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He’d paused, and Carolyn’s eyes had widened She ran in to get her cell phone Meanwhile, E to ht about Toby at herlast night How he’d violently banged on the sliding glass door, then bolted for the woods
She looked at the cyclist "This boy in the woods, was he trying to hurt you?" she whispered, her heart pounding It was horrifying that Toby really had caht What if he’d come up onto her porch after Eed his helreen eyes and a salt-and-pepper beard "No," he said gently "He was…blue"
And now, this: a letter A suicide note
Toby had see into the woods Had he taken the pills right then? Or could Eht--was Toby not Ali’s killer?
The world started spinning She felt a strong hand on the small of her back "Whoa," Spencer whispered "It’s okay"
Ehtened herself and looked at the letter Her friends leaned in, too There, right in the o, I promised Alison DiLaurentis I’d keep a secret for her if she kept a secret for uess it has I’ve tried to deal with it--and to forget it--and e becaed--and that e who you are What I did to Jenna was the biggestand confused and stupid, and I never meant to hurt her And I can’t live with it anymore I’m done
E in her hands It didn’t make sense--they were the ones who’d hurt Jenna, not Toby--as he talking about? She handed it back to Jenna "Thank you"
"You’re welcome"
As Jenna turned to leave, Emily cleared her throat "Wait," she croaked "Jenna"
Jenna stopped E Spencer just told her about Toby knowing and Ali lying, everything Toby had said last night, all the guilt she’d carried about Jenna for so many years…it all bubbled over
"Jenna, I should apologize to you We e used to be so mean The stuff we did…the names, whatever…It wasn’t funny"
Hanna stepped forward "She’s totally right It wasn’t funny at all" E time "And you didn’t deserve it," she added
Jenna stroked her dog’s head "It’s okay," she answered "I’hed "But it’s not okay It’s not okay at all I…I never knehat being…teased because you’re different…felt like But now I do" She tensed her shoulderPart of her wanted to tell everyone what she was struggling with But she held back This wasn’t the right time There was more she wanted to say, too, but how could she? "And I’ot to tell you"
She wanted to add, I’m sorry for e accidentally did, but she was too afraid
Jenna’s chin trembled "It’s not your fault And anyway, it’s not the worst thing that happened to ’s collar and walked back to the front yard
The girls were quiet until Jenna was out of earshot
"What could be worse than being blinded?" Aria whispered
"There was so that Ali knew…"
Spencer had that look on her face again--like she had a lot to say, but she didn’t want to say any of it She sighed "Toby used to…touch…Jenna," she whispered "That’s what he was doing, the night of Jenna’s accident That’s why Ali misaiot to Toby’s tree house, Spencer explained, she saw Toby in theand lit the firework And then…she saw Jenna was there, too There was soe about Jenna’s expression, and her shirt was unbuttoned Then Ali saw Toby go over to Jenna and put his hand on her neck He moved his other hand under Jenna’s shirt and on top of the bra He slid a strap off her shoulder Jenna looked terrified
Ali said she was so shocked, she bumped the firework out of position The spark sped rapidly up the wick, and the rocket launched Then there was a bright, confusing flash Glass shattered Someone screamed…and Ali ran
"When Toby came up to us and told Ali he’d seen her, Ali told Toby she’d seen hi around with Jenna," Spencer said "The only way she wouldn’t tell Toby’s parents was if Toby adhed "Aliwith everything else"
"Jesus," Aria whispered "So Jenna must’ve been happy Toby was sent away"
Emily had no idea how to respond She turned to look at Jenna, as standing across the laith herto a reporter Whatyour stepbrother do that to you? It had been bad enough when Ben went at her--what if she had to live with him? What if he was part of her fa that to your stepsister was horrible, but it was also…pathetic Of course Toby had just wanted to get past it now, to get on with his life And he had been…until E back to haunt him