- Thank you, it means a lot for us – Troian said, while I was already sitting next to her in the pretty, small restaurant in the LA center. We had just ordered our meals and after this, we drank red wine. Medium sweet, as always with Bellisario. I hadn't had a friend like her before our first meeting. I remember this in details. Obviously, everything started with PLL.

I walked into big, bright room and took a look around. It was a lot of people there and everybody was just staring at me. I have taken part in castings so many times, but I still felt strange because of the looks.
- Hi, Lucy. It's nice to see you again – Marlene was sitting there with some other people from Pretty Little Liars crew. - I'm so happy to tell you that we think you will be the best Aria. Welcome to the Pretty Little Liars family!.
I felt my eyes grow bigger and my mouth dropped open.
- That's… That's amazing! Thank you so much, guys! - I said and hugged Marlene, who was standing next to me.
- It's a pleasure to work with an actress as talented as you. I'm proud because we already have two main characters and I hope every person from our squad would be as professional and lovely as you are. Let me introduce you your cast mate, Troian Bellisario. She is our Spencer.
I've been reading the script and the first part of Sara's book, so I knew something about our characters. I remember, that my first thought about Troian was: „Oh my god. She's meant to be Hastings". And that was the first what I told her.
- Thanks – she answered with the bigger smile in the world and looked at me. - It's really nice to meet you, Lucy. I hope it will be fun.
And it was. We were the first part of the cast, so we had a chance to examine people on castings with our crew. We spent a whole week together sitting next to each other, talking with people, laughing because of all weirdos, who came to us and watching movies in my hotel room. That was special from the very beginning – I'm not really out-going. Even if people thought, that I am. I'm trying to be nice for everybody, but I don't really like to meet new people and spend time with them. That's why I feel so lonely sometimes. but if it's about Troian we had a special bond from the first time we met each other. That's why spending time with her was so natural and entertaining. We aren't really similar to each other, but we don't need this to be like sisters.

I looked at her and just sighted. She is my best friend. That's crazy because I've always loved to have a lot of space when it's about my colleagues. But not in PLL. Here we are. -A family.
Patrick smiled a little, when we started gossips, as always.
- Can I leave you for a moment? I'll be back soon – he interrupted and Troi just nodded her head.
- That's better. I have a question. But it's… Personal.
I froze and looked her in the eyes. It sounded like something really serious.
- What's going on? Is something wrong with Patrick? - I asked with a fear because they were the best couple in this world and it would be the worst thing in MY life if they had any problems.
- Nooo, no, honey. No! Of course no, no. No. Nope.
- Okay, I got it – I told her with a loud gasp and she shook her head.
- I'm sorry. Too emotional. My question is only about you. And somebody else…
- Okay, can you just go on, Hitchcock? - I asked and smiled at the waiter, who had given us the meal.
- Thank you – Troian said to him and we nodded our heads. - Okay, Luce. Please, just answer honestly. We are best friends and…
- Okay. I'm ready. Skip the small talk.
She took a deep breath and looked me in the eyes while I had started eating because I was starving and she had a visible problem with herself.
- Can you just… - she started with this SERIOUSLY?! look.
- I'm starving – I explained with a mouth full of spaghetti and she just rolled her eyes.
- It's a grave problem, so listen carefully, because Patrick will be back soon. What can you tell me about you and Harding?
I felt that my food just stopped in the middle of my throat. She noticed this and gave me her wine. I drank it in one move
- What do you mean? There's not me and Harding. Not if you are thinking about US. You know, Anthony. My boyfriend. He would be… Sad? – I told her ironically with active gesticulation to prove my words are real.
- Stop freaking out, I didn't mean that you and Ian are some… YOU. God, it's so stupid, Hale.
- Agree – I told her, eating my lunch and she started explanations.
- Listen. Everybody noticed, that something's wrong with you two. Even fans noticed this. And they aren't into. So, you know. It's visible.
- I think they are more into it than Ian and I, but go on - I joked, but she didn't think it was funny as I had - Okay. We don't have any problem with Ian. Trust me. We are friends, as always.
- Yeah, as always but without sharing a coffee and reading books together on set, without spending time together between scenes and between seasons. Come on, you can't fool me. It's not the same Lucian and I think it started after 5th season.
I closed my eyes with resignation. After 5x13 I think. Christmas episode was the last time we were normal. After this, something went wrong. We went out of sync. Ian became different. So was I.
- Everything is fine, really. We just have some separate ways, but we still like each other. We call each other - but that was a lie. We hadn't spoken in almost three months.
-We see each other sometimes - when we are working.
- And everything – I said without any explanation because I didn't have more examples of our friendship activity. - When we come back to starring in 6B we will be better I'm sure.

- Okay. If you are sure… But it's really important right now. So tell me once again. You are fine, guys? Everything is great, Lucy?

It wasn't. The truth was, since Ian proposed to Sophie and I started my relationship with Anthony, we just fell apart. I felt like he wouldn't need me anymore. At the very beginning it had hurt me but when I met Anthony I felt much better. He is really warm and lovely, he has taken care of me from the first day we met each other at the party. We sat almost an entire night in the sofa, talking, drinking vodka, and laughing….it was the first evening after 5A that I had stopped thinking about Ian and his fiancé I wasn't jealous of her. I just felt so lonely. Like she had stolen him from me, but with Anthony I complete forgot that feeling. It feels so good even if I still miss our movie nights…Ian invited me to their place and we cooked and watched movies all night long….because he isn't sleeping so that's a good enough to reason to wake me up.

- Lucy – Troian repeated and I blinked twice.
- Yup, we are okay. You don't need to worry about this. Why are you asking?
- We will explain you everything later, it's time to eat.
I looked on my plate and raised my eyebrows. She was talking for so long and I had finished my lunch before she finished her speech. I touched my ponytail and smiled at the waiter, who was here again. He poured our glasses with wine again and looked at Troian.
- Shall I do something more for you?
- No, she doesn't need anything more, thanks – Patrick said and killed this poor guy with one look. I laughed and felt somebody's hand on my arm.
I know who was it without turning my head. Harding's hands were familiar enough. I took a glance on Troian and she smiled, because everything was great, wasn't it?
- Hi, ladies – Ian leaned down to kiss my cheek.
- It's nice to see you, Ian – Troian said and hugged him. After this greeting, he took his place on the other side of the table.
- It's really nice to see you too. It was such long time.
Exactly. It was.