"Em!" A voice whispered loudly from across the class. I turned to the right, noticing Paige waving me over two tables away.
"Hey," I smiled, glad to see a friendly face. I picked up my backpack and quickly switched to the seat next to her as the rest of the students casually walked in and found their spots.
"I guess we have Science together this year," she beamed excitedly.
"I guess so," I grinned. She had grown her hair out over the summer, it was long and wavy in contrast to the short bob she bore last year. Her brown eyes were bright and cheerful, a joyful glimmer reflected off of them. "I like your hair," I said blatantly.
"Thanks. I grew it out over the summer," she replied looking down at her tresses. I hadn't really spoken to her much after the kiss. I knew that it was hard for her, just as it was for me. The only person she had to talk to was me, and I felt bad for not speaking about it with her.
"Hey, um," I mumbled quietly, trying to find the right words. "How's it going with you know, what happened at the swim practice." Her expression darkened slightly as she clenched her jaw.
"I um, I haven't told my parents yet." She frowned after a while. "Actually, you're the only one who knows." I opened my mouth to reply when we were interrupted by a third party.
"Knows what?" An eerily familiar husky voice sounded from above. I turned around and looked up to see Alison standing behind us, her head cocked ever so innocently as if she hadn't a clue as to what we were talking about. But behind her icy blue orbs, you could tell by the mischievous twinkle that danced around that she knew so much more.
The blonde held her 1 inch binders in her arms, a silver ring wrapped around her middle finger. I saw her a couple times over the summer, and we hung out- but we just weren't as friendly as we used to be after the incident in Paris. Ali's heart shaped face was slightly thinner, allowing her cheekbones to be more defined. Her flawless skin slightly tanner, and her long, golden beachy waves a tint lighter.
"Nothing." Paige growled, quickly turning away not wanting to see her foe for any longer. I nodded in agreement to Paige and turned back to face the front of the classroom. The feeling of Alison's hand gently placed on my shoulder ignited feelings that I tried hard to bury, resurfaced within an instance.
"Em, you're not going to sit with me?" She murmured in a mocking tone, her dark blue eyes taunting me, knowing exactly how she was making me feel. The corners of her lips slightly shook as she suppressed her laughter. My stomach did a flip as I hastily shrugged her hand off my shoulder, and looked over at Paige desperately asking for help. Paige, who was unaware of the backstory between us glanced back at me helplessly, not know how to come to my aid.
"Maybe next time," I replied, trying not to seem unnerved.
Alison raised her chin and narrowed her eyes slightly, examining my stone cold expression, but said nothing more as she walked away to choose any other spot she wanted from the people that adored her.
"Soooo? How was your summer?" Hanna asked excitedly, opening her carton of orange juice and plopping in the straw. "Let me tell you, my summer was A-Mazing." Hanna continued not letting us answer, grinning happily. "Sean's totally in love with Hanna 2.0." Over the summer Hanna had managed to lose all her baby fat with Ali's help. Her hair was volume-ized and sleek. Her blue eyes popped with her mascara and she looked absolutely gorgeous. She had also officially started dating Sean.
"I love both Hanna 1.0 AND 2.0," Aria exclaimed, wrapping her arm around Hanna. Ezra transferred schools to teach at, but was still seeing the petite brunette privately.
"Aria has a point. If Sean really is worth all this hype then he should have liked you, before you became barbie's twin," Spencer grumbled teasingly.
"Speaking of barbie, where's Ali?" Hanna asked, her gaze immediately shifting towards me.
"How am I supposed to know?" I grumbled in a somewhat frustrated tone. Hanna gave me a knowing expression, but Aria and Spencer just gazed at me blankly. I still hadn't told them- I just didn't find the right moment.
As if on cue, Alison came strolling across the cafeteria, her white pumps clacking against the tiled floor. Heads turned, as other students put down their lunches and just stared at her in awe, examining her every move.
"Hey bitches," she announced, scooting herself in between Hanna and Aria.
"Hey bitch," everyone else replied in unison as if it was rehearsed a million times.
"It's so sad that Cece graduated," she said, her facial expression not matching her words. "At least I can sit with you guys now," she chirped cheerfully.
"You're in a good mood," Spencer pointed out, cocking an eyebrow.
"There's this super cute new transfer," Ali explained giddily. My stomach turned uneasily, feeling a slight twinge of jealousy. Hanna's eyes met mine, the corners of hers drooping faintly downwards signaling that she understood my pain.
"Really! Who?" Aria asked enthusiastically, oblivious about everything going on behind the scenes.
