Chapter 11:

Team Sparia

"Well, Spence, I think it's safe to say that the queen of England would be jealous of this fancy-schmancy part-ay." Hanna gave a nod of approval before linking arms with Caleb and dragging him into the building.

Spencer smiled and continued to stand in the doorway beside Toby, scanning around the room for any signs of imperfection.

"Aw, damn it." She cursed, pointing to the tablecloths covering the dessert table, "Look at that."

"What? What's wrong with it?" Toby asked, furrowing his eyebrows.

"The tablecloth is gold. I ordered champagne! And Aria and I paid big bucks to the people who decorated this place."

"What's the difference?"

"Wha – what's the difference?" Spencer asked, flabbergasted, "I thought you worked with buildings and architecture and stuff! How could you not know this?"

"Uhm, probably because I'm not you, Spencer. Why do you care anyway? It looks the same to me."

"Why do I care? Wha – I'm sorry, have we just met?"

"Very funny. Look," Toby put his hands on her shoulders. "I want you to do something for me, okay?"

"What?"

"I want you to forget about the tablecloths, and placemats, and dessert coverings, and realize that this party is perfect. Aria is going to love it, and so should you. Now, smile for me."

Spencer rolled her eyes but nevertheless obeyed, showing her teeth to prove she meant it.

"That's my girl." Toby grinned and kissed her nose. "Alrighty, then, I'm going to grab us something to drink, and you, Miss Hastings, are going to enjoy yourself." He grinned and let go of her, disappearing into the growing throng of guests and towards the drinks table.

Spencer sighed and shook her head, laughing under her breath. She returned her gaze to the décor of the room – all and all, it did look pretty good. Once Spencer had convinced Aria not to hold the party at Hollis Bar and Grill ("But it's where we met!" Aria had forcefully insisted), they had settled on the backlot of Asher's Department Store – not exactly the most fancy place to hold an engagement party, but with a few repairs and some rockin' decorations, it turned out to be quite the happening place.

"Is that Miss Spencer Hastings I see?" An accent-dappled voice that Spencer knew too well scratched against her eardrums and Spencer whirled around to see Wren standing behind her, approaching her quickly. She could vaguely see Melissa about to come through the doorway, struggling to balance a large engagement gift and still hold Taylor's hand.

"Hmm?" She said a bit disoriented, turning her attention to Wren, who wore the same smile he always did – full of charm and false promises.

"You look stunning." Wren replied, his eyes roving over her, a bit too appreciative for her comfort.

"Uhm…."

"Oh, what about me, how do I look?" Toby's voice came from behind her. Spencer peered over her shoulder and saw him standing with two glasses of sparkling cider, his gaze peering past her and down at Wren – who was, still, about six inches shorter than him – looking like he wanted a serious answer.

Wren's face flashed shock for a moment, but he quickly recovered and put his façade back in place, "Dashing. Yes, uhm, how are you?" He said, laughing once to cover up the uncomfortable moment.

"Fine, thanks." Toby smiled, and it looked sincere, yet guarded. He handed Spencer her drink and kissed her hair, "I ran into Em – she said she wants to say hello to you." He told her, before snapping his eyes back up to Wren. "Wren." He nodded.

"Toby." Wren mimicked and shuffled a bit as Melissa appeared by his side, Taylor in tow.

"Hey. I'll talk to you later – right now we have to find Emily and Aria!" Spencer called to her sister as she and Toby began to make their way through the crowd of guests.

Towards the bar on the far left wall, Emily stood leaning against a barstool, decked out in a stunning pale orange dress – some designer that Hanna would no doubt know the name to – drinking a glass of soda. To Spencer surprise, Samara accompanied her, perched on the barstool beside her, stirring her own glass.

"Hey, Em!" Spencer grinned. Emily turned to her and her face broke into a smile as she pulled her friend into a hug.

