Okay, with PLL coming to an unfortunate end..I got the inspiration for this story...because what's a better way to say goodbye than with a reunion? This is the first chapter...let me know what you think and if I should continue on with it. :)
Pulling her Mercedes into the Radley parking lot and putting it in park Hanna pulls her phone out of her bag in the passenger seat. She slides it open and texts her mom.
Hey, I am here early. Can I go ahead and check in?
While she waits for a reply she looks around and sighs. Picking up her cellphone she scrolls through her emails.
Company. Company. Company. She stops when she comes across Spencer's email with the title Rosewood High School 10 year reunion. She re-reads it carefully looking over all the information.
10 years? There is no way it's been 10 years?!
It had been ten years since she had graduated high school here and left Rosewood behind for New York. Her life had changed a lot since then, but she had kept up with her close friends, seeing them when their schedules would allow it. Even though she had kept up with everyone, it had been a long time since she had stepped a foot in Rosewood. The last time being when she came back to see Aria and Ezra have their son Jude 2 years ago. She had avoided this place because of all the feelings it dug up inside of her.
Why did I decide that coming to this thing would be a good idea…? I just don't think I am prepared for -
Her phone buzzing in her hand makes her jump. She looks down and sees the reply from her mom.
Yes, I am inside. Come in.
She cuts the engine and steps out onto the asphalt of the parking lot. Popping the trunk, she grabs her luggage and garment bag out of the back before shutting it and making her way to the front of the hotel. When she reaches the front gate of the hotel she can hear her mother start to squeal.
"There is my amazingly talent, beautiful and very much missed daughter!" she calls out as she starts to walk towards her
"Mom!" Hanna calls out as she stops rolling her case and throws her bag down on top as she wraps her arms around her mother.
"Oh honey. We have missed you so much!"
"Mom, you just saw me at Christmas when you and Ted came to New York!"
Ashley pulls back from her but keeps her hands on her daughter's shoulders "I know, but seeing you here, it's…different."
Hanna rolls her eyes "Oh please. It's not any different than seeing me in New York."
"You may not think so, but it is."
"Okay…whatever you say. Come on, when is your break? I brought goodies." She says with a smile
"Hanna, I run the place…I can take a break whenever I want as long as I let the right people know…You know how it is." She says as she grabs the handle of the suitcase and starts to pull it as Hanna grabs her bags and follows.
"So how long are you staying?" Ashley asks as she pulls open the front door and ushers Hanna inside.
"Um, the reunion is on Saturday but I will be here until probably Tuesday before I have to go back."
"Okay, you think that you could possibly swing by the house one night for dinner?"
Hanna scoffs "Of course. I can't tonight because I am meeting up with the girls for dinner and drinks here but yeah, definitely."
When they reach the counter Ashley turns to the man behind the counter there "Ronnie, this is my daughter Hanna Marin…she's going be staying here, I have her on tenth in the suite." she says as he shakes his head and begins to type
"Yes ma'am. Room 1020. I will get those key cards right up for you." He says as he turns back to the screen. The phone beside him rings as he is handing the cards to Ashley
"The Radley Hotel. How may I help you?"
"So –"Ashley starts but is interrupted
"Ms. Marin?" Ronnie says as he pulls the phone away from his ear and puts his hand over the receiver. Ashley turns back to face him "I'm sorry ma'am but t12vhere's a problem with a delivery and they are asking to speak with you ma'am."
Ashley huffs and looks back over at Hanna "I uh...just go on up and I will be up there as soon as I get this handled." She says as she hands the key cards over.
"No problem. Take your time. I know how it goes." she says as she turns and makes her way to the bank of elevators and hits the button. When it arrives she walks in and hits the button for the 10th floor. As the doors close she leans against the cool wall behind her.So glad I get a vacation from the stresses of work. I wonder if Caroline is having any issues yet. Maybe I should check in...No, no...I am on vacation. Surely she can handle a few days on her on...she knows to call only if it's an emergency.
She thinks as she looks at her phone for any calls or texts. When she first heard about the reunion she had plans to be across the world and at first she was thankful for it. She had kept up with her friends, and they knew most of the story but she hadn't kept up with everybody else that didn't. She knew they would ask...and she didn't know what she would say. Truth was, she didn't want to talk about it, and the memories were already too hard to think about alone, much less over and over again with everybody that asked. The closer it got to reunion time the more and more she homesick she felt. She needed time with her friends, time away from her studio and work, she loved what she did but it had been a long time since she took a step back from it and gave herself a much needed vacation so she canceled her trip and left her assistant in charge for the week - telling her to only call if it was an absolute emergency.
