i'm back! wow ok i suck! but ok i've seen like a couple stories on here RECENTLY that have been taking on this plot, and i really hope no one drops my story for theirs :( because that would make me sad, because i have put so much time into this, and i know i'm slow, but give me some credit. So I hope you guys stick with me! Because i've put a lot of time and effort into this ok like it sucks but it's suckiness doesn't take away the time i put into it? like idk what i'm saying, i'm tired but yeah.

Thank you for your reviews you lovely people you :)

Chapter 22

Her tapping hand danced across the surface of the counter of the small diner. She was waiting for a certain man to join her for an early breakfast. Her body may have been sitting on this bar stool, but her mind was far away—very far away. Miles from here. She was so out of it that she didn't even notice him walking in, let alone, take a seat next to her.

"Hey," said he, uneasily, as he tried to meet her fretting eyes. She didn't look at him, but she mustered a hello. A lot has happened to her since she saw him last, and he didn't know anything of why her attitude took a three sixty. It almost felt like a déjà vu of high school. When she used to lie to Toby, except that was completely different—Toby never needed the protection, he was amongst the people she was trying to protect him from. It struck her so many times that she should have seen the signs, but there were never any. He was always so sweet. And that scared her. So was Larson. It couldn't be history repeating its self right?

"Hello Larson" replied Spencer after a long beat, keeping her unsteady eyes on the canister of napkins. No, this was not a parallel of her high school years—she wasn't as blinded as she was back then—with Toby, that is. She didn't have those feelings for Larson, like she had for Toby. She wasn't blinded by love as everyone would refer to it.

"You okay?" he tried to rest his slightly cold hand on hers, but she jerked her hand back the instant their skin touched. She looked at him for a second, scanning his face for any sense of coldness, but there was nothing. Nothing at all. "I'm sorry. I'm just, a lot has been going on in these past couple days."

"Do you—do you want to talk about it?" asked Larson.

Even if she did, he wouldn't understand, not without her going back and telling him every secret and lie she ever told that got her into this mess in the first place. She shook her head slightly "not really, but thanks." She offered a half hearted smile.

"Are you sure?" his eyebrows furrowed by the slightest, his mouth falling into a flat line. He looked concerned, and as much as she wanted to wash that concern right of his face, and tell him that she was fine, she knew it wouldn't sound believable.

"Don't worry about me. Let's just get some pancakes, okay?"

"Where are you off to in such a rush?" asked Spencer—weeks before finding out the truth of her boyfriend's other life—after she witnessed him nearly leap off her red sofa chair in the corner of her room, following a text message that chirped on his phone.

"I'm—going to work." He sounded unsure at first, but it was quickly replaced by a certain confidence and sternness, that Spencer didn't see a reason to question it. After all, this was Toby Cavanaugh. He had the conscience of jiminy cricket himself. Why would she ever think he could be lying?

"Oh" her mouth parted slightly, as she began to stand up, and walk towards him. "You want a sandwich or something before you go?" asked Spencer, as she rubbed her hands on his forearms.

"No, um, I'll be fine" he smiled, his smile so innocent and angelic, no signs of demonic attributes before her. "Thank you" added he, sweetly, as he could be.

"Build some houses!" chirped Spencer before offering a peck on his lips. His lips barely moved at her touch, they kind of froze, really. Although, she didn't seem to notice. She was so oblivious to what he really meant by work. He wasn't lying, but he sure as hell wasn't being honest.

"Well, I have to go to class" said Spencer, as she stood up from the bar stool. "I'll see you later."

"Will you?" his feet joined hers on the tiled floor. "Because, I just," he shrugged. " I kind of feel like you aren't really…into me" said Larson, sheepishly.

"I am" said Spencer, almost surprising herself at how fast the words traveled out of her mouth. They flew by so fast that she questioned the sincerity behind them. "I just—I have a kid. He comes first. I'm sorry."

"Hey, no, no, no" he placed a gentle hand on her arm, shaking his head, lightly. "Don't apologize, it's wrong for me to act this way. I know you have your priorities, I guess I'm just not used to it yet."

"The perks of dating a single mother" retorted Spencer, sarcastically.

He chuckled at this. "Speaking of," he nearly coughed on his words. "the word dating. Um, I've been thinking. What exactly are we doing? What are the terms? Are we just dating, or are you dating anyone else…because I don't want you to."

