a/n: sorry for the wait! How many times have I said this? Who knows.

Anyways, thank you so so so much for your lovely reviews. I have reached 300! And that's just amazing. Thank you, seriously. You guys are the reason I'm motivated to finish things, ahaha. I hope you enjoy this chapter. I personally don't like it that much? I don't know. Maybe it's because it's almost 3AM...but I just? I don't know. Not the biggest fan of this chapter.

Chapter 23

Let's Tell the World

DAY 8

Hanna slept over last night because of the whole traditional superstition that it is bad luck for the bride and groom to sleep in the same bed the night before the wedding, and also the 24 hour superstition, about the bride and groom being separated for 24 hours before the wedding. Apparently it's bad luck if you don't follow these procedures, but Spencer doesn't really believe in superstitions.

The first thing Hanna said when she woke up was, "I'm getting married today." With the additional phrases of, "I'm going to be married in 24 hours," and "this is my wedding day," following shortly. Spencer just laughed at her friend, and wrapped her arms around her in an encouraging hug. "This might be one of our last hugs while I'm still single," she had hysterically let out.

Truly, Hanna was being a complete insane person, but that was Hanna for you, and you had to love her for it. After Hanna woke up, she headed to her house (where Caleb would not be. She made sure of it.) They would have slept there, but Hanna went on about this whole thing about sleepovers, and them never being the same, and how she wanted to have it at Spencer's. Emily and Aria stayed over too, but left before Hanna woke up because Hanna wakes up late, and took showers of their own. Spencer took a shower once Hanna went to her house, and is supposed to report to Hanna's house right after.

And what the bride wants, the bride gets. She calls Toby on the way to Hanna's. It is only about an eight minute drive, but she just needs to clarify a few things with him regarding today. "Hi baby cakes," he answers.

"Is this ever going to stop?" she questions.

"Most likely not," she can hear him smiling. "What's up?" he says after.

"I'm just calling to say hi, sort of. We're still on for telling them today, right? After, the wedding," she elaborates.

"Why?" he questions, not angrily, just curiously.

"No reason, particularly. I'm just making sure. I like having things planned out," she explains.

He laughs, "okay. Well, yes. I was thinking we could tell them after we eat the cake," he states. "Or during, whatever."

"No, that's good," she accepts the offer. "I mean, they'll be stuffing their faces with it, so they won't be able to harass us."

"I really didn't even think about that, but good point."

She smiles, changing the subject, "I can't wait to see you in a tux. You're wearing a bow tie, right?" she asks.

"Yes," he decrees. "Do you have some bow test fetish?" he muses.

"Guys in tuxes, or suits, grow 10 times more attractive whilst in said tuxes or suits."

"I'll keep that in mind."

She smiles, "but as great as you will look in the tux and bow tie, I also cannot wait to take it off you," her voice full of lust.

He inhales, smiling, about to respond, but hears footsteps. "Caleb's coming, I'll see you later?" he tries.

"Just pretend you're on the phone with your girlfriend," she suggests.

"I am on the phone with my girlfriend," he responds, smiling to himself.

"You know what I mean! I'm almost at Hanna's, and I like talking on the phone while driving. It gives me something to do. The radio sucks, and my tape player is broken so I can't listen to my own music," she complains.

"He's going to hear you."

"How loud is your phone?!" she exclaims. "Just turn it down," she orders. "Please," she tries in a softer way.

"Hold on," he tells her. She sighs.

A moment later he is back on the phone, "sorry, I was just telling Caleb that I was on the phone with you."

"SHE KNOWS MY NAME BUT I DON'T KNOW HERS?"

Spencer rolls her eyes, "if I can hear him, can't he hear me?"

"He's loud," he mumbles quietly, so Caleb can't hear, probably. "And embarrassing."

"HEY!"

"I would feel bad for you if you were talking to anyone else but me. And by the way, if you were dating someone, who wasn't me, then I'm pretty sure they would be pissed at you for not inviting them to the wedding. "

"Does that really matter?" he sighs.

"No, just saying."

"Okay, well. Hypothetically, yes, I'm sure she would be. But good thing you're my girlfriend."

