The drive to the restaurant was barely bearable. The only thing keeping her from screaming were the reassuring texts from Melissa. A few nonsense from her group text with Hanna, Aria and Alison. But even then she had to keep from smiling or her parents would demand to have her phone. If they saw the texts, it was sure to be thrown out of the window. It's not until she hears the car turn off that she realizes that they've arrived. She watches as her parents get out of the car not bothering to wait for her going even as far as to locking the car after Melissa gets out.
Melissa frowns at her parents actions then bends down looking at Spencer tapping her knuckles against the window until she gets her attention giving her a small smile tilting her head to the left
"Melissa!"
She rolls her eyes and ignores her mother's call, deciding to wait for Spencer instead so they can walk in together
Spencer sighs, used to this type of treatment but taken back by her sister's kindness through it all. Going as far as to ignore her mother in favor of her.
"What is your problem?" she asks when she reaches her
Melissa's eyes widen but relaxes, knowing that she would have the same reaction if she was in Spencer's place
"I want things to go back to the way they were before" she pauses shifting her weight "I don't want us to be like this."
Spencer frowns "We wouldn't if you didn't-"
"If I didn't" she looks away "act that way towards you they would've shut everything I had going on down." meeting her sister's eyes again "I wouldn't be able to have the things I do now so I could save you from them."
Spencer studies her "Why now?"
"Because I can."
Spencer opens her mouth then closes it again, not sure how to respond she looks down "We should go." she mutters walking around her towards her parents disapproving faces
"Sorry" Melissa says walking up to them "earring fell off. Spencer helped me find it."
Her mother's features soften slightly before turning on her heel walking into the restaurant stopping at the hostess asking her if the Cavanaughs had arrived yet seeing her nod asking how many before grabbing four menus then leading them to the back.
Spencer braces herself for what she's about to see, thinking back to the girl's predictions
"He's actually kind of cute." Melissa says nudging her
Spencer rolls her eyes looking at the table seeing a boy standing up from his seat shaking her father's hand before looking up at her a hint of a smile on his face. Giving him a small smile in return she looks next to him seeing a girl smiling greeting her mother.
"Spence."
She looks away from her turning her attention back to Melissa seeing her shake her head
"You must be Spencer." a tall man with broad shoulders says walking up to her
She smiles "Yes."
"I'm Daniel." extending his hand
"Nice to meet you Mr. Cavanaugh." meeting his hand
He smiles hearing the small waver in her voice "And this is my wife." turning his attention to the brunette walking up to them
"Nice to meet you Mrs. Cav-"
"Call me Marion." she interrupts
Spencer smiles, slightly taken back when she takes her hand leading her to the table
"These are my children; Toby and Emily."
Spencer watches as Emily gives her a once over before looking away from her, she raises her hand giving a tentative wave at them both, glancing briefly at her mother who scowls at her as if she had just read her mind
"Okay." Marion says sensing the tension between them "Why don't we get started?" turning around lifting her hand trying to flag a waiter down
They all sat, luckily her parents ended up on the farther end of the table, out of view from their disapproving eyes, right beside her sister. Not so luckily right across from Emily. She was tempted to ask Melissa to switch places with her but decided against it not wanting them to think she was rude or anything.
Looking at the menu she didn't see anything she had a taste for but not wanting to hold everyone else up she ordered the wild halibut.
"So Spencer" Daniel starts, everyone turning their attention to her causing her to shift in her seat "your father tells me you've received enough credits to graduate this year." she looks at him after taking a sip of water "So why aren't you?"
"Selfish reasons." returning his smile after her answer
"How so?"
"I want to enjoy senior year with my friends." ignoring the scowl from her mother, taking in their amused ones instead "Take the electives I didn't get to take when I was working my butt off, get to do the senior activities I've been waiting for. Use my free periods to go to the college center to get their input and help for applying for early admissions, which colleges would actually help me get to what I want to do the fastest, or have the best connections."
Marion nods her head and looks at Toby and Emily "Maybe you'll rub off on these two."
Spencer fights back her smile, feeling happy for the first time in months in the presence of her family but hoping she wasn't making the two in front of her upset. She looks at Melissa who has a look on her face as if she was genuinely happy for her.
Daniel smiles at her "Doesn't sound selfish to me. What is it that you want to do?"
'Get away from my parents.' she thinks to herself "Right now Political Science."
Both of the Cavanaughs nod their heads in approval seemingly impressed
She lets out a small breath of relief when the food comes taking the focus off of her, she looks up at Toby giving him an apologetic look he smiles in response shaking his head as if to say it was nothing. She hoped it was true but she didn't buy it, choosing to ignore Emily completely.
