Chapter 16: Bad News Part 1

"I'm sorry. I don't see how your mom is the villain here. She wants to take you wedding dress shopping. That's a huge mother-daughter bonding moment she's been looking forward to since the day you were born!"

Spencer, Hanna, Aria, Emily, and Alison were walking through Rosewood Day mall for another one of their random shopping sprees. When Spencer told the girls she wasn't ready to shop for a wedding dress, Hanna erupted.

"A wedding dress would be the first thing on my list if I were engaged," Hanna said. "Which reminds me, I should really be getting on Caleb about that. He's had me for three years now. It's like tick-tock, I'm not getting any younger."

"Hanna maybe coming off as a little insensitive here," Aria said. "But she has a point. What is the problem? Every little girl has dreams about finding the perfect wedding dress. Why don't you want to start now?"

"It's not that I don't want to, it's that I'm just not ready. We don't have an official date for our wedding yet," Spencer said.

The five of them hopped on an escalator down to the food court. The mall was crowded today. Several people were out walking around the mall carrying dozens of shopping bags. There was a group of mothers walking along with their baby strollers. There was a little boy fishing out quarters from the fountain while a few others sat around not saying a word. The food court was like a zoo. Every food station had a line, and a lot of the tables were full. The girls were lucky to find an empty table next to the Frozen Yogurt Station.

"You need to sit down with Wren and pick a date then," said Hanna.

"Wren barely has time for any wedding plans at all," said Spencer. "Sometimes I wonder if this wedding will ever happen."

"I thought Wren was getting home today," said Emily.

Spencer nodded, "his flight got in at 6 o'clock on Saturday"

"And you haven't seen him yet?" Aria questioned.

"He texted me to tell me he landed and that he'll see me soon," said Spencer.

"He's probably just jetlagged," Emily said.

Spencer shrugged, "who knows. I just don't think I can really talk or even think about wedding plans right now. Can you guys please drop it?"

"Is there some reason why you don't want this wedding to happen?" Hanna asked.

"Or someone," Alison said it under her breath, but all the girls heard it.

"Ali!" Spencer shot her a look.

"What?" Emily looked at them puzzled.

Hanna side eyed them both, "what's going on?" Hanna turned to Spencer. "Is there someone else?"

"Is it that carpenter?" Aria asked.

Spencer's eyes shot daggers at Alison. Alison shrugged apologetically.

"Someone, tell us what is going on," said Emily.

"Nothing," said Alison. "It was just a joke."

"I'm hungry," Hanna stood up from the table. "Does anyone want yogurt?"

"I do," Aria stood up. "Do you guys want any?"

"Strawberry," said Alison.

"Vanilla," Emily answered.

"Chocolate and vanilla swirl," Spencer said.

Aria and Hanna left the table to wait in line at the Frozen Yogurt Station. Emily scanned the crowd around them. Spencer was still giving Alison the death stare. Alison is the only person who knows anything about Spencer's "relationship" with Toby. Although, she hasn't shared with Alison her up-to-date news. Yes, Alison knows about Jason's ad looking for a contractor, and she knows that Toby may get the job. Spencer didn't tell Alison about the kiss she shared with Toby. None of her friends know about the kiss that made Spencer's toes curl. A kiss that made her feel like she had been in a sleeping curse for years and Toby woke her up. She's not sure what, but Spencer felt something during that kiss with Toby that she had never felt with Wren. At the time, telling Alison about her sexual encounter with Toby didn't seem important. The kiss was different. Telling her about the kiss was something she's just not ready to share. She knew if she did tell her friends it would turn into a discussion about where her feelings lie. She's not ready to face that subject just yet. Spencer knows she feels something for Toby, but what? Lust? A crush? A strong like? Something more? She needed more time to figure it out for herself.

It was a breezy afternoon. Toby and his crew only planned to work four hours today. Toby predicted how long it would take them to finish the interior construction. The new windows and doors were installed that morning. Every breath of wind made the trees bend and sway. Any time someone walked through the door, the wind would force it open to the point the men worried the door would break off the hinges.

"I'll check the second story windows," said Rusty.

"Woah, hold on," Toby stopped him. "Let me go up there. It's really windy out there."

Rusty was an exceptional worker, but he was only sixteen years old, which makes him a minor. Toby is the boss, which means he is responsible for keeping his crew safe. In these storm-like winds, Toby doesn't want this kid getting up on the scaffolding. If something were to happen to the platform, it would be better for it to happen to Toby than to some kid. Toby put on his jacket before heading out. He still shivered at the cool winds knocking into him. He reached the ladder and carefully climbed to the top. His feet wobbled as the platform swayed beneath him. At first, he just figured it was shaky due to the high winds. Toby didn't notice the anchors were only a quarter of the way screwed in. Toby began to take a few steps on the platform to the first window when the scaffolding began to tremble hard.

"Woah," Toby gripped the safety bar tightly. He took a breath, then slowly took another step. He took one step at a time as he made it to the first window. He checked to make sure the window was installed correctly. It looked all right from his side. Toby began to walk back to the ladder when the platform began to sway back and forth. He heard a snap as the wires broke away from their screws that kept the scaffolding in place. It all happened so fast. One second Toby was standing on the platform with his hand glued to the safety bar. The next second he felt the anxious rush as he came plowing towards the ground with the scaffolding.

Spencer was driving home in her car when she got the call. As she drove along the road, her phone rang. Wren's name lit up her phone screen. Spencer braced herself before answering his call.

"Hi," she smiled, even though he couldn't see her.

"Hey, love," Wren's voice was smooth. "I'm back in town and thought we could meet for dinner."

"That sounds nice, where?"

Wren was about to respond when Spencer's phone beeped. That beep meant that there was another call waiting on the other line. She checked the incoming. Her mother was trying to call her. Her mother never called her during work hours. Spencer felt her stomach twist as she knew in her gut something was wrong.

"Wren," Spencer spoke through the phone. "My mom's trying to call me. Text me later where we should meet for dinner."

"Fine," was the last thing she heard Wren say before hanging up on him.

Spencer accepted her mother's call. Mrs. Hastings words came out rushed and in a blur. When she heard the words "Toby" "accident", and "hospital," Spencer slammed so hard on her breaks that everything inside her car flew forward. She stopped her car to try to listen to what her mother was saying, but she could barely focus. Anxiety instantly flooded her brain. When her brain finally turned on again, Spencer stepped off the brake paddle and onto the gas trying to get to the hospital as fast she could. Dinner with Wren would have to wait.

Uh-oh! Toby had an accident! Will he be, okay? Keep on reading guys because things are only going to get more complicated. Please, remember to write a review before clicking out of this chapter. Thank you.