The elevator comes to a stop and she steps off onto the 10th floor and heads to her suite at the very end of the hall. She finds room number 1020 and slides the card down into the door she pushes it open and looks around; Ashley has secured the biggest and best room in the hotel just for her. She rolls her suitcase right inside the door and walks over to the massive windows in the living room portion of the suite and pushes the curtains back. Standing there she takes in her view of the town square; from here she could see all the way to the small church in the middle of her hometown.
Venice, Paris, Milan...all those places that I have been too, and this...this view makes them all seem...inadequate.
She pulls the phone out of back pocket of her jeans and slides it open to her camera and snaps a picture of the view. She scrolls through her contacts and adds each girls name to a group text and attaches the photo.
Hanna Marin has arrived! Can't wait for dinner tonight. Miss you ladies.
She hits send and throws her phone down on the table before turning to grab her suitcase and rolling it into the bedroom to unpack. Ten minutes later the sound of the door to her suite opening stops her progress and she walks from the bedroom into the living room to see Ashley standing near the door.
"Hey, you getting settled?" she asks as she walks over to where Hanna stands
"Yeah, just getting everything unpacked. The closet space in this thing is amazing. I almost have room for everything...that's unusual in hotels." she says with a chuckle as she walks back into the bedroom with Ashley following behind her.
"You know you could've stayed at the house while you were home. You didn't have to stay here. Our closets are much bigger." she says as she sits down on the foot of the bed watching Hanna.
"I know I could have but I don't know how long I will be out every night and I don't want to waltz in and out of your house at all hours of the night. Plus, it would feel weird to come home late and not get yelled at about being late for curfew." she says as she pulls more folded clothes out of the bag and puts them in a drawer.
She unzips her garment bag and pulls out a couple of hangers and lays them down on the bed "For you. The latest from the Hanna Marin 'No Place like Home' collection. These babies are fresh off the press." she says with a smile.
Ashley picks up the hangers and looks through the clothes "Han, these are amazing...but you don't have to bring clothes home every time you come...it feels like an abuse of power for me to milk clothes from my daughter - the designer."
Hanna throws her up and gestures around the room "And getting the only suite in this whole hotel for free isn't? Besides, those were inspired by and designed just for you. What do you think...you like?"
Ashley stands and holds them up to her, looking into the mirror across the room "I love them honey, thank you." she says as she sits them down on the bed and walks over to Hanna and wraps her arms around her again "I am so proud of you honey. You've done so well for yourself."
"Thank you Mom" she says as she pulls back from her "But you can't get all sentimental every time I give you clothes...it makes me feel like I am buying you off to make up for the fact that I never get to come home."
Ashley grabs her hands "I just...you always said that you wanted to become a designer...from the time you were able to start dressing yourself, and to see it become a reality it's very...gratifying." Her thumb brushes across Hanna's ring finger on her left hand and she feels a ring there. She looks down and then back up at Hanna "What's this? Are you and Jordan back together and you didn't tell me?"
"What?" she asks then looks back down at her hands and quickly crosses her arms in front of her chest hiding her ring behind her arm "Oh no, it's nothing." she says as she quickly turns back to the closet in hopes that her mom will leave it alone.
"Hanna..." Ashley scorns and it makes her roll her eyes and turn back to face her
"It's really nothing."
"No it's something. Either you two are back on your engagement or...are you just wearing it again for the reunion?" Hanna breaks eye contact at the question "Why would you do that Hanna? Is he supposed to be here?"
"No." Hanna answers quickly...too quickly.
"Then why?"
She sighs and looks up at the ceiling knowing she's getting out of this one "I just...I figured I could wear it while I am here and when people see it they won't ask any questions..." she says as she looks back at her "Questions I don't want to be bothered with while I am here...on vacation."
Ashley sighs "Okay honey, whatever you say...but don't you think it's been long enough now that you can face those questions?"
"I don't know if it'll never be long enough...I just want to come to my class reunion and not having to answer questions about Caleb, that's all." she whispers.
Two hours later she stands in the bathroom touching up her makeup when her cellphone buzzes on the nightstand in the bedroom. She walks over and slides it open, seeing the girl's group text has a new message from Aria.
We're downstairs getting a table. Hurry up, we are excited to see you!
She smiles and quickly types out her reply before turning to go back into the bathroom to clean up her mess
Finishing up now be down in just a sec.
