I was NOT happy about spending the night in the hospital. It was only because I might have a concussion and in the end I didn't so it was completely unnecessary. Jason ended up crashing at Caleb's place for the night and in the morning he came back and so did my parents and Melissa.
Finally I was able to go home. My parents left the hospital and went straight to work, which wasn't surprising, so Jason and Melissa brought me home.
"Surprise!" I heard several people shout as I walked through the back door.
"Hey, what's this?" I ask in total shock.
"We are celebrating that you're home. And we made plenty of coffee just the way you like." Hanna announced proudly.
"It was only one night." I laughed.
"That's funny because the way you were talking last night you felt like you were staying a thousand nights." Mona teased.
"It's one of those things, it's annoying while it's happening but then you look back and it wasn't too bad. Or at least that's what you tell people." I shrugged. "Now where's the coffee Hanna talked about?"
"Right here and we've got your favorite muffins too." Emily told me as all us girls sat around the kitchen island.
"Wow, you guys are really buttering me up. Are you sure this is just because I spent one night in the hospital?" I asked feeling like there was an ulterior motive for all this.
"Well, Spence…" Hanna started. "Ow, Em!"
"Okay, what's going on?" I demanded.
"Nothing, everything is fine, Spence. Your friends are just happy you're okay." Melissa tried to convince me and totally failed.
"Come on, she's not stupid. She'll find out eventually." Mona sighed.
"I'll find out what?" I asked and I was really getting annoyed.
"I'm not telling her!" Emily, Hanna, and Caleb said simultaneously.
"If I tell her we'll go back to hating each other." Melissa stated.
"I'm not telling her because it always falls on me. It's someone else's turn." Jason said washing his hands of it.
"Why are you always afraid to tell me things?" I asked throwing in the air. "I don't care who tells me just somebody, please."
"Fine, cowards, I'll tell her." Mona stepped up. "Caleb went with Jason back to the apartment to check it out. A few police officers and fire fighters were there. Obviously someone started the fire on purpose and they think it was Toby. With his history, they think it's a little too convenient that he's the one that found you."
"What? No, he didn't, he couldn't!" I stated and I started panicking. If Toby got blamed for this he wouldn't be going away to reform school this time. He would be going somewhere worse, for a long time.
"We might not be together right now but he wouldn't do that. And I think the noise I first heard was shoes, high heel shoes walking on the tile in the kitchen." I told them.
"Are you sure? You should go to the police and tell them that. It would get Toby off the hook because he definitely wouldn't wear high heels." Emily suggested.
"Hold up, that's a great suggestion, and you should do it. But what do you mean you're not together?" Melissa asked me.
"Neither of us actually said 'I'm breaking up with you' but I think it was understood. I don't know what changed while he was in Boston, but he doesn't want to be with me anymore. And if he doesn't want me I don't want him." I answered and tried not to get emotional.
"That last part was an obvious lie, but I guess you can have a free pass this once." Hanna commented.
"Okay, if you're going to have girl talk about how you feel can you wait until Jason and I leave?" Caleb asked.
I don't know if it was his intention to lighten the mood, but it worked and all us girls started laughing.
"As much as I'm sure Hanna would enjoy that, we should go to the police before it's too late. I'm not letting Toby get blamed for another fire, especially when he did come back and save me." I told them.
"Let's go then." Mona said and handed me my purse.
Hanna, Caleb, Emily, and Mona were still in my hospital room talking. But the chatter stopped when I heard the door open.
"Hey, Spence," I immediately recognized the voice as Toby's.
"We'll let the two of you talk. See you tomorrow, Spence." Hanna said and with that I heard everyone leave.
"So, I heard you were getting me coffee." I commented trying to start conversation.
"Yeah, I was but there was nothing worth drinking. You'd think a hospital would have hot coffee for people waiting but it all went cold. I'll make it up to you." I told me and I heard him sit down on one of the plastic chairs to my left.
"Well, I appreciate the thought."
"Look, Spencer, I'm sorry about early. That's not how I wanted it to turn out." He apologized.
"Toby, you saved my life tonight, I think that completely makes up for this afternoon." I told him in all sincerity and gratitude.
"I'm so glad I was there." He sighed in relief.
"Me too," I smiled thinking we could put this afternoon behind us. Boy was I wrong.
"But it doesn't make up for this afternoon. I was going to Jason's apartment to talk to you. When you left with Hanna, a lot of things were left unsaid. Jenna was partially right." He told me.
"Which parts was she right about?" I asked him becoming a little nervous about what he would say.
"You and I need to stay away. I should have told you when I first got back but I didn't. So I guess Jenna was also right when she said I was trying to soften the blow."
"I'm hearing what you're saying, but I'm not sure I know what you mean. Or maybe I do and I just don't want to admit it." I told him quietly.
"We both know what I mean." He admitted. "I'm really sorry, Spencer. But you were right, something happened while I was gone. And things can't go back to the way they were. So why try? It'd be best for both of us if we didn't."
"When we fought a few months ago, Mona told me something. There's a risk in everything. And she asked if I cared about you enough that I was willing to take a chance. That's when I asked her to drive me back to your place. Now, I'm asking you the same thing."
