Chapter 13
Love+Hate=Jealousy
She felt guilty, no, she felt awful. Spencer leaned up against the hospital wall to stop her pacing of the floor. She's been here ever since Caleb called Hanna hours ago. There was fight. A fight between Caleb, Jason, Toby, and the police. Spencer thought that it may have just meant a few stitches and bruises, but she was wrong. She wiped the tears from her eyes as she remembered the words Jason told her as soon as the girls got there.
Jason and Caleb only need a few stitches and had a little bruising. But Toby, he was hurt pretty bad. They rushed him off to surgery as soon as he got there. The doctors say it could go either way right now. This was all her fault and she didn't know how to fix it. She slid down the wall. And sat on the floor with her face buried in her knees.
"Spencer." She heard Aria's voice, but didn't look up. How could she when she almost got her friends boyfriend killed?"Spence, I know you can hear me."
Still she stayed with her head pressed against her knees. Not uttering a word. Not acknowledging her friend because of the guilt.
"I brought you coffee." She offered as she sat down to join her friend on the floor."Look, Spence, everything is gonna be okay."
She lifted her head and looked at Aria."Is it?"
Aria opened her mouth to answer her, but Jason limped over. Aria stood up to help him balance on his feet.
"We're about to leave." He said and then turned his gaze to Spencer."The doctors say there's no point in waiting because they won't give out any information to anyone who's not immediate family. Caleb and I really need to lie down."
"Okay, you guys can go home. I'll stay here."
"Are you sure? Do you want me and the girls to come back and wait with you?" Aria asked and Spencer shook her head as she grabbed her coffee and stood up.
"No, I'm just gonna stay here for a few more hours and then head home." She lied. She wasn't going anywhere until she heard anything about Toby. Even if that meant camping out in a waiting room.
"Alright, we'll call you later." Aria hugged her and Jason gave her side hug before they walked off leaving her alone.
"Spencer." Spencer immediately woke up when someone touched her arm. She looked up and it was her mother standing before her."Mom, what are you going here?"
"I came because of Toby Cavanaugh." Hearing his name suddenly perked Spencer's interest. She must have fallen asleep in the waiting room, but she was fully awake now."I got a call from Jason telling me that Toby might need me. I called Wren and heard that Toby was assaulted and was immediately rushed to the ICU."
"Is he okay? How is he doing? When can I see him?-"
"Spencer," Her mother said her to stop her rambling and to calm her down."He's fine. He suffered a little trauma to the head, but the doctors say be just fine. He's also got a broken arm, a couple of stitches, and quite a few bruises."
"Is he out of the ICU?" Spencer asked and her mother nodded her head. She let out a sigh of relief that he was okay because if she had lost him, then she wouldn't know what to do.
"I talked to him about the assault and he said it was someone he didn't know. He doesn't really remembered the guys who did it, but either way he doesn't want to press charges against anyone."
"I can I see him? Please?"
"Follow me." Veronica walked out of the waiting room with Spencer right behind her.
He hated hospitals. He spent a lot of time going to hospitals to see his mother. He'd always remember the endless white hallways, the way everything smelled like everything had just been cleaned, and the sad looks on people's face. The beeping heart monitor next to him was really starting to drive him crazy.
He was seconds away from ripping out all these wires connected to his body when there was a light knock at his door. It was probably his nurse or Mrs. Hastings again. He really didn't feel like talking about last night again, but he couldn't hide away in this room forever.
"Come in." He said and his voice sounded hoarse. He made a mental note to ask the nurse, if it was her, to get him some water.
The door opened, but it wasn't a nurse or Mrs. Hastings. It was another Hastings. It was his Spencer. His heart fluttered and he felt like he wasn't hurting anymore when he saw her. She made it all go away when she came in and smiled at him.
"Hi." She said meekly as she slowly approached his bed.
He outstretched his hand for her to take, but she shook her head. He knew she had to be nervous about touching him because she might hurt him. But the pain didn't matter at that moment.
"'Come here." He pleaded in a soft spoken tone that made her heart melt."You won't break me I promise."
She finally gave in when he had this puppy dog look on his face. She slowly slid her hand into his and he pulled her, so that she was standing right next to him. Then in one quick moment, he mischievously smiled at her before pulling her down into the bed with him. It hurt like hell when she landed on top of his body, but he couldn't have her at arms length anymore.
"I am so sorry." She whispered into his chest and tried to move to his side, but he held her tightly in place."You should be mad at me, not holding me."
He kissed the top of her head."Shhh, I could never ever be mad at you. Now, just let me hold you for a little while."
And he did. He held her all day. He held her when the nurses came in and told him that she can't lay on him like that. He held her when his doctor came in and told him holding her like that could cause more pain. He held her when she feel asleep in his arms. He held her all night and even when visiting hours were over. He didn't want to let her go because the beat of her heart was what made him feel strong.
Today was the big day that Toby was finally being released from the hospital. He's been there for about a week and half and it was driving him mad. He almost jumped for joy when the doctors said he could go home. His friends had been visiting him constantly throughout the past few weeks and he was grateful, but was still yearning to break free of this prison called a hospital.
The only saving grace was that Spencer came to see him everyday. She came with stuff for them to do like scrabble or word puzzles. It was the best part about being in the hospital. He got to see her and he knew that she was safe. Safe from Andrew and Jenna.
"Are you ready, Mr. Cavanaugh?" He looked up because he thought it was his nurse, but he had a smile on his face because he recognized the voice instantly. It was Spencer.
She was standing in his doorway with a wheelchair for him."I am ready to go."
