052. road trip

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"Okay, one more time." Spencer says.

"Dad, you don't need one more time. You have an eidetic memory." Clara says, dropping her bag by the door.

"We can never be too careful." Spencer says and Clara groans.

"Fine. We are driving up to New York. We are going to stay in a hotel in Boston -- males in one room, females in the other." Clara says.

"And going with you is Ellie, Erin, Luke, his dad, and Izzy." Spencer says.

"Not Izzy." Clara says.

"Wha-- why not? What happened to Izzy?" Spencer frowns.

"She snuck a boy in a couple nights ago so her mom grounded her." Clara says. "Dad, they're about to come pick me and Ellie up, so..." She gives him a look to wrap the discussion up.

"Okay. Okay, I-- all right." Spencer holds his hands up in surrender.

"You have all the numbers and information you need." Clara says.

"I know. I know." Spencer says. "Excuse me for being worried and caring. It's a crime, I know."

"Thank you for loving me." Clara tells him. "But I will be fine. I just went on a field trip with a bunch of stupid teenagers, I'll handle a weekend with my friends. Plus, Ellie will keep you updated, she always has."

"Are you sure you don't want to stay back and hang out with me?" Spencer asks. "I have the weekend off."

"I love you, but I wanna go." Clara says. Her phone dings twice and she looks at one text from Luke and another from Ellie. "They're here, Ellie's downstairs. I'll see you on Monday night."

"Okay." Spencer says, accepting her hug. He tightly hugs her back, kissing her on the head a few times. He turns his frown into a small smile the moment she pulls away. "Have fun. Call me."

"I will, promise." Clara kisses him on the cheek before rushing over to the door and getting her stuff. "Don't get too bored without me." She teases.

"Don't worry, I'll have a blast." Spencer chuckles. "I love you."

"Love you, too." Clara leaves.

Spencer shuts the door, frowning at the empty apartment. He walks around the living room, picking up a few stray items. He stops at a photo of Clara from when she was six.

"I miss my little baby." He sighs, staring at the photo.

+++

"Can you change the station?" Erin asks.

"No. No, I like this song." Luke says.

"This song sucks." Erin says.

"It does not. You just have terrible taste." Luke scoffs.

"Clara." They both turn to the brunette.

"It's not that bad." Clara shrugs.

"Clara." Erin glares at her.

"Ha!" Luke laughs in Erin's face and she swats him away from her.

"You suck." Erin pouts at her friend.

"Sorry." Clara laughs.

+++

Luke's dad, Josh, pulls up to the trailer that has an open sign on the door.

"All right, I'll be right back." He gets out, going into the trailer.

"What's going on?" Clara asks, having woken up to the car door shutting.

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