Back to Me

Pretending

The next few days were crazy. I was still getting used to seeing again plus there was the huge shopping trip. Hanna told me about the party she was planning at the lake house this weekend. She insisted that we all go out and buy new bathing suits together. But of course with Hanna you can't just go in one store.

That was yesterday and today we were all in my room trying stuff on and deciding what we would wear tonight. To me it felt like getting ready for homecoming all over again. Two days ago Jason showed me a picture he took with his phone. The quality wasn't good but it was of me and Toby dancing outside. Part of me wanted to delete it permanently but the other part wanted to keep it forever to remember the friendship we used to have.

"Spencer!" Hanna shouted.

"What?" I asked snapping out of my thoughts of Toby and homecoming.

"You spaced out for a minute, Spence." Emily told me.

"Yeah, where did you go?" Aria asked.

"I was thinking about when Hanna and Mona helped me get ready for homecoming." I shrugged.

"This is kind of like that isn't." Mona commented.

"That was so much fun! Spencer, you have to let Mona and I do your hair and make up for tonight. Pretty, pretty please?" Hanna begged with a sad puppy-eyed look.

"Okay, but don't go too heavy on the makeup and something simple with my hair." I gave in.

"Simple isn't any fun!" Hanna whined.

"I know, but I don't want your hard work to go to waste if I go swimming. I did just buy a great new yellow and black polka dot bikini. It would be a shame for that to go to waste." I told her.

Truth be told, I doubted I would actually go swimming. But I knew mentioning the bikini I bought yesterday would help convince Hanna to do simple.

"She does have a point." Emily agreed with me.

"You know what. I just saw a hair tutorial online that would look so good on you." Mona told me. "Where's your curling iron?"

"Well, Mona, you start your hair magic since you know what you're wearing. I'll start the make up as soon as Aria, Emily, and I know." Hanna instructed. "Oh, Spencer, you have to wear that yellow sundress that matches the bikini."

"I will, Hanna." I assured her as I grabbed my curling iron and plugged it in.

/

The girls left a couple hours later after everyone decided what to wear and we had helped each other with hair and makeup. I honestly don't know why they were making such a big deal out of this. For Caleb's birthday we just went to the lake house and had fun. This seriously felt like a black tie event. But I didn't really care, I was just glad to be home, excited to see, and happy to spend time with my crazy but awesome friends.

I still had some time before Melissa and I left for the lake house. So I looked over my room for the thousandth time. It looked just the same as it had before the fire. But there were a few minor changes and one major change, the rocking by the window. I had asked Melissa to take the stuff that had to do with Toby and put it in the attic. But she didn't move the rocker and I was secretly glad.

I went to sit down on it when something caught my eyes. A box was sticking out of my closet and I was curious what was in it. I opened it and turns out Melissa didn't put the stuff in the attic. She must have hidden it in the closet and one of the girls uncovered it while we were picking clothes.

I wanted to put it back immediately but I couldn't help but look through it. Some things I had seen before like the necklace he got me on my birthday. And some things I hadn't like the picture of us with Hanna and Caleb on a double date. But the one thing I couldn't take my eyes off of was the silver key.