Author's Note: Hey everyone! Sorry it took so long to post this chapter. The story started as kind of a random thought that got stuck in my head and I thought I'd get it out, nobody would be interested, and be done with it but, thankfully, this idea seems to have sparked a few peoples interest and I decided to run with it! (Thank you for all the lovely reviews and words of encouragement). That being said I wanted to make sure I had a storyline to run with and decided to map it out before continuing. (This story will have different and those who were A on PLL may not wind up being A in this storyline but some aspects will. These aspects will be noted in the need to know before this chapter section below).
Need to know before reading this chapter: This chapter takes place during the episode "the Jenna Thing" (1x02) meaning:

-Alison's body was found
-The girls are getting -A texts.
-Jenna's back.

Disclaimer: I do not own, and am in no way affiliated with PLL or any of the characters.

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Xbballbolin

presents

Prodigal

A Pretty Little Liars Fan-Fiction

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Chapter Two: The Beginning

"The end is where we start from." –T.S. Elliot

In the early morning hours, the VRRAAOOOM of the prodigal's motorcycle echoed through the streets of Rosewood warning the town that he had arrived; he weaved in and out of traffic until he pulled into a parking spot in front of Rosewood High. Cutting the engine, Jason DiLaurentis stared up at what was once his sister's kingdom- the place where she ruled all and you either bowed down or got obliterated. It was a peculiar feeling, to be back, to see no obvious differences but knowing everything had changed. He was like the school in that sense, completely changed and affected by the death of his sister but appeared to be completely unchanged. Realizing he's in the public eye- that whispers and staring was occurring in abundance swirling about who the mysterious rider that just added a little intrigue to an otherwise typical Thursday morning- Jason pulled off his helmet and tried to pretend he didn't notice.

But it was inevitable. Even if he wasn't Alison's brother, all eyes would've been on him. Jason left Rosewood High with a bang- a literal explosion due to the improper discarding of a joint in the school after breaking into said school at night- and in a small town like Rosewood… that made him notorious. Questions swirled as to how he managed to come back, and why he was back… enough whispers to sound almost deafening. But he perseveres knowing that it was all a means to an end.

If history had taught him anything, assassinations of royalty were usually enacted by traitors within their midst and he feared that his sister was no exception. Aria, Hannah, Emily, Spencer… they were his suspects and the need to solve his sister's murder overshadowed his desire to hop back on his bike and never look back at the small town that he typically saw as a prison.

He needed to know, not just for him, but for Ali.

xXx

The day was an agonizing crawl, every moment of fake smiles and pretending to be what he wasn't more exhausting and sickening as the last. He hated pretending to be okay, to be reformed, to be normal. He never faltered on the outside. Even when his ex-friend Noel Kahn tried to pick things up like he'd never left, Jason played along like a pro. He wore a mask. And that mask wouldn't falter in the slightest. Pulling the last book from his locker, Jason ran his hand over his face to adjust the mask in an attempt to shake himself from his exhaustion.

Just three more classes and…

As he shut his locker, he realized that one of his targets had finally come into view.

Spencer Hastings. She carried the stigma of being a Hastings, the added pressure of chasing that ever so elusive perfection embedded in their DNA. But the thing was, she wasn't her parents or Melissa. She put in twice as much effort for a fraction of the result. And in such a competitive environment, she simply couldn't win. No matter what, she'd always be second best and he knew a little about that. But where they differ, is he accepted he was the black sheep, maybe embraced it a little too much, And Spencer, she fought it tooth and nail… so hard that she'd do anything and everything to get ahead- exactly the kind of person that Ali would toy with that she probably shouldn't.

Watching as she closed her locker, and started rushing to her next class, Jason decided it was time to make first contact with Ali's inner circle. He closed his locker and waited for her to draw near, 3…2…1… Turning from his locker, Jason stepped out into the hallway traffic. Strong legs moved forward, sending him crashing into the lanky frame of Spencer Hastings, knocking the books from her arms and sending her stumbling back a bit. Immediately, he sank to the floor and began to pick up the brunette's books, pretending he wasn't actually aware of who he'd hit. Ash blond locks swept in a casual disarray dipped over his thick brows, shielding his eyes from the brunette.

"I'm sorry," he apologized fishing the books up off the floor. "I wasn't looking where I was—"

The sentence immediately dies on his tongue as he looks up and pretends it's the first time he realized who he crashed into. His fake shock is mirrored- except legitimate- in the brainy brunettes and for a moment, one that seemed to linger a minutes instead of seconds, the two just stare unsure how to proceed. But as most moments go, time sluggishly moved forward and is brushed off.

"Spencer, hey," he acknowledges, stammering slightly as he climbed back upright and held out the stack of books for her to take.

"Jason," she says, still shocked to see him back in Rosewood after everything that had happened, "You're back."

The edge of his lip curls up into a small smirk, his signature smirk that seemed like the only thing Spencer actually remembered of Ali's twin brother that always disappeared behind his bedroom door… that and hardcore-punk music vibrating the floor boards.

"Looks like it," he responded, eyes flickering down to the books to subtly hint that she hadn't taken them yet.

"Are your parents back too, then?" she questioned, reaching forward and taking the books but her gaze never leaving him.

"'Fraid not," he said, the words not quite carrying the conviction he wanted them too. He didn't care that they weren't there because they had stopped being there for him a long time ago. In fact, the only reason he wasn't still rotting away in military school was because his grandmother knew he was going to go back one way or another and convinced his parents that allowing him to go back would look better than the messy court case that would follow him petitioning the courts to be an emancipated minor. "They found it too difficult to be here… too many ghosts."

"But you don't?" she quickly shot back, a question most would think was crass but he actually appreciated the fact she wasn't treating him like some glass doll that could break if pressed too hard.

"No," he starts, shrugging his shoulders as a nagging doubt to his answer struck him in the gut. "I mean, kind of, but I don't mind dealing with a few ghosts if it means holding onto the good memories, ya' know."

"I think so," she responds, but she's still eyeing him a bit quizzically causing him to almost regret his haste in running into Spencer and not going squaring off with Hannah or Emily first. But thankfully the warning bell tolled, and the need to have perfect attendance outweighed her desire to interrogate- well talk but he found most talks with her walked the thin line between friendly and weary- the returned prodigal. "Sounds like we better get to class."

Stepping aside to so she can pass, Jason tried his best to continue the friendly façade a moment longer. "Yeah, I'll see you around though."

Reciprocating with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes the brainy brunette replied, "Definitely."

And she would too… because this was only the beginning.

xXx