"His name is Justin. He's in my history class," Ali continued, her blue eyes twinkling with thrill. I swallowed hard, already developing hate for a guy I didn't even know.
"Justin is totally a hot guy name. What does he look like?" Spencer inquired, sharing the blonde's excitement. More like a douche bag name.
I stared hard at the tiny writing printed on the side of my juice carton. Rich in Vitamin C. Not from concentrate. I read in my head, trying to distract myself from everything that was happening.
"He has really nice green eyes, and soft brown hair," Ali exclaimed dreamily, as she unconsciously twisted her silver ring around her thin finger. "If Zac Efron and Dylan O'Brien had a baby... it would be him."
"Oh my god. He sounds too good to be true. You better show us," Aria smiled. Hanna knit her eyebrows together, staying silent. I wanted to say something, anything. I didn't want Alison to know how much her words hurt me.
"Is he here in the caf?" I asked, forcing the words out, trying hard to seem unfazed by it all. Alison's eyes twitched slightly as her sapphire orbs turned to mine.
"No." She answered gingerly, investigating my expression. It was obvious she was surprised by my statement. "He goes home for lunch," she finished steadily, pausing slightly in between each word.
I walked to class, holding my books tight in my arms. Turning down the long hallway quickly, weaving through other students as I searched for my new classroom according to the number on my schedule.
"Hey Em," Hanna called out to me, giving me a quick wave as she stood in line waiting to go inside her Math class.
"Hey," I replied forcing out a smile after the depressing lunch I had earlier. Suddenly, I got hit by a blunt force, a vibration crawling through my body, causing my books to fly out of my arms.
"I'm so sorry," the other person and I said simultaneously. An awkward laugh crawled out of my mouth as we both kneeled down to pick up my things. When I looked up, a pair of brightly lit emerald green eyes stared back. My heart stopped for a quick second as I realized the Zac Efron and Dylan O'Brien love child that Alison had described earlier was staring right back at me in human form. For some strange reason I felt that I had seen him before. But where?
I understood why Ali liked him. I analyzed his perfectly sculpted face, and sharp chin. His chocolate colored hair was thick and silky just like Ali had explained. I clenched my jaw tightly, wanting to feel hatred for him- Instead I felt nothing.
He smiled charmingly, revealing perfectly straight white teeth. "I guess neither of us were watching where we were going," he chuckled, his voice deep.
"I guess not," I said quietly, not knowing how to feel. Justin handed me my Literature textbook, the muscles in his biceps strong and defined. "Thanks," I grumbled, quickly taking the book from him.
"No problem," he replied confidently, unaware of how pissed off I seemed. "I'm Justin," he grinned, flicking his hair to the left like Justin Bieber used to do.
"I know," I said flatly, wanting to leave. Justin frowned a bit as I realized what I just said. "Oh! Um, it's just, my friend likes you, and she mentioned you today," I stammered accidentally. Shoot. Will Ali get mad at me for saying that?
"Who?" He asked casually, as if he was used to girls liking him.
"Uh. Actually I don't think I was supposed to tell you that last part," I declared, laughing slightly at my stupidity. The bell rang, signaling the beginning of class. "Better go," I announced, walking quickly towards my English class.
"I didn't catch your name," he exclaimed.
"Emily!" I called without turning back. I entered the new classroom hastily, sitting down next to Mona Vanderwaal. "Hey," I said casually, trying to be friendly as I slipped my backpack off my shoulders and placed my books onto my desk.
"Do you like him?" Mona replied bluntly.
"Huh?" I asked, puzzled.
"Justin. I saw you talking to him in the hall," she replied nonchalantly.
"Oh." I stated. "I have a boyfriend," I replied after a while, remembering Ben. Mona nodded her head slowly as if she didn't believe me. I stared at her as she turned to face the front. Okay then... I reached into my backpack which was hung on my chair, pulling out my pencil case. When I turned back, Mona was leaning towards me, inches away.
"I know you like Alison DiLaurentis," she said very quietly so that nobody else could hear. Her words made my blood run cold and I stopped moving. My body froze as I tried to say something, but words couldn't come out.
"I-I don't," I stammered denying her statement aimlessly. Mona lowered her eyes, looking straight into mine. Her brown eyes were unwelcoming and dark.
"I see the way you look at her." She said, a twinge of sadness in her tone. I said nothing as I stared back nervously. "I won't tell anyone. Your secret's safe with me."
With that, she turned to face the blackboard as if nothing had happened.
She knows.