Toby meets someone unexpected. Later, he bumps into an old friend.
Chapter 7: Bitterness
Toby did some shopping that morning and got a haircut like he said he would. He went back to his loft to eat and take a shower before going to his secret meeting with a surprising somebody. After what Alison shared with him this morning, he had some questions. Toby drove to their agreed meeting spot on the hill overlooking the town. The morning sun disappeared behind the afternoon clouds. He waited for almost an hour thinking the person he was here to meet had bailed. Just as he was about to get back in his car, he heard something moving in the trees. A twig snapped and Mona Vanderwaal came walking along the trail. She was dressed in a black hoodie like the one he saw last night. Was it Mona outside his loft? She's shorter than the person he saw. Then again, they were several feet away. Mona lowered her hood to reveal herself.
"I was beginning to think you wouldn't show," Toby said.
"I considered it," Mona said. She stopped a couple feet from him.
"We should've met when it was dark," Toby said.
"You know better than anyone that there are more hunters lurking at night. Trust me, this is the best time."
"Well," Toby tossed his hands up. "Do you know where he is?"
"Lucas made it out of the house," she said. "I haven't seen him at the academy yet, but I have staked out where he lives. He's got guards protecting him."
"How many?"
"My guess is two guards. One watches over him during the day, and one covers him at night."
"Coward," Toby scuffed.
"Well, he was abducted," Mona pointed out. "By you."
"Have you had the chance to talk to him?"
"Only through emails."
"Is he going to help us?"
"I don't think we should involve him."
"Why not?" Toby pressed. He stepped closer, "what aren't you telling me?"
Mona sighed and said, "Caleb's been staying with him."
"Caleb?" Toby's mind filled with rage. "As in Rivers? Dammit!"
"Even if we could blackmail Lucas into helping us. He won't be able to do much of anything with Caleb around," Mona said. "He'll most likely tell Caleb what he's doing, and he'll soon figure out what you're up to."
"Yeah," Toby kicked a rock, wishing it were Caleb's head. "And we all know how that turned out the last time."
"We don't need him," Mona insisted. "I'm a better hacker than Caleb is anyway. Whatever Lucas and Caleb can find out, I can find out too, and quicker. We'll finally be one step ahead of the academy and maybe even be able to warn some of the witches they go after."
"Why haven't you been doing that all along?" Toby pressed.
"I have," said Mona. "I've saved a few innocents on my own well before you ever joined that academy."
They fell silent. The wind whistled through the trees. Some sort of bird was flapping its wings from tree to tree in the forest behind them.
"I need a way to get to Tanner," said Toby.
"I thought you were starting with her agents," said Mona.
"Now, I'm thinking it's better if we go right for the whistle blower."
"Killing Tanner is a bold move. Even for you."
"Maybe if we just kill her, it will end the witch hunts," Toby said. "At this point anyone who gets in the way is just collateral damage."
"What changed your mind?" Mona asked. "Yesterday you were determined to kill them all."
"I still am," Toby said. "But only if I really have to and they get in my way."
"Okay," Mona nodded. "I'll see if there's any way for us to get to Tanner with the least amount of detection."
They were about to call an end to this meeting and agreed to stay in touch. Before Mona could leave, he had one last question for her.
"Mona, you said you tried to flush the poison out of Spencer's system the night she died. Have you done it before for anyone?"
Mona nodded, "I've attempted to do it before, but I've never been successful."
Toby looked skeptical, "you were the one who took care of Spencer's body after I left. What did you do with it?"
Mona was clearly thrown off by his question. "I…" She nervously laughed. "I took her to be cremated. What, you think I kept her body in storage or something? I'm not some sick creep."
"I never said you were," Toby said. "I just…"
"You just…what?"
Toby considered telling her about some Spencer sightings around town. Not just from him, but Alison reported seeing Spencer too. If he had been the only one who was seeing Spencer around, he would just assume he was going crazy, but knowing that Alison was in the same boat got the wheels turning in his brain. Mistrust filled the air between him and Mona. Can he trust her? He knows it's crazy to assume Spencer would be alive. That's impossible. He saw her die. But is Mona the one going around in that black hoodie trying to spook people into thinking they're crazy? Whose side is Mona on? His or the academy's. Toby remembers that she was part of the last trick Tanner played on the world. That time she gave Spencer some type of drug that made her irrationally angry. But it wasn't really Spencer out and about. It was just Spencer in a sleep walking state being controlled to act that way. Mona was smart, but was she smart enough to create a drug that could bring someone back to life?
"Nothing," Toby said. "I've been tired. That's all."
