn't not tell you, and I'm really just-" She rambled out of breath. "I don't know, I had to tell you, even though it's not sa-"
"You saw things wrong." Spencer said solidly, "You had too." She said, this time more fear creeping into her voice. The other girls shifted their eyes between the two, unsure of what had just happened.
"Spencer, I know what I saw. He isn't safe, you even thought so yourself."
"That was before everything," She exclaimed harshly. "You're wrong Aria. He isn't A." She said bitterly.
"I saw him, I heard him!" Aria protested.
"You said it was dark," Spencer counteracted.
"I-" She stuttered. "Yeah, but I could see. Besides I heard his voice, Spencer I'm sorry." She said keeping her voice full of sympathy.
"No." She shook her head, with a large sigh. "You have to have made a mistake."
Dun Dun Dun. Okay this was uber long 5,000 words ish. Like but reading it over, it didn't seem that long. It was mostly flashbacks because of obvious reasons, of me needing to tell the story haha. But, DUNDUNDUN... keep reading xoxo
Please reveiw, favorite, follow! Thank you so much, again. Truly.
More secrets and explanations and flash backs coming up. And don't worry, this isn't the last of Toby. (: