Before we start the last chapter I just want to say THANK YOU SO SO MUCH! You have been so amazing and supportive. Thank you to those that have followed, favorited, and just read the story. And a special thanks to my reviewers who gave 200+ that is way more than I ever expected. And shout-outs to spencershasting, prettylittlespoby13, midmaxieblue, reneexoxtyler15, and sarahschneider2012 who have reviewed and given me tons of ideas, suggestions, and advice. And to choose joy xox who inspired me. I couldn't have done it without you! So again Thank you so so SO much!
And now without further ado, here is the final chapter of "Back to Me". Enjoy!
They say time flies when you're having fun. And it's completely true. The rest of the summer was a blur and if I had to choose three words to describe I'd choose: exciting, crazy, and happy. A lot of things happened and I got what I wanted. When I thought of summer I thought of this amazing summer instead of the one with the fire and Ali's death. The first big thing that happened was the road trip we took to Florida that Hanna promised. The girls and I left the day after the Fourth of July and the trip lasted a week.
"Okay, everybody ready?" Hanna asked as she started the minivan she rented.
All of us nodded so she finally pulled out of the driveway. We took forever saying goodbye to the guys because they weren't coming and we waved to them until they were out of sight. The guys weren't coming because Hanna wanted this to be girls only. Plus Toby, Ezra, and Mike were busy working on the coffee shop. And Caleb was visiting his mom. Maya was going to come with us but she was visiting her cousin.
"I can't believe we're finally doing this. It's the perfect break from everything that's happened the past few months." Emily commented.
"Yeah, I'm looking forward to it. One whole week away from Rosewood is the best thing I've heard since Spencer told us she could see." Mona agreed.
"And this is the best thing I've heard since Toby came back." I added.
"Things are still good between you right?" Hanna asked me.
"Yes, things are great, Hanna. You don't need to be paying him anymore visits with a pink furry lamp." I laughed.
"And you don't need to punch him again either." Emily told her.
"But he deserved it!" Hanna shouted defensively.
"I still can't believe how scared Caleb looked. And he didn't even get punched." Mona laughed.
"He was probably in shock from seeing his girlfriend go crazy." Aria also laughed.
"Yeah, he was the world's number one boyfriend for about a week after that." Hanna told us and that had everyone laughing.
Everything about that trip was great. We had laughed on the way there, had loads of fun and adventure in Florida, and on the way back we were all excited to get back to the guys and Maya.
Two and a half weeks after we got back from Florida the coffee shop was completed. Ezra had decided to call it The Rear Window Brew or just The Brew for short. The grand opening was a success and I was happy for Ezra and Toby. Ezra let Toby stay rent free in the loft and after seeing The Brew other people wanted Toby to work for them. And since Ezra was no longer a teacher and his business was a success Aria told her parents. They weren't happy at first but they eventually came around.
And now that the downstairs was finished Toby was concentrating on finishing up the loft.
"This is really coming together now." I commented as I placed the picture I had given him on the nightstand.
"It is." Toby nodded. "It's not done yet but it will be soon. All that's left is finishing up the other bedroom and getting the rest of my stuff in here."
"And get the plumbing to work in the bathroom." I added.
"I know. I plan to get it fixed sometime next week."
"No, no, it's no rush at all. Really, there's…there's no rush." I told him.
Jason attempted to fix the plumbing not long after they moved in. But he just made it worse and Toby has been struggling to get it working. So in the meantime Jason took showers in the barn and Toby took them in my bathroom. That meant I had seen him shirtless quite a few times and I wasn't complaining.
"I'm pretty sure if you had your way the plumbing would never get fixed." He laughed.
"As much as I would like that, it's probably not a good idea." I shook my head. "I don't think my parents would approve and they finally like you again."
"Well, let's hope they don't find out and we continue for a bit longer." He suggested and he walked over and kissed me.
The second week of August was a time of happiness and excitement for everyone, especially Melissa.