"And Samara." Spencer addressed the perky blonde to her right. Samara looked almost exactly how she had back in high school, except her usually choppy shoulder length curls reached past her shoulder blades, and she had straightened them flat for the occasion. She, too, was dressed to impress, in her creative yet tasteful dark blue scoop-neck dress. She slid off of her chair and hugged Spencer, "I haven't seen you in ages, sweetie!" She beamed, showing off her perfect white teeth. "You look amazing. That dress is fierce." She drawled, taking Spencer's hands in hers and squeezing them to emphasize her words.

"Totally." Emily agreed. She turned to Toby, "Oh, and don't think I forgot about you. You clean up nice too, Mr. Bob the Builder."

"Gee, thanks." Toby teased.

"Anyway, the party turned out flawless Spence," Emily assured her.

"Absolutely perfect." Samara agreed. "I love the colors – gold and white. So classy."

"Actually, it was supposed to be champagne…" Spencer mumbled, but stopped herself when remembering what Toby had said, "But that doesn't matter." She batted her hand in the air as if the push the thought away. "Thanks so much. Have either of you seen the bride-to-be?"

Emily shook her head, "We've been looking for her. I thought you might have seen her."

"Someone requesting my presence?" A voice spoke up from behind her and Spencer twisted around to see Aria, wearing the smile that only an engaged woman should be allowed to have.

"Hey!" Spencer exclaimed as Aria stretched up on her toes and threw her arms around her. "There you are! We've been looking for you!"

"Here I am!" She smiled. She was already holding her glass of sparkling cider – in her engagement ring hand, no less – and dressed to impress in the classy black dress they had picked out together at a boutique in Brookhaven.

"And, you look perfect!" Spencer exclaimed as Emily and Samara stepped around her to embrace Aria.

"Thanks." She smiled.

"Where's the lucky fellow?" Samara asked after planting a kiss on each of Aria's cheeks.

"With Hardy. He and Vienna just arrived and Mr. Popular is at high demand for attention right now." Aria rolled her eyes with a laugh.

"Well, maybe he can squeeze in some attention for me." Toby teased, dropping a kiss on the top of Spencer's head. "See you guys later, I'm going to go find out." He said before disappearing into the crowd of people that condensed the space around the ice sculpture.

"Well, we'll have to go and see him soon!" Spencer replied. "But right now, you need to give me your honest opinion. How did I do?" She asked.

"Oh my God, Spencer Jill Hastings, it. Is. Flawless." Aria responded earnestly. "I love it. Thank you so much, girly. I owe you one."

"You do not! This is all my treat. Making you happy is payment enough." She grinned.

Aria snorted and laughed, hugging her once more. "Alright, I've gotta go – Ezra's parents are coming soon and I really should welcome them."

"Of course, of course." Emily said, batting her hand in the air. "Go, go. We'll see you later."

"Alright. I'll find you guys in a bit." Aria grinned, waving goodbye as she, too, scurried into the crowd, her cute little butt sashaying in her dress.

Spencer shook her head. "That girl…is the definition of happy."

"So. True." Emily chuckled.

"Good luck." Toby whispered in Spencer's ear and she grinned and kissed his cheek before stepping up onto the small stage that had been set perfectly on the back wall, surrounded by the drink and gift tables. The guests had gathered around the stage in preparation for the maid of honor's speech.

"Excuse me?" Spencer said, taking the microphone off of the stand that had been prepared for her. "Can I please have you attention?"

The room fell silent and Spencer looked out into the audience – some from Aria and Spencer's classes at Hollis, others colleagues from Ezra's own years at Hollis.

