Saturday ~Homecoming Dance (part 3)

Spencer, Hanna and Aria stumbled their way through the darkened halls searching classrooms looking for Emily who had disappeared with Toby quite a while back. Hanna had come back from the psychiatric office not with Jenna Marshal's file, but Toby Cavanaugh's and what she had found in it had her running back afraid for Emily. When she got back to the dance she didn't even care that she was supposed to be on stage with Sean and the rest of the homecoming court waiting for Melissa Hastings, filling in for last year's homecoming queen who was unable to make it, to crowned this year's king and queen this year. Sean stood there alone and embarrassed as Lucas went back to his yearbook duties snapping pictures of the homecoming court.

" I told you he was guilty," Spencer was saying, "and now we have proof. I just hope we aren't too late to save Emily" her voice was shaking with fear and worry. Hanna was agreeing, while Aria was saying nothing thinking that while it looked bad, that file proved nothing except that Toby had some issues and that he had a reason to hate Alison just like so many others did. They heard a crashing sound coming from further down the hall and took off running. When they got to the classroom broken glass everywhere and Aria tripped and fell. When she got her bearings, it was only to realize that she had tripped on the unmoving body of Toby Cavanaugh. "You guys!" She called and the others ran over. Aria felt a pulse, but he was unconscious and bleeding profusely from a deep gash above his brow. There was no sign of Emily anywhere. Aria was dialing 911 when the text came through.

"You want her come and get her, we're playing Hide and Seek my way bitches.' - A

Aria dialed 911 and Spencer and Hanna were telling her to just leave him, but Aria couldn't do that. Emily cared about him and would be upset if they just left him hurt and alone. Aria sent a text and instantly received a message and then the girls left the room continuing the search for Emil. Before they made it out of the hall Aria heard steps running toward the lab to stay with Toby until the ambulance arrived. A had been on the warpath this week, having a broken heart had done nothing to save Aria or Spencer from her, his, it, their wrath.

The girls carefully picket their way through the darkened hallway and made their way toward the dark stairwell knowing if they turned on the lights if could alert someone beside Jason, who Aria had texted to come stay with Toby. He already knew about A since A had reveal them self when they blackmailed him. One of the rules from the beginning was they tell no one. When it first started Hanna had tried to tell Ashley somehow A had known and stopped her, telling her she would be sorry for opening her mouth, now that it was too late. Hanna had been facing the repercussions ever since with the threats being made against her mother instead of her. After that the girls knew to tell no one.

The situation was already creepy, but the darkened stairwell only added to the feeling of paranoia and stumbling up the stairs in the inky darkness wearing high heel wasn't exactly easy. Up ahead there was a loud bang and they jumped. at the unexpected noise, continuing onward.

"Uh you guys, I think it might be smart" to lose the heels. Hanna told them noticing the clickety clack of their and thinking it could give away their location. Aria pulled of her shoes and for good measure the fishnet thigh highs thinking they could cause her to slip. and then they started up the steps once again.

Their phones buzzed.

'Looks like a liar is finally developing a brain congratulations Hanna maybe your head isn't completely after all' ~ A

Their phones pinged again

'It won't matter, I see all, I'm everywhere bitches' ~ A

they took a couple more steps and realized A was playing with them

'Tick tock, bitches, time is running out.' ~ A

This time there was a picture of Emily attached she was tied up a gag in her mouth, her head was bleeding and a bruise was already forming on her forehead, tears streaming down her face eyes wide with fear the girls gasped afraid for their friend.

The girls made their way up the steps checking the room as they went but seem nothing to suggest anything had been disturbed. They knew Emily had to be on the upper floors. Exposure would have been a threat if she had been taken to the hospital. They went up the last set of steps and they knew something was up. Emily's phone was lying in front of a door or a storage closet the could her a faint whine as they moved closer to the door trying to be cautious. Spencer looked at the other two girls and carefully opened the door, Emily was trying to say something and Spencer bent to pull the gag out of her mouth when out of nowhere she and Hanna where pushed inside the door locking automatically and they realized Aria was out there by herself.

Enraged Naomi, wearing a back hoodie and gloves came after Aria, every bit of hatred and vitriol that she had ever felt for the four girls welled up inside her especially for this one in particular. Naomi hated Aria more than anything on earth. It wasn't enough that these four nothings had replaced her at Alison's side taking away her status and prestige, she had never cared about Alison, Naomi had always hated her, she wanted everything Alison had including her brother. Alison had known Naomi had a crush on Jason and she would laugh and mock her and then she dumped her and Riley for the four losers and suddenly people started talking to them as if they were important and Naomi was no longer special.

Then for someone like Aria Montgomery, to come along and take her position as Alison's BFF and to also steal Jason was too much for Naomi to bear, He should have been hers, he was supposed to have been hers. That was how she had planned it since she was eight years old. Even after Alison dumped her she had still planned for Jason to be hers, but he ignored her, she wasn't as popular, but she was still somebody unlike the loser he had chosen. With Alison gone she was supposed to be the new queen, Jason was supposed to see they were meant to be together, but somehow Loser Mona and Hefty Hanna became the new Queens without trying Aria stole Jason. That was not what was supposed to happen it was supposed to be her time and she was supposed to get the guy.

