"People appreciate art, not the artist." This chapter is stupid, but I still wrote it. I don't have much left in me for this story.

Chapter 29: Moving Forward

*2 months later*

*3 months later*

Spencer took a deep breath as she stood in line preparing for the moment when she walked across the stage to accept her degree. There were still a few more people ahead of her. She looked towards the crowd. Her eyes scanned through the sea of people until she found the ones she was looking for. She sees her parents sitting in the front row along with her sister, but they're not who she's looking for. She still has bad memories after all the times Wren would fail to show up for her. Her eyes move around until she spots her friends, Aria, Hanna, Emily, Alison, Caleb, and…Him. A bright smile shines across her face as her eyes met him from a distance. Toby's eyes were completely trained on her. He smiled brightly at her. Spencer gave a subtle wave. After all this time, it never failed to amaze her at how good Toby was at being there for her. They have been going together for three months now and things could not be better.

Toby started working for Jason as soon as the Spring season started. His old crew came back to work with him on the current project renovating Jason's house. It will take some time to complete the work, but with how good Toby's team is, they're sure to make great progress. Spencer wrapped up her last semester of law school and is on her way to study for the bar exam that she will have to take in the summer. Spencer and Toby's relationship has been going steady. They're taking things slow day by day, getting to know each other, having fun dates together, talking, and their physical relationship is indescribably amazing.

"Spencer Jill Hastings!"

Spencer was jolted back from her daze of love with Toby as she heard them call her name. She adjusted her cape then lifted her gown as she walked up to the stage. She marched carefully across the stage, stopping mid-way to shake hands with the Dean and accept her degree. She saw cameras flashing out of the corner of her eye knowing that her friends and her sister were taking pictures. Spencer looked out and waved to her friends who were sitting in the middle of the crowd. Her friends all stood up smiling, cheering, and clapping for her. The sight of seeing all the people she loved here for her today got her all teary eyed. She smiled and even blew a kiss and a wink to Toby who just looked so overcome with pride for his girl.

After the ceremony, Spencer was ushered behind the stage to take a photo with her fellow classmates. She took a few minutes to speak to some of her friends from school. They wished each other good luck in the future and promised to keep in touch. After a small group hug, Spencer ventured around to the front of the stage to find her people. Spencer stepped up on her tiptoes trying to locate them. She thought she could see Alison's curly blonde hair off to the right, but just as she was heading towards that direction, a hand touched her shoulder. She jumped. Spencer turned around and sighed in relief when she saw who it was.

"Melissa," she smiled.

Melissa smiled and said, "I didn't want to leave without saying congratulations."

"Aw, you're leaving. I thought you would come to the after party."

"Sorry, little sis," Melissa shrugged. "I have to get back to Philly for work."

"Okay," Spencer said, understanding. Her sister really was a busy person. She held her arms out for a hug, "thanks for coming."

Melissa hugged Spencer and said, "I know studying for the bar is going to be stressful but take care of yourself."

"Thanks. I will"

They separated as it was time for Melissa to hit the road. Spencer went back to looking for her friends. She knew her parents would already be headed towards the lodge that they rented for Spencer's graduation party. Spencer's feet were getting tired of walking in these heels. She reached the end of the crowd and still couldn't find her friends. Just as she was making a turn, she slipped on the back of her heel, but she did not hit the ground as two familiar hands reached out to catch her. Spencer smiled immediately.

"Toby!" She turned around in his arms.

Toby shook his head and said to her, "you and heels are not a good combination."

"I swear, I don't always fall on my heels, but when I do," Spencer wrapped her arms around his neck and smiled up at him. "There's always a handsome carpenter around to catch me when I do."

He held her steady in his arms and said, "I'll always be around to catch you when you fall."

Spencer smiled. Toby leaned down to kiss her. Their kiss was just getting heated when they heard some coughs and a few giggles.

"Um, excuse you," Hanna said. "You're still in public, so please don't fuck each other here."

"No problem," Spencer smiled and said, "I'm sure we can find a private room later."

"Toby," Hanna made a gesture with her hands. "Would you mind stepping aside so the rest of us can hug her?"

"I suppose." Toby acted like he was reluctant to let go of Spencer. Hanna took his place and squeezed Spencer into a tight hug.

"Congratulations Spencer!" Hanna squealed.

"Thank you…Hanna," Spencer said, feeling suffocated from Hanna's tight grip.

Hanna let go and Aria was the next person to hug Spencer. Aria didn't hug as tightly as Hanna.

"I'm so proud of you, Spence," she said.

"Thank you."

Alison and Emily hugged Spencer together. Spencer put one arm around each of her friends.

"Thank you, guys, so much for coming," Spencer said. "It really meant a lot to me."

"We wouldn't have missed it for anything," said Alison.

"You worked so hard to get to this point," Emily said. "And we're really proud of you."

After making her rounds with her friends, Toby was back by her side. He placed his hand on her back as they stood close together.

"We should probably get going," Aria said. "Your mom has a special party planned."

"Yes! Party time!" Hanna pumped her fist in the air.

Everyone laughed. Hanna tugged Caleb's hand as she led the way through the crowd to their car. Spencer and Toby started to go with them when Toby remembered something.