Her eyes altered away for a second, and her heart dived into her stomach. "Um," she mumbled. "I'm not seeing anyone else…but I don't know, if I'm really ready to be exclusive either, I'm sorry." She said looking at his through her eyelashes.

He seemed fazed by this—saddened. She didn't want that. But, she also didn't want to lie and pretend she wanted a relationship; where he would call her his girlfriend, and she would call him his boyfriend—she didn't want to call him her boyfriend. She just wanted to call him Larson. Why couldn't they just keep it that way? Simple and clean, the way she liked it.

"Look, it's not you…"

"It's me." He mocked her potential works, shaking his head down at the bill his hands were nibbling at. "I get it."

"No, Larson, it sounds cliché but it is me. I don't know. Okay, I'm sorry—I just. Why is it necessary to label things? Don't you like how things are now?"

"No, I don't" he looked her straight in the eye. "I don't like how I spend my time questioning whether or not there is another guy. If I just look like some foolish love sick puppy to you—if I'm just another guy sketched into your busy schedule."

She sighed "It's not like that" she gritted through her teeth, her eyes roaming around the diner at the staring customers. "Larson," spoke Spencer, softly. "There isn't any other guy, I just—"

"Then what is it?"

"It's complicated!"

He rolled his eyes. "Yeah, well maybe a little too complicated for me. I'll see you around Spencer." He walked past her with such coldness, that Spencer suddenly felt the rush of winter coming at her. She sighed, looking at him as he left the diner, the ringing bell following his exit.

She debated to chase after him, but what would be the point of that?They wanted different things, and she certainly wasn't ready for what he wanted. Sighing she followed his steps out of the diner, but the little bell wasn't the only thing that was ringing once she left, her phone was too.

She slipped it out of her pocket, hesitantly, fearing who it could be.

"You're a slut. I hope when you see this you'll break for good. You deserve it. –A" she looked around, her heart racing against the theories her mind was creating. She re-read it, and re-read it again, each time her mind accusing Larson more and more. She had just told him she didn't want to be in an exclusive relationship, and then she got this?

She was going to find out who this person was, whether it was Larson or not, she was going to find out who this person was today.

Spencer Hastings wasn't one to ditch class, unless it was something important. And this important. Her philosophy class wasn't nearly important as what was going on in her life right now. So instead of driving to campus, she took another turn, and drove to the police station. Looks like she was going to have another encounter with Officer Appleton.

Four hours later of waiting anxiously in the lobby, biting her nails down to the core, and creating a hole to china with the amount of foot tapping she's been doing, Officer Appleton finally can back with some information.

"We've been able to contact the phone company; apparently this guy's name is Trevor Grey. Do you know him?"

She furrowed her eyes up at him in the slightest. Trevor Grey? Did she know him? Trevor…Trevor…it was a familiar name, and suddenly it hit her. Trevor. The guy Aria set her up with this summer. What the actual fuck?

"I guess…we went on one date."

"Well, this is the guy who has been sending the texts, or at least it's this guys phone that they were being sent on." He passed her the papers, it was full of information. It had every text and call that he had made in the last two weeks. And there it was. The most recent A text, right on the top.

Her jaw gradually dropped as her eyes scanned the paper. This didn't feel real. Was it actual over?

"I'm sorry about that, Spencer. This guy's a total creep, and I wish he could rot behind bars, but the most we can do is a warning since there wasn't any threats. I have some papers that you can fill out to obtain a restraining order, It might take some time, and you might be spending some time in court, but I don't know how much a real threat this guy is, you might want to take some time to think about it."

Her eyebrows still furrowed, she took her eyes off the papers in her hands, and back at the officer. "I—can I talk to him first before you do anything."

"I don't know if that's the best idea. I wouldn't want to see you getting hurt. Being alone with this guy, threat or not,-"

"I wouldn't be alone. I have someone to go with."

The officer looked warily at her. "Spencer, I can't stop you from going. But, I'm not sure it's the best idea. You can just let us handle—"

"Look, I just want to speak to him. If something goes wrong, then I'll come here, and report it."

"Spencer," he shook his head lightly, a sort of protectiveness in his eyes. "I don't want you to do that, but you seem like the person whom when gets their mind stuck on something, they don't quit. So, is there really any point of me arguing with you about it?"

She smiled slightly. "No."

