Back to Me

The Reunion

"Toby?" I asked as I carefully stood up from my seat.

I was ninety percent positive that it was him, but with the other ten percent I thought that this was all just a dream. A wonderful dream and I would wake up from when the bell rang or if one of the girls found me here.

"It's me, Spence, it's me." I heard him reply and immediately any doubts that I had about him really being here vanished.

Carefully, I took a few steps toward the direction I had heard his voice come from. Toby must have realized what I wanted and met me half way. And for the first time in over a year I felt the comfort and safety that I only felt when I was with him. His arms wrapped around me gently but tight enough to give me a sense of security.

"I've missed you so much." I whispered and I could feel tears running down my face as I smiled like an idiot.

"Me too, more than you know." He said as he wiped my tears.

For a few minutes we just stood together in silence, enjoying the sweet moment of finally being together. To be honest, even though I knew this was real it still hadn't sunk in that Toby was really here.

"You know, it's been over a year and I still haven't thanked you." He stated breaking the silence.

"For what, helping Ali set your garage on fire by being naïve and giving her the lighter?" I asked sarcastically not being able to help it.

"Really, Spencer, we've been together ten minutes and you're already being sarcastic?" He laughed and I could imagine him rolling his eyes.

"I know and I'm sorry." I sighed.

"You don't have to apologize. To be honest I really don't care because I've missed you so much, sarcasm and coffee addiction included."

"I'm not addicted to coffee; it's just my preferred beverage. I could drink something else just as much if I wanted to." I pointed out. "But seriously, what did you want to thank me for?"

"First let me say that you're not responsible for what happened no matter what you think." He stated leaving no room for argument. "But you are responsible for saving my life that night. I could have gotten out but I couldn't leave Jenna. If you hadn't come running in, Jenna and I probably would have been stuck in there. I know it's long overdue, but thank you, Spencer. And I'm so sorry about what happened to you because of it."

"I'm only going to say this because I know that it's pointless to argue. You're welcome, Toby. And I'm going to tell you the same thing you told me, you're not responsible for what happened to me no matter what you think. I'd do it again if it meant that you would be okay."

"And I would do the same for you, Spencer. You're the most important person in my life and I'll always do whatever I can to help you."

"Is that why you took the blame? Because Ali would frame me for it if you didn't?" I asked.

"H...how did you know about that?" He questioned and the shock in his voice was highly obvious.

"Jason told me. Ali planned it all and she told him what was going to happen and that I was responsible." I explained. "So, is that why did it?"

"Yeah, I just couldn't let her do that to you." He admitted in a whisper. "I didn't want to leave you, especially after I found out that you might not see again. But I want you to know that I didn't leave by choice."

"I guess I've always known that, but it's nice to hear. For the last year I was so worried that you wouldn't come back, and that if you did, you would hate me." I told him quietly, knowing that he wouldn't like me thinking that.