When she's done cleaning up she picks her phone up along with her hotel key card, sliding them in the back pocket of her jeans and walks into the living room. She picks up the four gift bags she has prepared for the girls and opens her suite door heading for the elevators. She steps in and hits the button for the first floor and she can feel the familiar excitement of seeing her friends start to take over her body. When the elevator stops on the first floor she steps out and heads for the hotel restaurant and bar. She spots them immediately as they sit a table for 5 right in the front of the restaurant all looking over the menu.
When she approaches them Emily glances up at her "Well, there is the busiest woman in New York!" she says as she stands. The rest of the girls look up and when they see Hanna they all smile as Aria squeals with excitement and they stand to hug her.
"Hello ladies." she says as she hugs each one individually before holding up the bags "I brought you all a little something...I hope you don't mind." she says as she starts to hand out the bags out to each of them.
"Something sophisticated for Ali" she says as she hands her a bag "Versatile for work too."
"Hanna! You really don't have to do this every time we see you! I mean, I appreciate it but it's not necessary." Ali says as she looks over her bag.
"I know I don't but...with the reunion coming up it really had me thinking about home so it inspired a brand new collection...I designed each of these individually for you guys and I thought that you could wear them to the reunion." she says with a smile
"Something dress casual for Em." she says as she hands her the bag.
When she turns to Spencer she hands her the bag "Hanna that is really nice but..." Spencer starts but is cut off by Hanna.
"Something plaid for Spence" she says with a smile
"And something colorful for Aria, I also threw a little something in yours for J-man." she says as she hands her the bag
"Thanks!" she says with a smile as she starts to pull the paper out of her bag but stops "Actually now since we are all together I wanted to tell you guys something...I uh...I'm pregnant!"
"What?!" Emily gasps as she sits beside Aria. She reaches out and hugs her "That's great Aria!"
"Thanks...it's a...it's not something we expected but we are very happy. We just found out last week and I wanted to wait and tell you all when we were together."
"Way to go Mr. Fitz!" Hanna playfully calls out as she sits down "You know…what does it feel like to go to your 10 year high school reunion married to one of our teachers?"
Aria shoots her a blank look "You know, I had almost forgotten all about that until now, Thanks Han."
"Sorry...but hey, at least you don't have to worry about being seen together in the school this time around." she says with a shrug of her shoulders "Please let it be a girl...I have been DYING to start a baby Marin collection."
Pretty soon they all fall into comfortable chatter as they begin to catch up on careers and babies. Hanna can feel herself start to relax as they all fall into a familiar rhythm. She missed her friends; there was no doubt about it. When they graduated they promised to always stay close and they did all try too, but sometimes life getting in the way kept them from getting together as much as they liked.
"So Hanna...how's the design business? You seem like you're doing pretty good for yourself." Spencer says as she picks up her martini and takes a drink.
"It's uh...busy." she says with a chuckle "I've hardly slowed down since launching the line that I barely know what day of the week it is most days. I enjoy it though."
"You know I heard that Hanna here is not the only one coming back for this reunion who has a booming business of their own...Lucas is apparently doing really good too." Ali says as she looks over at Hanna who was the only one of the girls to ever really be friends with Lucas
"Yeah, Lucas has always been really smart. I just knew he would invent something. What's his business?" Hanna asks, intrigued.
"Some with computers or something." Aria says as she looks over the dessert menu
"Who else is supposed to be coming?" Hanna asks trying to not make her curiosity noticeable.
"I have the list in my planner of everyone that has RSVP-ed" Spencer says as she reaches down to her bag beside her chair and pulls out her planner.
"Of course she does. I run a business and I am not nearly as organized as she is." Hanna mumbles and Spencer shoots her a look "What? It's true. You probably have your closet and drawers color coordinated still or something."
Spencer stays quiet as she pulls the list out and hands it over to Hanna who scans it with her eyes "Noel Kahn is coming? I figured he would be too busy staring at himself in the mirror to come." she says with a laugh.
Hanna lets her eyes go to the bottom of the list where she sees Caleb Rivers-N/A and she lets out a breath. She had a sneaky suspicion that her friends would lie to her and say he wasn't coming so that could get her to, but this confirmed that he was in fact not coming.
Passing list back to Spencer she joined back in their conversation on Emily beating out Paige for the swim coach position last year, mostly just listening to their chatter. Soon, she notices that she had started to get goosebumps on her arms and she could feel the hair and the nape of her neck start to prickle. She sits upright and tries to determine if she has already had too much to drink. Looking up at the girls, she notices the looks on their faces and she knows exactly what is going on.
She leans over to Spencer who looks right past her "I thought you said he wasn't coming?" she whispers. Spencer never takes her stare off of what Hanna knows is him at the front desk checking in. "SPENCER?!" she whisper-screams at her friend and it finally brings her attention back to Hanna
"I uh...I didn't think he was...but how do you even know that? He's been standing there for 5 minutes and you haven't even looked up. I was hoping you wouldn't notice."
