A/N: I apologize for this being relatively short, but it's meant to be a set up for the next couple chapters, which will be massive plot-wise. Side-note: I can't remember if Aria ever actually told the Liars about Ezra's full name being Fitzgerald. That's why I use that as a plot point in this chapter.
Her head was pounding and her stomach was doing backflips. The walk back from Paige's was long and pathetic and it involved her shoving her fists into her pockets in order to avoid lashing out at every trash can and mailbox she came across. She was angry at Spencer, at Paige, at herself. It was a confusing swirl of red hot emotion; never in her life had she ever felt anything this strongly. Not toward Ali or Maya. Just Paige and Spencer. They'd shoved a knife into her back, through her heart and out the other side.
She rubbed hard at her eyes, trying to refocus her vision. The world seemed to shift further on its axis the closer she got to home. Her phone vibrated. One new text.
Don't beat yourself up, Em. Good things come to those who need it most. – A
At that exact moment, two streets over, Spencer's phone rang. "Hello?"
"Hey, it's me."
Spencer wiped at drying tears and turned away from Hanna. "Hi. What's going on?"
"Emily was just here. She was drunk off her ass and she…came onto me."
There was a distinct cracking sound from somewhere inside her; Spencer could only assume that this is what it felt like to have your heart broken. At least Paige had the courtesy to let her down easy. "Okay. What did you do?"
"I told her to go home."
Spencer felt Hanna behind her, absolutely overflowing with nervous energy, shifting from foot to foot and chomping on a fingernail. Annoyed, Spencer put a palm out in a way that indicated she needed a second. "You did?"
"Of course I did. Did you think I wouldn't?"
"I don't know." Her head was spinning. With a helpless sigh, she collapsed onto the living room couch, pinching the bridge of her nose. Hanna kneeled down in front of her, one hand on her knee. Spencer barely noticed.
"Spencer." Paige admonished. "I really, really care about you."
Care about me. Right. Care about me. Not love me. "You're in love with Em." Spencer replied. Her tone was barely there. She hated it. She hated that Paige brought out so much weakness in her.
"Spence." Her voice shrunk down. "You don't believe that I want you?"
"Of course I do. Look, Paige, I can't do this right now. Aria's off in the woods somewhere with Fitz."
"What?! Did you call the police?"
"You know as well as I do that we can't risk it. We have to find her on our own."
There was silence for a long second. "Well, hang tight. I'm coming with you."
"Paige, no. I can't put you in danger."
"I'm not letting you do this alone."
"I'm not alone. Hanna's here."
Spencer knew she was being unnecessarily difficult, but the insecurity was chewing on her confidence and she didn't know if she could be around Paige right now.
"Spence, why are you trying so hard to push me away?"
She locked her eyes on Hanna. The blonde's expression bled sympathy and Spencer felt suddenly unbelievably grateful that someone was on her side. "I'm not. Ugh, just hurry up and get here. We don't have a lot of time."
Her gaze scanned down the line of his back as he poured himself a glass of scotch and took a slow sip. A draft blew into the room and created goosebumps on her skin, despite the warmth she was feeling just from looking at him. "So…" she began.
"So." He smiled behind the rim of his glass. It seemed different than smiles he'd been giving her for the last year and a half. "I have something to ask you."
"Okay."
He settled easily into the seat beside her, one palm resting on her knee, his light blue eyes shimmering in the dim light. "Do you trust me?"
Aria snorted. "That's your question? Of course I trust you."
"What about your friends? Do you trust your friends?"
Her brow furrowed charmingly. "Yeah. What is this all about?"
"Aria, Alison is alive."
"What?"
"It's true." He rubbed a soothing touch into her thigh and leaned even closer.
"How do you know that?"
"I have my ways."
"If Ali's alive…who's in her grave?"
"That's what I have to talk to you about." He rose from his seat and strode across the room to a desk against the wall. It was layered in dust and visibly weathered. Ezra slid a key into a key slot in the farthest drawer, pulling out a manila envelope. Grimly, he made his way back over to her, holding out the envelope for her inspection. It was marked with the word 'evidence.'
"What's this?" She asked wearily.
"Information." He answered. Indifference stamped itself onto his posture.
Unease made her stomach turn over as she lifted out a photograph. It was Spencer, dressed in that plaid sweater vest and pleated skirt she'd worn…"This is from the night Ali disappeared."
Ezra only nodded.
Aria studied the photo a little closer, an involuntary gasp leaving her when she realized Spencer was clutching a shovel in her right hand. The murder weapon? It was impossible, especially if it was true that Ali had lived. "What are you trying to tell me?"
"I'm trying to tell you that Spencer Hastings isn't who you think she is."
Paige stood so close Spencer felt the other girl's body heat burning into her back. She kept her eyes on the screen in front of her, her fingers moving frantically over the keys, trying to find the address to Fitz' cabin. Hanna stood on her opposite side, one hand flat on the table beside Spencer's forearm. "Do you have any idea what you're looking for?" She asked.
"If I did, Hanna, we wouldn't be sitting here asking Google." Spencer blew out a breath and tried to remind herself that Hanna was stressed and scared, same as her. "I don't think Fitz is his real name."
"What do you mean?" Paige's equally fearful voice drifted into Spencer's consciousness, making her horribly dizzy for a moment.
Deep breaths, Hastings. Focus. "I mean, aside from his social media and Rosewood High profile, there's nothing listed for Ezra Fitz. He changed his name before he came to Rosewood." She scrolled a little further down and found a listing for The Fitzgerald Theatre, owned by the prestigious Fitzgerald family in New York. "Or he shortened it." She looked up at Hanna. "Call Caleb. We have some hacking to do."
Hanna gave a short nod and retreated toward the living room, already holding the phone to her ear. Paige's fingers brushed Spencer's lower back, sending a shiver right up her spine. "Paige." She reached back and wrapped her hand around the back of Paige's neck, tugging her close so their lips could meet. "I'm sorry about before."
"Don't be." Paige whispered. "I understand what it must feel like. It's how I feel every time I think about Ali and Em together."
Spencer smiled a sad, knowing smile. She couldn't pinpoint the moment when this girl had crept up on her, but she couldn't be happier that it'd happened. Standing up, she slipped her arms around Paige's neck. "For the record, I care about you, too."
Paige ducked her head to hide the blush that touched her cheeks. "I'm glad."
"We'll be okay. That's what you told me, right?"
"Right." Paige replied, brushing her lips against Spencer's again. "Should we call Em? You know, to let her know about Aria and Fitz?"
"We'll have to wait for Hanna. Em won't want to talk to either of us, I'm sure."
In spite of herself, Paige laughed. "That's why you're the smart one, Hastings."
"Don't forget it, McCullers."
