Emily's POV

I was never more thankful for Mona in my whole life. Her tirade through our dressing room cut through the tension and forced us all to focus only on the show. We all quickly went to our stations to change. As I stripped out of my clothes and climbed into the dress, I couldn't help but notice Hanna watching me when she thought I wasn't looking. Having Hanna look at me like that again gave me butterflies in my stomach, but I knew it didn't mean anything. Whether she found me attractive or not didn't change the reality of our situation.

As we all approached the backstage area we ran into Mona who informed us that plans had changed.

We were originally only supposed to come out at the end in Alison's gowns, but due to a few last minutes cancellations, she needed us to fill in for the missing other models. Quickly changing back out of our dresses, we rushed to get the first outfits on as the music started.

We each went walked the runaway in a few different outfits, sometimes modeling by ourselves or with each other. It was actually more fun than I thought it would be. I'm not usually one for the spotlight but it was for a good cause and I was enjoying it with my best friends.

However, the excitement quickly faded to nervousness just before the final walk dedicated to Alison. Aria and Hanna were at the other stage door leaving me alone with Spencer who I had given me weird looks all night. Just before Alison's mom began speaking about the dedication to her daughter, Spencer leaned in and whispered, "So what's going on with you and Hanna?"

My heart started immediately racing. She couldn't possibly know…right? "Spence, what do you mean? Nothing is going on."

"Don't lie to me Emily! I have never seen two people more flustered about being caught hugging in my life. And the way the way you were arguing about Samara without really arguing. You could cut the tension with a knife. It almost seemed like a jealous lovers' quarrel." she whispered back at me.

"Seriously…I don't know what you're talking about. There is nothing going on with me and Hanna." I responded, hoping she believed me. I didn't want Spencer or Aria to know what had happened with Hanna in the Poconos. I don't want them thinking that I go after all of my straight friends and to worry that they could be next. And I certainly didn't want them thinking I was still in love with Hanna. Wait, was I still in love with her?

Before I could finish my next thought, Spencer interrupted my inter monologue with "Then prove it! Grab her hand and hold it like you used to. If there is nothing going on, then it shouldn't be a problem to be affectionate with her, right?"

I stood there for a second with my mouth hanging open. I couldn't believe that Spencer was pushing me into this, but I knew I couldn't not follow through unless I wanted to talk about that night, which I definitely did not want to do. Just before I was about to answer her, she gave me a knowing look and headed out on stage to meet with Aria.

The next thirty seconds seemed like an eternity. I could see Hanna across the stage from me as we began walking out. I was nervous now but for a whole new reason. I knew I had to grab her hand to get Spencer to back off, but I didn't know how Hanna would take it. Would she freak out if I touched her like that? I didn't want her to stop speaking to me again, especially when we're finally starting to be okay again.

Before I could stress anymore about what I was going to do, we had met in middle of the stage. 'Well, it's now or never' I thought to myself before reaching down and lacing my fingers between hers. Just as our fingers touch I felt a bolt of electricity shoot up my arm directly into my gut.

Holding her hand and being close to her was suddenly the only thing that mattered. It's like my life was tethered to her and she was the only thing keeping me grounded on Earth. My earlier fears were answered in that instant.

I had tried to convince myself over the last year that I loved Hanna but that I was no longer 'in love' with her. But I knew in this moment that I was still in love with her, that I always had been, and maybe always would be.

The realization hit me hard with a weight of knowing that she would never love me the same way. There was a time when I thought maybe she did. That night she seemed to love me back and even said that she did. Everything seemed perfect and like nothing could come between us, but then everything changed. Everything changed in an instant and I still didn't really know why.

Suddenly I was almost thankful that my mother was forcing me to move to Texas. Maybe putting actual distance between us would get me to finally move past her. I knew that if I stayed in Rosewood with Hanna in my life, that I could never stop loving her.

As the realization came to me, we had reached the end of the runway, meeting up with Aria and Spencer. Spencer looked me directly in the eye and I knew that she could tell what I was feeling. I was hoping that she could read it well enough on my
face to not even bother asking. As she gave me a knowing look, I could see the sympathy and apology in her eyes. She hadn't mean to hurt me, but she knew I needed to face this.

Suddenly, the music changed and the stage went dark. That's when everything went to hell, including the four of us.

Hanna's POV

"Looks like Spencer is on to you. You have until midnight to tell them what happened last fall or Wilden will find out what your mom keeps in a lasagna box. xoxo – A"

Normally fashion shows are totally my thing and I was really trying to enjoy the moment, but I couldn't focus on anything except A's threat. I couldn't let anything happen to my mom. She's the only one who had always been there for me and I knew she only did what she had to do to protect me. I know have to tell Spencer and Aria the real reason Emily and I stopped being friends and I only have a few hours to do it.

After three lighting fast costume changes, a practically naked Emily dressing and undressing next to me, and a threatening text from A, I was officially stressed out. Finally we put back on our original gowns for the big finale. Aria and I were on one side of the stage with Spencer and Emily on another. After Alison's mother made an announcement, the music changed and the slideshow we had put together started playing as our cue to begin walking. Aria and Spencer walked out first, met in the middle of the stage and walked the cat walk together. After they reached the end, it was mine and Emily's turn.

I couldn't tear my eyes away from her as she walked towards me. Her hips swayed gently to the music and while she was smiling, I could see the shyness in her eyes. Being on display was never Emily's thing, unless of course it was in the water, but I don't think I had ever seen her look quite this nervous before.

Just as we reached each other at the center of the stage, she reached down, took my hand, and laced her fingers through mine. The gesture, while perfectly innocent, sent sparks flying up my arms. Suddenly no one else in the room mattered. I knew we were walking down the cat walk to meet Spencer and Aria and were surrounded by hundreds of people, but the only thing I could focus on was her. As we walked she refused to look at me, but I could tell by the way she held my hand that she had felt the spark too.

Just as we met the girls at the end of runway and I thought life couldn't get any better, the music, lights, and slide show all suddenly changed. Gasps were the only thing audible from the audience as the loud music, "The Bitch is Dead" voiceover, and a picture of Alison burning in hell.

Emily and I were both stuck, frozen, staring in complete shock at the screen, clenching each other's hands even tighter. Thankfully Spencer was able to react and run over to the audio booth to shut it down. When the lights came back on and the music stopped, Emily and I both ran back stage and away from the stunned crowd.

Needless to say, the fashion show was over. The four of us stayed in the dressing room until everyone else had gone. Finally changing back into our clothes, none of us spoke a single word. Just as we were packing up, all four of phones began to chirp.

Spencer, Aria, and Emily all got the following text, "My dresses, my rules bitches - A"

As they read theirs aloud, I kept quiet, pretending mine said the same, but instead A's message to me read, "Tick tock tick tock. Only a few more hours until midnight. This is your first and last first warning. - A"