Something About Us

Where Loyalties Lie

A/N: Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Spencer's phone buzzed on her antique end table next to her matching bed.

Hey beautiful! :D -Toby

LOL, hey! - Spencer

Ok so I don't exactly know what the dress attire is for tonight. Mind helping a guy out? -Toby

Hahaha sure! Well we are eating at Buca di Beppo so I would suggest a tie for starters. -Spencer

Ok Miss Queen of Sass, I will find a tie ;) Color? - Toby

It doesn't matter. Any color/pattern should be fine. - Spencer

Toby responded in a flattering, very flirtatious manner:

That's where you're wrong Miss Hastings, we have to coordinate so that everyone knows that I am the well dressed (and ravishingly handsome) young man accompanying the most beautiful girl out to dinner. -Toby

Spencer blushed

If you insist :) Pick me up at 6:15??? - Spencer

...and not a minute later -Toby

It was 7:05pm when Emily and Hanna found their way to the large table packed tightly at the back of the restaurant. Everyone else was settled in their seat browsing at the menu. Aria, Spencer and Toby sat on one side of the table while Emily, Hanna, and Toby's friend, Caleb, sat on the other.

"So, Toby where do you go to school?" Emily asked

"I was at Allentown School for Boys for my freshman and sophomore years in high school, but I decided to get my GED and look for jobs in construction and building"

"What brought you to Rosewood?" Hanna questioned.

"Well after I got my GED, I began the job hunt process which is how I met Caleb. I found a company that I wanted to hire me here called Yardley. Of course that meant packing up my stuff and moving here." Toby looked at Spencer to make sure he was doing a satisfactory job trying to impress her friends, she responded with a delighted smile.

***

The party of friends had a great night with each other and decided it was time to go their separate ways. Aria rode home with Emily, Spencer with Toby and Caleb walked with Hanna who had consumed too much alcohol.

Spencer and Toby walk to their car parked in the lot at the back of the restaurant.

"There you go!" Toby said enthusiastically as he opened the door for Spencer to get in. He closed the door behind her and headed to the driver's side. As he was closing the door he realized Spencer's frightened face reflecting from the windshield. He looked over at her worried that something was wrong.

"Hey are you okay?" Spencer continued staring out of the windshield. Toby followed her gaze until he understood what had captivated her attention.

Suddenly all the anger Spencer had been harboring for the last year and a half exploded, "What is he doing here! How did he get out?!"

"Spence, we're leaving. Let's just go."

"No! No, you were right that night in the alley. I'm tired of being another person's punching bag, okay! I'm done running from Alex Santiago and he needs to know that I'm not afraid of him." Spencer reached for the door handle getting out and heading in Alex's direction.

"No no no no! Spencer wait!!!" Toby begged following closely at her heals, grabbing her arm, turning her around to face him. Everyone in the parking lot, including Alex, turned to watch the dispute.

Toby lowered his tone. "Spencer, please," he begged his blue eyes feeling to the rim with tears, "Please just let me take you home...untouched and unharmed. Please!"

The crowd that the two had attracted anxiously awaited the answer and did not resume their previous tasks until Spencer had gotten back into the car with Toby. The car pulled out of the lot quickly, Alex still standing watching her slip from under his thumb again.

***

"Thanks for bringing me home."

"Anytime." Toby replied plainly. Spencer looked down at her fingers, picking at her nail polish bashfully. "Spencer, are you okay?"

"Yeah I'm fine. It was just unexpected, you know?"

"I know."

Spencer smiled and placed a light kiss on Toby's cheek, "I'll see you tomorrow" she said and got out of his truck heading up her driveway to the house.

***

After showering and getting ready for bed Spencer notices a black Cadillac sitting in her driveway. Shehad never seen the car before but hurried downstairs to lock all the doors, little did she know it was already to late.

"Spencer," Alex said cunningly from her front door "it's been such a long time since I last saw you"

"Not long enough" Spencer murmured under her breath.

"How've you been?" Alex asked a little too curiously, crossing the room towards a hesitant spencer.

Backing up towards the couch Spencer replied, "I'm fine".

Spencer held her phone away from Alex, hiding it slightly behind her back out of his sight. She opened up a text message.

SOS -S

Send.

***

Meanwhile Toby is driving home when he hears faint vibration from the glove box. He searches the compartment until he pulls out his cell phone from the box. He illuminated the phone screen to find 3 missed texts from Caleb and 1 missed call from Jason, his former boss, but now close friend, and most recently 1 new text messages from Spencer.

Toby reads the message: "SOS -S" and makes a quick, illegal, U-turn heading back towards Spencer's place.