These were the thought that were running through her mind as she chased after Aria across the bridge used for lighting in the auditorium. The dance was still going on people unaware of what was happening above them just behind the curtains as the thumping sound system drowned out the sounds from backstage. the girls had messed up the plans to totally humiliate Hanna by dumping the spoiled pigs blood on her. It seemed apropos that a loser like Hanna who everyone knew was going to win junior maid should suffer the same fate as another loser, only she would not suffer the same bloody and deadly fate as the characters in Carrie

After they ruined Hanna's surprise It hadn't been about Emily, she was just bait. This was Naomi's plan and in her opinion, it was improved, she was going to skin a bitch alive and it was all about Aria. In Naomi's mind if she got rid of Aria Jason would be hers, like he was supposed to be. Aria slipped and fell her legs hanging off the sad having caught herself before her upper body slid through. "Well, well, looks like I caught myself a lying bitch." Naomi said, I wonder what I should do with her Naomi not realizing that they had been found thought she had plenty of time to taunt Aria before she slit her throat open and skinned her. The music and laughter drowned out Aria's screams in the auditorium, but Jason had been close behind and heard.

He had still been sitting with Toby, whose throat had been cut. when he seen Aria running as fast as she could. He had placed his jacket under Toby's head hoping it would help stem the bleeding some he was using his dress shirt as well holding it to Toby's neck he was bleeding heavily, but he was still alive. He was still sitting with Toby when he seen Aria being chased by someone wearing a hoodie and they had a knife. He called 911 again for an ambulance for Toby and for the police, they first call had apparently dismissed as a prank. He hated leaving the teenager but Aria needed him and he knew they had to be careful because others could be hurt before the police arrived to capture the psychopath He affixed the tourniquet as best he could not wanting to tie it too tight. and then with an apology to Tony he took off after running.

Any other time there would have been someone in the halls, but everyone was still in the auditorium Bass thumping loudly. In her panic Aria got confused and took the wrong door that lead to the catwalks for the lighting and she had no where else to go but up. Jason took the opposite door that led backstage but he was below the and Jason's heart plummeted to the pit of his stomach as he seen Aria partially off the walkway, high above the floor and Riley was coming toward her knife in hand. There was no way he could make it in time and thinking quick Jason called Naomi's name.

"Isn't it me you want Naomi? Why not come and get me?"

"She took you from me! I love you, I've always loved you!" she screamed, "You were supposed to be mine, but she took you, like she took Alison and everything that was mine, now she has to pay. She owes me."

"But I didn't know you wanted me." he lied, "If I would have known i would have chosen you, but you never said anything and I thought Alison was playing a stupid prank. You were always the one I loved, the one I wanted. don't you remember the girls I dated, they were always a replacement for you." Jason gave Aria a look hoping she would get the message to get away while he had Naomi distracted. Aria got it and as quietly as she could she began pulling her legs back through the railing.

"They were?" she sniffled remembering the parade of tall blondes Jason had dated over the years.

"Yeah, I pretended they were you, every time." Jason watched out of the corner of his eyes as Aria regained her footing, "I used to dream about holding you in my arms, every girl was always Naomi." Aria has backing away slowly trying to make it to the ladder before Naomi caught on, Aria had a feeling her time was almost up Naomi was obsessed with Jason, not stupid, she could already see her brow wrinkling as a saner part of her brain instead began working, piecing things together.

If you loved me then why did you choose her, why were you screaming her name, telling her you loved her, when you..." a loud sob emitted from her throat when she remembered see the video of him and that slut and suddenly she turned "You tricked me," She screamed, "You never loved me, you lied, you only want her, not me!"

"Aria, run. " please God, he thought, please don't let her clumsiness kick in, too late, just then Aria tripped and grabbed a hold of neatly coiled wires connected to colored lights aimed on the dance floor pulling them, lights began to go out in the auditorium as she fell. Jason climbed the ladder as quick as he could desperate to reach her, but he knew it was no use. Naomi's foot hit some of the wires getting them tangled around her ankle, pulling them with her as she pitched forward her momentum propelling her over flimsy railings the wires ripping from the socket and the lights sparks showering around her as she landed with a sickening thud.

The crowd just beyond the curtains screamed when the seen the shower of sparks and a haze of smoke, a portion of the lights completely out gone some of the crowd fearing there was a fire tried to run out causing a panic despite the principal telling them to remain calm. Lucas and a couple audio visual guys as well as the vice principle ran backstage. Their eyes widened in horror as blood began to pool around Naomi's body some live wires that had come had been torn from the lights and still plugged in dancing around her. Her hand was still clutching the knife she had been chasing Aria with and it was embedded firmly into her carotid artery, she was already gone.

Notes: Well if anyone is still reading this, I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and hopefully this answers some of the questions about why Jason did what he did. If you are reading this and you read Look What the Storm Drug In you will understand the significance or Ezra & Ella's conversation and how it pertains to Aria's behavior, I admit I used Ezra's crush on Ella and what could might be her growing attraction to him as she has begun talking about him more often as shameless device when I remembered what Jason did in Look What the Storm Drug in

If you read the books you will remember Naomi and Riley were Alison's friends, and I do pull from both for inspiration. As far as I can remember neither of these girls had a crush on Jason, I think Aria was the only one that did, I need to go back and reread the books. Feedback would be amazing whether you liked it or hated it as long as it is respectful. Ultimately this is a Jaria fanfic. I just added the others because I am trying to practice writing them as well, truthfully writing fanfic is my way of trying to learn to express myself through writing and why feedback is so important even if it is just to tell me I added a comma I didn't need.

hope you like the A parts and my attempt at an action scene I don't think I have ever written one before so I hope it was a little exciting

Thanks for reading,

GrimLi