The rest of dinner went surprisingly fast, it was actually enjoyable. The laughter seemed genuine, unforced. The conversation was pleasant. She was actually dreading the end of it. When the waiter came back asking if they wanted dessert everyone denied it. But instead of asking for the checks the Cavanaughs asked for the drink menu and asked if the Hastings wanted to stay with them, suggesting the 'kids' go off and get to know each other.
Both Toby and Emily got up from the table immediately, Emily walking straight to the door, Toby waiting for Spencer to get up and get her purse walking after Emily together not saying a word until they were outside.
"Sorry about that." Spencer says to them as they walk to the empty bench digging through her purse
"I should probably be apologizing to you." Toby says "I didn't mean to-"
"No it's fine." she replies waving her hand "They say it's my fault for choosing field hockey over swimming anyway."
Emily looks up "You swim?" putting a cigarette between her lips taking out her lighter
"Not anymore...well competitively." frowning "Do you?" watching as she lights it
"Captain. Currently the holder of the fastest record." smiling at Toby before taking a drag
"Sibling rivalry?" Spencer asks
"Only on her part." he replies "But if she keeps smoking, she won't be able to hold it over my head anymore."
She turns her head away letting out a tunnel of smoke "He only says that because he doesn't believe it actually relieves the stress."
Spencer looks at him
"Not you too."
"Sorry to disappoint."
"Now you'll be licking an ashtray." she taunts
"Why?" he asks Spencer ignoring Emily's comment
"It actually does relieve stress. At least it feels like it does." she looks at Emily "What do you mean licking an ashtray?"
She lets out a cloud of smoke "He read somewhere that kissing a smoker is like licking an ashtray." meeting Spencer's gaze
He looks at Spencer mouth open but closing it immediately
"Tell her Tobes."
He frowns at Emily
"Tell me what?"
He looks at her "It's nothing."
Spencer looks at Emily then back to Toby "Oh." looking at him "Really?"
He nods "Sorry. I-"
"No. No this is perfect." practically beaming
He tilts his head eyebrows knitting together "You do know that our parents are trying to set us up right?"
Spencer smiles nodding her head
"Then why…" he trails off watching her nod her head
"Do your parents know?"
He shakes his head "I just tell them I'm too busy to have a girlfriend. Do yours?"
Spencer takes a deep breath "Yeah. They're just not…" she trails off shaking her head
He leans forward "Your parents too?"
She nods "Too?" she asks taken back "But your parents-" she stops herself "Well as long as we make them think we actually like each other in that way, we'll be fine."
Emily looks up to see their parents walking towards them, taking the cigarette away from her lips
"Guys." getting their attention she tilts her head in their direction
"You're not going to put that out?" Spencer asks
"It's not a secret." returning it to her lips before looking at Toby who smirks at her, rolling her eyes in response
Marion is the first to reach them "Emily." she says disappointment clear in her voice
Emily stops mid drag and turns her head to let the smoke out dropping the cigarette to the ground pressing her heel to it "Sorry."
"Spencer." Veronica says frowning smelling the smoke
"It's not me." she responds standing up
Emily steps forward "Sorry Mrs. Hastings."
"It's such a nasty habit. We've been trying to get her to stop but, it's her body." Marion says sounding defeated
"But you're a swimmer."
"Who somehow beats Toby." Daniel chimes in
"It's because I let her win." Toby says standing up
"Whatever." Emily says frowning "It was nice to meet you." she says looking back and forth from Mr. and Mrs. Hastings "I would hug you or something but I smell so...sorry." she says warily
"It's fine." Veronica responds
Spencer frowns but regain her composure quickly remembering where she was
"It was very nice to meet you both." giving Marion a quick hug and Daniel another handshake
"Did you all exchange numbers?" glancing at Spencer, Emily and Toby
"Dad is that really necessary?" Toby asks sounding embarrassed
"Oh no it's fine." Spencer says smiling pulling out her phone handing it to Toby taking his
"I'm so sorry." he says after saving his number in her phone
She hands his phone back to him smiling "It's fine. I don't know how we were going to meet up tomorrow without exchanging numbers anyway." she responds waiting for him to catch on
"Emily's smoke was getting to us."
"I am right here." she says frowning
They exchange smiles "Good night." looking at Mr. and Mrs. Cavanaugh before turning on her heel walking to Melissa leaving her parents alone with them
"So is he gay?" Melissa asks when they're out of earshot
Spencer frowns
"Oh don't look at me like that. He knew what fork to use and complimented my shoes."
"Knowing what fork to use does not-" she stops when she sees Melissa's face "Yes."
"So you both have a cover."
Spencer nods
"You're still coming to live with me." she states matter of factly opening the car door sliding in, closing it after her