And the Snakes Start to Sing

Focus. The ball was coming closer and closer; the blonde released a shaky breath before striking at the blindingly yellow ball, smashing it across the court and winning yet another match. She held a clenched fist up in the air, a smile on her elegant face. Like her arm, her features were striking. She carried poise and grace as she walked off the court and towards her challenger.

Josh Hotz raised his arm for a high five, which she promptly ignored. Instead she went for the handshake. Her boyfriend rolled his eyes.

"That was really good. You been practising?" He asked, raising an eyebrow before pushing back his unruly wavy hair with a strong hand.

"Please," Kristen Gregory smiled, "I could beat you yesterday and I can beat you today."

"Look, babe, I forgot to mention…I can't come over for dinner tonight. Some other night?"

The smile dropped from her face. "Josh! I told my father about your coming tonight. What other plans do you have?"

"I'm going out with some friends," Josh smirked, and in his smirk is a hidden message, like he knew something she didn't.

"Spill?"

"Derrick's back. We're hanging out."

If there was anything in the world to make a girl's heart start racing – and not in a good way – it's mentioning someone from the past. Someone dangerous. Someone attractive and horrible. Someone like Derrick Harrington.

"What the fuck, Josh? We all know what Derrick did. Why are you still friends with him?" Kristen asked, a pit in her stomach.

"Kristen, I don't believe he's a bad guy. Why would he do it? There was never any reason…or evidence," Josh replied, both were unsmiling.

"He tried to kill Massie. You heard it from her very mouth. Are you saying you don't believe her?" Her voice was full of shock and horror.

"Babe, don't get like that. We all knew Massie loved stories," He leant forward in an attempt to kiss Kristen, but she turned her face away.

"Fuck off," she said quietly.

"What the fuck? I thought you guys weren't even friends anymore," Josh spat, his eyes twinkling dangerously.

Massie wasn't even here, yet she still held some sort of power over his girlfriend. He remembered the freshman days of high school, when Massie was queen and he was just another pawn in her games, forced into dating Alicia when he was in love with Kristen. All because of her games of loyalty. And now, nearly 2 year later, her presence was still here, still trapping all the people he cared about.

"We're not. But if you think I wasn't going to care when you started hanging out with some criminal you're wrong," His girlfriend was as equally mad as he was.

"Why do you care so much? Derrick's fine. He's sane. He's back from wherever the fuck Massie Block sent him and everything's going to be okay!" Again, he was pushing back his locks, which from experience told Kristen he was getting angry.

"Fuck you," she hissed and stalked off the court.

Alicia Rivera lowered herself into the seat opposite from her best friend, her copper eyes blinking in concern for the girl. Massie's eyes were swollen and red from sleepless nights. Her mouth was pulled in a taut sullen line. Her long sleeved t-shirt was pushed up a bit, revealing a long silvery scar that was puckered and looked extremely painful even after recovering for nearly a year and a half. Her heart pounded in sadness for Massie, but she kept her aloof expression upon her features. Massie hated weakness in herself or others. She would not take kindly to Alicia's pity.

"God, are they going to let me out of this crazy hospital or what?" Massie asked, picking at her nails.

Swallowing her fear and concern Alicia let out a bark of harsh laughter, "Jesus, we all know you're only here because your parents are too busy fucking over each other to deal with you. You should come live at mines."

"I wish. God, will they ever get a clue?" A mean sneer etched itself across her face.

Alicia just nodded, feeling pity in her stomach. Poor Massie had been there for nearly 2 years. Alicia didn't know if it was reverse if she'd able to handle it. Probably not; Massie Block had always been the strongest out of their group.

And the one that manipulated, back stabbed and hurt others – but who was counting sins anyway?

As Massie finished her coffee Alicia clicked through her phone and checked her most recent message. She almost threw up when she opened the attachment.

A picture of a boy she never thought she'd see again showed up on the screen. A boy with a smile of pure agony and eyes that screamed with revenge. Derrick Harrington was on the screen, going in for a handshake with Joshua Hotz, her ex-boyfriend. Derrick Harrington was back.

An anonymous number had sent the picture, along with an ominous text message.

"He's back, have fun."

Her copper eyes reached up to meet Massie's own amber ones.

Derrick Harrington should never have come back.

"Seriously if you don't go your Godzilla girlfriend is going to show up and demand my head on a stake," Dylan Marvil laughed at her own description.

Cameron Fisher rolled his eyes before stealing another sip of Dylan's coffee. Dylan was always at the local coffee store, trying to find exciting new flavours. He particularly liked this one – pumpkin with raspberry and vanilla. It was odd but pleasant.

"I shouldn't have to choose between my girlfriend and my best friend," Cam whined as Dylan snatched her coffee back.

