Hey guys, I so glad you like the story so far! Well, your probably going to hate me for what happens next. I'm sorry! Initially it was going to be different, but then I decided to throw 'A' in. There is also a lot of character POV switching in this chapter as well. I'm also sorry if the chapters seem a little long, I'm trying to fit all this information in, but I promise the chapter will be shorter soon. Thank you for all the reviews; I love hearing what you have to say. Anyways, I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Previously:
When we pulled up to school, Emily and I hurriedly filed off the bus, giving Coach Fulton a hug and a 'thank you' before getting in Emily's car. The car ride was silent. My heart was beating faster and faster as we got closer to my house. When we pulled up, there were two cop cars outside with flashing lights. I felt my body tense immediately as panic coursed through my body.
Chapter 2
"Paige, look at me," Emily said calmly. "Everything is going to be okay."
"I love you Emily," I said trying to make this panic go away.
"I love you too Paige," she said pulling into a passionate kiss.
I opened the car door and grabbed my bag before heading towards the front door. I couldn't control the shaking of my hand to open the door. A warm hand grabbed mine, which calmed my nerves somewhat. I took a deep breath and tightened my hand around Emily's
"We're in this together," she whispered in my ear, before opening the door.
I dropped my bag at the door and made my way to the living room. When I rounded the corner, I saw my dad sitting in a chair across from two officers. My heart instantly stopped. What was going on? Was my dad being arrested?
"Dad, what's going on?" I asked. He looked up at me with teary eyes. He got up and started to walk towards me but one of the officers stood in front of him. He tried to say something, but before he could answer, one of the officers grabbed my arm.
"What are you doing? Let go of her," Emily said pulling his hand off of me. He glared at her before returning to me.
"Are you Paige McCullers?" he asked sternly.
"Y-yes." I felt him grab my arms and pin them behind my back. This can't be happening.
"Paige McCullers, you are under arrest for the murder of Alison DiLaurentis. You have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law…" I felt the cold metal clamp down on my wrists.
"No! You can't seriously be accusing her of murdering Ali!" Emily shouted angrily.
"Watch your attitude young lady," he spat. She took a step back, bowing her head. My dad stood by helplessly crying. How could this be happening? One of the officers placed a hand on my back and pushed me towards the cop car. I last thing I saw was my father putting an arm around Emily as they watched.
I took deep breaths trying to calm my nerves. I refused to let the officers see me cry. I rest my head against the window as the car pulled away. In a few short minutes my life had spun out of control. All I could see was the looks on Emily's face, hurt, pain, and I couldn't wrap my arms around her or give her one last kiss.
"Let's go," the officer, the one that spat at Emily, said. I pulled myself out of the car and followed them into the station.
"Name?" one of the officers at the front desk said.
"Paige McCullers." She nodded as the arresting officer filled out the form.
"Have a seat, someone will be with you shortly." They undid one the cuffs around my wrist, and clamped it around a metal bar.
"Didn't think we'd actually catch the killer," I overheard one of them say.
"I guess it's just my lucky day," he said rubbing his hands together.
"Great catch Holbrook," the other officer said knocking shoulders. Holbrook, I'll remember to keep that same in mind.
I waited for a half hour before female officer came and uncuffed me. She led me into another room.
"Please remove you sweatshirt," she said placing a container on the table. I pulled my sweatshirt off and handed it to her. She went through it carefully.
"Turn around, spread your legs, and put your arms up."
She started at my arms and went down. She patted down my shirt and legs, before checking my pockets. She pulled my phone, wallet, and the piece of paper out of one of them and the four medals that I had one recently. She glanced at the medals for a minute before placing them in the container. She handed back the sweatshirt.
"Follow me," she said placing the cuffs back on and directing me towards the cells. She led me into a small room and told me to wait. She returned a few minutes later with a glass of water and a bag of chips. I was tempted to eat them, but I've seen enough on TV to know that they might be looking for fingerprints and what not. I made sure not to touch anything. I heard the door open and then slam shut, footsteps soon followed.
"Paige McCullers, right?" he questioned. I nodded. It was a different officer this time, it was a woman. She had a much softer complexion. She gave me a small smile before sitting down.
"My name's Tanner," she said setting her folders down on the table. "So Paige, where were you on the night of Alison DiLaurentis's murder?"
"Well don't you like to get to the point," I said glaring at her. "I was in Palo Alto looking at colleges."
"Well, see here's were some of the things don't line up."