"WHY WOULD YOU SAY THAT? PRETTY SURE SHE DOESN'T EXIST. WHAT IS EVEN YOUR CONVERSATION RIGHT NOW? YOU'RE PROBABLY TALKING TO LIKE HOLDEN, OR SOMETHING."

"Is he purposely being loud or?" Spencer questions.

"Not really sure. Are you there yet?"

"Almost," she claims. "Are you trying to get rid of me or something? Sick of talking to me?" her voice is filled with mock hurt. "Well, don't worry. It will be another two minutes, and you're free."

"Longest two minutes of my life," he murmurs playfully.

"Shut up!"

He laughs, "I'm just kidding," he claims, still snickering. "But to be fair, you're kind of just using me to entertain you while you drive."

"Well, I could have chosen anyone, and I chose you. Be grateful."

"Yes, I'm very grateful that you chose me to use," he responds. "Thank you."

"You're very annoying, do you know that?"

"I think you've told me enough times now that I know."

She smiles, "Good. You're learning." She hears him smiling, and it makes her smile more.

"I like talking to you," he murmurs quietly after a second.

"You're not that bad either," she responds. "But I'm here. So, you'll just have to wait to talk to me later. Can't wait to see you in your bow tie," she smirks a little.

…

The ceremony is being held in a huge stone chapel just outside Philadelphia. At first, Hanna had wanted a beach wedding, but somewhere between picking out bridesmaid dresses and the kind of silverware they would use, she had decided to have it in a chapel. "It'll make my mom happy, anyways," she had said. "Besides, it's absolutely stunning," she had gone on.

This is the first time Spencer has seen it, and she has to agree, it's pretty beautiful. It lies on top of a hill, just where the sun meets the earth, and overlooks a small, (probably) man-made lake, which crowds with ducks and swans. And the inside is just as beautiful, if not more appealing to look at. The stain glass windows are absolutely marvelous, and the marble floor is gorgeous. Hanna really found the perfect place.

But she wishes it weren't so big. She's been trying to find Caleb's room for the last fifteen minutes, and has so far been horribly unlucky. Just when she is about to give up, she sees Toby exit some room.

But her thoughts about seeing Caleb come to a halt when she sees him. He's all dressed up in a suit and bowtie, his vest a light grey, and his bowtie a dark purple. He truly is handsome.

He looks around for a bit before walking towards her, a sly smile on his face. "You look amazing," his eyes glance down at her for a moment.

The dress is a golden color, with a purple sash around the waist. The whole entire thing is dazzling with sparkles, and bedazzlements. It is a very Hanna. It is cute, but a little too flashy for the brunette.

"Thanks," she remarks, smiling at him. "You clean up well, too," she comments, touching his bow tie.

"Caleb could come out any minute. We could ruin the surprise," he states, yet slips his hands around her waist in spite of himself.

"Caleb," she remembers a second later, moving away from him. "That's why I came over here. To see Caleb. He's in there?" she asks, nodding to the door that Toby came out of.

He nods. "Yeah, but I think he's going to be going soon to get ready at the altar," he remarks.

After hearing these words, Spencer parts from Toby, and makes her way into Caleb's room to talk to him. When she walks in, he is looking in the mirror, unnoticing her. She makes a sound with her throat, and he turns around, a smile on his face. "I was hoping to see you!" he exclaims.

"You look handsome," she comments, grinning.

"Oh no. You aren't going profess your undying love for me, and ask me to run away with you, right? This isn't some cliché 'I fell in love with my best friend' type things, is it? Because I got to tell you, Spence, I don't think Hanna would be that happy about that."

Spencer chuckles, "Please. If you think I'm going to let all the work I put into this wedding go to waste, then you have another thing coming."

"But you did not deny that part about your undying love for me. Interesting," he raises an eyebrow with a smirk.

She rolls her eyes.

"You nervous?" she questions.

"A little," he admits, a shrug accompanying his words. "I feel still feel so young, ya know? Sometimes I feel like I'm still in high school. It's just weird…doing adult things."

"You are still young; you're just getting married really early," she comments.

"Well, it makes me feel old."

