"Thanks for coming over you guys. I know I told you to go away when you first got here, but I really appreciate all this." Aria said as she initiated a group hug.
Aria had skipped school today because her mom found out about her dad's affair last year and the whole family was a mess. So to cheer her up Hanna, Emily, Mona, and I came over after school with enough of Aria's favorite junk foods to feed an army. At first she told us to go away and that she wanted to be alone, but Hanna wouldn't leave and within fifteen minutes I could tell Aria was feeling a little better.
"Of course we came, that's what friends are for right." Emily said sweetly as we separated.
"Yeah, but if you're sorry about earlier and want to make up for it you can agree to go to homecoming." Hanna stated without bothering to beat around the bush.
"No way, I am not going to homecoming. You guys have made me feel better but not that much better. And it's in four days and I don't even have a date or a dress." Aria argued.
"You don't have to have a date, Aria, none of us do except for Hanna. We're doing this as a group thing not as a couple-thing." I told her trying to persuade her to go with us.
Even though I didn't want to go myself, I wanted Aria to be there because things were better when all of us were together.
"What do you mean I'm the only one with a date? That's a lie, Spencer, and you know it. Jason is going to be there as a chaperone and that's practically the same thing in your case." Hanna pointed out.
"Ugh, for the last time, Jason means a lot to me but not like that." I sighed in aggravation. "And he's not the person I would want to go with. In fact, I don't really want to go that much but I'm smart enough not to argue with the rest of you."
"You don't want to go but you're teaming up with them to try and convince me?" Aria asked in disbelief and I could imagine that she was giving me a look that said, 'Really?'
"You don't want to go? But you seemed pretty excited about it last week." Mona asked curiously.
"I was but it was because I was hoping that Toby would ask me to go with him as friends. But hope breeds eternal misery because his dad is making him take Jenna." I replied with a little jealousy.
I knew that Toby didn't care about Jenna. But she still cared about him more than she should, and made up excuses so their parents would make him help her.
"Well, at least he'll be there, maybe you two could sneak in a dance or something when Jenna needs to use the bathroom." Mona suggested.
"Spencer, don't get me wrong, Toby seems like a nice guy. But don't you feel weird hanging out with the guy who's a suspect in Ali's…you know." Aria commented.
"I thought we decided to drop that. The rest of you can believe whatever you want but Toby didn't do it. And unless you can prove to me that he did don't accuse or suspect him of anything in front of me." I stated doing my best to defend Toby.
A few days ago the girls and I got into a small argument at lunch about Mona and Toby being suspects. I wasn't really mad at any of them because they just want Ali's killer to get what they deserve and so do I. But Toby didn't do it and I would do whatever I could to make sure he didn't take the blame a second time for something involving Alison.
"Spence, we're not accusing him of anything, we just don't want you to end up getting hurt." Emily told me and placed a comforting hand on my shoulder.
"Toby would never hurt me. Besides we're just friends, it's not like we're dating. And no offense, but how come you guys are subtly avoiding Toby but Mona is sitting right here."
"That's different, Spence, we know for sure that Mona didn't do it. She wasn't even in Rosewood; she was in Pittsburg or somewhere visiting relatives." Hanna argued in Mona's defense.
"Well, I know for sure that Toby didn't and he wasn't in Rosewood that night either." I snapped back.
"Alright, stop it you two. There's enough yelling and fighting in this house without your help. I'm sorry for even bringing this up in the first place." Aria budded in. "Now, since you guys are forcing me to go to homecoming the least you could do is help me get a dress on such short notice."
"And I could probably use some help getting a dress too. I used to have stuff like that but not anymore since I don't go out much." I added.
"Oh, Spencer, I have the perfect dress for you. I got it in the mail two days ago but it doesn't fit and I don't have time to get it altered." Mona offered.
"You're dress doesn't fit? Then what are you going to wear?" Hanna asked in a panic.
"Well, my aunt got married back in august so I was planning on wearing the dress I wore to that. And don't worry; it won't clash with your dress, Hanna." Mona replied.
"Are you sure, Mona?" I asked cautiously.
"I'm positive, Spencer. I accidently ordered it in tall, and you may or may not know this, but I tie with Aria when it comes to being the 'fun sized' member of the group. It's supposed to come to the knee but its right above my ankle. I felt like a little girl wearing her mommy's wedding dress when I tried it on." Mona explained. "But it would fit you perfect and it's a silver shimmer strapless dress with a sweetheart neck."
"Oh, I remember looking at that dress with you online." Hanna said. "Spencer, trust me, that dress will look awesome on you, especially if you have your hair up. And if you want I'll do your hair and makeup for you."
"You aren't going to take no for an answer are you?" I asked rhetorically. "Well then, thank you for letting me wear your dress, Mona, I appreciate it. And I would love it if you did my hair and makeup, Han."
"Thanks, Spence, and I promise you'll look amazing." Hanna stated proudly as she gave me a huge hug.
