Chapter 20 – Photos and Clubs

I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes and motioned them inside and to the living room

"what photos?"

"he has a darkroom, in his shed. Inside it was full of your photos. creepy ones. you're asleep in all of them. he snuck in here or he used a telescope"

"first of all Spence, you need to stop the b&e's. the cops will get you next time instead of aria's brother"

"aren't you freaked out?"

Emily asked.

"you should be panicked, I know I'm panicked"

Spencer finished and went back to panicked mode and hugged me. i hugged her back sitting on the couch with my mind whirling.

"we thought we was hitting on aria to get close to us but he's only near her when you're near too"

Spencer cried and hugged my other side. What do i do now? Exactly? the doorbell rang again. i disentangled myself and went to open it. Hanna was in her pjs, bawling her eyes out and threw herself to my arms

"Caleb left"

"welcome to the pity party"

I said dryly and half carried - half dragged her inside and handed her a tissue box and a glass of water from the fridge.

"what happened?"

Emily asked

"his mom hired a p.i., she arranged for him to go visit and he left tonight"

she said and broke to a fresh round of crying. Emily hugged her and kept her close.

"why are you all here?"

"they broke into Jason's shed"

i said

"he has a lot of belle's pictures. they're creepy and he's dangerous and she's not getting it"

"she is right here Spencer"

i said but no one paid me any attention

"pictures of you Bella?"

"he's creepy"

Emily answered before I had the chance to even open my mouth. Not that I knew what to say... I stood up

"where are you going?"

"I'm going to get blankets, Emily, since we're all sleeping here"

i woke up with Hanna's head on my stomach, Emily's arms tight around her and Spencer hugging me for all it was worth. three cell phones were blaring with alarm clocks as mine was still in my bedroom.

we woke up slowly and the girls left to get ready for school. i dragged my body upstairs to take a shower and I'd meet them at school. after a long cool shower i was ready to face the day. I got dressed not minding the open window and it's pulled back curtains and grabbed a banana as I had no time for real breakfast and set Zoë free on the backyard.

"goodmorning"

I turned to see Jason leaning on my patio furniture.

"goodmorning"

we were silent for a moment

"your friends broke into my shed last night"

"my friends broke into your shed last night"

we said at the same time and then chuckled

"can we talk?"

"sure but i need to get to school. can we do it after? I only have a half day"

"okay. need a ride?"

"I'd love to"

he drove me to school and opened my door for me when we got there.

"see you later miss swan"

he said smiling

"see you later mr DiLaurentis"

he replied and got a wink in return. I walked to the cafeteria to get coffee and found the high court of rosewood waiting for me. I think I'd rather face James solo right now. I took my favourite mocha latte and a chocolate cupcake with strawberry frosting and moved to them. as soon as i sat down i was attacked.

"Hello Carrie"

I lifted an eyebrow at Hanna who motioned to my clothes. I looked down at myself observing my tight white tank top and pink frilly skirt.

"he is creepy"

"i never bught his whole act, hanging around here - pretending to be concerned about the at-risk youth"

"he probably drugged you"

"he even used aria's brother"

"and feelings"

Spencer, Emily, and Aria started firing so quick I had no time to either respond or be sure who asked what

"GIRLS!"

Finally they shut up and let me speak

"first of all he really did help Mike. and two, guys i grew up with him - if he wanted to get close to me for any reason at all he wouldn't have to go through you all."

"but those photos..."

"Yes, they do sound creepy but I'm not going to pull an Alison and judge without talking to him Spencer"

I shrugged. they seemed to let it go for now and we all headed to our half day at school. It was college fair after that and we all broke away to our different activities. Hanna had to do a dress fitting for her dad's wedding taking Mona with her - much to Emily's dismay. Aria would hand around school since Ezra and his ex represented Hollis college, Emily had a spa day and Spencer would help pack Ian's stuff from the barn before Melissa came home. I decided to browse around at the colleges even though i had a pretty good idea where I'd apply. a couple hours later my hands were filled knick knacks as i spotted Jason.

"ready for that coffee now?"

"please"

was my only response and put my load in paper bags and got in Jason's car. my cell phone chirped with a new bing search from the virus in Spencer's phone.

'Nos Animadverto Totus'

"Why don't we get out of rosewood for that coffee?"

I asked him with a brilliant smile

He seemed worried but agreed. We made a quick stop at my house to grab zoe and then sped down the highways till we reached New York and then headed to Central Park

"are we far away enough now? Bella what is it?"

Jason said in an incredulous tone as we laid on the cool grass holding pies and sodas from a kiosk.

"spencer knows about N.A.T."

"what?"

"she sent me a text. She found Ian's yearbook and it said he's a member of NAT club and he had the t-shirt with the words."

I edited the stuff on how I got a text from the virus on her phone and that the text about the t-short and the year book were from Toby to Jenna.

"we're not listed in the yellow pages though"

"no we're not. But she's like a terrier, she keeps digging and digging. She did break into your shed...What pictures were those by the way?"

I asked laying back on the grass

"from the night of you initiation. what will you tell them"

"that i posed for you for some reason."

"you're a resourceful little thing aren't you?"

I straddled his waist feeling glad I had put on a skirt

"I didn't just smile my way in. I earned my N.A.T. status"