AN: Hi guys, I'm sorry if this one seems a bit sketchy, I started it at like 2 in the morning so certain bits might not make any sense. -Chloe :-)xx

Chapter 5- A game of Life

About a month had passed since the return of –A and the breakup of Spencer Hastings and Toby Cavanaugh. Since that night the pair had barely spoken two words to each other. Toby was still trying to gain the "A team's" trust and it was proving harder than he thought. So far he had been ordered to tell Ezra about Aria knowing all about his son still being alive after going behind his back to see him.

The only thing that –A wasn't aware of was that this tightly knit group of friends that consisted of Spencer, Aria, Hanna, Emily, Caleb, Ezra and Toby though he was on the down low were now making sure that they were all 100% honest with each other about their secrets. They still had to make it seem to –A like they were all falling apart at the seams. Another part of their plan was to create a whole host of fake secrets that –A could feast on.

Just the other day Hanna received a text off of their target saying
"Aw Blondie, I bet you thought your golden boy was well and truly wrapped around your little finger. He left your 'best friends' the other day looking like the cat that got the cream. I didn't know he offered rebound sex too! –A". For once they were one step ahead of the messed up little team and were making things a whole lot easier for Toby.

The next part of the plan was to make it seem like Toby was getting back together with Spencer to get all of the inside information. When Toby got told by Mona that this was part of their plan he was more than happy to take part knowing full well that –A was playing right into their hands. It was also known to Toby that Spencer would never do anything by half measures so if they were to pretend that they were back together they would make it believable.

Spencer was on her daily jog that she had taken up again when she felt her phone go off in the pockets of her jogging pants. She began reading the text and a smile spread across her face.

"Hey Spence, just found out what the next part of the bitch's plans are. Apparently we're to get back together so I can get all the inside details. Don't know if you're up for it but we can put on a hell of a show ;-)"

"Haha, I'm so in. I never thought we'd be covering up for the fact we're not together. Oh how times have changed. Let's give them a show they will never forget. I think this calls for the tapped SIM" She knew that –A would be looking for evidence in any texts that the group were slowly falling apart and would be looking for anything else to use against them all.

"Miss Hastings you're a genius! I'll see you on the other side my friend. We're about to do some bad, bad things" A small giggle slipped out of Spencer's mouth. It was nice for her and Toby to finally use what they have to an advantage; everyone knew that the two of them pretending to be together would come naturally to them.

Toby was sat in the truck that Spencer had bought him nearly a year ago; he was waiting for the brunette beauty to leave her house so they could go on their first date as an official fake couple. His eyes began to sparkle at the thought of being able to kiss Spencer again; he had missed her so much that when he went to bed at night he would think about the day that he was free to love her for the rest of his life.

"Ahem, Mr. Daydreamer your fake girlfriend is now here and ready to be whisked away for a magical first fake date" As Toby was dragged out of his trance by the beautiful girl that was sat next to him he smiled as he thought about what she has just said.

"Ah yes, well then fake girlfriend; time to show this town what real acting is" they both laughed in unison as their eyes connected. The love they both felt for each other was still visible as they looked deeper into each other's eyes.

"Like we even have to pretend" Spencer muttered as she dragged herself away from Toby's piercing gaze.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, it's obvious that I still love you right? I mean I would tell you every day if I didn't think that it meant nothing at the moment. But the main reason that I was so onboard with this plan was because it meant that I could spend the time that I've so badly craved this past month." A smile spread over Toby's handsome face

"Hey why would it mean nothing? Spencer it would mean everything! We've already gathered that we're pretty good at the staying hidden thing but right now we have the perfect opportunity to be real fake dating. Our relationship wouldn't be anything other than exciting" He was chuckling by now

"You have no idea how much I've missed that laugh, and those eyes, and that face. I've just missed you Toby, every single bit of you. If I thought this could work out I would have been on board weeks ago but Jesus, we both know that something would ruin this for us and until –A has definitely gone I'm not willing to take that risk. Let's just make the most of the fake dating thing for now okay? I need to be able to say that I'm sure nothing will come between us before I'm ready to 100% commit to this and we both know that –A is the downfall of our relationship." There was the ghost of a smile that Toby usually reserved for Spencer on his face as he soaked in everything that she had just said. He knew for a fact that she was right and it was what he had wanted too but after getting caught up in the moment of their fake relationship rekindling he thought there was hope.

"I know what you mean. I hate not being able to show you how much I love you though, I need you Spencer and I need you to see that. One day we will be free of –A and if you haven't moved on to some big time lawyer or doctor that your parents approve of; then we can be together and I promise you that I will show you the love that I couldn't in these few months every single day."

"I love you Toby Cavanaugh" the ghostly smile was now etched onto Toby's face.