"I'm really sorry, Spencer." He whispered.
I heard the chair creak as he stood up and placed a kiss on my forehead. A few seconds later I heard the door open and close again. Toby left.
"Well that was unexpected." Hanna commented in surprised as we walked out of the police station.
Jason, Hanna, and Caleb came with me to the police station. I had told them what I remembered from the fire to clear Toby. But it ended up being unnecessary. The police had already found the person supposedly responsible: Officer Garrett Reynolds.
"Yeah, you're telling me." I nodded. "I still don't think it was Garrett but at least Toby's not taking the blame. And Garrett is definitely guilty of plenty of other things."
"That's for sure." Hanna agreed.
"I don't think Garrett did it either. Last night, after I walked Cece to her car, I overheard Jenna and Toby. She told him not to worry about getting blamed because Garrett still owed her a few favors." Jason told us.
"So that confirms it, Jenna started that fire knowing I was in there. Even though she can see now she still wants revenge for what happened." I stated. "See, Jason, this wasn't your fault. Jenna was going to do this no matter what."
"And she's probably so miffed that he interfered with her plan." Hanna laughed but then became serious. "Do you think she'll try again?"
"I don't think so." I shook my head. "Garrett is definitely going away for this. If she tries again who is she going to blame it on? I don't know why but for some reason she wants Toby to be her sidekick and still stay clear."
"At times Jenna seems even more twisted than Alison. I know the saying is great minds think alike but I think it should be changed to evil minds in some cases." Hanna stated.
"I think you're right, Han." I agreed. "Come on, let's go home. I didn't sleep well last night and I want to lie down on my own bed."
"Spencer, Jason, Hanna, get over here." Melissa shouted to get our attention.
When we got home from the police station I fell asleep during some TV show Hanna liked. When I woke up we went over to the barn where Melissa and Jason were. We had dinner together and now we were playing a trivia game, Hanna and I vs. Jason and Melissa.
"What is it?" Jason asked her as we all walked to the kitchen where Melissa was getting snacks.
Instead of answering Melissa turned up the volume on the TV.
"As we all know a fire was started last night in an apartment on North Street. Originally the police suspected Tobias Cavanaugh was responsible but know they have solid evidence that it was Officer Garrett Reynolds. They believe Reynolds intended to frame Cavanaugh because of his previous charges for causing fires. When the police went to arrest Reynolds this afternoon they found his car missing and his personal safe emptied. It is believed that he left town and a statewide search has been started. If anyone knows where Garrett Reynolds might be please call this number."
"Well, at least Toby's clear." Hanna commented looking on the bright side.
"Yeah, that is good news." I nodded. "But I'm worried that Garrett's still out there somewhere. What if he tries to get back at Jenna and Toby?"
"Garrett's a cop so he knows how these things go. I bet he was out of town by morning and won't stop anytime soon. Don't bother yourself worrying about it, Spencer." Jason assured me.
"He's right, Spence, don't worry about it. I bet he's found within a week. He might be a cop but he's not that smart. We've said several times over that Jenna was the one behind things and he just did the dirty work." Hanna said.
"And who knows, maybe he'll get caught and completely rat Jenna out." Melissa commented.
"I'd say I hope so but…"
"We know, Spencer, we know." Hanna sighed dramatically in mock frustration.
"Come on; let's get back to the game. I'm ready to kick serious behind." Jason said with excitement.
"No way, Spencer and I are going to win. And when we do we're going to order the most expensive things at The Grille since it'll be your treat." Hanna challenged.
"I don't think so, Hanna. You and Spencer will have to get a job or something to pay the bill after Melissa and I win." Jason stated with a very cocky attitude.
"Hey, I know that insane intelligence runs in the family, but Spencer's hobby is to find out random trivia. That's how she always wins." Hanna stated with confidence.
"And I'm undefeated might I add." I told them.
"We'll everyone has to lose sometime. And if Cavanaugh can beat you at Scrabble, we can beat you at trivia." Jason told me.
"That was a onetime thing, Jason." I said defensively. "But if you want to try and fail Hanna and I would love to watch."
"Alright, we can talk trash all night, but that won't decide who wins. Let's play the game and see which one of us can actually live up to their big talk." Melissa announced. "And I believe it was our turn."
"Let's do this." Hanna said and I imagine she had a smug grin that matched my own.
Melissa liked to think she was the smartest of the Hastings. But while she was good at academics I was great at knowing random things that could win the game. And Hanna knew her fair share of things too, like what celebrity one the such-and-such award in 1999. Jason and Melissa were going down even if we had to play all night.
Once again Please keep the season 2 finale in mind! I'm really sorry about what happened between them, I really am. But next chapter should make you feel better. It's from Hanna so it'll be fun plus she pays Toby another visit that everyone should enjoy.
Another thing I want to mention to you. As you know I write several chapters ahead and I'm working on the final chapters. Lol I say that but there's still probably ten more chapters IDK. But that being said, if there's anything you want to see either in flashbacks or the present please let me know and I'll try to work it into the story while I still can.
And lastly, to the guest reviewer Miss B. Thanks a bunch for reviewing. And it won't be much longer. Jenna will get what's coming to her.