"What are you talking about?" I asked annoyed.
"We contacted said places and they have no recollection of you visiting," she said looking down at a few papers. "How do you explain that?"
"That's impossible. I swam for the coach at Stanford, and they offered to sign me when I became a senior," I said angrily.
"Well from what the police have heard, you weren't at Stanford, in fact you weren't even in California. You were here, in Rosewood, burying Alison DiLaurentis's body."
"No!" I shouted banging my hand on the table. "How dare you accuse me of something that I didn't do!"
"I want you to think long and hard about the mistake that you've made. Because right now, the evidence is piling up against you."
"What evidence! I was in fucking California!"
"Then how come no one remembers you being there?" she asked sternly.
"I-I'm being framed," I said quietly.
"I'm sure that's the case," she said packing up her things.
"I want my call," I said before she left. I heard her scoff and start to walk back towards me.
"Oh no, you don't get to call anyone until I say so." I heard the door open and slam shut again. I was all-alone, but I had a feeling that they were staring at me through the mirror, contemplating their next move. The same officer that had brought me in returned and escorted away from the interrogation room, towards the cells. We stopped at the fourth cell down. It opened electronically. She took the cuffs off and gently pushed me into the cell.
"What are you going to do with my things?" I asked.
"You'll get them back when you post bail," she said before turning away and walking away.
I let my hands rest on the metal bars. How could this be happening to me? I didn't kill Alison. I would never harm anyone for any reason. I mean, Alison tortured me and made Emily's life a living hell, sure she deserves punishment, but I would never touch her.
"They aren't coming back until the morning," someone said from the far corner. "There's no point in standing there."
I sighed and headed over to the empty bunk that was next to another woman. She looked like she was in her mid-twenties. I took a seat on the bed and let my head fall into my hands. I heard a little bit of movement, before the bunk sank a little bit. A hand rubbed gently circles around my back.
"What'd they get you for?" she asked. I looked up at her again.
"Murder," I said trying to stay calm.
"Shit, you, murder, no way. You're too cute to murder anyone," she said trying to lighten the mood. I let out a soft chuckle.
"That's what I thought, but I guess everyone else doesn't think so," I said looking around the cell.
"Name's Maya," she said holding out her hand.
"Paige," I said taking it.
"First time in here?" she asked. I nodded. "Well, it's not to bad. We'll go to a bail hearing soon and then we'll be out on bail until our trials and such, and then if you're guilty, well you go to prison."
"You're a straightforward person, aren't you?" I said glancing at her.
"It's grown over the years," she said shrugging her shoulders.
"What'd they get you for?" I asked.
"I'm an international drug dealer," she said casually. I laughed before realizing that she was serious.
"No shit, really?"
"It's real shit," she said laughing.
Emily's POV
I watched as they put Paige in the back of the cop car. She gave me once last look before the door was closer. Nick had wrapped his arms around me. I waited for the cars to drive away before I let the tears fall.
"How?" I asked. Nick looked at me longingly.
"I don't know," he said sadly, "She was in California. There was no way that she could have done this."
"Ali's body was found after she returned from California."
"Emily, are you questioning my daughter's innocence?" he asked sternly.
"No sir, I would never." I said calmly. "I have to go."
"Emily…you know that Paige would never do something like this."
"I know."
I got into my car and was able to get into the garage before completely breaking down. My mother must have heard me pull in, because she came out to see if I was actually there. When she saw me, she opened the passenger door and sat down.
"Emmy, what happened? Did you and Paige break-up?" she asked taking one of my hands in hers.
"Mom, they arrested her," I gasped between words.
"What?" she asked again, making sure that she hear right.
"We were on our way home and she said that something came up and asked if I would drop her off. So I did and when we got to her house and there were police there and they arrested her!"
"For what?"
"For the murder of Ali," I said hyperventilating.
"Paige? No, she would never do something like that," my mother said trying to comfort me.
"I don't know, mom. It all happened so fast, one minute she was holding my hand and the next they were putting her in the back of the cop car."
"I thought that she was in California when all this happened?"
"She was, that's what I don't understand," I said completely losing it.
"Ssshhh…It's okay. I'll call Veronica Hastings, in the mean time, you need to get something to eat and some rest. There is nothing that we can do tonight for Paige." I nodded and followed her into the house. My mother had made her amazing homemade soup that Paige and I were supposed to have tonight. It just made my heart sink a little more. My mother served me a bowl and placed me in front of the TV and put in my favorite movie, Forrest Gump. I sat there eating the soup, while my mother wandered off. She came back a few moments later and sat down next to me.