"Oh, hold on," Toby said as he caught Spencer's hand. "I have a little surprise for you."

Toby took Spencer in a different direction from her friends. They squeezed their way through the crowd of people to the parking lot where Toby's truck is. Spencer could see a large sheet in the back of Toby's truck covering something up.

"Wait here," Toby said.

He left Spencer's side and hopped up onto the back of his truck. Toby removed the sheet to reveal a beautifully hand-crafted rocking chair. Spencer's hand flew over her mouth as she gasped. Toby was smiling now as he revealed the chair to her.

"Oh, my, Toby," Spencer moved her hand to show her smile. "Did you…Did you make this for me?"

"I did," Toby said. He ran his fingers along the smooth wood of the chair. "What do you think?"

"It's beautiful," she grinned. "I love it."

"I figured you could use a new piece of furniture in your place."

"Get down here already so I can kiss you!"

Toby smiled as he hopped down from the bed of his truck. Spencer put her hands on his face and kissed him.

"Thank you," Spencer pulled back. She rubbed her thumb over his cheek as she looked into his eyes. "I love you."

"I love you too," said Toby. "And I'm so proud of everything you've accomplished."

Spencer leaned their foreheads together and shut her eyes for a moment. When she opened them again, she caught something shiny being held up in the corner of her eyes. Toby had another gift for her. A necklace. It was a silver chain necklace with an S scrabble tile charm. Spencer looked at it in awe.

"Oh my god," She reached for the necklace. "Toby, this is beautiful."

"This one is more than just a graduation gift, it's a token. A memory. A reminder to…" Toby hesitated for a moment.

"To what?" Spencer asked him.

"To the night I fell in love with you."

Spencer's mouth parted as she looked at him in awe. She looked at the necklace as she played back the memory of the night, they played scrabble in Toby's loft. It was a night Spencer would never forget because it was the first time Spencer truly felt like someone cared about her. For more than just her body or her money or looks. That was also the night Spencer realized that her feelings for Toby were more than lust. To know that Toby felt the exact same way about her that night…The night she confessed that she wanted to experience real love and to know what it truly felt like to be in love. Now, she does know what it feels like. Spencer looked up at Toby all teary eyed. She wrapped her arms around his back pulling him close to her.

"Thank you," she said, leaning her forehead against him once again.

"You're welcome," he said.

He kissed her forehead. Then her cheek. Then he used his fingers to lift her chin up to kiss her lips. Spencer smiled against his lips as her arms came up to wrap around his shoulders. Toby's hands went lower down her body to her hips. With a small hop, Spencer was up in Toby's arms wrapped around his torso. He pressed her back against his truck as they continued to make out.

Honk!

They looked up with swollen lips to find Caleb and Hanna sitting in the car that had just honked at them. Hanna was holding up her hand at them as if to say, "are you kidding me!" Hanna rolled down her window and shouted at them…

"Seriously? Can't you horn dogs go two minutes without trying to fuck each other? Geez, at least go inside the truck or something!"

Toby has his own draw in Spencer's loft, and she has a draw in his loft. During Spencer's graduation party, she drank a little too much with her friends. Toby stayed sober enough to drive them both safely back to Spencer's barn. He helped her out of the car and carried her through the front door.

"You are so strong!" Spencer exclaimed.

She was grinning so wide. Toby smiled as he gently laid Spencer down on her bed. She got very handsy during the ride home, so Toby's shirt was halfway unbuttoned.

"You're so handsome too." Spencer sat up on her knees and reached her arms out to him like a toddler. "Come kiss me."

Toby pecked her lips but did not let it go any further than that. He wants to kiss her more, but he can't deny how strong her breath is right now.

"I think we should brush your teeth and get you ready for bed," said Toby.

"Oh, come on!"

Spencer threw her arms around him, and moved like she was trying to climb on him. She was too dizzy to jump up into him, so she just had her arms around his neck hanging loosely from him as she stared up into his eyes. Toby's hands were on her back.

"I love you," she slurred.

"I love you too," he smiled.

"I love you more," she pouted.

"I love you most," Toby countered.

"No," Spencer tried to bring her body closer to him. "I love you the most."

"I love you times ten." He meant those words, but he also wanted to tease her.

"I love you…times…" Spencer's drunk brain struggled to think of a number. "Time's thirteen!"

Toby chuckled, "okay, you win. Now, let's get you to bed."

Toby gently laid her back down on the bed. He took off Spencer's heels and set them at the end of her bed. Then, he went to her bathroom to grab a glass of water for her. When he came back out, Spencer was sprawled out naked. Her dress was on the floor. She was knocked out by sleep. Toby smiled softly. He set her water on the bedside table. Toby gently moved Spencer so he could pull the covers down to put them over her. Spencer turned to her side and snuggled under the blankets. Her nose winkled as she fell into a deep stage of sleep. Toby kissed her cold sweaty forehead.

"I love you times, infinity," Toby said as he gently petted his thumb along her cheek.

Okay, so that wasn't the greatest chapter, but that's what happens when you only have half a heart to write. There is one more chapter planned, but I don't know yet if or when I will have it posted.