"I suppose we best get to the restaurant, we wouldn't want to keep our audience waiting". The car pulled away from the curb and sped off into the town, it was like this inanimate object knew how eager the two teenagers were to change this situation and allow themselves to be together.

They had been at their table in the small restaurant for nearly half an hour now and were waiting for their main course to arrive.

"So, how are we supposed to know where you know who is" Spencer whispered hoping that –A couldn't hear everything that they were saying.

"I'm not entire sure. I guess we just have to play it up all night. Laugh." Toby's sudden order now made sense to her as she let out the most nonchalant laugh she could. They were now gazing into each other's eyes as if nothing had changed and they were still the happy couple they had been before Spencer found out about Toby's involvement. They made the fact that they had rehearsed everything they intended on talking about seem so natural.

Spencer had now stopped talking in a hushed tone and was making sure that where ever –A was that they could hear her.

"I have something to tell you Toby; I don't think you'll like it at all" just as they had rehearse; Toby's face had dropped.

"W-What is it Spence? You know you can tell me anything right?"

"Yes I know but it still doesn't make this any easier" she cleared her throat ready to make her big announcement. "While we were together I was having an affair. I never meant for it to happen everything just got so out of hand!"

"You're kidding me right? Please tell me this is just some big joke. IS THIS YOUR IDEA OF A JOKE?" The pair was making this charade seem so realistic. The only thoughts that were going through Toby's head was how he would react if he found out it was Wren and it had actually happened. It would tear him apart. Pushing himself away from the table in anger his voice began to get louder "Who is it? Is he still around? WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU?"

"Please Toby, baby just sit back down. You're making a scene." Spencer's fake tears were now streaming down her face. At least Toby thought they were fake. She couldn't stop thinking about how she would feel if Toby had been cheating on her, how would she feel? The harshness of this realisation was now controlling her emotions. "Please sit down and I'll tell you!" the chair that was behind Toby was now taken once again as he attempted to calm down his rage.

"It, it was an older guy. Not much older. He was one of Jason's friends from college that came to stay with him for the month." The hurt that was filling Toby's eyes was now completely real. How could their friends make them talk about either of them cheating? It had never happened but the concept of it tore them both apart. He was now hurting from the sight that was sat right in front of him; Spencer's tears weren't fake. She never cried like that unless she really was upset; her shoulders were shaking and there was mascara smudged all over her face. He knew he couldn't keep this up for much longer because it would destroy him.

"You remember him don't you? You both got along so well. I don't even know what happened, one minute I was in the kitchen of Jason's house listening to him talk about college and what he did then the next we were up in the guest bedroom doing; well I think you have a pretty good idea of what we were doing."

"How could you Spencer, I loved you. Hell I still love you for some reason." He finally began the rehearsed storming out of the restaurant although there were real tears soaking his cheeks. This had all been too real for him. He knew that Spencer could find someone better that him because she was beautiful, funny and smart. There was one thing stopping him from running back in there and taking the gorgeous girl into his arms and kissing her so passionately; that thing was –A. The person that this whole game was for, the one that hurt them both so much. He wasn't going to stop until the fool was ruined; he needed Spencer so that he could breathe again.

Spencer had arrived at Aria's place to discuss what their plan of action was after her and Toby's very public argument. She was greeted by her very edgy best friend that was dying for details of what had happened and what they had decided to go with for their argument. They began talking about what had happened and what they thought –A would do about it because to the A team it could have been something that ruined their plan.

About 10 minutes after Spencer arrived there was a knock at the front door. To the girls surprise there was a sullen looking Toby stood just over the threshold. He looked up at both of the brunettes that were stood staring at him; he could tell how confused they were.

"Um H-hi, is it alright if I steal Spencer for a minute Aria?" His voice sounded like he was going to start crying any time soon

"Yeah sure take her away!" Aria pushed Spencer out onto the porch towards the awaiting Toby.

"Toby, what's wrong?"

"Um, I needed to tell you something, well more show you something" He showed Spencer a text that he had received earlier that day from –A

"Cavanaugh, I thought you were better than that. Letting some stupid affair ruin your chances of revenge. I guess it's time we raise our game. I'm out for blood; your pretty little girlfriend's in particular. –A"

A gasp escaped Spencer's throat as she reached the end of the text. Nothing she thought about made any sense to her right now all she knew was that they needed to up their game also.

"Shit Toby! They're going to get me; they're going to kill me" Her eyes were streaming and her whole body was shaking.

"No baby, no they won't. I'd rather die than see anyone touch you. I need you Spence; I can't live without you." He pulled her into his chest and just held her close as she sobbed her heart out. He knew that nothing he could say would make this situation any easier for her.

"They're going to pay for this Spencer baby, I swear down no one will touch a single hair on your head. I think it's about time we called in reinforcements."

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