"Feeling better?" she asked.
"Not really. My girlfriend's been arrest for killing someone that I was friends with. I know that Ali made my life a living hell and I let her do it, but she was also someone I told all my secrets too. I let her into my life. I let me be my friend, and now she's dead," I said defeated. "Now my girlfriend…" I couldn't continue. The tears were streaming down my face. My mom wrapped her arms around me and pulled me in tight. She placed a kiss on my forehead and held me until I could cry no more.
"Get some rest. I'll call Veronica first thing in the morning, and see if I can find out anything at work. I'll bring Paige some of the soup, okay?" I nodded wirily and crawled up the stairs.
I lay in my bed for I don't know how long, clutching a photo of Paige and I at Nationals last year. I must have cried myself to sleep, because the next thing I remember is waking up to warm sunrays hitting my face. My eyes were puffy from all the crying. I rolled over and looked at the clock: 10:34am. I groaned and glanced at my phone. Paige had always sent me a text in the morning, telling me how much she loved me, and how amazing I was. It was always a great way to start off my day, but today was the first day that it betrayed me.
I heard a gently knock at my door. My mom entered a few moments later. "I just got off the phone with Veronica. She said she'd be on Paige's case as soon as they allow for her to have visitors. We're going to get everything sorted out."
"Why isn't she allowed visitor? Doesn't she get a call?"
"I don't know honey. It might have something to do with the detective that's on the case. Don't worry Emmy, everything is going to sort itself out. Today, I just want you to rest, watch movies, eat as much food as you can."
"Thanks mom," I said giving her a hug, "for everything."
"It's the least I could do for Paige. She's family remember," she said placing a gentle kiss on my forehead. "I'm going to go to work, is there anything you want me to tell her."
"Tell her, I love her," I said softly. My mother nodded before disappearing. I sat in my bed hopelessly. My phone had been ringing non-stop, but I didn't have the energy to talk to anyone, not even my best friends. But knowing them, they would show up sooner or later. About an hour later, I heard knock on my door and then I heard it open and close. There was a soft tap on my door.
"I don't want to talk," I said loud enough for them to hear. The door opened and Spencer came in.
"My mom told me what happened," she said taking a seat at the end of my bed. "I'm so sorry about Paige."
"I don't know what to do," I said hopelessly.
"It's okay Em. My mom's one the finest lawyers out there, she goes down fighting."
"Thanks Spence, but I just can't do this right now."
"It's okay. I brought you this. I figured that you probably haven't eaten." She placed a bag of Chinese take out in front of me. I gave her a small smile, before opening the bag and taking out a box.
"Aria, Hanna, I know you're there. You don't have to hide," I said taking a bite of noodles. Hanna and Aria came quietly into the room.
"We're so sorry about Paige," Aria said sitting on my bed.
"But, we're going to try our best to figure out what's going on," Hanna added.
"Thanks guys."
"And if you're up to it, we brought movies," Hanna said pulling a stack of movies out of her purse. I nodded and Aria picked one and turned the TV on. We watched a few movies. I was feeling a little better already. We were about to start another movie, when I heard beeping coming from all of our phones.
"No…" I heard Spencer say quietly. I grabbed my phone, and looked at the message that was just sent to me. The sender was unknown, but they attached an image and a message.
Sorry but Paige isn't the person you think she is. -A
"Did you get a picture?" Hanna asked. All of us nodded. I tapped on the photo and enlarged it. It looked like Paige, it was. She was standing over the place where they found Ali. I showed it to the other. They didn't receive the same one. I glanced at theirs and it looked like a story of pictures. One was of Paige with a shovel in her hand, another with Paige lifting dirt into what looks like a grave, and the last one of Paige hiding the shovel, where the cops had found it later.
"Em…" Spencer said slowly. "This isn't good."
"If this is what the police have, there's no way that Paige can get out of this," Aria said quietly.
It's time to play by my rules or this gets out. Kisses –A
I glanced at the photo that 'A' had just sent. I looked at the picture a little closer. I heard a gasp as the other realized it too. If the police found out about this we would all being going to prison. It was incriminating evidence that would lead the police to believe that they had killed Wilson.
"How did A find this?" Aria said glancing frantically between the four of us.
"I don't know," Spencer said looking at the photo more carefully. "This isn't good."
"No shit Spencer. An idiot could put two and two together," she sassed back.
