Lila was re-wrapping her arm in bandages the next morning when the girls showed up and Jason let them in. "You look like hell froze over..." Han said she had an extra cup of coffee in her hand for Lila when she was done with her bandages. "Well getting that text didn't exactly make me happy and I got a new one this morning. A said that they would come up with a task for me, and if I could do it Jason would be home free if I chickened out he'd be the one to pay." Lila flipped out not being able to get the bandages wrapped around her wrist with one hand. Seeing she was frustrated Jason came over and knelt in front of the chair she was in. "Calm down Lila, the nurse told you this would be hard without help." Jason said quietly as he gently rapped the gauze around her hand and wrist. The bone was healed but the road burns where taking their sweet time. "Is that too tight..." He asked half way through and she shook her head. Jason made sure it was secure then sat on the arm of the chair next to Lila.
"Well now that this is taken care of." Lila said looking at the girls who where all but Aria giving them 'wtf' looks. "Here is whats going on. And I ask that none of you scream at me." She said then sucked in a breath, Jason took her hand in his own. "We've gotten back together, I didn't want to tell you over the phone because I didn't want A to know. He also knows about A, I kinda slipped up and told him last night." Spencer looked furious and Emily looked at him speculatively, Han and Aria just smiled Hanna handing her the cup of coffee. Lila looked at Em first and took her hand. "Em you remember how I was when Liam died right." Emily nodded her head slowly. "Remember how I couldn't talk about it to anyone, how every time his name came up I started to sob." Emi nodded her head looking at her now. "Now think about how Maya makes you feel. Like you can do anything get through anything right." Emily sighed smiling at her. "He's your Maya, I get it." She said squeezing her friends hand.
Lila turned to Spencer next, she knew this friend would be the hardest to win over. Her look towards Jason was one she'd only ever seen Alison give him. "I'm not asking you to trust him Spencer. I'm asking you to trust me, the girl you've known since kindergarten. The girl that gave you half her cup cake when Brianna Swanson stole yours." Spencer and her had been close since they where young. The brunette gave her a 'your playing dirty' look and nodded her head. Lila sighed leaning into Jason and smiling at them sipping at her coffee. Her smile fell when she remembered the text. "None of you can speak a word of this, to anyone. If anyone finds out when this started..." Spencer shook her head interrupting Lila. "We would never, ever hurt you like that Lia." She smiled at her friend and got up hugging her. "Also I think I know what task they are going to have me do." Even Jason was looking at her confused now and she sighed. "The Talent show is a week before Truth up day. By the whole if I chicken out thing I figure that would be it. I haven't been on a stage since Liam died, he was always my other half." She said shrugging her shoulders. Ever since Liam's death she'd had panic attacks anytime she tried to get on a stage. The girls nodded their heads and sighed, "We should be going." Spencer said waving to the girls. "Be back soon, get well okay. Don't be pushing yourself Lia." Spencer said hugging her friend before leaving. Lila walked them out stopping when Han turned around. "I'll pick up your assignments for you till your back." She said and Lila hugged her as well.
"Go to work Jason." Lila said an hour later shaking her head. "I'll be in the garage working on that junker bike I have out there. I promise I won't do anything to strenuous." She said sitting on the stairs as she watched him do handiwork around the house. He was shirtless and sweaty because the air didn't work and it was hot out and he was doing repairs on the broke down house that was once his parents. Jason shook his head and looked at Lila lounging around, well she wasn't lounging she was actually polishing the banister. "Do you always find the most tedious thing to do and do it..." Jason asked never having lived with her before he was now noticing that she chose the things that where difficult for her with only one hand really able to do much. Lila let out a laugh and shook her head. "It strengthens the muscles in my wrist, and the tendons. It will help me be able to play my guitar again faster. Its light work that won't hurt my hand but will exercise it." She told him throwing the rag down and stretching out for a moment. "You really can go to work I wasn't lying I will be working on that junk bike next." She kissed him on the cheek and shoved him upstairs. "Its only eight in the morning you've time to get there and open." He did what she said and went to get ready for work, Leaving only after he made sure she was okay.
Lila moved the bike to the front of the house and sat on the front walk while she worked on it. Right before noon she went inside and got food coming back out to eat while she worked. Once you got her around an old bike or car she wanted to tinker with she was pretty much zoned out. She couldn't go back to school and had all her make up work done up to that day so she had free time till Hanna dropped off her school work. She had a note pad and a pen writing down all the parts she would need to make the old Triumph Bonneville T120 work. Lila heard the car over her headphones and took them off tilting her head to see who it was. Her head turned even more when Noel Khan started walking towards her. Standing up she took the rag out of the back pocket of her cut off ragged jean shorts and started to clean her hands, noting that she'd need to get new gauze for her right hand and wrist. "Noel," She said caution in her voice. Ever since the fashion show she'd been wary of him. Noel gave one of his winning smiles and then frowned when he saw her hand, and the bruises littering her body from head to toe. "Are you okay.." He asked coming nearer to her. "Yeah fine, nothin a little time and R&R won't help." She said not retreating, she had a massive wrench in her hand and arched her eyebrow. "Yeah how but you stop getting closer to me. I'm a little jumpy you know my dad beating me and all. Don't much like sketchy guy's." Lila said tapping the wrench to her thigh glad it was in her good hand. Her gut told her he was bad news.
