Back to Me

The Deal

I sat in my room and constantly glanced at the clock. I was going over to Jason's to hang out with him and Spencer and time was ticking by slowly. I was concentrating on some school work when a knock at the door nearly made me jump out of my skin. I went downstairs and saw one of the last people I expected when I opened the door.

"Hello, Toby."

"Hello, Mona, what brings you here?" I asked.

"Is Jenna home yet?"

"No, not yet, she has a flute lesson right after school." I told her and she seemed relieved.

"Good, I need to talk to you, but she can't be around." She stated as I moved away from the door so she could come in.

"Okay, what is it?" I asked as we sat down in the living room.

"You and I have a lot in common. We were both Ali's targets and we were both suspects in her murder. But you became more than just a suspect. Whoever framed you obviously killed Ali, and I think there's a reason they framed you over me. I think I know who did it, but I need your help to prove it."

"Why do you need me?" I asked completely not following.

"Because I think Jenna is involved somehow or knows who is."

"Jenna!"

"Yes, and that's why I need you to help me." She confirmed and let the information sink in.

"What do you want me to do?"

"You were lucky that you got off the hook, but the next person might not be. I know you don't want that for Spencer. And despite that I hate Alison and that they were her friends first, I care about Hanna, Spencer, Emily, and Aria. I don't want them getting framed too. And I want her real killer to be found so that I never have to hear the name Alison again. But the police in this town suck and nothing will be solved if we leave it up to them. So will you help me?"

/

"Hey, Toby, good to see you." Jason greeted me as he opened the door.

"You too, Jason." I said as I walked in. "What's burning?"

"That would be dinner. Or what would have been dinner." He sighed as he placed a smoking pan in the sink.

"How did you not starve when you went off to college?"

"Easy, I lived on coffee and take-out."

"You know, I'm surprised that nobody figured out about you and Spencer by themselves. You both drink enough coffee for a small army, and it's so strong, normal people can't even drink it." I told him as I sat down at the small kitchen table.

"Do not make fun of my coffee. And I am normal. But people like you that are too scared to drink it, aren't normal." He said defensively. "But you are right; the Hastings style coffee should be a giveaway."

"Hey, I'm not scared. I actually have had Spencer's coffee and more than once. But I still don't know how you two do it on a regular basis."

"Wow, I'm impressed. You must really like Spencer if you willing drank her coffee."

"And she must really like you if she lets you cook dinner for her." I shot back to avoid him teasing me about my relationship with Spencer.

"I wasn't cooking for her. She tries to eat before coming over or makes me get takeout. I think she's experienced one too many of my cooking failures."

"I don't blame her." I mumbled. "Hey, where is Spencer anyway?"

"She's on the phone with Hanna. And do you think you can do better?" He challenged.