"I'll tell you what, if you and Hanna start going to bed at eight, and begin to attend bingo nights at the YMCA, I'll make sure to save you from your life of misery, although I really don't think you'll need it," she smiles, putting a friendly hand on his shoulder.

"Don't you go to bed at eight sometimes?" he remarks, a incredulous smile forming on his lips.

"I like going to bed early! Whenever I wake up past 10 I feel like I'm wasting my whole entire day."

He chuckles, pulling the brunette in for a hug. "This talk actually made me feel a lot better. I may be getting married," he says, his arms still around her, "but you're the one who acts like they're seventy."

She smiles, hitting his back lightly, and pulling out of the hug. "You'll be fine," she supports.

…

Hanna and Caleb requested that Spencer make a speech at the reception. They told her this about a week ago, so she's had a good seven days to practice, but still, she's nervous. It doesn't help that she's on an empty stomach. The ceremony had started at five, and ended at six, and while that doesn't seem so bad, they had taken pictures after. That went on for another hour, and by the time they got to the reception hall, it was seven thirty.

The first course of the meal—the salad—was already put out at seven, while they were taking pictures. Hanna had snacked down on a few gummy bears, and a bag of lays potato chips, but the only people she was willing to share with was Caleb and her mother. Spencer had a few nibbles of Aria's rice cake, and with a few—three—glasses of water, so she was at least saved from starvation, but now her stomach is growling again—hard—and her nerves are running high. She isn't usually so nervous for public speaking. She blames her empty stomach and full bladder.

She has been eying her note cards since they got to the reception hall, while the waiters take away the salad dishes, and Hanna and Caleb get comfortable. She'll be going up soon.

"You all right?" a questioning voice interrupts her.

She jerks her head up. It's Toby. She's on the sidelines of the reception hall, away from everything, mostly.

"Yeah, I'm just…starving, mostly," she sighs. "And I feel like my brain is so focused on food that I can't even comprehend any of these words I wrote on my flashcard."

A lazy, amused smile paints on Toby's face. "All I have is gum," he pulls from his pocket. "If that's any help at all?" he offers a piece.

She takes it gratefully, eagerly throwing the piece in her mouth. "A lot, actually. Thanks."

"I'm sure you'll do fine," he supports. "And if you forget what to say, just speak from the heart."

"I'm pretty sure if I do that I'll just start naming of different kinds of cheeses."

Toby laughs, shaking his head. His face relaxes, along with hers, their eyes both becoming soft. Without looking around to see if anyone is watching, Toby brings a loose ringlet behind her ear. His knuckles lightly caress over her cheek bone before he brings his hands to his pockets.

Spencer gives him a tender smile before sucking in a breath, and delivering the words, "I should probably deliver this speech now…"

He nods, encouraging her to go.

She goes to the front of the room, next to the table where Hanna and Caleb sit, and starts by clanking a fork to her wine glass to gather attention.

"There's a quote by Fitzgerald that goes like this, 'I don't ask you to love me always like this, but I ask you to remember. Somewhere inside of me will always be the person I am tonight.' I've always loved this quote because it implies that people change—that the person you choose to be with forever isn't going to be the person they are forever, but yet, you still love them anyway," Spencer says.

"I've learned that people change. I'm not one of those people who think that people are the same forever. People change all the time. Time changes us. The things we go through change us. We grow more mature—wiser, older. We change our opinions on things, and our beliefs. But even though we do this—even though we change constantly, we still find a way to love someone forever. We still stay with this person till death, and love them till they're gone—even after they're gone. Theoretically, it doesn't make sense, but yet, there are so many people who are able to do this. And I'm 100 percent sure that Hanna and Caleb will add to this list."

After Spencer delivers her speech, they sit down to have dinner (finally.) Most of the wedding party sits with Caleb and Hanna, along with Hanna's mother and step father. Apparently Isabelle, Hanna's step mother refused to sit a table with Ashley Marin, and Hanna didn't really want to sit by her step sister, anyways, so she was glad. Caleb's family holds their own drama, and ended up just getting seated somewhere else for the sake of keeping things clean. So, Hanna and Caleb had arranged for Spencer, Toby, Emily, and Holden to sit with them—kicking Ezra and Aria to the sidelines, to make room for Hanna's mother and Hanna's step father.