He let out a sigh. And then clapped a hand on her shoulder. "Be safe." And then he left, going back to his work, leaving Spencer to fend for herself. Spencer roamed her eyes down to where his personal information was. He lived in the same apartment building as Aria. That explained a lot of things.

She bit her lip. Confronting with a tormentor—it surely wasn't her first experience of doing so, but that didn't stop the creeping of Goosebumps spiraling down her spine, or the shaken feeling waiting to erupt inside her. She was strong—that was obvious, but even the strongest people had their fears. She wasn't made of stone. She still had feelings, worries, and fears. She still needed support from others.

And this time she was going to take on the support of someone who she hasn't let in, in years; Toby Cavanaugh.

She hesitantly called him, her voice low with worries, and her heart racing fast with fears. She was still unsure of his loyalty. She was still unsure of whether or not he has changed, or if this was all some big giant ploy. She wanted to trust him, she truly did, but she couldn't will herself to do so. Not completely trust him like she once had, that is.

He picked up on the third ring. Usually she wasn't one to call him first. In most cases he would have called her four times, her ignoring every one of his calls, and then she would respond to his call the next day, or later that night. She never called him first, at least not anymore, she didn't.

"Is everything alright?" asked Toby, immediately. Spencer didn't exactly plan out how she was going to tell him any of this. Maybe it would be better in person.

"Are you busy?" asked she, ignoring the question completely, or perhaps saving it for later.

"Uh—kind of. I'm at work…but I mean, I can clock out early, and just come back later." His sentence started of unsure, weak. But, it ended so strongly, that Spencer didn't even bother to ask if he was sure. She told him she would come to his construction site, pick him up, and he agreed.

"What's wrong?" asked Toby as soon as his behind met the car seat. Spencer looked warily at him through the corner of her eyes.

Finally her wary eyes, met his "I found out who has been texting me."

His eyebrows rose quickly and his eager mouth twitched to say something, but she beat him to it. "it's this guy…I went on one date with him…and I don't know. I never did anything bad to him. I have his address and everything."

"We are going there" declared Toby. It wasn't a question, it was undeniably a statement.

She gulped. "Yeah. I wanted you to come with me."

He stared at her for a second, a familiar softness expanding across his face, his mouth parting slightly. He didn't say anything because he was to in awe that she wanted anything to do with him. He was still taking in the moment.

"So yeah, um, now or never I guess" mumbled Spencer, looking away from Toby. She started engine, and then they were off. It was a fifteen minute drive, but it didn't feel like that—it felt like an hour long drive. The awkward tension stretched the minutes. The clock didn't move. It stayed still, mocking them both. Neither knew what to say but both felt the need to say something. But, they didn't. They stayed silent the whole trip there. At times like these Spencer really wished her radio wasn't broken.

They finally arrived at their destination—Trevor's (and Aria's) apartment building. They sat there staring at it for a few minutes before Toby said "Are you okay, Spencer?" and she noticed how he didn't call her Spence like he once did, and she didn't know how she felt towards this.

She nodded frantically, clearing her throat, and taking one last glance at the apartment building before staring at Toby. "Yeah, let's go."

They walked rather slowly to his apartment. The supervisor at the front desk reluctantly told them what apartment number Trevor had which led them to the elevator and another round of awkward silence. Finally they arrived before his door.

Both looked at each other.

"You ready?"

She nodded slightly, before turning her attention to the door, her hesitant knuckles clanking against it.

A few eerie seconds passed before the door opened.

And there he stood. Trevor. He looked like your average Joe—wearing jeans and a green sweatshirt (at least it wasn't black). But, Spencer learned a long time ago that people aren't who they play out to be. Their appearance may play off as gentle and kind, but in reality, they were cold and dark.

He looked caught off guard, and Spencer didn't expect him to react any other way. "Spe—Spencer?" stuttered he, opting a crooked smile.

Her quivering lips parted, letting out a disgusted scoff. "Hello, Trevor" greeted Spencer viciously. Her crazy eyes narrowed on him with a maximum intensity.

He looked guilty, that was for sure.

"What are you doing here? How do you know where I live? Who is this guy?" he shifted his eyes towards Toby for a split second, and in that split second, her eyes followed Trevor's leading to Toby. He looked furious, fuming with hatred and disgust.

She quickly adverted her eyes back to Trevor "You know why I'm here."