"Well, you should get some rest," said Mona. "I don't think Spencer would be happy knowing you haven't been taking good care of yourself."
Toby nodded. He turned towards his truck.
"Oh," Mona called after him. "You're welcome by the way. For saving your ass in that fire."
Toby's eyes widened. "You saved me?"
She nodded, "nearly burned my hands off dragging you up the stairs."
Toby nodded, not fully convinced that she was telling the truth. But it made sense. She was the only one who knew he would be at that house with Lucas. Toby ignored his instincts and went with logic. Mona saved him. Spencer was dead. He dreamed of her. Toby suddenly felt like he needed a drink, and a strong one.
The pub smelled like cigarettes, beer, burgers, and human stink. Toby sat down at the bar, slapped down some money, and asked for a gin tonic on the rocks. Toby downed it quicker than it took the bartender to set it down. He tapped the glass signaling for another. This time he just took a small sip and let his drink sit as he sat there in his hurt. He heard the bustle of people around him and the sound of pool balls hitting each other. He finished his second drink as the sounds behind him started to blur.
"Toby, is that you?" A voice behind him said.
Toby spun around in his chair causing his head to spin. His vision was blurry for a second before he was finally able to focus on the blonde girl standing in front of him. She was dolled up in a flashy silver dress, glittery eyeshadow, glossy lips, and high heels. Hanna Marin. Toby hasn't seen her in… He can't remember when. It had to be before Spencer's funeral because he refused to go to that. Hanna smiled at him. Clearly, she had been living under a rock all this time because she missed his cues and walked up to hug him tightly.
"How have you been?" She asked, giving him a hard pat on the back.
She finally released him from her hug and took a step back. Toby choked back a gag as he got a whiff of her strong lavender perfume. Toby wanted to say something snarky, but remembered he's supposed to be appearing as if he's a new man. Fresh from the hospital.
"I'm hanging in there," he forced a smile. "How are you?"
"Me? Oh, I've been really good. My friends just ordered me this really fruity drink and it's making me a really excellent dancer."
He looked over his shoulder at a table where he spotted a group of girls he did not recognize. They were all dressed up, just not glittery like Hanna was. The only person Toby recognized was Aria. So, they still talk. He assumed that Aria had left town and found some place to shelter in. I guess she had decided to keep living amongst the people pretending to be a hater towards witches even though she is secretly one herself. It was actually clever of her to continue trying to blend in. Just like Emily.
"I heard you were in the hospital," said Hanna. "I'm glad you're doing better."
"Yeah, it's been a rough couple of months but I…" Toby thought of something. "How did you know I was in the hospital."
Hanna went pale, "oh, I don't know. I hear things. I'm kind of the queen of gossip around town."
That was true, but that wasn't it. Toby looked down at Hanna's hand and saw the ring. Her flashy outfit. The glitter. The ring. Toby put it all together. He knows exactly how she found out he was in Radley. The academy would have a record of his stay there. Lucas would have all that. Lucas is staying with Caleb. Hanna was still with Caleb. Not only is she still with him, but she's engaged to him. This is her bridal shower. Hanna could tell by the look on Toby's face that he had put it together. Her facial expressions showed guilt.
"So, I suppose congratulations are in order," Toby huffed, completely abounding his idea to be polite.
"Toby…" Hanna opened her mouth to explain.
"Don't!" He spat. "I just…How could you? How could you still be with him after what he did? After what he did to your friend."
"He was just doing his job," Hanna whispered. "He didn't think they'd actually kill her."
"Bullshit!" Toby yelled. "You know that is bullshit. Caleb knows what that academy does to witches. He knew what he was doing by turning her in. And the fact that you're about to marry that guy just proves you never gave a shit about Spencer from the start. You just wanted to feel a part of something."
"I tried to stay away from him!" Hanna argued. "I slapped Caleb for what he did. I broke up with him. I didn't talk to him for weeks, but you know what happened? The girls cut me off. I haven't spoken to them in months. Caleb finally reached out to me, and I don't know, I guess he found a weak spot and I realized despite all the shit he's done, I still love him."
"Whatever," Toby huffed and laughed. "This just proves that life's a bitch. My love gets killed when I try to do the right thing and he gets his happy ending after being a prick. That's just great."
Toby turned away from Hanna and back to the bar. He ordered a third drink and drank it. Hanna dropped her hands in defeat and returned to her table. Toby's fourth and fifth drink quickly followed.
We finally find out what Hanna's been up to all this time. Are you shocked she ended up back with Caleb? Can Mona be trusted? Let me know your thoughts on this chapter.