Hanna mother's sits at Hanna's side, her husband next to her, then there's Emily, Holden, Spencer, Toby, and finally Caleb, who of course sits next to Hanna, all circling around the round, circular table.

A year ago, Spencer would have been livid with these seating arrangements. It seems petty now. Why would she make such a big deal out of such a trivial thing? Sure, she hadn't liked Toby, but it was just one night of sitting next to him. They had both been so overdramatic most of the time. She doesn't even really remember why she started hating him in the first place, before everything with the Physics project that is.

Before the food arrives, Toby murmurs, kind of softly that he liked her speech. She is about to smile at him in gratitude, but Hanna interrupts, apparently hearing Toby. "Cut the sarcasm, Toby. Her speech was beautiful. I loved it. Who knew you were such a romantic?" a smile painted across the blonde's face.

"Thanks, Hanna," Spencer replies, amused.

Toby shakes his head with a toothless smile decorated on his features. Spencer wants to laugh, but she keeps herself intact.

…

After dinner, Hanna and Caleb had their first dance as a married couple. They performed the bizarre dance performance they had been practicing all year, departing a quarter of the way into the song, so Hanna and Caleb could finish off.

After that first dance, everyone was invited to dance alongside them.

"Why are you dancing? You hate dancing. And you've been dancing with me for the last twenty minutes," she points out.

"I took a ballroom dancing class," he states, casually. "I may as well use what I've learned."

"Yeah, too bad we're not ballroom dancing," she looks amused. "This music is definitely not ballroom dancing music, and what we're doing is definitely not ballroom dancing."

"Whatever," he grunts, laughing, sort of.

A triumphant grin dazzles on her face. "I bet you have some secret love for dancing, or something. You probably dance alone in your room listening to The Smiths and Blink 182."

"Ha Ha," he muses, "I hate to break your track record of being right about everything imaginable, but I'm actually dancing with you because I like you. Not dancing."

Her smile bursts into a fit of giggles as she tells him to shut up. She brings her arms around his neck, bowing her head into his shoulder. His hands keep steady around her, his fingers touching the tips of her ringlets.

"What if Caleb and Hanna see us?" Toby murmurs into the brunette's ear.

She leans away from him and shrugs a little. "They're probably too busy. Plus the room's not exactly vacant." The whole room is bursting with dancing couples and children. Spencer's never seen so many people get up and dance.

"We're still telling them today right? At dessert?" Toby questions.

She nods lazily, obviously tired from the day. "I'm up for it if you are," she puts forth.

"They're probably going to think we're messing with them," Spencer voices. "I mean, Hanna literally thought you were being sarcastic earlier," she laughs a little.

He chuckles, "I don't know. I don't really care what they say," his grip on her tightens as he pulls her closer, making her giggle. "We don't make sense. But like you said in your speech, sometimes things don't make sense, but still work."

Her smile is timid and shy. Her words are spoken softly, "you're making it really hard not to kiss you right now."

A sly smile slides out on his lips before he steps back a little, letting in a little space between them. "Better?" he tries.

"Still kind of hard," her voice is fruity and light, almost laughing.

He steps even farther, her hands barely hanging on to the back of his neck. He looks at her expectantly, waiting for a response.

"I don't know…still wanting to kiss you…"

He laughs, "Should I go stand on the other side of the room?" he jokes.

She beams at him, tiny bits of laughter escaping her clasped lips. She steps closer to him, not as close as they were before, but still close. "No," she answers. "I think I can keep my hormones in check."

"You sure?" he teases her.

She just snickers, and nods. Toby breaks out into a laugh, too.

…

They finally serve dessert at about 10:30. Spencer and Toby had both tried the cake they had chose already when they went cake testing with them awhile back. Hanna and Caleb had ultimately decided on Red Velvet (which Spencer totally saw coming. It's Hanna's favorite cake, and as she's said before, the bride controls all.)

