Team Sparia

Chapter 2 - "Is that right?"

Spencer's POV
"Mom, I have to go." I try to hurry out the door but my mom's voice is firm and serious and I really don't want to annoy her anymore than I already have.
"Spencer." I stop my hand resting on the door handle. "You have to go to college."
"I already told you, I'm going to take a break for one year and then I'll revisit the idea of going to college." I was getting sick of telling my mom about my school plans and she was starting to irritate me.
"You're a Hastings, Spencer, you don't just take a break for a year that's not what we do."
"God, mom! Can you just not say for once that I'm a Hastings? As if that's supposed to mean something like I'll immediately drop everything and go to college. Why won't you let me do what I want?" I didn't mean to get so angry but the stupid excuse of being a Hastings was really starting to grind on me. I shouldn't get too angry, all my mom wanted was for me to have a future. My mom sighed and picked up her lawyer suitcase.
"Is this because Aria has decided to do the same?" My mom asks and I freeze. It wasn't solely because of Aria, although she had convinced me to take a break and get my life in check, but I felt like I could really do with a little relaxation in my life.
"No. What difference does it make if I go to college next year supposed to if I go this year? I'll still be going to college either way." I argue back.
"Spencer, it's not just me. Your father wants you to attend this year."
"Why? So he can recruit me in his army of evil lawyers." I say sarcastically.
"Spencer." My mom's voice takes a stern tone.
"Can you just talk to him, please?" I ask giving her my best puppy dog eyes and I see my mom sway which showed she was considering it. There was a long period of silence before she replied.
"I can talk to him but I make no promises."
"Thank you!" I yell and then I turn around and hurry outside to my silver Mercedes where I slide into the drivers seat and set off towards the Brew.

I walk into the Brew and I was late since my mom had held me up. All the girls were sitting in the corner, Emily had taken an armchair, Hanna had taken the other and then their was Aria, who stole my main focus she was sitting in the centre of the couch and she looked beautiful. She caught me looking and we locked eyes for a few seconds before I turned away and blushed from embarrassment. I make my way towards them and take the side of the couch furthest away from Aria. "Hey Spence, are you okay?" Hanna asks and I feel all their eyes fall on me. I squirm uncomfortable but I push back whatever feelings I was feeling and stitch on a fake smile.
"I'm fine." I reply to which Hanna smiles at and resumes her talking about Caleb. I look sideways at where Aria was sitting and see her staring at me, she always could see when I was lying. I turn my head to look directly at Aria which I immediately regret because I felt my smile falter for a moment before I had to look away. I'm not sure when Aria started having this affect on me but it was starting to become a hazard. Last night was pretty hazy but I was sure I told Aria I loved her and I felt completely mortified when I woke up, mostly because it was true. "Are you two still sticking to your plan?" It was Emily who drew my attention away from my thoughts which was hard to do normally. The question was directed at Aria and I since we were the ones who were going to stay home for a year and then go to college.
"I am." Aria pipes up.
"Trying too." I say remembering the conversation I'd had with my mother a few minutes ago.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Emily asks raising an eyebrow.
"Nothing. Just my parents and the usual lecture of being a Hastings." Without thinking I take the cup out of Aria's hands, a gesture I did often, and my hand brushes against her hand and I feel a pleasant shiver go through my body. I take a sip of Aria's coffee and then give it back to her.
"W-wait so you might still be going?" Aria stutters slightly, the others don't seem to notice but I do.
"No offence but I'm pretty sure admissions are over with." Hanna says pushing her blond hair back.
"My parents have their ways. If there's a Hastings there's a lawsuit that they can threaten people with." I say sarcastically and Hanna rolls her eyes.
"But I was looking forward to spending time with you." My stomach knots when I hear Aria say that. I give her a weak smile not quite meeting her eyes. I can't stay here, Aria doesn't feel the same way and it's doing me no good to be seeing her right now. I'd discovered my feelings for Aria recently. Of cause I'd always known that I had felt differently about Aria I just figured it was because she was my best friend I was the closest to Aria, for god's sake I couldn't even face her when I was at the lowest point in my life because she meant so much to me. Now I realise that it was something so much more than that. I stand up abruptly and all the girls heads snap in my direction. "Is something wrong Spencer?" Emily asks.
"No, I just remembered I have to go..." Think Spencer, think! "See Toby." Really? Aria is going to know that's a lie and what if she told the others about our break up? What a lame excuse.
"Is that right?" Aria says raising a knowing eyebrow.
"Uh-huh, so if you excuse me." I might as well have ran out of the place it would of been a lot more subtle then that train wreck. The door to the brew closed behind me and I quickly made my way to my car before I sped off in the direction towards my house.

When I came through the front door the house was completely empty. I climb up the stairs and collapse on my bed. Everything is so screwed up. The only person who knew about me was Toby and that was because I had to tell him the truth, I couldn't just break up with him for no reason. I pull out my phone and flip through my contacts, my hand certainly did not linger on Aria's, until I reached Toby. I debated whether or not to call him and I decided against it, he probably needed a little space from me. To be fair everyone could do with a little space from me. I threw my phone down on my bed and crossed the room to my red chair by the window. Without meaning to my thoughts landed on Aria, her outrageous sense of style, her perfectly white teeth that she flashed when she smiled or laughed, her beautiful brunette hair and her pink lips- Okay to far Spencer, stop thinking about that. Luckily my thoughts were interrupted when I heard the front door being knocked on. I bound down the stairs and freeze when I see Toby dressed in his police uniform, why is her here? I walk towards the door slowly and cautiously and through the glass I see Toby's eyes follow me their full of pain and sadness. Is he here to get back together with me? I twist the lock in one smooth motion and pull the door open. "Spencer, there's been an accident."