On Sunday my family was having lunch at the club and we left early because Melissa wasn't feeling well. By late afternoon it was obvious she was in labor. Finally on Monday, around 4 AM, my niece Taylor Thomas entered the world.
She was adorable and my parents immediately fell in love with their first grandbaby. Around seven o'clock Jason stopped by to see how Melissa was, and Taylor had her uncle wrapped around her finger in a second. And of course Melissa was the happiest of all.
My parents went home to get some sleep and I went to the loft with Jason. He would finally be moving out of there next week. And Toby and I could finally have some real privacy.
"Hey, how're Melissa and the baby?" Toby asked when Jason and I walked in.
"Taylor is perfectly healthy and the cutest baby girl in the hospital." I told him as I walked straight for the coffee maker.
"That's not biased." Jason said sarcastically. "And are you sure you should be having another cup of coffee?"
"I'm not biased, I'm just happy because I became an aunt today. And aunts are like mothers, their protective over things. So unless you want an angry mama bear on your hands, let me drink the coffee." I stated so he knew I wasn't kidding.
Jason shrugged and gave in and Toby just shook his head and laughed at the two of us
"Well, I'm glad Taylor is okay. But how's Melissa?" Toby asked.
"She's good. She was a little sad at first that Ian wasn't there. And she was scared she couldn't be a single mom. But she's happy now and she has plenty of people that'll help her with Taylor. And she'll get tons of help from that big idiot over there." I said and I couldn't help but tease Jason.
"Hey!" Jason yelled.
"Oh come on, Jason, when it comes to your cutie-pie niece, you are a goner. She has you wrapped around her little finger and you will never be able to say no to her." I laughed.
"I just want to help my sister out. You know what that is? That's called being nice, something you don't know anything about." He shot back at me.
"No, that's called wanting to spend every possible with your one and only niece." I told him. "But that's okay, I understand, it's not every day you become an uncle for the first time. Or in my case an aunt."
"Okay, seriously, it is pretty cool that I became an uncle today. And I'm happy for you becoming an aunt today. But while Taylor is the cutest, don't you and Toby be getting any ideas about having one of your own. I will not be happy if you become an aunt and a mommy." He warned and then ran upstairs.
"Jason!" I screamed and ran after him.
"Whoa! Senior year here we come!" Hanna shouted before taking a shot.
"Hanna school doesn't start until Tuesday. It's Saturday night." Emily told her.
"Well, I'm starting a new trend. Instead of being fashionably late, I'm fashionably early." Hanna stated.
"I think you're on to something, Han." I laughed as I poured her another drink.
"Can you believe we're gonna be seniors?" Aria asked. "I mean, I know Spencer's been dreaming of this day since she was six. But still can you believe this? The last three years have flown by."
"Well, I'm sort of glad they flew by. Freshman year wasn't that bad, but sophomore…" Emily trailed off shaking her head.
"Yeah, sophomore sucked being away from you guys." I agreed and Aria nodded her head.
"Well, for me, freshman sucked but thanks to Hanna sophomore was a lot better." Mona said. "But I think junior year was hard for all of us. Murders, framings, hospital stays, break ups, you name it."
"Last year did kind of suck, but we did have each other." I commented.
"And we had our significant others." Hanna added.
"Yeah, I don't know what we would have done without them." Aria agreed.
"Let's make senior year a good year that completely knocks it out of the park. I told Toby that I wanted to think of watching fireworks on the lake instead of the garage fire. And I'm telling you that when we think of high school, we shouldn't think about the bad stuff of previous years. We should make it so we think of all the crazy, insane, awesome things we did during senior year." I told them.
"Spencer's right. I want to think about having you guys as friends, meeting Maya, and seeing everything about Alison, Jenna, and Garrett put to rest." Emily said.
"I want to think about becoming friends with Mona, overcoming Hefty Hanna, breaking up with Sean, starting a relationship with Caleb, and you guys of course." Hanna added. "Oh, and beating up Toby with the pink lamp."