After dessert, Hanna's mother and step father head home. After hugging them goodbye, Hanna and Caleb sit back down, deciding to share another slice of cake. Aria and Ezra take the empty seats before anyone else can, Ezra grabbing another piece of cake before he sits down.

They all sit at the table for awhile, just talking and chatting like they always do. Spencer isn't really sure where her and Toby's announcement fits in, so she just waits until she sees a spot where she can open the discussion (or until Toby brings it up.)

But in the end, it is actually Hanna who brings them to the revelation. She's pretty drunk by now, and most of the things she says don't make sense. "I would just like to congratulate these two—" she points her hand out to Spencer and Toby. "For making it through the year without killing each other," she raises her wine glass up. Aria's the only one who meets her for the toast.

Spencer hesitantly glances at Toby before speaking, "yeah," she uncomfortably nods.

Aria gives her some amused look that makes Spencer wonder if she knows. Her and Toby have basically been together all night.

"Hanna, honey, they're friends now," Caleb tells his intoxicated wife.

She just waves him off, and before she can dive into another conversation, Toby says something. "Actually we're not," he claims.

"What? Jesus Christ. That lasted like what? 5 months? But you know, I'm proud of you guys. No immature shenanigans. You kept it civil, and I just want to thank you for that."

Caleb's kind of drunk, too.

Aria has an expectant look in her hazel eyes, and a wide, knowing grin on her lips. "Yeah…wow, you really kept up a good performance for the night," Aria observes. "I saw you two dancing, and I must say, you definitely keep in character, even when no one is watching.

Spencer rolls her eyes, and looks towards Toby before delivering the shocking news. "Toby and I aren't friends because we're more than that," she delivers flatly. "We're dating…" she confesses, uncomfortably.

Caleb just laughs, and shakes his head at the news. A quizzical expression fans out on Spencer's face, an indent in her forehead.

He runs his hands through his hair, still laughing, "that's great. You guys are hilarious. Just—shut up."

Toby looks at Spencer to Caleb, "No, Caleb. We are. Dating. We're together."

His face twists up in bafflement, his maple eyes coated with questions.

"I think they are being serious," Hanna slurs out, stating the obvious, her eyebrows furrowing.

"No, no, no, okay. No. That's…you're lying."

"We're not," Spencer states.

"Prove it," Caleb demands.

"Prove it how?" Spencer rebuts, narrowing her curios eye him.

"Kiss," Caleb smirks.

"We're not going to kiss in front of all you…" Spencer glares.

"Caleb, they're not lying," Aria enters the conversation. "I saw them dancing earlier, and it was not platonic," Aria emphasizes. "And they definitely do not hate each other."

Caleb slumps back into his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. He just stares at them, dumbfounded.

"Now we can double date!" Hanna gets excited, all of sudden. "Caleb's always going on and on about how whenever he hangs out with one of you, I shouldn't come because you two are babies and will feel like third wheels,"

"Hanna—," Caleb growls, glaring at her.

"But now you have each other!" she beams. "God, this will be so fun!"

"Hanna, okay, no that's not—," Caleb begins.

But she's not having any of it. She just rolls her eyes, takes Emily's hand, and drags the woman to the dance floor. Holden departs from the table thereafter, announcing that he's going to head home. He congratulates Caleb once more before telling Spencer and Toby that they make a cute couple. "I saw you guys dancing, too…" he admits, "you guys look really good together."

Caleb grunts at the compliment.

"I'm really interested to know how this whole thing happened," Aria scoots her chair closer to the table, resting her chin on her clasped hands.

"Yeah, me too, actually," Ezra speaks up for the first time since they dropped the news. "I'm actually really surprised that Hanna wasn't more interested… she lives for this kind of stuff."

"She's drunk," Caleb supplies.

Ezra nods, laughing.

"It's a long story," Toby voices.

"That I really don't want to hear," Caleb growls.

"Caleb is actually kind of the reason that we're together. He bailed on Spencer for this one concert, and she was forced to take me instead. And after bonding over what a shitty, unsupportive friend Caleb is, we became friends," Toby tells the tale, smiling as Caleb glares at him.

"Wait—you've been together since that concert?" Caleb's maple eyes nearly bulge out of his sockets. "That was like—six or seven months ago!" he gapes.

