The girls help Toby by producing a plan to steal Wren's phone. Can they pull it off?
Chapter 21: For Spencer
Aria, Emily, Alison, and Hanna sat together in the Hastings living room waiting for Spencer. After Emily's little meeting with Toby at the Brew, Emily went straight to the other girls to talk about what they're going to do. It surprised Emily how quick the girls seemed to jump on the chance to expose Wren. Alison and Hanna were especially ready to help.
"I always knew there was something fishy about Wren," Hanna said.
"We don't know anything for sure," Aria said.
"Emily, why did Toby talk to you about this?" Alison asked.
"Because we're friends," Emily said. "He figured since we both care about Spencer thar I would be willing to listen."
"Are you sure Toby isn't just caught up in his own feelings of jealousy?" Alison asked. "He could be saying all this to get us help him break Spencer and Wren up."
Emily shook her head and said, "No, I don't think that's it. You and Hanna have said it yourself. Wren has always been a one foot out the door kind of guy."
"So, what are we going to do?" Hanna asked.
"The plan is to get Wren's phone," Emily said. "If we can get Wren's phone to Caleb, maybe he can find something that proves Toby's theory about Wren."
"What is Toby hoping we'll find?" Aria asked.
"Yeah, it's not like Wren is going to have all of his top-secret plans on his phone," said Alison. "If we want to find out what Wren is really up to, this isn't the way to do it."
Emily kicked Alison's foot and said, "Quiet, Spencer's coming."
"We're not telling Spencer about this?" Aria whispered.
"Not yet" Emily whispered back.
Spencer came in through the back door. She had been in the barn on the phone with someone from her mom's office. For the last two days, she has been working on making connections and building relationships so it would be easier to find a job in London when she graduates. She has been clerking for a judge her mother knew all year, but she would still need more experience before getting a real job as a lawyer. Her mother said she could work as a paralegal for a firm.
Spencer greeted her friends and offered them coffee or tea. Three of them said yes to coffee and one, Alison, went for tea. The girls figured this awkward conversation would be easier to have if they had something to stir.
"Guys," Spencer was the first to speak. "I have some news. After Wren and I are married, we've decided we're going to move to London next year."
All the girls appeared shocked. Aria's mouth was in a gape. Emily's eyes were wide. Hanna was shaking her head in disbelief. Alison's expression wasn't as stunned as the others, but it was clear that she was hurt.
"I'm sorry, what did you just say?" Hanna laughed, but nothing about this was funny. "You can't move to London."
"Why are you moving?" Aria asked.
"Well," Spencer started. "Wren likes it there, so he wants to…"
Hanna cut her off, "of course, Wren is behind this. That jerk."
"Hanna," Emily hissed.
"Are you happy about moving to London?' Alison asked.
"It's going to be hard to adjust," Spencer said. "But, with time, I can learn to be happy there."
"You don't seem too thrilled," Aria said.
Spencer took a breath, "yes, but this is what Wren wants. London is Wren's hometown, so it's only fair that I give his homeland a chance."
"Just last week you were having second thoughts about having a wedding. Now, you're ready to change everything for Wren," said Hanna. "What is this really about?"
"Are your parents pushing you to do this?" Alison asked.
"No," Spencer choked on the emotions she had been holding in since she came to her decision. "This is what I have to do."
Aria's eyes began to well up, "we're going to miss you."
"When's your wedding?" Emily asked. "I haven't even got my invitation yet."
"My mom just sent them out yesterday through email," Spencer said. "My wedding is the second week in January."
"That soon?" Hanna asked.
"Yes," Spencer nodded. "But don't worry, I'm going to be here a bit longer to finish school. I'm not officially moving until May."
"Why is Wren so set on taking you away from Rosewood?" Alison asked.
"I told you. London is his hometown," Spencer said. "He wants to be closer to family."
"What about your family?" Aria asked.
The room fell silent. The girls took a moment to reflect on their sadness. Sadness that they'll be losing their close friendship. Sadness that Spencer will be living far away from the life she knows. Spencer's heart had gone completely numb. She had to force herself to be numb, because the pain of losing her friends, her family, and Toby had become too much for her heart to carry. It made her feel sick. The night she told Wren she'd move to London; she spent the rest of the night throwing up. Hanna's eyes got all watery.
"I'm sorry, I can't keep this in anymore," Hanna blurted out.
"Hanna, wait, don't do this," Emily said.
The other girls worried that Hanna would blurt their information about Wren prematurely. She surprised them all when Hanna said these words to Spencer instead.
"We want to throw you and Wren a wedding shower."