"Hanna, if the police find out about this, it will automatically lead to us, and knowing A, we'll be locked behind bars for the rest of our lives. Killing a police officer is a capital offense, we could get the death penalty."
"'A' would rather see us rot behind bars," Aria commented.
"The point is, we can't let this get to police, no matter what," Spencer said deleting the image off her phone.
"What about Paige? Doesn't she get a say in this?"
"Em…"
"This isn't fair for her, we all know she didn't do this," I said waving my image front of them. "This, this isn't real."
"But this is Em," Aria said holding up the picture that 'A' had sent.
"Look Em, we all care about Paige and we'd do anything for her. But right now, we need to make sure that that picture doesn't reach the police or else we'll all be in jail. My mom's got Paige covered."
"So what, we just play 'A's' game?" Hanna questioned.
"For now yes, until we can figure out what our next move is."
Paige's POV
"You going to burn a whole right through the concrete if you keep passing like that," Maya said resting against one of the walls. I sighed and took a seat next to her.
I heard the buzzer rings and footsteps coming down the hall. A few moments later Pam Fields appeared.
"Pam," I said jumping off the bed and running to the bars. "What are you doing here?"
"I thought you could use something to eat," she said handing me a bowl of hot soup. "It's my special."
"How'd you get this in?"
"I have my ways, now eat up. You must be starving."
I took a bite and moaned. Pam Fields made the best food ever.
"This is amazing. Thank you."
"How are you doing Paige?" she asked leaning against the bars.
"I'm scared, confused, not sure how all of this happened," I said honestly. "How's Emily?"
"She's scared, she wants to see you, but the ass of a detective that's on your case won't let that happen."
"How did all this happen?" I asked resting my head against the bars.
"I honestly don't know. I keep trying to run the events back in my head and I can't come up with anything."
"Have you heard anything? Out there" I asked pointing towards the main section of the police station.
"Holbrook has been boasting all day. If he said one more word I might punch his lights out."
"When I get out, I will."
"You're getting out. I called Veronica this morning, and she said she'd be here as soon as she has a little chat with the detective. Everything's going to work out. Now stop worrying and eat your soup," she said. I took a few more bits out of my soup before returning my attention to Pam.
"Can you tell Emily something for me?" she nodded. "Tell her that I love her, and that I didn't do this."
"I'll be sure to tell her. She's loves you a lot by the way. I don't think I've met a more amazing girl that you Paige. Your special to our family."
"Thanks Pam." She gave me a warm smile, before retreating back to the door. I heard the buzzer again, and she was gone.
It was the second day without any contact from the outside world. Not even my dad was allowed the see me. I spent most of the day playing cards with Maya or talking about prison and stuff. It wasn't the best type of conversation to have, but it kept me preoccupied. We were halfway through some new game that Maya had taught me when the buzzer went off again. I heard a several pairs of feet stomp down the hallway.
They stopped in front of my cell. I glanced up and say Veronica Hastings alongside a very angry Detective Tanner.
"You're lawyer is here to see you," Tanner said gritting her teeth. She unlocked the cells and I was guided out and led to a private room. Veronica closed the door before turning to face me.
"I'm sorry," was the first thing that came out of her mouth. "You're rights were completely violated and I made sure to report Tanner for her misconduct. You're welcome to have visitors and I'm sure your father would love to hear from you." She laid out a few folders before taking a seat in front of me.
"What's going on?" I asked quietly.
"You're arraignment is scheduled for tomorrow. Currently the evidence against you is all circumstantial, so we have a pretty good shot at getting this thrown out."
"How?"
"Well currently, there is no physical evidence placing you at the crime scene, except a foot print, but that's not enough to convict you. All prosecution has is that you weren't in California when you said you were."
"I was in California!"
"I know you were, but the problem is that we have no witnesses to corroborate that."
"What about the coach at Stanford."
"He said…" glancing at her papers, "that the last time he remembers see you was a couple of weeks ago when they officially signed you. But he has no recollection of you ever visiting them a year ago."
"How is that possible? We went out to lunch and the promised me a spot as soon as I became a senior. I even have a letter."
"Is there any chance that I can get that letter?"
"Yeah, my dad has it."
"Paige, I don't know exactly what is going on, but if you say that you were in California when you said you were, and you have proof, then someone is trying to tamper with this case."
"And what happens if they succeed?"
"Don't think like that Paige," she said warning me. I bowed my head and waited for her next question.
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