Jason didn't have a lot of work so he came home early just in time to see his girl tapping a massive wrench one that obviously was there for protection not for working on that old bike. "Mr. Khan." Jason said walking up his blue button up shirt had the sleeves rolled up and his face took on that brooding angry look that he got when he was angry. "You have business at my house..." Jason asked standing next to Lila and crossing his arms over his chest. Noel smiled that charming smile and then nodded to Lila. "I just wanted to make sure Lila was okay after her accident. I wasn't allowed in the hospital room." Lila scoffed softly shaking her head tapping the wrench faster until Jason took it away from her. "Lila you need to go clean that hand." Jason pointed to the door of the house and nodded his head then turned around. "You Noel can leave my property. I've known her since she knew Alison, and I know very well how you've treated her in the past. Get off my property and don't come back." Jason said quietly before turning to pick the up her tools cleaning them as he put them away.
Just as she suspected she got a text from A after she was done washing her skinned wrist.
'You're going to sing at the talent show, without the other liars. Have fun choking that down, remember if you croak Jason gets put in shackles. ~A'
Lila sighed softly and walked out to the porch leaning against the door jam just watching Jason and then looking out to the street beyond. When he was done cleaning up, which she didn't bother helping with because she knew he'd just shoo her away. She saw Noel sitting in his car across the street watching her. Lila walked down the stairs to the walkway leading to the sidewalk then out to his car. "Okay Khan what do you want." Lia asked arching her eyebrow. Noel eyed her now unwrapped hand and made a face. "You really hurt yourself didn't you..." Lila shook her head and looked at her arm. "No whoever put that oil on the road hurt me." She stated bluntly. Noel looked like he'd been punched for a moment which had Lila tilting her head to the side in wonderment. "Go home Khan, and stay out of trouble." Lia stood up and tapped the hood of his car before turning around to see Jason looking at her, watching them really. She saw the worry in his eyes, but his face was stoney.
When they both got inside she put her arms around Jason and hugged him close. "Just had to see what he wanted." Lila said quietly. Jason held her close and kissed the top of her head. "He looked sorry, when he saw how bad my arm was torn up." Jason looked at her arm and made a face himself, he knew there would be some scaring. "Lets get this re wrapped kid." She shook her head. "Its fine for now no open wounds it should air out a little, having it wrapped all the time isn't good. The doctors said." Jason nodded his head then let her go. "You got a text..." He more stated than asked and she looked at her phone. "Yeah telling me I'm performing in the talent show. Which I have to go practice for." She said kissing him on the lips softly then running upstairs. "I'll be there cheering you on." He called up the stairs then heard her guitar start and he smiled.
It was backstage at the talent show that Lila started to freak out a little. "You want one of us to come on with you..." Spencer asked and Lia shook her head and bit her bottom lip. "No no, A said alone, or else Jason pays for me being a 'coward'." Lila listened to Mona attempting to croon out an Adele song, which she was doing horribly at. Aria smiled hugging her friend closely. "Just find us in the crowd, we'll stand by Jason." She whispered softly then the other four left for the crowd. When Mona was done the host, who happened to be Aria's mom Ella announced one more singer and called Lila on stage. Lila got on stage and took a deep breath letting her eyes find the pair of green eyes that calmed her. Then she struck the first cord her band backing her up as she sang to Jason, the first song she ever wrote about him.
On a Monday, I am waiting
Tuesday, I am fading
And by Wednesday, I can't sleep
Then the phone rings, I hear you
In the darkness is a clear view
Cuz you've come to rescue me
Fall... With you, I fall so fast
I can hardly catch my breath, I hope it lasts
[Chorus:]
Ohhhhh
It seems like I can finally rest my head on something real
I like the way that feels
Ohhhhh
It's as if you know me better than I ever knew myself
I love how you can tell
All the pieces, pieces, pieces of me
All the pieces, pieces, pieces of me
I am moody, messy
I get restless, and it's senseless
How you never seem to care
When I'm angry, you listen
Make me happy it's your mission
And you won't stop til I'm there
Fall... Sometimes I fall so fast
When I hit that bottom
Crash, you're all I have
[Chorus:]
Ohhhhh
It seems like I can finally rest my head on something real
I like the way that feels
Ohhhhh
It's as if you known me better than I ever knew myself
I love how you can tell
All the pieces, pieces, pieces of me
How do you know everything I'm about to say?
Am I that obvious?
And if it's written on my face...
I hope it never goes away... yeah
On a Monday, I am waiting
And by Tuesday, I am fading into your arms...
So I can breathe
[Chorus:]
Ohhhhh
It seems like I can finally rest my head on something real
I like the way that feels
Ohhhhh
It's as if you've know me better than I ever knew myself
I love how you can tell
Ohhhhh
I love how you can tell
Ohhhhh
I love how you can tell
All the pieces, pieces, pieces of me
All the pieces, pieces, pieces of me...
After finishing she bowed and went backstage. Lila was shaking with her nerves but she had done it. And as scary as it was it was exhilarating as well something she missed desperately without even knowing it until she'd done it again. Being the last performer in the talent show, she still had her guitar when they called everyone back on stage to give out the prizes. Lila got runner up but after hearing Caleb sing she figured she would. "Caleb your amazing. I'd love to work with you sometime." Caleb smiled and nodded his head. "You have skills Lila, I can't believe you wrote that yourself." She nodded her head and then took a deep breath. "You really deserved first place though, I haven't really put my pipes to use in a while and it showed." Caleb and Lila hugged before the girls and Jason got to where they where. Jason was walking up and saw Lila hugging someone her own age, someone who shared her interests and his jealousy was piqued.
**Authors Note: I'm so sorry its taken me so long to update its been hell week at work and I haven't been sleeping. I think I rewrote this five or six times before I was okay with it enough to upload it. Thank you so much for all your patients. ~Doshielee**