"Calm down, Caleb," Spencer irritably hisses. "That's not when we started dating."

"Wait." Caleb holds up a finger, "And that girl you were talking to this morning—you were talking to Spencer? Or did I just expose some affair you have going on?"

"It was me, idiot," she declares.

Aria bellows a laugh, "this is amazing. Spencer, you're going to tell me the whole entire thing—beginning to end, tomorrow. Without this one," she tilts her head towards Caleb, "interrupting."

Spencer just nods, but she is definitely planning to leave out some parts. Like how she and Toby had gotten it on in Hanna and Caleb's new home. Aria and Ezra go off to the dance floor a second later, confusing Spencer slightly. She has no idea who Aria is with anymore. Why can't she and Toby have that freeness? No one is questioning Aria about her relationships.

After Aria and Ezra leave, Spencer smirks at Caleb, "look who's the third wheel now."

"Don't. Okay, I've said that once, and it wasn't even in those words. It was something completely different—it doesn't even matter."

"Whatever," Spencer's voice trails.

"Stop arguing with me! Argue with Toby. You guys love arguing."

They both just glare at him.

"Fine," he sighs. "Fine. Okay, I'm being a little overdramatic…"

"A little!" Spencer exclaims, sarcastically.

"You know what; I don't really care if you two are dating. It's just really weird." He states. "In fact, it actually is going to really help me out. Hanna's always going on about how both of you are emotionally damaged, and scarred, and how she wants to set you up on blind dates," Caleb goes on. "I mean mostly Toby, but…you too, Spence."

"I'm happy our relationship has benefited you in some way," Spencer spurs out sarcasm. "Now, will you just accept it, and we can all move on?" she requests.

"Fine," he sighs.

"GATHER AROUND!" Hanna shouts from across the room. "I'M THROWING THE BOUQUET!" Hanna exclaims to the crowd.

"I guess that's my cue," Spencer stands up, hesitantly. She smiles at Toby, letting her fingers trail over his back as she walks past him.

"I can't believe you didn't tell me," Caleb states after Spencer's departure. "Spencer's all private with everything, so I get why she didn't. But you—come on, you tell me all about the girls you date."

"We've only been dating for a week, Caleb."

"See, I don't want to know how this happened, but I do."

Toby just chuckles at his friend. "One day she just—kissed me," he says, thinking back. "And from there, things between us got really confusing. It took us months to become official."

"And you're really into her?"

"Yes."

Caleb sighs, "just don't start making out in front of me, or anything. It's too weird," he nearly begs.

Toby laughs, "Is that you're way of telling me we have your blessing?"

Caleb snickers, "I guess. But I'm serious, Toby. Don't do it. I'm not equipped to handle that," he points a teasing warning finger at his friend.

A few minutes later, Hanna comes back to their table, Spencer at her side. "Spencer caught my bouquet!" Hanna exclaims giddily, sitting down on Caleb's lap, her arms linking around his neck.

"She basically threw it at me. I had to catch it. It was about to hit Hanna's grandmother in the face," Spencer explains, plopping down in her own seat.

"I'm being your maid of honor, Spence," Hanna states, ignoring her. "And my husband," she giggles at the words, "can be Toby's best man."

Caleb laughs at his wife's plans, sensing his friends' uncomfortable thoughts. "Come on, Han. How about one more dance?" he suggests.

She's instantly on her feet, smiling, dragging him towards the dance floor.

Spencer sets the bouquet down on the table, turning to Toby. "Well, they know now," she states.

"They do," he nods. "Which means I can do this," he leans in to kiss her, making her giggle. "Without worrying who's watching," he finishes after their lips part.

She smiles a little before meeting his lips for more. Her hands grab at his collar, bringing him into her.

"I literally just told Caleb we wouldn't make out in front of him," he leans back a little, laughing.

She peeks over his shoulder, and sees Caleb dancing with Hanna, blind to everything else in the world. "I think we're okay…" she murmurs before pressing her lips to his once again.

a/n: hahahah sorry I had to include Caleb's line of "Don't start making out or anything" sh...

Tell me what you thought. :)