Chapter Eleven: Lily's Words of Wisdom

Ah, Life and its complicated ways. Give Spencer her best friends back, but fling an unexpected kiss at her. A rotten lemon kiss. That was all Spencer wanted: to kiss Toby and admit she was still in love with him. But, the sour part was Spencer had become close friends with Lily and Toby was Lily's boyfriend. Sure, Spencer stole her older sister's boyfriend once, but you never steal your friend's boyfriend. Right?

Spencer had been avoiding Toby at all costs since their shared kiss a few nights ago. He was gone before she awoke in the morning and she made Jace's dinner a litter earlier, so when Toby came home from work Spencer could bolt upstairs to go hide in her room. They hadn't spoken a word face to face no matter the number of attempts Toby made to do so. And what was even worse was both of them knew that Spencer's court date was this weekend and she'd be a state away for two days giving Spencer the best hiding spot yet.

Before Spencer left though, she granted him a goodbye as she was saying goodbye to Jace. Toby didn't take the chance to talk to Spencer like he should've only saying, "Have a good trip."

And the guilt finally crashing down on him when Spencer left. Toby was not the kind of guy who would cheat on his girlfriend, but anyone could probably guess that Toby still had feelings for Spencer. Lily was a distraction like the other two girls Toby dated since Spencer's disappearance. Though, the other two didn't last more than a month and Toby's heart reminded him that he was in love with Spencer. But, Lily had lasted longer than the other two and Spencer herself appeared to remind Toby that he was in love with Spencer and nobody could change that. Not even sweet little Lily.

Toby did like Lily very much. Lily was sweet and didn't care too much about what people thought. She was a great listener and was very persistent at getting what she wanted. Lily was the perfect girlfriend, but just not for Toby. And, indeed, Toby felt tremendously guilty about cheating on her. Toby felt even guiltier (if that was possible) for not telling her about his and Spencer's kiss for a few days. Today though, he promised himself that he'd tell her.

As Toby thought that his phone vibrated in his pocket. Pulling it out Toby saw a text from Lily. Come to the Brew at 1. Don't bring Jace, please. Don't reply. Toby stared at the text blankly for a few minutes before doing anything. For some reason Toby felt that Lily knew about the kiss.

So at one o'clock like Lily texted and having dropped Jace at the Fields's house for quality time with his adopted grandparents, Toby appeared at the Brew. He was currently pacing the floor of the Brew taking sips of his coffee that he had ordered to calm down his jittering nerves. And the door opened bringing in Lily a few minutes pass one o'clock. She didn't acknowledge his presence until she paid for her coffee and walked up to him. "Hello Toby."

"Lily, I-"

"Stop. Let's sit down first," Lily suggested holding up her hand.

Toby followed Lily to the back of the Brew far away from anyone in the café. Lily sat down waving her hand at the other side of the booth when Toby did not sit down. Toby immediately sat down opening his mouth to speak, but once again Lily raised her hand to stop him. "Let me speak first."

Clamping his mouth shut Toby nodded his head. "I know you kissed Spencer a few nights ago." Lily saw Toby opening up his mouth again. "Don't deny it. Spencer told me the night it happened. She actually confessed to a lot of things that night; some I knew already, though. We're actually closer friends than I thought. Like I said before, she confessed to a lot of things a few nights ago. One being that you two dated back in high school and college, also that when she broke up with you she disappeared off to New York, not just randomly moving away like I guessed.

"But, I was starting to guess you guys dated once before. At first when I met Spencer I didn't even think that you guys were friends, but that changed as I became friends with Spencer. I started to notice things. Have you noticed that we haven't gone on dates, hung out, or even talked to each other lately? At first I thought it was because of you taking care of Jace, but then I realized that it was because you were in love with Spencer, even if you won't admit it."

Toby's blue eyes sprung up from the table he was gazing at with pupils enlarged. His lips twitched to open, but Lily didn't give him the chance to speak. "I also know you don't love me, and please don't deny it; I don't love you either. I figured out I was in love with the idea of you. You were some attractive heartbroken guy hung up on the girl who broke your heart. I've read stories where this girl shows the heartbroken guy how to love again and makes him forget about the girl who broke his heart, but I'm not that girl. The only girl who can fix your broken heart is the girl who broke it: Spencer.

"I also don't want to be the girl who keeps you two apart. I see the way you look at her and I know you two are soul mates. Now some words of wisdom. Don't you dare let her get away from you this time. When she comes back home you show her how much you love her and you are not going to let her go. Okay?"

Toby nodded his head like an obedient dog. Lily smiled showing off her pearly white teeth. "Good." She stood up to leave. "Now I know you're not supposed to say this when you're breaking up with someone, but I still hope we can be friends."

Getting up as well Toby embraced Lily squeezing the small ex-girlfriend of his tight. "Of course, Lily." He pulled back letting her go. Lily grinned happily reaching up on her tippy toes to place a light kiss on his cheek.

"Don't you let her go," Lily reminded him giving him a pointed look.

Toby gave a short laugh. "No, I won't."

"Then goodbye Toby." Lily spun on her high heel snatching up her untouched coffee and walking towards the door.

Toby watched her leave. "Bye, Lily."

With Lily's words pounding in his head, Toby listened to them on repeat for two days that Spencer was gone. His mind was clogged and he was only half focused on Jace while Jace played with his blocks, but he still managed to keep a protective eye on him. Ideas of how to show Spencer how much he loved her bounced on his brain like it was a trampoline not letting him pick an idea to use. He could tell her a whole speech on how much he loved her or he could take her out to a fancy dinner.

Jace examined his red block tilting his head side to side. Looking up at Toby who was staring at the ground with great interest Jace looked down at his block and back up at Toby. Tossing the block at his godfather Jace hit Toby smack in the face.

Toby was snapped out of concentration by the smack. He gazed down seeing Jace grinning at up at him happily. Jace was obviously proud of his toss. "Oh, you're happy about this?" Jace giggled. "Does someone need a visit from the tickle monster?" Jace shook his head no, but Toby still attacked at Jace's tiny sides with tickling fingers.

Now with Jace fast asleep for naptime, Toby paced the floor so much he was wearing marks into the floor in front of the door. He was not so patiently waiting for Spencer's return since he knew her plane had filed in an hour ago. As well as pacing, Toby was absently mindedly chewing on his thumb nail trying to figure out how he'd put Lily's words into action. But, with the clicking sound of the lock being turned and the door being opened, all brain activity halted to a stop.

Spencer, beautiful in even a light sweatshirt and yoga pants sporting a sloppy bun, was standing before him hauling in a small suitcase. And all Toby's brain did was scream spontaneous. So, that's exactly what Toby did. He raced over to her lifting her off her feet and crashing his lips to hers. Sadly, Spencer response was not kissing him back, but ripping her lips off of his. "Toby, Lily-"

"Lily and I broke up. Long story short, Lily's words of wisdom: 'when she comes home you are going to show her how much you love her and you are not going to let her go'. That is exactly what I plan to do," Toby quickly explained to her.

This time instead of running away Spencer smiled and shook her head, but she leaned down and captured his lips with hers wrapping her arms around his neck. Toby deepened the kiss and held onto Spencer tight, not letting her go. Thank you Lily, Toby thought.