Author's Note: So this one is a bit different. Hope you enjoy :)

Day Ninety-Six: Into Me by Cat Jahnke

I didn't know why I was so mad at Toby.

Well…I did. He had ditched me to go to the movies with some friends from his new school.

I didn't know why this stupid dance was so damn important to me, but I wanted to go with someone. Everyone was going to be there with someone.

It left me feeling kind of bad. He had just left me, all broken and alone. And I was pretty sure that most of the other girls—and even some of the guys—were able to tell how upset I was that night. I read like an open book.

So now I'm sitting on the swing set at the park near his house. It's a pretty dumb move, I guess, but I was so upset when I came here that I didn't even really think that much about it.

"Spencer!"

I look over slightly, then bitterly look away. I don't want to talk to him.

"Hey, Spence," he says before sitting on the swing right next to me. But I don't answer. I wonder if he realizes that I'm not listening.

"What's wrong?"

Boys. They're so dumb and oblivious sometimes.

I feel a little bit of pain on my skin—almost in my bones. I wonder if I'm just imagining it or if it's really there. I don't know why I'm getting so melodramatic over this dumb dance. It's not like I missed him there, anyway. I had Ali and Emily and Hanna and Aria. Who needed him anyway?

That's what I keep telling myself as the one-sided conversation goes on.

"You haven't said a word to me this entire time," he says.

I shake my head, almost disappointedly.

"Why are you so—"

Suddenly, he remembers. "Spencer, I—"

"No, it doesn't matter, anyway. It was just some dumb dance. You have better friends now," I reply before getting up and walking away.

I pack my bags as I begin to get ready for my spring break trip to London with Aria, Hanna, Alison, and Emily. I was more than glad to find out I was getting out of Rosewood for ten days. We're going under the guise of visiting Melissa and her new husband, but we were really just there to get away from the drama that is Rosewood.

I'm more relieved than all the girls. It's just too painful to be in Rosewood for one more second.

My boyfriend—well, ex-boyfriend—just got a new girlfriend and loves showing her off around school and around town. And in case I didn't mention, he cheated on me with her. Yeah, it hurt.

My heart is broken and the girls think that this trip is just what I need to get out of this funk. Alison and Hanna keep telling me that the thing I need to get over him is some fling in London, but I don't think I'll be able to handle it.

I laughed about it, but I was just trying to hide how truly sad I am about this breakup. I thought things would work out between the two of us, but I guess not.

My phone begins to ring and I look at the ID. It's Toby. I haven't heard from him in what feels like months, but I wasn't really looking to talk to him anytime soon. The last time I spoke to him, he brushed off all of my feelings and made it all about him. He just wasn't the same person I grew up with and I didn't want to be around this New Toby.

I wish he wasn't so different. Honestly, if he were that same Toby I met when we were younger, I'd open up to him about everything. I was closer to that Toby than I ever was to any of the girls.

I've been feeling bitter lately about everything, but most of all about him, maybe even more so than the breakup. That was sad, but it was a lot sadder thinking that there was nobody I could really confide in about it.

I reach up in my closet to get a blanket for the plane ride. When I'm reaching around, I knock over an old box. It falls beside me. Out of utter curiosity, I sit and begin to examine it.

The box I just found is covered in dust. My whole body and mind feels covered in dust; I'm just so tired and jaded.

I feel even more nostalgic and dusty when I open the box. I see everything Toby and I used to play with when we were younger. It almost makes me want to cry.

All I know now is I need to get out of Rosewood as soon as I can.

I'm twenty-four now and I feel like things are just…better. I cannot describe it or even how I feel now, but I just know things are better than they used to be.

I'm guarded, but I have the keys to the gates I use to protect my heart. I know I can open up to someone; I just know now how to take better care of myself.

These keys open up my past. I know not to give the keys to anyone who's going to hurt me.

So why would I give them to him?

Toby Cavanaugh, who's screwed me over in more ways and more times than I can count in any language, now has the keys. I made him a set. I knew I was treading on thin ice and that the prospect was treacherous when I gave them to him, but I seemed to not care anymore.

Something still trusts him. I can't describe it. I asked him to be careful, please, because I can't handle any more heartbreak. He promised me.

But I also know…our relationship will never be the same. Though I always long for the same relationship we had when we were younger, I know I can never get it back. The past is gone. He's hurt me a lot of times, like I'm sure I've hurt him.

But now I know him in a new way. I love him in a new way. I have a new relationship and a new experience with him.

The doorbell rings as I'm thinking of all this. I rush over to open the door and see him there.

Every time I open the door, it's a new experience. Subconsciously, I'm telling him to tread carefully. He understands.

He steps into my world, into me. He's careful with my body, my soul, and my heart. I'm careful with his.

It's a new beginning.

LittleBittyAbby:I think I kind of sort of fixed it. I tried. And I know like all of her songs from her first through her third albums because I was obsessed with her. What did you think of this one? I really hope you liked it.

tobyequalshottness:I feel like maybe some of you will get sick with all the Red AU, but I'm kind of a fan of Chanel-bashing (which is kind of weird because I kind of designed her to be like my personal inner bitch, so). I'm glad you liked it!

sarahschneider2012: I used to love her and then I felt like she was selling out, so I stopped liking her so much. I still don't really like her. But oh well. Thank you for reading!

Sarah:Whoops. I was kind of close, right? And...this is a weird question...but do they really sell milk in a bag in Canada?

Guest:I'm really glad you like the one-shots from the Red AU. I kind of feel like I write them a bit too much sometimes...but I'm really glad you like them.

MilaMizz:I'm also working on my flexibility and now I almost have my right split. I think. Or maybe my left. I can't remember. One of them. But I almost have my split, which I've never had before, so woohoo. And I can almost do a full backbend into a bridge (I guess...otherwise, I'm just throwing random words at you). I'd kind of like to be able to do a scorpion by the end of the year, just because it looks cool and so I could say I can do this and you can't. Ha ha ha ha. (Not to you of course; just to some random person I don't like). I'm glad you like the animals. Oh, that's cool. I've only been to like three graduations ever. Twice for my cousin (once when he graduated with his college degree and then again this year when he got his Masters') and once for my mother, who got her college degree in like...2005 or 2006? I don't remember. Sometime back then. I was little. Nope, wedges don't count. I've worn wedges millions of times because I'm short. I've never worn actual heels.

AL3110: I didn't even know it meant that. My uncle doesn't know they mean that (he's the only one who calls them that) and they certainly don't know it means that. IDK. But I don't know if I should tell my uncle because that would be kind of awkward. And none of the kids in their class know that, AL! They're in like first and second grade...I really HOPE they don't know what sex is...aside from that, YES, they did do that in #94. I thought I made it kind of obvious. And I don't think he's really a part of this generation, considering he's already got a kid and stuff, but sure. He's our saviour.

The next one-shot is going to be Hello by Lionel Richie. Yup, it's a classic. AND it's in Toby's POV. I hope you enjoy it.

My daily PSA: Don't drink, don't do drugs, don't do weed or crack or smoke or shoot or whatever it is people do these days that I don't. Because I have no life. I just have a computer. And a dog. And I'm broke as a joke. Alright, I'm done.

And if you're interested, PLEASE read Stay Stay Stay and leave me a review over there (though I think most of you read it anywhoozies).

AND thank you for getting me almost 30.000 views to date! That's like 29.999 more people than I ever thought would read any of this!

AND please, please, please, PLEASE review if you read this one and liked it. I worked really hard on it and it's the first time I think I've ever written in the present tense, so I want to know what you guys think of it! Please! It would make my day! -Kayson