The next chapter! I really hope you like it, I did something kinda different. Please review with your thoughts and theories.
"What do you mean "Spencer's alive"" Hanna asked.
"I saw her" she insisted "at least I think I did"
The girls let out the breath they'd been holding. Over the years Melissa had taken them on countless goose chases. She couldn't accept that Spencer was gone. They'd seen Dr. Sullivan about the issue after the last one. Dr. Sullivan said Melissa felt an extraordinary amount of guilt because she was supposed to pick her up from school that day.
"I was at a store in Branburry, my friend from UPenn suggested it. I was looking for a dress for the anniversary fundraiser." She continued. Their parents held a fundraiser on the day of Spencer's disappearance every year. The money went half to organizations for runaways and half to organizations for kidnapping victims.
"You had Spencer on your mind" Emily started.
"No!" Melissa yelled. "This was not like that, this wasn't like the other times!"
She was starting to cry.
"You know how when you're waiting for someone like at the movies or the mall and you think you see them?" She sobbed. "And when you do see them you realize all those people you thought could have been them couldn't possibly because this is them"
They nodded. They knew the feeling. Hamna saw Spencer in every brunette model she auditioned. Aria saw her in every brunette at the coffee shop she went to every morning. Emily saw her in every brunette at the gym. It was never Spencer though. Ever.
"Spencer's dead" Hanna said. "I'm sorry but she is, I don't know who or what you saw but it wasn't Spencer."
"Maybe you should start seeing Dr. Sullivan again" Aria suggested.
"We've moved past this, you should too" Emily said. The girls headed downstairs. Melissa chased after them.
"Where's the body?!" She yelled "if she's dead where's her god damned body?!"
The girls cried despite themselves. They'd asked themselves that many times before.
"I'm going back there tomorrow with flyers" Melissa said "even if I go by myself"
The girls left the Hastings.
"Poor Melissa" Emily said.
"I know it's hard for her" Hanna said "I just wish she'd come around."
"I'm not surprised, I know how hard it's been for us" Aria added.
The girls said good night and agreed to meet for breakfast tomorrow.
*3am the next morning*
There was a loud banging on Hanna's door.
"What the hell?" She yelled as she walked to the door.
She opened the door to see Aria wide eyed and short of breath. A sleepy looking Ezra was propping up an equally sleepy Emily.
"I think I just bought a ticket to Melissa's crazy train" Aria said, she was holding a journal with post its sticking out of it.
"Huh?" Hanna asked.
Aria opened the journal to the first post it. She began to read aloud.
"It's only been a couple weeks but I think I'm already falling in love with Toby Cavanaugh. I asked him tonight what it was like to run away. He said it was cold. I told him how I ran away to the movies when I was seven. I thought he might think it was stupid since he ran-away for real. I told him I only came back because I was lonely, he told me that the next time I want to run away I should call him. Now. I can't help thinking about running away with him. No one would miss me anyway, except for the girls but I'd tell them that I was going. They'd understand"
Aria flipped to the next post it.
"I got into a fight with my dad tonight, he caught me and Toby making out in his truck. Nothing serious. He told Toby to leave and never come back I swear I heard my heart crack, he told me to get in the house but I ran to Toby's truck I begged him not to listen to my dad. We drove to the town line. Parking off to the side. That's sort of our spot. "I could just keep driving" Toby had said to me. My heart jumped I wanted to drive away with him so badly. My dad was so glad I came back what he doesn't know is that it was Toby that convinced me running wasn't the answer."
Aria flipped again
"I'm more upset than I've ever been, Toby and I had a moment tonight. A hot sexy moment, the kind of moment you write down in the diary you keep under your bed that no one will ever see. I was so happy until I came home and my father started yelling at me. He called me whore right to my face. The more he yells at me about Toby the more I want to give Toby everything I have. Someday I'm going to leave this house and Toby and I will leave this town"
She went to the next entry.
"I thought my parents were horrible but Toby's dad is worse. At least I have my mom and friends supporting me. I feel like I'm only safe with Toby. I told him we should run away together but he still says no."
Aria gave Hanna a look
"My heart is shattered. My parents have forbidden me to see Toby. I love him so much. I wish I would've gone with him. I just want to be with him. I've never wanted anything so much. I hate my parents for tearing us apart."
"Did I mention I hate my parents? Toby came over to fix things. He told them how much he loves me and how we should be together. He even said we wouldn't have sex anymore which I hate but would have agreed to. What did my evil heartless parents do they beat me right in front of him."
"Toby came over tonight. I was so happy until my parents showed up and ruined it. I was so close to getting to be alone with Toby. If I'd gotten out I never would have come back."
Aria took a breath before going to the next one. She gave both Hanna and Emily a look.
"I don't know how a day can be filled with so much love, happiness, sadness and rage all at the same time. Toby surprised me at school and we had an amazing time. I love him so much and I was blissfully happy..."
Aria paused hesitantly.