He stood there for a second, blinking. She heard Toby scoff in disgust beside her. "We know you're the disgusting creep who's been sending her anonymous texts and signing them A" growled Toby.

"What are you—talking, dude, I don't even know her that well" fumbled the man in the doorway.

Toby stepped forward, towering over the man in the doorway, endless depths of fiery in his blue eyes. Spencer watched, biting her lip, worried Toby would do something both would regret—even if she did want to see Trevor's irritable face smashed in, she knew in the long run it would be a strike against them, rather than Trevor himself. "Don't you fucking dare. Don't you dare try and excuse yourself from this. You better fess up now, or you can expect court papers in your mail box tomorrow."

Trevor's face dropped into something—hesitation, worry, Spencer couldn't exactly put her finger on it. But, he definitely looked guilty. "I didn't send any texts," mumbled Trevor, weakly.

Toby cut him off. "The police know you did, you little piece of shit. So, you better start begging and apologizing and pray to god she doesn't press charges against your sorry ass." he said, completely in the culprit's face. His voice was shallow, and chilling. It occurred to her that this probably wasn't the first time he's ever had to get up in someone's face and it also occurred to her how much he was holding back. His eager-to-hit-Trevor's-face-fists were balled up so tightly that she would probably have to pry his fingers apart, and his deathly eyes spoke the untold words of his mouth—he wanted to kill him.

Trevor seemed hesitant, looking at Toby, blinking, and then at Spencer. His nervous mouth bobbing up and down, repeatedly, and his guilty eyes flashing between Spencer and Toby. Finally they settled on Spencer. The guilt in them increased from just a few seconds ago. "It was just a text. I didn't think—it didn't think anything of it. I searched you online, and some shit about you getting stalked in high school popped up. I just wanted you to—I was mad, you never call me back. And then I see you with some guy. First at your friend's engagement party that I only went to, to see you"

"Wait…you were there? How? Who invited you!?"

"I got invitation—I don't know! And then this morning, you walk right past me without even saying hi, and you were with that same prick you were with at that dumb party! And now you bring this chum here" he threw a hand up in Toby's direction.

She stared at him with an absurd setting in her dark eyes. She thought this guy was nice. "It was one date" said Spencer in a monotone, fighting the urge to strangle him herself.

"You're sick" commented Toby, doing a once over of the man in the doorway.

"Whatever man, enjoy your night with her because you sure as hell won't see her tomorrow. She's a slut."

Toby had enough. The next thing Spencer knew, Toby had Trevor by the collar of his sweat shirt, and a finger stabbing into his chest. "Don't you fucking dare say another word about her, or to her, or I swear to god, you'll regret it."

Trevor jerked Toby away, taking a step backwards into his apartment. His cheeks were sucked into his already hollow face. "Have a good night" said Trevor, in a disgusted tone—as if he was the one to be disgusted, right—before slamming the door in their face.

Spencer looked down first before looking at Toby—he was already staring at her "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine" answered Spencer. "Let's go." She led the way back to the elevator, and all the way back to the car.

Once they were seated in the car, Spencer took the moment, that was good as any to thank him—and apologize. "Toby" murmured Spencer, softly.

"Mmm?" he tilted his head over, but he didn't meet her eyes. Nonetheless, she continued.

"Thank you. For coming."

"I wanted to. Thank you for letting me come." He looked her in the eye, and she found it hard to believe that she was talking to the same guy who was just a split second away from giving away a black eye.

"I wanted you to come" said Spencer once again, her facial expression not wavering a bit, but her voice softening drastically. She blinked. "And I'm sorry…that I thought it was you—"

"Don't apologize." He slightly chuckled, shaking his head. "You have no reason to say sorry. You had every right to think it was me. I can't just come back here and think that you'll trust me, and forgive me. It doesn't work like that."

A speckle of sympathy passed through her eyes, but was gone almost as soon as it came. She rolled back her shoulders, taking in a deep breath. "Nonetheless, you were there for me today. You came with me. And you dropped everything, to do so. You were really there for me. Thank you."

"I would drop anything for you" murmured Toby, his voice light, and soft, but packed with sincerity and promise. His steady eyes were locked on her, unblinking, and intensifying by the second. She couldn't stare away, as much as she needed to, she couldn't.

She finally blinked, shifting her eyes to the steering wheel. "Thanks" she mumbled.

And for some odd reason she actually believed what he said.

are you happy with me finally? Did i do something remotely nice?