Hanna stops, knowing she is caught and stumbles over her words "I uh...I just..." she stops when she sees Spencer open her mouth to talk.
"Hey, uh Caleb. I thought you said you weren't coming to this thing." she says as she stands and gives him a one armed hug, wedging herself in between him and the back of Hanna's chair.
Hanna closes her eyes and wishes that in this very moment a sink hole would appear under her chair so she could fall into it.
Maybe if I sit really still he want even notice I'm here...
She thinks as she holds her breath and sits stock still hoping he won't look down.
"I uh I didn't think I was coming but Toby talked me into it." He says back to her as he looks around the table "Hey girls"
They all except for Hanna mumble a version of 'hi' as they keep their eyes glued to her as she sits there like a deer in the headlights.
Crap. You're going to have to speak Hanna...
She thinks, realizing that she must look like a real bitch ignoring him. She takes a deep breath before she turns in her chair and looks up at him "Oh hey Caleb." She says trying to sound as nonchalant as possible but it only comes out as a whisper as they lock eyes.
"Hanna? I uh...I didn't think that you were coming." He says as he swallows hard and brings his hand to his face, running his fingers over his brows. She can tell by the panicked look in his eyes that he didn't think she would be there either.
Yep. Sink hole...swallow me now...
"I uh - I didn't think-" she stops when they are approached by a girl with dark hair and bright green eyes.
She walks right up to Caleb and he glances over at her and then back at Hanna right as she speaks "Hey sorry, it took me a while to find the bathroom. This hotel is huge." She says to him before she turns to the group of girls.
Hanna and Caleb stand staring at each other, neither of them making even am attempt and turning their eyes away.
Breathe in, breathe out. Calm down. It's just Caleb...yeah, only CALEB...the only person that you've ever...oh wow. He looks exactly as I remember...just as damn good looking as ever...but his hair is shorter...and he's more scruffy...but those eyes...
Finally the girl speaks as she turns o Spencer "Hi, I'm Kamie."
"Spencer." she says confused still watching the stare down between the exes "I'm sorry but do I know you?" she finally asks the girl.
"Uh no, I am here for the reunion...I came with Caleb" she says as she motions over her shoulder at him
Hanna hearing Kamie's words finally blinks and looks over at her before looking back at Caleb who stares down at the ground. He glances back up at her and suddenly; it is as if Hanna can't breathe no matter how hard she tries she cannot catch her breath. She blinks from the girl and then back to Caleb as the ache in her chest gets worse and worse. When she cannot take it anymore and whispers "Excuse me." as she turns from the table and walks towards the bathroom on shaky legas as unwelcome tears spring to her eyes.
She walks into the restroom in a daze like a zombie and finds a stall. Shutting the door she turns and puts her back to it as her hand comes up to her mouth to keep herself from crying.
You knew seeing him would be hard...that is why you put this reunion off until you knew that he wouldn't be here...and yet, here he is...and it's been years - you should be over it enough to form sentences...but this is Caleb you're talking about...he has a way of making you act crazy...
"Hanna?" she hears Emily call out as she enters the bathroom "Hanna?" She takes a deep breath and swings the stall door open and faces her friend.
"Are you okay?" she asks testing Hanna's state of mind.
"Yeah, I am good...just needed to pee. Why wouldn't I be okay...? I mean it's just Caleb." she says as she forces a smile onto her face and walks past Emily to the sink and pretends to wash her hands. She watches in the mirror as Emily slowly takes steps until she stands right behind her.
It's just Caleb...? Oh come on...you don't even believe the words coming out of your mouth. You can't really think that she will believe them...
"Han, you and I both know that it's not 'just Caleb'. Are you sure you're okay?"
"You're right...it's not just Caleb...but it's been a long time Em. A very long time..."
"I know, that's why I am asking if you're okay because you just saw Caleb for the first time in a very long time..."
The tears threaten to surface again as she looks down at the ground and back up to Emily "Yeah" she whispers then clears her throat and speaks louder "Yeah, I am fine."
Emily just looks at her, never saying anything and Hanna knows that she isn't buying it. Hanna blinks and the tears finally run silently down her cheeks; Emily opens her arms and wraps her up in a tight hug.
"I don't know Em…I mean it's been what…8 years? I just…he wasn't supposed to be here...I wasn't supposed to have to see him...and it he isn't supposed to affect me like this still…but he just does." she sighs.
It's because even after all this time, you still love him…