SPENCER'S POV

I understand a LOT of things, but I will never, EVER, understand how in my four years at Rosewood High, I was never able to figure out who A was.

So many clues, texts, messages - did we ever solve the mystery? No. Did we ever figure out who A was? No.

I can't say that I'm not happy I'm graduating - at least the girls and I will be miles apart, a bit tough for A to hurt us that way.

But that's the thing.

We'll all be miles apart.

No more A, but no more seeing each other every day. No more hangouts at the coffee house, no more living across and next to my friends.

I'll even miss Alison.

Alison, who disappeared for years.

Alison, who treated us like crap.

Alison, who lived next to me, but kept more secrets than I could figure possible without exploding.

Alison, who just happened to be one of my only friends.

Everything hurts. I'm leaving four girls I love more than anything.

Well, almost anything. There's still the case of Toby, the boy I love even more.

I won't be leaving him, though. Toby is coming with me, working on construction at Harvard while I'm attending school there. I still remember the moment we shared when he told me he was coming with me: We smiled, squealed, and kissed. It was a moment when I learned something special about our relationship - we cannot be apart. That is how much we love each other.

As I dress in my silk cap and gown for the graduation ceremony, the doorbell rings. I rush downstairs, and my hopes are confirmed as Toby appears in the doorway. He kisses me and wraps his arms around my waist.

"Look at you, my valedictorian," he says.I laugh, but he isn't wrong. I was elected valedictorian last week, and the girls have helped me write the perfect speech for the graduating class. I knew I had to make the speech perfect. I only have one chance to say words that will resonate with my peers the rest of their lives.

That's a lot of pressure to put on a person.

"I'm so proud of you," Toby says. "Maybe tonight after the ceremony you and I can…" He cocks his head, and I know what he's implying. I snicker.

"Hmm, well, that'll be the first time in our adult lives…" I smile, and we rub noses. "But I have to go to dinner with my family first. Pleaseeee join us. I do not want to be alone with my parents on graduation of all nights."

Toby just laughs his calming, dazzling laugh and I melt. "Of course I'll be there," he says. "I would never leave you alone with them."

"Thank God," I reply, slapping my hands upon his toned pecs. I let my lips mold into his, and we fall out the door.

"Let's go!" Toby exclaims excitedly. He grips my hands and yanks me into his beat-up truck. He starts the clanking engine and we drive off to graduation.

As we ride, there's a part of me that just cannot wait to begin my life. There's another part of me that is terrified out of my mind. This is really A's final chance to make a stand.

It may also be my chance to figure out who A is, but I guess that's not important. I'd rather never be traumatized by A again than uncover the identity. I pray A will not do anything hurtful. This is the start of the beginning of my life. I don't want it ruined by some petty person jealous of my friends.

"You okay?" Toby asks after noticing I'd spaced out.

"Yeah, just thinking."
"If you're worried about A, Spencer, don't be. You have one more day until we're out of here forever. All your friends are leaving, too. A can't really hurt all of you at once when none of you are in the same place. I want you to promise me you'll just focus on graduation and on us."

"Okay," I say, but not truly meaning it. Not only does the thought of A scare me, but how he reminded me of another thing. All of my friends are leaving. We'll never live next door or across the street from each other again. I'm moving away. They're moving. Aria's going to CMU, Emily's going to Danby, Hanna's going to fashion school…

Nothing is ever going to be the same again.


ARIA'S POV

"Just one more kiss before I go inside. No one can see us together there."

"Alright, fine," Ezra relents. He places his lips on mine and kisses me, ducking down into his car. He smiles, wishes me luck, and hides as I quickly exit the car. I know he won't leave until I'm inside. It's just one of the annoying casualties of a romance like ours. I've gotten used to it - or so I tell myself.

There are times I just wish I could be seen in public with Ezra, walk around Rosewood hand-in-hand, sipping coffee. I love him, but I want a normal relationship.

Just one more day. Just a few more hours.

I keep reminding myself that after graduation, we'll no longer be teacher-student. We're equals. Adults. Citizens. And no one can judge us. I'm staying in Pennsylvania, where I'll be near him, but still, the city of Pittsburgh is far from Rosewood. I still won't be able to see him everyday. And that's where I again have to remind myself there's four years until we can tie the knot and be the perfect couple. I tell myself it isn't that long of a period, but I know the truth. I may only be able to see him on the weekends, if I have free time between classes and homework.

My heart sinks, knowing today may be the only time I have left with Ezra for the next few years. I will not let a town's moral standard withhold me from being with him today.