"Then my friends turned on me. I can't believe they would do that. They are such back stabbing bitches. Suppose I told the Montgomery's the kind of extra credit Ezra's been giving Aria. Or Mrs. Marin about the time Hanna and Caleb did it in my parents lake house. Or tell Mrs. Fields about the time Emily got so drunk she stripped in front of a party full of people. But I won't do any of that. I'm just going to leave. They won't miss Spencer the burden. So long assholes."
Aria sniffled.
"I've been calling Toby all day, he isn't taking my calls. I want him to come get me. Take me back to Bucks County. I'm ready. I'm ready to go...and never come back"
"Toby finally called me back, not only is he not going to come get me. He says he can't do this anymore. He told me he met someone else. I have nothing. I don't know what to do. I have no one on my side. I feel hopeless. I've been deserted by everyone I've ever loved"
"That'sthe last entry?" Hanna asked.
"Yes and no" Aria said. She turned the page handing it to Hanna.
If I die young, bury me in satin
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in a river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song
Lord make me a rainbow, I'll shine down on my mother
She'll know I'm safe with you when she stands under my colors, oh,
And life ain't always what you think it ought to be, no
Ain't even grey, but she buries her baby
There's a boy here in town, says he'll love me forever,
Who would have thought forever could be severed by...
...the sharp knife of a short life, oh well?
I've had just enough time
So put on your best, boys, and I'll wear my pearls
What I never did is done
A penny for my thoughts, oh, no, I'll sell 'em for a dollar
They're worth so much more after I'm a goner
And maybe then you'll hear the words I been singin'
Funny when you're dead how people start listenin'
Uh oh (uh, oh)
The ballad of a dove (uh, oh)
Go with peace and love
Gather up your tears, keep 'em in your pocket
Save 'em for a time when you're really gonna need 'em, oh
"Those are song lyrics" Hanna said.
"Yes" Aria said.
"So" Hanna asked irritatedly.
"Sink me in a river?" Aria asked.
"Are you saying Toby had the right idea? That Spencer killed herself?" Hanna asked.
"No I think she faked her death and ran away." Aria said.
"Why would she do that?!" Hanna asked.
"Why wouldn't she? She probably thought she had nothing to lose." Aria said.
Hanna looked like she was formulating an argument.
"They never found her body Hanna" Aria prodded.
*7am that morning*
"Melissa" Veronica said "I wish you wouldn't do this. Let me set up another appointment with Dr. Sullivan."
"I have to do this mom, I have to" Melissa said. "I'm not asking you to agree or come with me"
Just then the side door opened and Aria, Hanna and Emily entered. They had decided to go with Melissa, although they agreed not to tell her what they suspected.
Melissa offered a weak smile to them.
It was almost 9 by the time they got to Branburry. They delegated responsibilities. Melissa was going to take the parks and jogging paths. Emily was taking coffee shops and restaurants. Hanna was taking clothing stores. Aria was taking book stores and artsy stores. They searched for hours talking to people, hanging up posters. Some people ignored them completely. A handful said "no I haven't seen her around". Most said "she looks familiar". A few said "I remember her, she was on the news", that was so sad"
No one they talked to could definitively say they had seen her.
At 730 they were ready to call it quits. Hanna called Emily.
"Where are you Em?" She asked.
"I'm a few blocks over I think I got turned around" she said. "I'll be there in a couple minutes"
"Okay well hurry up we're going to get something to eat after we are starved." Hanna said.
After 10 minutes Emily still wasn't back. Hanna called her but she didn't answer. Five minutes and she still hadn't answered. They were starting to get worried when she came jaunting around the corner.
"Hey, sorry, I got all kinds of turned around" she said.
Melissa began sobbing softly. "I'm sorry guys, I really thought he'd find her, I really did."
Aria and Hanna each took an arm of Melissa's.
"Come on, Melissa" Hanna said gently.
"We'll take you home" Aria added.
They walked no more than 3 steps when Emily blurted.
"I saw her too!"
The three turned. Aria and Hanna were glaring at her.
"I mean, I'm pretty sure, I got turned around and I was trying to figure out where I was and I saw someone looking at a poster I put up, and I could of sworn it was Spencer. I didn't know what to do, I chased after her but she disappeared." Emily panted.
They drove back in silence. No one knew what to say. Aria and Hanna called Ezra and Caleb. They met up at Spencer's house. Melissa had called her dad so he was there too. They told them what happened and said they had to go back with more people. Her parents protested as did the guys.
There was a knock on the door. Melissa opened it. In walked a good looking man in a suit.
"My name is Detective Gabriel Holbrook. I'm with the FBI and I was brought in to work on your daughters case." He announced. "I've been working on it for a while now"
They all stared at him. They figured the police had given up years ago.
"I apologize for the lateness of the hour but I wanted to let you know before it hit the news."
Peter and Veronica held hands while holding on to Melissa. Ezra held Aria and Caleb held Hanna. Emily held onto Hanna and Aria's hand.
They were prepared for the worst.
Well what do you think Holbrook has to tell them? What did you think of the journal entries? Do you think Emily/Melissa really saw Spencer or are they chasing a ghost? Please review!
