Secrets and Lies

I'll Steal It

Everyone was sitting together at a table outside eating their lunches and talking. Toby was sitting next to his girlfriend, Emily, with his arm draped around her. Spencer was across from them beside Aria, and Hanna was on the other bench.

"Hey Spencer, do you think you could help Toby study in French?" Emily asked.

Toby sighed. "I told you not to ask her." He whispered. "I'll be fine on my own."

It was a widely known fact that Spencer Hastings was the smartest girl in school and it was also a widely known fact that Spencer Hastings did not like Toby Cavanaugh. Even when he started dating one of her best friends, Emily Fields, Spencer continued to avoid him when she could and she would often act cold towards him when Emily wasn't there. She hardly ever spoke a word to him and rarely looked in his direction.

Toby was positive Spencer Hastings hated him, but he didn't know why. So when she agreed to Emily's request he was completely shocked.

"I can tutor him." Spencer nodded. "How bad are your French grades?"

Toby stared at her for a moment. "Um, I failed the last two tests. The teacher said if I fail the next test it will effect my grade point average for the entire year."

"See?" Emily nuged him playfully. "I told you Spencer would help you. Thanks Spence. Toby was worried about being held back, but I told him you've been fluent in French since we met."

Spencer looked down at her salad. "It's no problem, Em. Anything for you."

Shortly after they made plans to study the conversation changed to Hanna's date with Caleb and what she was going to wear. No one noticed Spencer's eyes drift to Toby or Toby's not-so-subtle glances in Spencer's direction. They didn't even notice when Emily's gaze landed on the swim team's table.

Emily and Toby started dating three months ago when Toby found out Emily's secret. It was the day Allison Dilaurentis moved away. He saw Emily crying outside her house which was only a few houses away from his house.

"Are you okay?" Toby asked gently as he approached the crying girl.

Emily sniffed and wiped at her eyes. "Yeah. My friend just moved away and I'm sad. That's all. I just- I already miss her." She sniffled.

Toby gave her a small smile. "Because you liked her as more than a friend?"

Emily gasped. She snapped her head up at him. "I-I didn't say that!" She stood up in a panic and nearly tripped, but Toby reached out and caught her.

"Are you okay?!" He asked helping her steady herself. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pry or upset you. I just- I saw you two once and I thought since no one else seems to know and I do, maybe you might want to talk about it with someone who knows." He shook his head and started walking away. "It was stupid of me to assume you would-"

"Wait!" Emily grabbed his sleeve to stop him from walking away. "Stay. Please."

Toby nodded. He gave her a small smile and sat down beside her on her porch.

"How much did you see?"

Toby shrugged. "Nothing, if you didn't want me to see anything then I didn't."

"It's okay. I just wanna know how much I can talk about." Emily shyly asked.

Toby smiled. "Anything you want to talk about. I promise not to judge."

Emily sighed and looked away. "You're right. I did like Allison.. as more than a friend and no, no one else knew. Not even Spencer, Aria, or Hanna. Their my best friends, but I could never tell them."

Toby waited for her to continue.

"She kissed me once and I knew that I would never like a boy again. We were only thirteen, but I knew. I've kinda known since I was six even though I never had a crush on anyone until I met Allison." Emily sniffed. "It's not just that she moved away, but before she left she told me I would never be able to forget her. She told me I was hers and no one else would ever make me feel as loved as she did. She said she was packing my heart with her things so I could never give it to anyone else. I think Allison's right. I don't think I'll ever move on or love again." Emily wiped away a tear.

Toby smirked. "Yes. You will." He took a chance and reached for her hand. "One day a girl is going to take you by surprise and before you know it she'll have your heart. You won't be able to get her out of your head and you'll be able to trust her with every secret you have, even the ones you don't tell your best friend's about. She'll steal your heart and you'll realize Allison didn't take it with her."

Emily sighed. "No girl will ever steal my heart because I'm too afraid to come out to anyone." Emily admitted to him.

Toby gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. "Okay.. then I'll steal it."

"What?"

"I promise you, Emily Fields, that I will be the best boyfriend you deserve until you're ready to come out and let a girl steal your heart for real. I'll keep your heart safe for you so you'll know it's with me, not Allison."

Emily was taken aback, but she was also flattered by Toby's offer. "You want to be my boyfriend?" She asked just to clarify.

Toby grinned. "I'll stay with you until you feel brave enough to tell everyone your secret and I promise I will never tell anyone until you're ready to tell them yourself." He swore, right hand to God.

Emily chuckled. "What about when you fall in love and want a real girlfriend?"

Toby's smile fell. "Don't worry about me. I already have my own unrequited love."

"You do? Who?"

Toby shook his head. "That's my secret. Maybe I'll tell you someday."

"Okay, then I guess I can wait.. boyfriend." Emily joked, then she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you, Toby."

Toby smiled. "Anything for you."