CHAPTER 9:
Knock-knock. 13-year-old Spencer Hastings was patiently waiting in front of her new boyfriend and longtime best friend Toby's door, a bouquet of roses in hand. Toby had called her on the phone earlier, sounding upset. He had told her that he had something important to tell her, and that she needed to come to his apartment right away. Whatever Toby had to tell her, it was urgent. It couldn't wait. It was so big, that she had to miss debate club for it. Spencer could only hope that it was something good, positive, and that he wasn't breaking up with her.
A teary-eyed, red-faced Toby answered the door. "Spence," he squeaked. Without even asking what was going on, Spencer dropped the roses to the ground and gave him a hug, their stomachs pressing firmly against each other. As they broke apart, she leaned her forehead against his and cupped his cheeks in her fingers.
"Whatever it is, Tobes, it'll be okay. I'm here for you," Spencer took him by the hand and dragged him to his bedroom. He sat down gingerly on the bed and gestured for her to sit next to him.
"Spencer, um, I don't know how to say it so I'll just -" his voice broke and his body shook with oncoming tears. Spencer grabbed his hand and grasped it in hers. She softly pressed her lips to his forehead and stroked his hair. "My-my mom -" he took a deep breath, "She died. She committed suicide and didn't-didn't even say goodbye," he took off wailing again.
Spencer held his shaking body in her arms and whispered softly in his ears, "Shhh baby it's okay," while rocking him back and forth. "Toby, your mom loved you. And nothing and nobody will ever change that. I saw the way she looked at you. It was like-like you were her whole word. She loved you so much, Toby, and I'm sure she's in heaven watching over you," Spencer began to feel tears pooling in her own coffee-brown eyes. She had known Marion for a very long time, and she knew how good of a mother she was to Toby. She had fallen off the wagon a few years ago and Toby's father had sent her to Radley in the hopes that she'd get better, but it looked like she'd only gotten worse. Poor Toby. She felt so bad for him. All she wanted to do was to get his mom back, there by his side. But she knew that was impossible.
She almost swore she could hear Marion's voice ringing in her ears, "Take care of my baby, Spencer. I know you'll keep him safe," and Spencer felt the moistness in her eyes begin to grow. She let one silent tear roll down her cheek, before briskly wiping it away with her finger. I will Marion, I'll take care of him.
"Toby," she whispered. "Do you want me to sleep over?" He nodded. "Okay. It's late, we should get going to sleep now," She helped Toby take off his t-shirt and khakis, she figured he could sleep in his boxers. She herself removed her top and cropped jeans, leaving her in her bra and panties. With any other guy, or really, with any other person, she wouldn't be comfortable stripping down to her underwear but with Toby she felt safe. She'd known him for almost her whole life, and she knew that he'd never do anything to hurt her. Intentionally, at least.
Toby sat down on his bed, wearing only his underwear. He glanced at Spencer who was also in her bra and panties, eyes still puffy from crying and said "you're beautiful." She felt herself blushing. "Spencer, now that my mom's gone, I only have you. My-my dad, he's a mess. He's been a mess ever since mommy got admitted to Radley." He looked down.
"And you'll always have me. Always, I promise Toby. No matter if we're dating or just best friends I will always be by your side. I love you so much Toby. You're all I have too. My parents are all focused on Melissa and Melissa is, well, a jerk. But I have you. And you're all I need." Spencer felt another hot tear riding down her pale skin.
"I love you too Spence," She silently tucked him into bed, crawling under the covers next to him. "I miss my mommy," he wailed. "I just can't get it out of my head that I'm never going to see her ever again, I'll never be able to touch her, or hug her or-or hear her voice. I miss her so much, Spence. It's like this aching pain that I don't think will ever go away," He sobbed into her shoulder.
"Shhhhhh," She kissed his cheek and rubbed his back. "You need to drink something, you haven't eaten or drank since I came over."
"No, Spence, I don't need to drink I need my mom, and that's the one thing in this whole damn world that I can't have," Toby hissed, before melting down.
"Okay, baby. Okay. You're going to be okay." She cradled his head in his arms, and stayed awake till he fell asleep. When he finally drifted off, she put her arm around him, his body instinctively curling into hers. She kissed the back of his head before falling asleep next to the love of her life.