As I trudge up the stairs of my high school for the last time, I think back to everything Ezra and I have been through. I think of our ups and downs, our break ups and misunderstandings - and our romance. But staying together - is that the best option anymore? We'll be away from each other for God knows how long, and I fear that we'll grow apart. Should I really tie myself down in college of all places? I don't want to leave him, don't get me wrong. But I don't want the pressure of a relationship for the next four years that isn't going anywhere.

Maybe I was right when I asked for one more kiss back in the car. Maybe that kiss was to say goodbye. For now.

I can't handle this. My head hurts. College will be tough enough, but add the stress of a long distance relationship?

I know what I have to do. I need to break up with Ezra.


HANNA'S POV

There are people who didn't believe I'd ever graduate. There are people who told me I'd never get anywhere in life. There are people who didn't think I'd make it to college.

Well, you know what? Heck with them.

Standing here in a cap and gown has already earned confused stares from a plethora of people. I can see it in their eyes, how they're surprised to see me walk the halls of this school in the robes, not as a spectator. I've proved so many people wrong, even my family. Not even they truly believed in me.

I'm going to college, too. Not your typical college - a fashion school in New York. But, I still had to work extremely hard to get there, as well as have the skills they wanted for them to accept me. They were thrilled with my skills, and begged me to come. People thought I was lying when I told them that.

I fix my cap, throw back the tassel, and straighten my posture just a bit, walking through these halls and exuding an aura of dignity.

Taking my seat up on the stage, I fold my arms and smirk.

Aria rushes in, taking her seat next to me. We're seated in alphabetical order by last name, so Aria is beside me, and Spencer and Emily sit in the row right behind us.

She looks nervous, sweat forming in her brow. As she plops into the chair, she lets her head fall into her hands, her breathing heavy and loud that I can hear it over the commotion.

"What's with you?" I ask, suddenly regretting my choice of tone.

She sighs, then faces me. She looks tired, stressed.

"I don't know what to do about… Ezra." She whispers his name, and I can see in her eyes she hates the fact that she can't say his name aloud. But she continues anyway. "I'm going to be pretty far away from him for the next four years, and I'll hardly ever see him. Is it… is it a good idea to maybe break things off with him for a while? I don't want to have to be tied down during college, but I don't want to leave him."

I buzz my lips, shake my head. I don't know what to say. Travis, a boy I'd had a bit of a fling with in high school, and I had broken it off a few months ago. We both realized we weren't getting anywhere, and with college around the corner, we knew we were going to grow apart.

But that just doesn't seem the same for Aria. She and Ezra have been dating - more than dating, even - for years. They love each other. I'd hate to see them fall apart.

Then again, maybe Aria's right. Does she really want a long distance relationship?

I say: "Aria, maybe it'd be best if you… put things on hold with Ezra. Go to college, date guys, do exciting stuff. When you come back to Rosewood, find him. You'll know if you still love him."

"Maybe you're right," Aria replies, but she isn't looking at me, and I can see she feels remorseful already. She hides the tears welling in her eyes.

I don't want my best friend to be hurt. It pains me as well. But I can't let her put herself through this pain. I want to make sure I'm leaving her in the best condition possible.

"Do what feels right, Ar. I don't want you to be hurt."

As I think about it, I begin to grow almost… jealous. I miss having a relationship like Aria's.

I miss… Caleb.


EMILY'S POV

Some people get sad for their graduation, some people fear it, some people get excited. I happen to be in that third category.

I neeeeeedddd to get out of here as soon as possible. I want to get out of a town where people judge me for not being 'normal.' What is normal anymore? Honestly, is lesbianism truly a crime? It's more of a crime to hate it than to be it.

Rosewood aggravates me beyond belief. Though many people have begun to accept it, I still see the way they look at me, the way they wish they could beat me to the ground, torture me, whack the lesbianism out of me.

But while I've learned to accept the harsh ways, I still have yearned each day for the moment I can escape this town and start over.

And now, I'm getting that chance.

I wonder what my life will be like when I get to Danby. After the struggle of Maya and Paige, will I meet someone who won't eventually inadvertently break my heart?

Spencer takes her seat next to me, muttering her speech to herself. I know it would be a mistake to disrupt her in a time of studying.

The silence gives me a chance to think, to wonder what my life is to become in the near future. I just want to get out of here. I've never been completely honest with my friends at how discontent I've been all my life.

I've never been happy. And… I'd never reveal this to my friends… but there are times I've thought of suicide. I've thought of ending it all. I can't handle the people in this town. But my friends kept me going. They were the ones who supported me on their shoulders, boosted me up. I need them. And I'm not sure how I'm going to be able to leave them.