3.

I'd like to dedicate this chapter to AthenaJaneThePrettyLittleLiar. AJ, if you're reading this, thank you for writing what you did at the end of the last two chapters of With Love, Spencer. I agree with you completely. I cried through the last episode, and still feel terrible.

To the rest of you, what she said goes the same for me! I hope you enjoy this chapter, and my terribly written what-I wish-would-have-happened story, As Fate Would Have It. (named by greenharper) Thanks for that greenharper! It would still be untitled without you!

Also, I'm trying REALLY hard not to be cliché or generic here, but hey… Love IS cliché. That's part of what makes it beautiful. So please excuse any classic thoughts Spencer may have.

I drummed my pencil against my textbook, doing my best to puzzle out the last algebra problem for the day. Once I solved this problem I'd be done with my homework for the weekend.

When I'd finally finished double-checking all my homework and putting it away, I slammed my bag triumphantly onto the ground and stalked downstairs.

As I was rummaging through the cupboards, not really looking for anything, my dad came into the kitchen.

"Hey, Spence. I have to go to the office earlier than I thought today. Do you think you could talk to Toby about what he has to do?"

I froze, my hand just about to reach for a jar of peanut butter. Why? Why was he making me do this? I knew that I would be fine with talking to Toby, although it might be a little awkward, but he didn't know that. Toby had been accused of killing my best friend, and now we were supposed to be all buddy-buddy.

No one knew about my believing Toby. Except for A. So why was Dad acting like I should be totally fine with talking to Toby Cavanaugh?

"Um, Dad," I said awkwardly. "Are you sure someone else couldn't do it? I don't really know Toby all that well…"

He turned to me, surprised. "It's business Spence. This'll be good practice for you. You have to learn how to talk to people. It's part of the world of law." And with that he walked out the door.

"But I don't want to be a lawyer…" I mumbled after him.

I sighed, putting away the peanut butter. I suddenly wasn't hungry anymore. My stomach felt full of butterflies.

Wait. Butterflies?

Uh-oh.

I was just about to make a pot of coffee when I heard a knock on the door. I sighed. Toby was probably here.

I walked over to the door. Damn lawyers. Why couldn't they stay home for once and not make their daughters talk to boys who they may or may not have feelings for!

I sighed, wrenching open the door.

Toby's POV

I walked over to Spencer's house, ready to start the day. (okay, I know he should have a truck, but I love the symbolism of that darling truck, so I'm gonna have Spencer give it to him later.) Her dad had told me that I didn't need to bring anything; they'd have all the stuff there. I didn't even know what he wanted me to do. But it was a job, and it was paying.

I walked up to the door, raised my hand to knock, and then hesitated. What if Spencer answered the door? What was I supposed to say? The words we'd exchanged in the alley had a strange note of finality to them. As if those were the last things we'd ever say to each other.

Thinking about Spencer made my head feel funny. I shook it, and knocked hard on the door.

It opened almost immediately. Spencer stood there.

Her mouth dropped open a little. "Um… um…" she stuttered.

I grinned, the only way I could stop the awkwardness of the moment. "Is your dad here? I need to know what he wants me to work on."

Something flickered in her eyes, but it was gone too fast for me to tell what it was.

"Yeah. He had to go to the office." Her voice sounded funny. Closed.

"So…" I said, unsure of what was going happen next. "Do you want me to come back later…?"

Spencer's POV