"So, I guess that settles everything then, except for Aria's dress. And sorry but I don't think I have anything else that could be worn to homecoming." Mona stated.
"That's okay, Mona, I'll find something." Aria said.
"I have to stop at the dry cleaners for my mom tomorrow and there's a great dress place right next door. You could come with me if you want." Hanna offered her.
"Sure, thanks, Hanna." Aria replied and I could tell that she would rather keep hiding in her room.
"Sweet, now everything's settled and we can all have a great time at homecoming." Hanna said happily.
"Knock, knock." Hanna sang as she opened my bedroom door.
"Wow, I love your room." Mona commented.
"Thanks." I replied as I closed the book I had been reading.
"Who cares about the room?" Hanna asked sarcastically. "All that matters is the awesome closet. Speaking of the closet, where's the dress Mona gave you and does it fit?"
"The dress is in the closet and it fits perfect." I told her as I went to sit in front of my vanity so Hanna and Mona could do my hair and makeup. "Thanks again for letting me wear it Mona."
"It was no problem, Spencer. I'm actually glad you're wearing it because it would have been a shame to waste such a stunning dress." Mona told me as I felt her start to brush my hair.
"Stunning doesn't even begin to do it justice. Jason and Toby's jaws are going to drop when they see you tonight. With Mona doing your hair and me doing you makeup you could easily give me a run for my money." Hanna assured me.
"What makes you think that anybody will care how I look, especially Toby?" I asked trying to hide the fact that I secretly hoped he would like the way I looked.
"I know that I've been cautious about Toby lately, but he knows a good thing when he sees it." Hanna commented and then I heard her walk into the bathroom and shut the door.
"Wow, you look…wow." Toby said with a look of admiration on his face.
"I take it that you like the dress." I laughed at his reaction.
"Well, I'm a typical guy that doesn't know anything about style or fashion so I'm not sure if my opinion actually counts. But yes, I think that dress looks great on you."
"You're opinion always counts in my book, and I'm glad somebody thinks so. Melissa hates it, my mom says it's too casual and that I should wear something more sophisticated so her clients will be more impressed, and Ali said it looks like something her grandmother wore."
"Spencer, I've told you this a thousand times. It doesn't matter what other people think, especially when it's Melissa and Alison that we're talking about." He stated. "Now, give me your most honest answer. Do you like the dress?"
"Yeah, I think it's really nice and I like the way it looks." I nodded as I looked at my reflection in the mirror.
"Then that's all that matters. Melissa and Alison are probably just jealous. And your mom's clients aren't going to care about what you're wearing. It's dinner at a fancy restaurant not a reception for a royal wedding."
"Thanks, Toby, you're the best. I needed that and I know that you'll give me an honest opinion whether I like it or not."
"That's because I know from experience that you hate it when people sugarcoat things. And also because I know that you'd do the same for me." Toby shrugged.
"Of course, I'd do the same for you. That's what friends are for, right?"
"Yeah, and it's definitely nice to have a friend. But isn't it kind of crazy that up until a few months ago we had never spoken a word to each other and now we act like we've been friends since kindergarten." He commented.
"We are pretty crazy and that's probably why we get along. And we have more in common than I originally thought. I mean we started talking because we wanted to check out the same book from the library at the same time and there was only one copy. And you had already read it three times when I had only read it twice."
"Who on earth would have guessed that I've read a book more times than Spencer Hastings?" He laughed at how unlikely it was.
"I never would have. You definitely achieved the impossible on that one." I shook my head laughing too. "But from the get-go you've always managed to be different than I expected."
"And I could say the same about you. But I'm glad that gave us the chance to get to know each other."
"Me too," I replied smiling.
"Okay, Spence, we're finally finished." Hanna stated as I heard her zip up her makeup bag. "Now, let's get that dress on."
Mona and Hanna helped me into the dress as well as the pair of heels that Hanna had picked out. I knew that by the end of the night my feet would probably be killing me but at least Hanna chose something I could walk in.
"I think it was meant to be that I ordered this dress in the wrong size. It looks like it was made for you, Spencer." Mona complimented me.
"Oh, it totally does. So many girls are going to be jealous of you, Spence." Hanna agreed.
"Well, I have you two to thank for that. I really appreciate it and I'm sure I look amazing." I replied.
"No problem, I had fun doing your hair." Mona told me.
"She's right. Now, let's go show off our amazing work. I can't wait to see the looks on Jason and Toby's faces." Hanna said as she handed me my purse and she and Mona looped their arms with mine.
So next chapter will be homecoming! Who's excited for that? Will Spencer and Toby get a chance to dance or will Jenna be in the way? Only one to find out and if you want a Friday update I'll need 6 reviews on this chapter. Speaking of this chapter, what did you guys think of Spencer, Hanna, and Mona getting ready together? Let me know if you want more of that and I'll definitely add some. And also, shout-out to spencershasting for all the sweet reviews!