A/N: Sorry for the wait. I know I said that I would update after 7 reviews, buuuuuut…. Yeah. I promise, though, from now on, when I say that, I really will update. I've just been busy since my older sister is graduating high school. Which means she's going to college, which means she's moving out, FINALLY! Terrible thing to say, I know, but my sister has been nothing but upright rude to me since I was nine.

Anyways, on with the chapter!


Hanna P.O.V.

I'm not exactly positive what to do with myself now. Surely I can't just quit with no questions asked, right? A wouldn't let that happen. But how did Toby ever get off the team? He doesn't work for A anymore, that much I'm sure of. I should talk to him… explain to him that I joined to protect Emily, and he wouldn't be a hypocrite and judge since he did the exact same for Spencer. Hopefully he won't mind me stopping by the loft. After all, it's not like he hates me. He doesn't hate any of us, really.

Midway through Spencer explaining to us what happened and why and how she and Aria just now got together, I said, "I have to pick up some things for my mom."

Emily and Aria exchanged a glance and looked back in my direction. "Um… okay?" Aria replied. I got up and grabbed my keys, ignoring Spencer asking why I was so jumpy.

I probably should've acted less suspicious. But it's sorta difficult when I'm so on edge. I'm really hoping Toby is home. I'm not sure how much more I can take of the guilt.

As soon as I arrived at The Brew, I ordered two coffee's and headed up the stairs behind the lounge. I knocked on the light colored door, and after a moment, it swung open. Toby looked mildly confused, but maintained a welcoming grin. He motioned his arm towards the living space, silently telling me to come in. I handed the steaming cup to him.

"Sorry, I don't really know how you take it," I apologized and he chuckled.

"No worries," he assured me. "I dated Spencer for so long that I got used to taking it black."

After our laughter died down, and we took our seats across from each other, he looked at me and asked, "So, not to sound rude, but how come you're here?"

My smiled faded quickly and he looked slightly alarmed.

"Um," I began awkwardly, prying he would take this news alright, "you know how you sort of joined the –A team to protect Spencer? And all of us?"

He nodded a little, oblivious as to where I was going with this.

"We know you're off the team. But… you know about me and Emily, I'm guessing. And I love her, and I need to protect her, and… well… -A sortakindaforcedmetojointheteamtomakesureEmilydoesn'tgethurtandineedawayoutoftheteambecauseidon'twannabepartofitanymoreandsinceyougotofficametogetadvicefromyouandpleasedon'tjudgesinceyoudidthesameforSpencerandbreatheHanna," I took a deep breath after squinting. When I got no response I timidly opened one eye to see Toby staring at me in complete confusion.

"What?" was the only thing he said.

I took a shaky breath and repeated myself more calmly. "-A forced me to join the team to assure Emily's safety. I need to get off the team because I don't wanna hurt the girls. Since you got off I came to see how you did it. And please don't judge since did the same for Spence."

Toby was silent for a moment as he leaned back towards the cushion of the couch. His eyebrows were furrowed and his mouth was in a slight frown. His eyes were unreadable and I started to get nervous that he was angry.

I opened my mouth to defend myself when he spoke.

"I understand. I get it. I'm here for you, okay?"

I snapped my mouth shut and my eyes went wide. I wasn't sure whether or not to smile, so I nodded furiously instead.

Toby grinned. "I know you want to get off, but it takes time. The first thing you have to do is tell them. Tell the girls. Everything, okay? Don't leave one detail out. I'm positive that they'll understand."

I felt a shudder go down my spine and something deep in my conscious was screaming that something would go wrong.

I sucked in a breath and asked, "then what?"
Toby put a hand on his chin and leaned forward once more. "Well, I didn't get the chance to tell you girls on my own. But after you found out, I gradually became disconnected to the team. Block all unknown numbers. Ignore any notes pinned on your property. Don't go to any more meetings. But make sure that the girls are safe, or –A will get to them and use them as a way to force you to be more active. But, if you make sure they're alright, -A leaves you alone." He paused. "Actually, they leave you alone in the sense of they don't make you go back on the team. But it also means that you're their next target. SO be ready to get some serious backlash once you're off."

I nodded thoughtfully, taking in all the information. Spencer would be taking notes on this.

"I can be with you, Han, if you want."

My head shot up at him. What the hell was he trying to imply? "Um, excuse me?"

He looked puzzled as to why the tone in my voice was so snappy until he laughed. "No, I mean I can be with you when you tell the girls if you'd like. And I can help keep an eye on them once you're ignoring the team, and I can you help deal with whatever –A will throw at you."

"I… I think I should tell the girls on my own. I'll call you when that's done, but I'll definitely need your help with the rest."

Toby gave me a curt nod. "'Course."


The drive back to Spencer's was short and silent. I didn't bother keeping the radio on because the only types of songs I came across were things like "Back Stabbers," by the O' Jays and, "We Used to be Friends," by Dandy Warhols, and it was really starting to freak me out and get me down.

I half hoped the girls would still be at Spencer's so I can get it over with and tell them so I can get off the team and let Toby know how it went, but part of me wants them to have gone home so I don't have to say anything to them.