"Hanna!" I yelled but then ended up laughing.
"You know, Spence, you should use that as your valedictorian speech." Aria told me. "But senior year will be over at graduation so tell people to make freshman year of college the best year."
"Hey, what makes you think she's gonna be valedictorian?" Mona asked defensively.
"No offense, Mona, but it's like Aria said earlier. Spencer has been dreaming of graduating high school, being valedictorian, and going to her dream college since she was six. She's a Hastings. She's going to win every battle to get what she wants." Emily tried to tell her without starting an argument.
"Em, you're talking to Mona and Spencer. I don't think the battle analogy was the best idea." Hanna told her.
"Actually I think it's quite fitting. Don't you, Mona?" I challenged.
"I do indeed. Battle is all about strategy, to have a strategy you have to be smart, and you have to admit I am smart." Mona stated.
"I agree." I nodded. "But I'm smart too. So may the best girl win."
"So tomorrow you're starting your senior year? Are you excited?" Toby asked me as we sat on the hill.
"Yeah, I am. The girls and I decided that we would make senior year amazing. And after this year I'll finally be off to college and doing something my parents will be proud of."
"Spence, you're parents already are proud of you. They might not be the best at showing it but they are."
"I know." I nodded. "But it's not just about that. I'm ready to leave Rosewood and find somewhere nice to start over."
"Any idea where you want to go to college? I know you're parents have been telling you to go to UPenn since preschool. But where do you want to go?" He asked me.
"I don't know. I've never really considered anywhere else." I shrugged.
"Well, wherever you go, just promise you won't forget me." He said quietly.
"I could never forget you, Tobes. And you might even end up coming with me. Everywhere needs carpenters." I assured him.
"It's not that easy, Spence." He shook his head.
"Don't worry so much, that's my job. College isn't for a year. But when it comes, we'll make it work." I told him.
"Our roles really are reversed. Usually I'm the optimist and you're the pessimist. But here I am worrying and you're reassuring me." He laughed dryly.
"I'm not a pessimist. I'm just practical and realistic." I corrected him.
"If you're being optimistic then what am I?" He asked. "I'm sure not being practical or realistic right now. Like you said, I'm worrying about something that's a year away."
"You're you." I answered him. "Look, Toby, I may go miles, states, countries, or oceans away. But you've always found a way back to me. So the least I can do is come back to you."
"Spence, I don't want you to feel obligated."
"Nothing between us has ever felt like an obligation, Toby. I love you and college will not change that no matter where I go next fall." I stated gently.
"I love you too, Spence." He said and kissed me.
"I know." I smiled and then returned the kiss. "I know. Now, let's enjoy today because college is a long way off. But senior years starts tomorrow and it's gonna be both awesome and stressful. I want to relax with you and be carefree while I still can."
"I want that too." He smiled.
Toby and I spent the rest of the afternoon on the hill kissing, relaxing, and being carefree. It was the best last-day-of-summer I'd ever had. Statistically speaking, I knew long distance relationships were hard and eventually ended in break ups. But I didn't have any worries about Toby and me when it came to me going to college.
Jason once said we had something special and I agreed with him. Toby and I always had a strong friendship which led to a strong couple relationship. Not many people have that but somehow we got lucky enough to have it. Our relationship wasn't perfect but we always found a way to make it through. Last fall Toby came back to me and he came back to me again this summer. But next fall when I start four long years of college, we'll come back to each other. I know we will.
~The End~
That's it, I hope you enjoyed it. What did you think of having the whole summer in one chapter? When I wrote it I felt like I was doing a chapter that was all flashbacks in away. A sequel to this story will be coming but I'm not sure when. And I'm also planning on a Spoby one-shot that should be ready in a couple weeks. So again, I hope you enjoyed this story and thanks a million for reading. Hopefully I'll see you soon with another story!