"Well too bad Claire-bear doesn't agree," Dylan exaggerated his nick name for his girlfriend, Claire. She smirked at him before grabbing his iPhone that rested on the table between them.

Dylan proceeded to scroll through his text messages, reading the most recent ones from Claire which were all sent within a 5 minute time span. There were 3 messages.

"Cam where are you? I'm going crazy!" Dylan mimicked Claire's high pitched voice. "Seriously! You are almost ten minutes late! Hey, what time were you supposed to meet her at?"

"At 2," Cam said glumly.

"It's one thirty. How are you almost ten minutes late? God, she's crazy," Dylan laughed, tossing his phone back at Cam.

Cam leaned on his elbows and looked her straight in her eyes. "Can I ask something serious?" His light mannered voice had change to deeper and mysterious. Dylan nodded. "Why aren't you and Claire friends anymore?"

"People change, Cameron," her voice became steely, "just like you should change your shirt. You've got a coffee stain."

He rolled his eyes. Dylan was never going to give him a non-cryptic answer. He should have learned his lesson eons ago, but he still asked out of fascination and wonder. How did five girls go from being the best friends who shared everything to strangers who acted like they never cared?

"Okay, but is it just me or did I hear that Derrick Harrington was actually back in town?" Dylan asked.

Cam's eyes widened, "What?"

"I heard from Olivia," Dylan shrugged.

"Wow…that's crazy. Didn't he try to off," he paused, as if looking for courage, "Massie?"

The girl with the blazing red hair across the table from him nodded. Twirling a strand between her thumb and index, she absent mindedly drifted off. Sometimes Dylan did this when she was nervous or thinking too hard. Cam took this as a sign to leave. He could read her that easily. Dylan was easily his best friend and he loved her.

"See you, Dyl, try not to think so hard," he winked as he left the coffee shop.

"Hey, Claire, I'm here," Cameron said as he pushed open Claire's apartment door.

His angelic girlfriend was sitting at the table, a frown furrowed in her brows. She smiled when she saw her boyfriend. Claire was clingy, but she had to be in order to stop Dylan from stealing Cam like every other boy Claire had had before. She knew of the strong relationship Cam and Dylan had and them spending every minute alone was bound to make her boyfriend stray. And she could not have that.

"Cam, I was so scared!" Claire blubbered, throwing her arms around his neck. He smiled, resting his chin on top of her head. He stood a good foot above her, not like with Dylan who was almost eye to eye with him.

"Babe, why are you so scared?" He asked, leading her to the table and gently settling her down.

"He's back," Claire said, actual anguish in her eyes. She was terrified of him.

"Who?"

"Derrick Harrington."

"What?"

"I got a text. I don't know what it means," Claire sobbed, handing over her phone.

Cam opened the text and read it. Have fun? He opened the attached file and his eyes widened. A picture of Derrick and Joshua Hotz filled the screen. Derrick was no longer the skinny 15 year old he had been nearly two years ago. He was now built and muscular, his hair was short, and his acne had cleared up. But it was his eyes which made the most impact to Cam.

They were filled with revenge.

The phone rang with audacity at 3 in the morning, causing a sleepy Massie Block to be awakened. As if she had actually been sleeping. Massie never slept anymore. Nights at a creepy hospital were worse than the mornings. Instead she closed her eyes and pretended to sleep when the watchmen made his rounds.

She rolled to her side and looked at the caller ID. Her left eye twitched as she read the name of a person who had not contacted her in over a year. Kristen Gregory. What did she want at freaking 3 am in the morning? Massie hesitated before accepting the call.

"Hello Kristen," her voice was calm and collected.

"Massie?" Ah, Kristen's voice was just as timid as she remembered if not more so. Maybe she thought Massie would sound crazy.

"How are you?" Massie asked.

"I'm fine. How are you?"

"Great, why would I not be?"

"Because Derrick's back?"

"What?" Massie nearly shouted, holding back her emotions.

"He's back, Massie."

Massie took a deep breath and closed her eyes, "That's impossible. Alicia would have told me."

"Well, she didn't. I'm telling the truth," Kristen murmured.

The amber eyed girl snapped her cell phone shut. She could tell Kristen was telling the truth. Some people never did change. But why hadn't Alicia told her? She had been sitting right there…

All of a sudden her phone buzzed in her hand. At three thirty in the morning all five of the girls – Dylan, Kristen, Massie, Alicia and Claire – all received the exact same text message from an anonymous number.

"The Devil has a name, and it's Derrick Harrington."

(the result of watching too much pretty little liars also known as finishing the first season in two days)

i probably shouldn't be starting new fics when i have old ones to finish but this just? i had to. i absolutely had to.