Disclaimer: I do not own Pretty Little Liars. It belongs to Sara Shepard.
Characters: Ali, Spencer, Hanna, Emily, Aria, Mrs. and Mr. Hastings, Melissa, Ian, Ezra, Noel, Mike, Mr. and Mrs. Marin, Mr. and Mrs. DiLaurentis
Drama/Suspense
Pretty Little Liars
Remembrance
Hanna walked into the kitchen, her earbuds in as she moved towards the fridge. She froze when she saw the black dress hanging on the kitchen chair. She swallowed the lump in her throat as she remembered what that day was. It'd be time to say goodbye to Spencer soon.
Hanna turned away from the dress and towards the stairs. Suddenly, she was no longer hungry. Ali's distraction last night had allowed Hanna to forget what would happen that day. Too bad Ali hadn't planned any distractions for that day. Maybe Hanna would have been more at ease.
"Hanna, honey, you need to get ready. Aren't you supposed to meet your friends soon?" Hanna's mom asked as she passed Hanna on the stairs.
"I don't feel well," Hanna complained. Her mom's features softened and then hardened.
"You'd never forgive yourself if you didn't go. Now, get ready. We're leaving in twenty minutes," he mom told her before she moved down the stairs.
The lump that had been in Hanna's throat ealier returned. She ran the rest of the way up the stairs to her room before her dad or mom would see the tears stream down her face. She wasn't ready for today. She would never be ready.
X.X.X
Ali stepped out of the car in front of the funeral home. Jason walked around the car with Ali's dad. The four DiLaurentis' stood there, silent, as they looked at the funeral home. Ali looked away after a moment and scanned the crowd for the other three. Aria was making her way towards the Dilaurentis'. Ali frowned. Was that Mr. Fitz looking after her longingly? Ali arched an eyebrow. Alright, then. She saw Emily's family pull up and a red eyes Hanna.
Ali wrapped her arms around Aria once she reached her. Then, they included Hanna into their group. And, finally, a quiet Emily. They stood there as their parents talked, just looking at the funeral home.
"It's so hard to believe she's . . . gone," Emily said quietly after a moment.
"You were with her that night, Ali. Did you see anything? I mean, you both did run out of the slumber party," Aria pointed out. Ali got a tinge of annoyance.
"For the tenth time, Aria, I didn't see anything. I would have told the police whenever they interrogated me," Ali replied coldly.
"I'm sorry . . . I was just wondering," Aria muttered. Ali went spinning back to that night.
Ali ran outside after Spencer, who had stormed out of the barn the night they'd had their sleepover. Ali scanned the pitch black dark for any sign of her. She saw movement to her left and ran off in that direction.
Someone grabbed Ali by the hair and forcefully yanked. Ali opened her mouth to scream in pain and panic, but her attacker firmly put their hand over her mouth. Ali desperately tried to break free as her attacker pulled her towards the neighboring house.
Thoughts ran together in Ali's brain so fast she barely had time to comprehend them. What about her family? What about her friends? What about all the places she wanted to go see? What about Ian, the boys she loved? She was too young to die. She had to get away.
They were almost to where the new gazebo was being put in. Ali bit her attacker's hand. The person left out a yelp of pain. Ali broke away from the person and ran. She didn't think about where she was going, but her feet seemed to.
"Ali," Spencer called out and was suddenly gripping Ali. "Did you see the person out here?" Ali looked at Spencer.
"Jeesh, Spence. No one's going to bother us," Ali said calmly after a moment. Spencer stared at her. "Get a grip on yourself." Ali gave Spencer a playful shove and went back into the barn, her mind wheeling.
X.X.X
Ali's phone chimed in her clutch. She pulled it out and looked at the screen. REMEMBER ME? –C It read. Ali quickly stuffed her phone back into her clutch. She looked around to see if anyone else had noticed. No one seemed suspicious.
"Ali?" Aria asked. They had moved onto the funeral home porch without her noticing.
"I'm coming," Ali replied and hurried to catch up.
X.X.X
Emily found the scene inside the funeral home heartbreaking. Ian was there, but he stood off to the side with Jason. Melissa didn't look like she'd been crying. She had a more zombie type look. Mrs. Hasting's eyes were red and she kept blowing her nose. Mr. Hastings just stared blankly ahead.
"Doesn't look so decestated, does she?" Ali muttered to the other three girls, nodding towards Melissa.
"She's grieving in her own way, probably," Aria told Ali. Ali snorted.
"Sneaking looks at Jason is not grieving, is it, Ar?" Ali asked. Aria just fell silent.
"Can we please get this over?" Hanna hissed. Emily looked at her. Yes, could we please get this over with, Emily thought to herself.
Emily wringed her hands as they moved towards the viewing aread. Inside, the room was packed. Emily glanced at the other three girls only to see two of them looking anywhere but at the closed casket. Ali stared blankly at it and looked like she was pale.
Emily stared at her. Never in her life had she saw Alison DiLaurentis look like that. She wondered if she should write it down until she remembered that they were there for Spencer's funeral. Of course Ali was pale, this was their best friends funeral.
"We should talk to her parents," Aria said after a moment. Emily had the feelings she was about to burst into tears.
"I really don't want to," Hanna replied, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue.
"It's the right thing to do," Emily said softly, her own tears threatening to break through.
"Nothings right about this, Em. Nothing will ever be right about a murder," Ali told her, returning back to herself. "Spencer was our friend. We need to talk to her parents."
"Need, Em, not because it's the right thing to do," Hanna said. Emily looked at her feed.
"Let's just get it over with, alright?" Aria asked. Emily felt everyone's eyes on them as they exited the room.
X.X.X
Aria tugged at her dress as they stood behind Mr. and Mrs. Hastings. It seemed as though everyone in Rosewood had turned out. The girls were waiting for a break in the string of people. Aria didn't believe there would be. She looked around for Ezra, hoping for some reassurance.
Not spotting hime, she looked for her family. She spotted Mike with Noel. She looked for her parents and finally found them. Her heart skipped a beat. They were talking to Ezra, who had just stepped back in. Don't panic, she told herself, just focus on why you're here.
"Girls," Mrs. Hastings said, looking red eyes. "I'm so glad to see you." She embraced each girl while Mr. Hastings wondered off.
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Hastings," Emily piped up. "I hope this ends quickly."
"So do I, Emily," Mrs. Hastings replied, putting her hand over Emily's.
"We're really going to miss her," Aria told her. "She was a good friend."
"She could get to be annoying, though," Ali spoke up. Mrs. Hastings took it as a joke to lighten the mood, but Aria knew it was no joike.
"She was great, though, really," Emily said. Aria glanced at Hanna, who was being quiet. She nudged her and brought her back to the present.
"Oh, yeah, We're really going to miss her, Mrs. Hastings," Hanna replied, looking dazed. Aria frowned. Maybe she's still in shock, Aria thought.
"I know, so will I," Mrs. Hastings replied uncertainly. Ali stood a little bit behind Spencer's mom, shaking her head.
Aria bit her lip as her friends conversed with Spencer's mom. Anyone in that room could have killed Spencer, Aria realized. Her blood ran hot. They were in the room with half of Rosewood. Itw as more than likely that the killer was there, planning their next move.
Aria's phone chimed as she looked down. The freaky thing happened next. Not only did her phone chime, but Ali, Hanna, and Emily's also did. Ali paled as they looked at the screen.
ONE DOWN, FOUR TO GO –C
