I woke up before my alarm clock went off because my phone went off across the room. I sat up to see Caleb still fast asleep. He was the heaviest sleeper I knew. I moved his hair out of his face before walking over to answer the phone. It was Spencer, but by the time I got to the phone she had hung up. I got a text message a second later saying: Tonight, behind the barn nine. I just walked over back to the bed. I looked down at Caleb. I placed my hand on his side. "Baby wake up." I said as I moved my hand around to shake him.
"Is it time to get up already?" He asked as he set up.
"Not exactly." I said as I sat down next to him.
"What is it? You sick again?" He asked.
"No, I just wanted to let you know I am going to meet up with Spencer tonight." I said as I let my head hit my pillow again. He did the same and looked at me.
"Chasing murders isn't exactly what I want you doing." He said as he looked at me.
"I know, but I have to do this. Talking to a chair isn't enough closure." I said as I looked at him.
"Can I at least come with you?" He asked.
"This is something we need to do on our own." I said as I looked at him.
"I understand." He said as he kissed my head. We just sat there staring at each other till the alarm went off. I got up first and started to get ready as he made breakfast. "Do I look fat?" I asked as I walked into the kitchen to see him in his pajamas.
"Hanna you're not fat." He said with a smile. "But, you are starting to show." He said as he looked at me. "Just makes you look even more beautiful."
"Why are you so sweet?" I asked as I looked at him.
"Because I have a great gal who brings out the best in me." He said as he hugged me before going upstairs to get ready. It was about a half an hour later that he came down fully dressed carrying my Government book. "Lose something."
"Let me guess it was in the hamper again." I said as I looked at him.
"Stop cramming while doing laundry." He said with a smile.
"It is the only time I have." I said as I looked at him.
"I am so sorry." He said as he looked at me. "So, I take it that you have a test today?"
"Of course. Fox is a pain in my ass. Two hundred multiple choice and three essays." I said as I placed my book in my bag.
"That's what you get for being a smarty pants and being in AP." He said as we walked towards the door.
"The school thinks I am smart enough for these classes. I think I should be in the lowest level there is."
"Don't be that way. Your super smart." He said as he hugged me.
"You're smarter." I said as I got in the car.
"Yeah well I just couldn't afford those outrageous fees." He said.
"I will trade you." I said with a laugh as we pulled out of the drive way.
"And have to put up with Fox, not going to happen." He said as he looked at me. I was running late getting to class because I had to go to the bathroom.
"Miss. Marian you are late." Mr. Fox said as he watched me quickly slip into my desk.
"Sorry." I said as I placed my books under my seat.
"Don't do it again." He said as he placed my test on my desk. This was going to be a long semester. I could feel it. After I failed my government test. Trust me it was horrible, I practically slept through English which sucked because that's the one class I have with Caleb. Okay, I practically slept through the rest of the day.
"Hanna, you need a ride home?" Aria asked as she looked at me. I was sitting in the court yard. I wasn't feeling up to walking all the way home yet.
"You aren't supposed to be talking to me." I said as I watched her sit down.
"Fine." She said as she looked around the court yard. She spotted Lucas and his girlfriend. "Hey!" She yelled over to them. Lucas just pointed to himself as Aria walked over a dragged him over to me. "Make sure she gets home." She said.
"Okay." He said as he looked at me.
"See I can still have your back like a best friend should." She said as she looked at me.
"Thanks." I said as I got up.
"Call me." She said as she walked away.
"Thanks." I said as I looked at Lucas.
"Anytime." He said as he led me to his car. "You look like crap." He said as we pulled away from the school.
"Thanks so much." I said as I looked at him with a frown.
"I just mean Caleb is right you need to take it easier. This isn't Hanna." He said as he looked at me.
"I have more to worry about than just Hanna now." I said. We didn't talk again till he was following me into the house. There was a big white box sitting on the porch. "Finally." I said as I picked it up.
"Be careful." He said as he took the box from me. "If something happened to you, Caleb would kill me." He said with a laugh.
"Please, he would know better." I said as we walked into the kitchen.
"Sure." He said as he set the box down on the counter.
"Move it." I said as I walked over to him.
"What is so important?" He asked as he watched me open the box.
"This." I said as I pulled out a short ivory dress.
"That's the dress?" He asked as he looked at it. He sounded unimpressed.
"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked.
"I just expected something more glamy from you." He said as he looked at me.
"I am on a budget and this is perfect for a small event on the shore of a lake." I said as I put it back in the box.
"Well, you will be a beautiful bride." He said as he got a juice box out of the fridge. "I got my invite by the way." He said with a smile.
"I figured you would I sent them out two days ago." I said as I thought about the white invitations with the orange flowers. I had found them online for dirt cheap.
"I am really happy for you and Caleb." He said as he looked at me.
"You're just saying that because you're the best man." I said as I looked at him.
"Maybe." He said as he looked at me. "Now you go take a nap. I will help you out with these dishes." He said as he looked at the sink.
"You have to be careful with the sink. It hasn't been very nice since Aria killed her phone in it." I said as I got up.
"I don't want to know." He said as I walked away. I crashed upstairs till Caleb came in and told me it was time for dinner.
"You made dinner?" I asked as I sat up.
"Yeah, I always do. Now come on sweetie." He said as he looked at me. I looked over at the clock and saw that it was already almost nine.
"I have to go." I said as I got up.
"I was hoping you would have forgotten." He said as he followed me down the stairs.
"I will be back soon." I said as I gave him a kiss and headed out the door. I would have rather been at my house eating a wonderful home cooked dinner than hiding behind a shed for an hour. Not to mention the half an hour drive out to the middle of nowhere. But, it wasn't long till things got bad once we got there. We heard Melissa scream and from that moment things were different. I watched as Spencer ran as fast as she could to get to her sister. We followed behind, but Wren tried to keep us from going in. As soon as I was in, I wanted to be out. I saw Ian's body laying there on the floor with a bullet hole in his head. I just remember hugging Aria and saying "It's over." I think I held on to her till my mother and Caleb showed up. He wrapped me up in his arms like always. He was my protector and I could tell he knew I was hurt. "He's dead. It's over." I kept saying that to myself. Like I needed to remind myself that this man was Ali's killer. Like I needed to remind myself I wanted the sick bastard dead. I guess sometimes it's hard to deal with when all your dreams and hopes come true.