She wheeled the chair over to him and helped him out of bed. It took a moment, but he was finally situated in the chair. He was anxious about leaving because really he didn't have a place to go to.
"You can just take to Yardley. I'm gonna stay in the stores basement." He said as she wheeled him out of the room and down the halls.
"No, need, Toby. You're going home with me." She said and said with a smile on her face. It took a little convincing to have her parents agree to let Toby stay in the guest room. There was only a few rules they had to follow, but it was gonna be worth it to have Toby safe.
"Spence, you don't have to-"
"Nope, it's already done. I've moved in your stuff and made up your room."
"What about your parents?" He questioned as she wheeled him out of the hospital and he was glad to be smelling fresh air again.
"They're on board with it. We're just gonna have to follow a few rules."
"Rules?"
She laughed at him before saying."Trust me, I'm sure you'll hear all about it from them."
It was official, Toby was living with Spencer. Well, Spencer and her family, but it was only temporarily. He was allowed to stay until he got better, but once he got better he had to continue to go back to work and school. Then when he made enough money he would move out. It was all set in stone and Tony couldn't believe. He was going to be living in the same house as Spencer. It was like a dream come true for him.
But he was also gonna be living with Mr. Hastings. And he still had some off feelings about. He couldn't put his finger on it just yet, but something was up. And he was pretty sure it as something to do with all his bad luck lately.
It was finally dinner time, expect, Melissa wouldn't be joining them tonight. She said she had plans, but Spencer and Toby knew that was code for Spencer's parents wanted to talk to them alone. This dinner was gonna be a little awkward.
The only noises heard from the dinner table were the clanks from the forks hitting the dishes. And occasionally the low throat clearing from Mr. Hastings. Yep, just a regular dinner.
Toby knew something was coming. He he could tell when Mr. and Mrs. Hastings simultaneously looked at each other. He just sat back and waited for everything to put on the table.
"Look, we know what happens when two hormonal teenagers are around each other, but you two are going to be living together." Veronica said, just getting to the point and earning surprising looks from Toby and Spencer."So there will be no hanky panky in this house-"
Toby tried really had to stifle a laugh as she spoke, but the words hanky panky sent him over the edge. He didn't mean to laugh, but it just kind of slipped out."Sorry." He apologized and looked up at Spencer to see her grinning at him.
Veronica cleared her throat before she continued."Clothes must be worn at all times inside the house. If you want to go into each others rooms go when we're home and leave the door open. No sneaking into each others rooms at night because I can hear the squeaks-"
This time it was Spencer who interrupted her mothers sentence. But this conversation was just too funny and she tried to hold it in, but when she looked at Toby's amused face, she laughed. And he joined her laughter, but noticed he pink on her cheeks."Sorry, Mom." She apologized and bowed her down, but was still smiling.
"I can hear when the floorboards squeak. And please try to keep your hands to yourselves."
"Yes, ma'am. I wouldn't do anything to disrespect your house. My relationship with Spencer's means much more than that." He said honestly and saw that Mr. Hastings wasn't too happy with his words.
"And what exactly is your relationship with Spencer?" Peter questioned in a dry, almost spiteful tone.
"Well, if you want the truth I'll give it to you." Toby said."We're just seeing where it goes. I respect your daughter. I care about her. I know she's got walls built up around her heart, but I want to, no, I'm gonna break through and find her heart. Because she means so much to me."
Spencer like that answer. In fact, she loved that answer. She wanted to kiss him right now and tell him she felt the same way, but her parents were right in front of them. She couldn't read the look her dads face, but her mother looked happy about the answer he gave.
"I'm sorry about all of the rules." Spencer apologized as she wiped dried the last dish. She and Toby were cleaning the dishes after dinner, but Spencer was just using it as an excuse to get some alone time with him.
He chuckled as he wiped his hands dry with a towel."It's not a big deal. They're nervous that something might happen between us before were ready."
"If they're so afraid something might happen, then why'd they leave us alone together to wash dishes?"
He shrugged as he wrapped his arms around her and kiss the top of her head."Because I think deep down they trust you."
She raised an eyebrow at him."What about you?"
"What about me?" He teased and then took her by surprise by grabbing her hips and hoisting her up into the counter. He stepped in between her legs, then kissed her like he'd be gone tomorrow.
"Toby, you know the rules. There's no hanky panky allowed in this house." She teased, but couldn't even keep a straight face when she said it.
"You're parents need to be more specific. They said don't do anything in the house. We could easily fornicate on the front lawn if we were so inclined to." He teased as he kissed his way down her neck and back up to her ear to whisper."I've been cooped up in a hospital and I couldn't get you out of my head."
"Maybe I'm a curse. I seem to attract a lot of bad things to you." And she meant to say it in a teasing tone, but it came out as a more shameful one.
"Hey, look at me." He gently grabbed her chin to focus her eyes on him."There's nothing bad about you. If anything you're my good luck charm."
"And how am I lucky."
He smiled at her."That's easy. You're lucky for three reasons. 1. You make me feel like I can do anything in the world like be batman. 2. With just one smile from you, you can turn my bad day into the best day of my life. And 3. Every time I'm with you my heart starts beating really fast and when you're away from me too long it feels like I can't breathe. You keep me going."
She felt the tears slip down her face, but they were happy tears. Andrew never spoke to her like that with such love and adoration. She cupped Toby's face in her hands and kissed him. And at that moment she knew. She knew that she was falling for him like he had for her. He held her close in his arms, as close as he could have her and kissed her with love.
But they didn't know they had a audience lurking just around the corner. Mr. Hastings finished his eavesdropping and made a quick beeline to his office. He made sure the doors were locked before pulling out his phone and dialing the number.
"We've got a problem."