Three years after Ali went missing

Mona and I walked up the familiar street on the way to Ali's old house. Mona had heard that a girl our age called Maya was going to be moving here from California. We were going to try and find out what she was like. It felt weird going to Ali's house. I hadn't been there for over three years but I still remembered exactly what her house looked like, inside and out. The bay windows in the living room, the neat roses in her back garden and Ali's matching white furniture in her bedroom. As we grew closer I realised that some of Ali's white furniture was sitting out on the grass. Beside her chair and dresser there was a box filled with what looked like old books and DVDs that I recognised from Ali's room. The box had FREE written on the side in marker pen.

"The new owners must be throwing out some of Ali's old stuff" My voice sounded quieter than it normally was. How could they just throw away all of her stuff like that? Suddenly I wanted to go home. I didn't care about some new girl. I had just decided to make my excuses and leave when Mona ran up to me with a huge grin on her face.

"Hanna, this is the best thing ever. You'll never guess what the new people have thrown out" Mona was practically jumping up and down she was so excited. She had picked up something from the box and was hugging it tightly to her chest. Knowing Mona, it would probably be some stupid movie she would make me watch with her. Normally I loved movie nights with Mona but tonight I wasn't in the mood.

"Mona, I'm sorry but if it isn't a pair of Gucci sandals, I'm not interested. And I have to go now anyway" I started walking away from her, but she caught my hand and made me turn to face her. She looked more serious now.

"I promise this is way better than all the designer shoes in the world"

Mona couldn't keep her serious expression any longer and a devious grin spread all over her face. She must have found something really good, but I didn't want to stay and find out what it was; being back outside Ali's house was too much for me and I just wanted to go home.

"Sorry Mona, I need to go" I started walking away again.

"Hanna. Wait. You'll want to see this. I need to show you it" she called after me. I kept walking.

Mona ran after me and quietly spoke into my ear; like little girls did when they shared big important secrets. I guess it was appropriate though, because she was about to tell me something that would change my life forever. Of course I didn't know that at the time. So I gave in and turned to face her, to find out what she was going on about.

"Ok, Mona. Tell me. What is it? What did you find?" I asked her, raising my eyebrows at her.

"I found Alison DiLaurentis's diary"

And that's how it all began.