It was Hanna's surprise plan that put a much greater plan in motion. A wedding shower was the perfect opportunity for the girls to get their hands on Wren's phone. Spencer was surprised by her friend's words after how sad and angry she got. Spencer decided it would be easier to just accept her friend's offer. The party was planned for Saturday evening. Emily passed the news to Toby. She didn't share with him the news that Spencer was moving. Spencer pulled Emily aside later that same day and asked Emily not to say anything. Spencer will find a way to tell Toby on her own and in her own way. Like writing a letter, because facing Toby would be too much to bear.
Spencer's parents, work friends, her sister, and even Jason got an invite to the party. Everyone arrived at the lodge where the girls pooled their money together to rent. All of this is for Spencer. It was up to them to find out if Wren truly is not the man, he led Spencer to believe he is. Getting their hands on Wren's phone was harder than they thought. Wren would not leave Spencer's side all night. In all their days as a couple, the girls had never seen Wren this stuck to her. It was like he was putting on a show to prove that they're a happy couple. The girls huddled together in the corner of the room.
"This is hopeless, you guys," Emily said. "This party has been going on for two hours and we aren't any closer to getting our hands on Wren's phone."
"Caleb is still waiting in the back room," Hanna said. "I had to beg him to come tonight, and if he doesn't get to hack a phone, he's going to be upset that I wasted his time."
"How long does he need with the phone?" Alison asked. "If I can find a way to get Wren's phone away from him for just ten minutes."
"Caleb just needs five minutes with the phone," Hanna explained. "As soon as he has it, he can just download everything on Wren's phone to a thumb drive."
"Okay," Alison shoved her way past the girls and through the crowd.
Spencer and Wren were caught up in a conversation with a couple of Spencer's cousins. They walked up to congratulate them then asked them all about the wedding. Wren took the lead in the conversation explaining that the wedding would be grand and spectacular. When asked about their plans after marriage, Wren mentioned London. Suddenly Spencer's stomach felt queasy. Alison stepped in front of the people that were blocking her way.
"Excuse me," she politely said to the others. She smiled brightly at Spencer and Wren. "Congratulations you two!"
Spencer smiled a real smile for the first time that night, "hey! There you are! How come this is the first time I'm seeing you tonight? Where are the others?"
"I got tired of waiting in the train line of people wanting to talk to you," said Alison. "I just couldn't wait to tell you how truly happy I am for the both of you."
"Well, thank you," Wren tried to be polite, but he always had an edge in his tone whenever he spoke to Spencer's friends.
"Oh, come here!" Alison brought Spencer in for a tight hug. "It's not too late to cancel this," Alison whispered in her ear. "Just say the word and I will get the getaway car."
Spencer chuckled and patted her friend on the back, "thanks, Ali."
Alison's smile returned as she broke her hug with Spencer then opened her arms out wide towards Wren. Wren just stood there.
"Come on!" Alison exclaimed. "We're all friends here!"
"Go on!" Spencer pushed him.
Wren gave in. Wren was thrown by how tight Alison's grip was. Alison hugged him so tight that it hurt. Alison was smiling, but she spoke through gritted teeth as she whispered in his ear.
"I will clip your balls if you hurt my best friend!"
Alison patted around his coat pocket for his phone. She felt it in his right pocket and subtly pulled it out. She replaced his phone with a decoy that would match the weight of his phone so Wren wouldn't notice that it was gone. Alison finally released Wren from his hug and smiled.
"Best wishes to you," said Alison.
"Uh, thanks," Wren awkwardly said.
Alison winked at Spencer before disappearing into the crowd to find the other girls. Aria, Hanna, and Emily waited on the sidelines. Alison rejoined her friends and flashed Wren's phone in front of their faces with a devious smile.
"Like stealing candy from a baby."
The girls smiled and shared a brief cheer of celebration. Alison gave the phone to Hanna who quickly rushed the phone to Caleb. Hanna was right. Caleb only needed five minutes with the phone. When he downloaded all the content from Wren's phone onto his laptop. He gave the phone back to Hanna. Hanne returned with the phone then gave it back to Alison. When it was time to return the phone, Alison grabbed Emily's hand and led her through the sea of people. They shared a loud laugh as they passed by Spencer and Wren sitting at a table with Spencer's sister. Alison faked bumping into Wren at the table and dropped his phone on the floor. She tried to play it off as if his phone fell out of his coat pocket.
"Oops sorry!" Alison laughed in his face like she was drunk. "I guess I had a few too many. Here." Alison reached down to pick up Wren's phone while Emily snuck around to grab the decoy phone from Wren's actual pocket. Alison handed the real phone to Wren. "Is this yours?"
Wren tore the phone from Alison's hand and stuffed it in his back pocket. Alison apologized again then laughed as she pulled Emily along with her. They found a wall in the back of the room. Alison smiled as she pulled Emily in for a hungry kiss. Mission stealing Wren's phone was a major success! Now, all they need to do is search through Wren's log to find out what he's hiding.
The girls found a way to get their hands on Wren's phone. What do you think they'll find? Is Wren just using Spencer? Please write a review before going away.