Hello guys! Hehe sorry for the wait. I'd like to give a special thanks to Regina18 for helping me out with this chapter and the idea for the next chapter :) Leave a review, please! They totally help with the creative flow.


Spencer's POV

Today is the day. We're all in my bedroom getting ready for tonight. There's an obvious uneasy tension between Ali, Hanna, and Em and it's bothering me. I glance at Aria who's just as uncomfortable as I am.

"What's going on with you guys? You couldn't cut tension in here with a freakin' chainsaw."

"What are you talking about, Spence? There's nothing wrong." Hanna deflects.

"If that's so, why haven't either of you said anything to each other? This is supposed to be fun. You guys are sucking all of the fun out of prepping for prom with my four best friends."

"It's nothing, Spence, just concentration. I don't want to mess up Hanna curls. She has to look perfect tonight. We all do." Alison says with a slight smile.

"If you say so…"Aria interjects.

"So, Ali, are you still gonna do Em's hair, too." Hanna asks.

Alison shoots an odd almost sad and disgusted look at Emily before shaking her head no.

"Well why not?" Aria asks.

"Uhhh… Spencer is the best at those cute updos." Emily says almost shouting.

I notice Hanna and Emily share a wordless conversation with their eyes. What the hell is going on?

"Uhh. Do you guys want more refreshments?"

"Sure." Hanna answers.

"Em, you mind giving me a hand, please?"

"Sure, Spence."

She hops up and we descend down the stairs to the kitchen. I wait until we are safe in the kitchen before start questioning her.

"What the hell is going on between you, Hanna, and Ali? Did Alison do something to one of you guys?"

"No, Spence." Emily says avoiding any eye contact I try to make with her.

"Emily, you're lying."

"I'm not. She didn't do anything. It's her demeanor, the way she's been acting towards me since…"

"Since what. Em? How's she been acting towards you?"

"I don't know.. Since I told her that.. that I want to be with Paige."

Emily sits down on one of the bar stools pulled up to the island and twiddles her fingers.

"What's wrong with you wanting to be with Paige? It's her fault that you don't want to be with her."

Emily looks up at me like a lost puppy.

"Wait…. Do you want to be with her?"

Emily sits silently still playing with her fingers.

"Oh my God, Em. Why? You know she's just going to hurt you, again."

"I know, Spence. I know. That's why I'm with Paige, because I don't want to get hurt again. But nothing I do, nothing I say has changed the way I feel about her."

The kitchen is silence for a moment. I reach over and rest my hand on Emily's for comfort.

"Does she have feelings for you, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Well… I don't know, to be honest. She's said she does, but she's Alison, Queen of manipulating people."

"Look, Em, I'm no relationship counselor, but I think you should stay away from her. Like you said she'd queen of manipulation and she's hurt you before. Now let's get back upstairs before they get restless."

Em nods at me before grabbing the snacks and heading back upstairs.


Alison's POV

Here you are. Senior prom and you aren't with Emily. I look over from where I'm standing with Aria and I see Emily with her.

"Ali, you wanna bust a move or what?" Aria shouts over the blaring music.

"Hell yeah! Just let me run to ladies room."

As I look in the mirror, mesmerized by the spectacular façade that I've put on, someone exits a stall. It's Paige. I keep my head down trying to avoid a confrontation, but I know it's inevitable.

"Look, Paige…" she interrupts me.

"I don't want to hear anything you have to say. Just get this, we aren't friends and never will be. And stay away from Emily. I heard what you guys talked about at the Brew. I know you. Emily knows you, Alison. You're a liar and a manipulator. You don't love her."

"You don't know what I feel, so shut up and mind your own business, Paige."

"Emily is my business. You just can't stand the fact that you don't have her wrapped around your finger anymore. She loves me, so get used to it, bitch."

She pushes me out of her way as she exits the restroom. I can feel my blood boiling. I hate her. After attempting to cool myself, I exit the restroom only to run into Spencer.

"Sorry Spence." I say as I try to go around her.

"We need to talk." she says as she nudges me back into the restroom.

"About what exactly?"

"Emily."

"Why does everybody want to talk about Emily?"

"Because she's in love with you and she seems to think you have feelings for her." Spencer pauses awaiting my reply, which she doesn't get, "You're playing with her again, aren't you? You don't have feelings for her. You ju…"

"Stop! Everyone needs to stop telling me what I feel," I cry out in pure frustration, "I heard what you said to her in the kitchen earlier. You guys were taking too long so I came to help you. Yeah, I heard what you think of me and what you think I'm doing. You have no idea what I feel. I do have feelings for her. I'm in love with her. Why can't people just leave me alone! It's none of yours or anyone else's business, for fuck's sake."

As I'm screaming I can't help but break down in tears. I've hit my limit. As I continue to cry, Spencer puts her hand on my shoulder, but I pull away

"Don't touch. Just leave me alone."

"Ali, I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean…."

"Just leave, please."

I can't take it anymore. I'm done. Spencer steps back, but doesn't leave.

"Fine, since you won't leave, I will."

I push past Spencer and run as fast as this dress and these heels will allow me.

"Ali, wait! Don't go!"