Chapter 1
Yay. Another year of torture from A. Another year of death threats, almost deaths and actual deaths. The perks of being stalked by a blackmailer. It's the morning of the first day of school, and I've already gotten a message. Wonderful.
"Hey, Em! Long time no scare. I hope you got all of your laughs out in Haiti, because this year you probably won't smile.
Kisses,
-A."
I woke up to that. This is just a typical Monday in the life of Emily Fields. Spencer Hastings, Aria Montgomery and Hanna Marin probably got their own personal threats. I sigh, and try to put A out of my mind. I pull on a plain black shirt and dark skinny jeans. Instinctively, I wrap my red scarf around my neck. My eyes well up with tears. This was the outfit I wore on my first date with Maya. Now she's gone. That's two people I've loved dead. First I have to deal with the whole being in love with them thing, then they get murdered? That doesn't seem fair. My love life has its flaws, let's just say. If I get one more person hurt, I don't know what I'll do with myself.
I snap out of my depressing thoughts and check the school website. Nothing new, just some transfer students and a new science teacher. I know that checking the website is stupid, but it's good to have at least something in my life that's somewhat normal. I take the scarf off and put on a dark red shirt with a black heart on it that reveals my shoulders. I suddenly remember Maya complimenting my shoulders the day we met. I push the scarf in the back of my closet, the memory in the back of my mind. Both hurt way too much to think about.
I exit my car once in my usual spot in the school parking lot. Most of the time, Hanna rides with me, but I wasn't up for picking her up today. I spot her mom's car, and it seems she spots me too, because she jumps out of the car before it stops moving. She runs up to me, not acknowledging the "have a good day!" that her mom shouted.
"Em! You are NEVER allowed to leave for an entire summer again," she practically yells, almost knocking me to the ground with a hug. Before I can reply, she continues. "All Spencer did was take some stupid classes at Hollis and Aria took some photography class."
"Hey, Aria beat 100 applicants to get that spot in the photography school," Spencer's voice says from behind me. I turn to see Aria there as well. I hug them both as Aria says something good about Spencer's classes at Hollis.
"Well, I'm glad to be back. I missed you guys a lot," I state.
"Let's get to English," Aria changes the subject excitedly.
"Wow, someone's anxious to see the teacher," Hanna says in a low voice, elbowing Aria with a smirk.
"Shut up."
"No." I laugh, and we all enter the school, automatically heading to Ezra Fitz's classroom.