I temporarily stopped the car at the last turn down the street, where I would see if they were there or not with their cars. I took a deep inhale and let my fingers run through every stand of my blonde hair, the silky feel soothing my slightly since it reminds me of when Emily does the same to my head when we cuddle.

Pushing down on the gas and turning, I approached the Hastings and Dilaurentis homes. There were the same amount of cars in the driveway as there were when I left. So the girls were all still there… great…

At the sound of my car door closing, a curtain in one of the living room windows was pulled to the side, followed by Spencer opening the front door. I awkwardly walked inside and closed the door behind me. I continuously poked my right hand with my left index finger in front of my chest as I shifted my weight from side to side.

"Um… I didn't actually have any errands to run," I announced and they didn't look surprised, but instead slightly worried.

Aria nodded. "Yeah, we figured." She then stood up and took a step closer to me. "Han, whatever's going on, you can tell us," she motioned to the two girls behind her.

I couldn't make eye contact with them and continued to fidget around. I was literally shaking in my actual boots, and finally looked down. "I know I can… that's why I'm telling you what I'm about to tell you."

The sitting girls stood up and went next to out petite friend. I released a shaky breath and peered up before darting my attention back down to an itsy bitsy mark on one of the floorboards. "Please, guys, please don't hate me. I didn't really have a choice, unless I wanted one of you- or all of you- to get hurt."

Spencer took another step forward with her arms crossed. "What exactly are you trying to say here?" I flinched at the bitterness and venom in her tone.

"I-I… I j-joined the team. The A-team…" I confessed in a whispery, shaky voice.

When I felt a sudden jolt and sting across my face, I looked up at a steaming Spencer. I expected her to be the least mad of all of them! She did the same exact thing as what I did- or am doing- now! And she just slapped me!

…Spencer just… slapped me? My best friend? So, she really is mad? If she is, and she joined at one point to, Aria must be just as upset, if not more so. And Emily… dammit. Emily is probably taking this the worst. After all it is her girlfriend who betrayed her, not just her best friend. She must despise me.

Only then did I realized that only Emily and I remained in the room. Ar and Spence must've stormed off already.

So why did Emily stay? Is it because she's not actually mad?

"Han…" I heard her whisper delicately and I shot my head up, only to be met with my teary girlfriend. "How… you know, y-you know that joining to protect us doesn't work. Toby did it, Spencer did it. So why did you do it anyways? We all agreed that no matter what, or who is at stakes, none of us were to join the team again. We promised each other. W-we trusted each other. We trusted you."

I felt a heavy blanket wrap it's way around my heart, slow down it's beating to a dangerously low speed, and squeeze it until I thought it would crush it. It stretched its cold self out and consumed my whole body in an icy sheet. It molted around my head and brain and all I could think of was how I lost my friends trying to protect them.

How come Spencer was so lucky? How come she was forgiven before being slapped, before feeling this freezing layer make its way through her? It can't just be because we promised never to go on the team, right? Maybe I deserve this. I deserve this and I don't deserve my friends, or Emily.

"I still love you, Hanna. Okay? I always will. I just… I don't want to believe that you thought this was an alright thing to do. I- me a-and the girls just need some time. We aren't over okay, please don't think we are."

I still couldn't look her in the eye and let her see how pathetic I am for crying when I have no right to. I nodded at her statement, happy we weren't done for, but felt a disconnection from her I've never felt before.

Emily seemed a little hesitant to leave, but finally turned towards the door. She opened it, and halfway out, she looked at me and said, "Spencer will be back here soon. I suggest getting out of her way. I don't want her to hurt you again."

She swung around again and paused once more before adding, "And please, Han, d-don't hurt yourself. Don't do something stupid." And just like that she was gone.

I stood still for a long moment. My hands were at my sides, my balls in fists as the flow of tears slowed down. The warm, saltwater that was now drying on my left cheek hurt the red mark left there from Spencer's hand.

Just as I started to leave, the Hastings front door open, and I feared Spencer was back to… I don't know, beat me up or something. But instead it was the remainder of the Hastings family, Melissa, Veronica and Peter stopped when the saw me standing halfway in the kitchen, half in the living room.

I felt a cool hand run down my arms and glanced up at Mrs. Hastings. "Sweetheart, are you okay?"

I nodded hastily and wiped at tear away. "Y-yeah. I'm fine. I-I'm sorry for this. I'll be on my way." I pulled back. I don't deserve Veronica's care, either.

I paused near the door the same way Em did. "C-could you please tell Spencer that I didn't mean for it to happen and that I'm sorry?"

Peter nodded, even though he looked as equally confused as his wife, but Melissa eyed me suspiciously, with a hint of empathy deep inside. Or maybe it was all just pity. I did look like a fool now after all.

I made my way outside and towards my car when I heard the front door open and shut, followed by feet on the stairs. I saw Melissa hurrying towards me.

She looked at me with a certain shade of understanding that made the ice blanket inside me rip a bit, like it was being torn apart.

Melissa looked at me. Her eyes shone like mine do when I actually understand or figure out a math problem. She nodded her head like she knew what was happening and only uttered one word at first:

"-A."


A/N: So hehee… not the way you thought the girls would take it huh? At least Hannily isn't over! And Hanna has Toby to help her out! And what do you think is up with Melissa?

I actually promise this time that I'll update once I get… let's make it 10 reviews?