"I don't want to make this too long, because I know that dessert wine is almost out, so…" Spencer sighed. "I'm just going to say this. We are gathered here tonight to celebrate the engagement of two truly wonderful people. Aria, I've known you for most of my life." She locked eyes with the bride-to-be, who stood closest to the stage, "Literally, I cannot imagine my life without you. And I really don't want to have to." Spencer shook her head. "Do you remember that time when we went to Paris the summer before freshman year at Hollis? And you dropped your camera off of the side of the Eiffel tower while trying to take a picture of us?" Spencer laughed, and the audience chuckled with her. Aria beamed and covered her mouth with the back of her hand. "Oh, but you didn't need to take the picture. I'll always have that memory in my head. I'll keep all my memories with you, and I know that we will have even more in the years to come. Whether it be double dates with the boys or sleepovers with the girls, as long as I get to look forward to my weekends with you, I'm more than fine. So, I love you, you beautiful bride-to-be. You deserve the best of happiness. Ezra…is a very lucky man. And I know that he will love you for the rest of eternity. You guys have a love that rocks the ages." She smiled. "And Aria…I hope that you know how honored I am to be the face behind this amazing ceremony. It's truly a blessing to be your best friend. You are the ying to my yang, the Sherlock to my Watson, the twin sister I always wanted." She sighed and smiled even harder. "We'll always be Team Sparia."

Aria fist pumped the air and bit her lip with a grin.

"So, everyone." Spencer looked around the audience. "To Ezra and Aria. So that they may have the best of times ahead of them."

"To Ezra and Aria." The crowd responded, holding up their glasses in unison.

"Thank you so much. Dessert wine is out!" She smiled as they applauded her and she stepped off of the short stage. Toby was waiting for her, his hands in his pockets, and when she reached him, he roped his arm around her waist. "Great job." He murmured in her ear.

"Thanks." Spencer smiled. "Dessert wine?" She asked.

"Lead the way, Juliet."

"Hey, great speech." Melissa's voice made Spencer turn. She was at the bar, having been snuck a few sips of Toby's wine to put her at ease.

"Thanks." She smiled.

"Where's Toby?"

"Talking with Caleb. I think they're planning some kind of guys night." Spencer chuckled, sipping her ginger ale.

Melissa slid up onto the barstool beside her.

"So where's Wren?"

"Wouldn't I like to know." Melissa sighed. "Taylor is off playing with Ezra's niece – Shay."

"Oh." A few beats of awkward silence condensed the air. Spencer was the first to speak up. "So…are you still seeing Franco?"

Melissa's lips formed a tight line and she nodded. "Uh-huh."

"Have you…made any progress with Wren?"

"You ask that like there's any possibility for it to happen."

"That's because there is. Melissa, look. I get it. I know that Wren is unloving towards you, but he must love Taylor. He has to. And I know that he will try for her." Spencer said.

"Spencer, please, don't make this harder than it needs to be." Melissa shook her head. "Look. I like Franco. I really do. He makes me so happy." She took a deep breath and let it out in a shaky sigh. "Before Franco I…" she cleared her throat. "You know this past Fourth of July, when we got together with Jason, Hanna, Caleb, Aria, Ezra, and Emily? I remembered being there with Wren and Taylor, but all I really remember is looking at you with Toby…seeing the way he looked at you. Like you were…the lightest thing in his life. And that his love would never waver. I remember wanting that so bad for myself it hurt." She chuckled in spite of herself. "I know that it sounds incredibly jealous and selfish, but it's true. He would always smile at you and kiss your hair or…whisper something in your ear that would make you laugh. We haven't had that sort of smile in so long, I cant even remember what Wren's teeth look like."

"Well, good, because some British teeth are better left forgotten…" Spencer mumbled under her breath.

"This is serious, Spencer. I just…you know, want to feel loved. When I was with Ian…he always made me feel like I mattered. With Wren…it's like we're cabinmates at a camp that our parents forced us to go to against our will. We are strangers now."

Spencer sighed. "Look, there's really nothing I can say at this point. I just really think that what you're doing is unfair to Wren and Taylor."

"And Wren constantly hitting on you is fair to me?" Melissa retorted, her eyes narrowing.

"Melissa." Spencer warned. "You know that that's not my fault."

"I never said it was." Melisa replied. "But I would appreciate it if you wouldn't try and help me. I can handle this on my own."

"Alright." Spencer sighed. "I'll let you handle it."

And as Spencer peered up into the crowd and spotted Aria, wrapped in Ezra's embrace, wearing a smile of a woman in pure love – a feeling that Melissa knew she could only get from a man she could never fully be with.