Chapter 35: The new girl

"Alison?" I choke, surprised. Sure, I saw Alison a few times before, but she'd never come straight to my doorstep and wrung the bell. I feel the other girls' eyes widen behind me as they recognize her.

Alison makes a confused look. "I'm sorry?"

We all just stare at her.

"My name's Lindsay... Lindsay D-Danielle Scott." Lindsay gives us an anxious smile. "Sorry. I stutter a little when I'm nervous."

"Hi." Emily manages.

"I just moved in across the street. It used to be my grandma's house. She never sold it, though, so it still belongs to the family." She shrugs. "You're Hanna, right?" Lindsay points at me.

My eyes widen. "Yeah. How did you-"

"Oh, please. You guys are like famous." She rolls her eyes. "I would know you anywhere. Aria, Emily, and Spencer." She points to each girl. "I'm sorry about your friend."

"Thanks." Spencer hesitantly steps forward. "It's nice to meet you."

Although she tries to seem nice, it sounds like she was asking a question to me.

"Why don't you come in?" Aria suggests, seemingly the only one who isn't completely weirded out.

"Thanks." Lindsay steps inside. "Sorry, it doesn't usually look like this." She points to her hair. "That's what happens when it gets wet."

I look around her and finally notice it raining outside.

"So where did you come from?" Emily hesitantly asks.

"Why? You want to go back with me and introduce yourself to my parents?" Lindsay smirks. She said it like she knew. Maybe she did. Emily steps back. Lindsay laughs. "I'm just kidding!" She gives Emily a strange look. "I'm from the other side of Pennsylvania."

"Are you staying... Alone?" Aria wrings her hands nervously.

Lindsay puts her pointer finger to her mouth. "Shh." She winks. The girls and I exchange nervous glances. "It's ok. My parents know. I didn't run away."

"You know, there's a party soon that someone from school is throwing." Aria breaks the awkward silence. "You should come with us."

"Sounds fun." Lindsay pops a mint into her mouth. "I'll come. There'll be drinks, right?" You could tell she was joking by the little giggle she added to the end of the sentence.

"I'm sure there will be." Spencer mutters.

"Well, I should probably get going. I'll see you guys around." Lindsay waves and walks out the door.

Ok, she's exactly like Alison.

"I still don't understand why you invited her." Spencer glares at Aria. "We don't even know her."

"I was just trying to be nice." Aria mutters.

"Did she not remind you of Alison?" I question, popping a few Skittles into my mouth.

"I just think we should give her a chance. She's new, guys. She's going to have a hard time adapting to the new environment. The least we could do is try to help her out."

"Where'd you hear that? A fifth grade science class?" Spencer snickers. Aria rolls her eyes.

"And how about how she was talking like she knew Emily was gay." I add, shivering. "Totally creepy."

"She knew about Alison." Emily points out. "Maybe there was something on the news or the Internet-wherever she found it-that said something about me liking girls."

"You, too, Em?" Spencer lets out an exasperated sigh. "You guys, there's something not right about that girl."

"Who cares? At least we could try to figure out what's up with her." Emily grips her chair hard, making the veins in her hand pop out. I wonder what could be going on in her head. She hasn't moved on since Maya. Maybe this was she was going to try.

"Well, whether you guys are with me or not, I'm taking her to Noel's party. She needs to at least meet some people before she goes to school. And I'm going to try to be friendly." Aria shakes her head, standing up to start pacing.

"I'm with you, Aria." Emily's grip softens.

"She'll totally get in the way of us finding out if Noel is ~A!" Spencer accidentally crushes a bunch of Lay's chips in her hand, then brushes the crumbs off. "How are we going to figure anything out if she's there?"

"We don't all need to keep an eye on Noel." I look at Spencer's frustrated expression, flaming eyes, and barred teeth. "Two of us could look into Noel, and the other two could help Lindsay out."

"Come on, Han. I thought you were on my side." Spencer frowns.

"I am." I give her a desperate glance. "But these two obviously aren't budging. Besides, we probably won't even have to watch her. She'll probably be trying to make other friends."

"Fine." Spencer's nostrils flare. "But don't expect me to greet her with open arms." She stomps out the front door, and I look at Aria and Emily.

"I should be going, too." Emily whispers, standing up. She picks up her purse and scurries out behind Spencer.

Once she's sure they're gone, Aria touches my arm gently. "How are you holding up?" Her tone is concerned, and her eyes look wet and sad. She is the only one that knows about my secret. The image of her catching me gagging into the toilet floods my mind again. How she knew exactly what was happening.

"Ok, I guess." I smile, knowing she won't buy it.

"I know you're not with me on the whole Lindsay thing, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to be here for you, Han. Whenever you need me, I'll be there."

"Thanks." I give Aria a short hug.

She waves as she walks out the door, and I watch her drive away to the meeting she said she had earlier.

When her car is gone, I look up.

Just in time to see a figure from what would be Lindsay's house move away from the window.

The next morning, I walk awkwardly to Lindsay's house and ring the bell. I'm still in the pajama pants and slightly tight pink tank top I'd worn to sleep last night. I hear shuffling and a faint, "Coming!" from inside the house. This is going to be so awkward.

When Lindsay opens the door, her mouth makes a surprised circle. "Oh! Hanna!" She crises. She's still in her sleepwear, too. Lindsay wears what looks like an oversized dark blue t-shirt over short white pants that are barely visible. "I would have changed if I knew you were coming by!"

I let out a half-hearted laugh. I doubt she would've changed. "It's no big deal." I reply.

"You can come in if you want." Lindsay opens the door wider so I can step inside.

"Thanks." I walk in and look around. I've never been inside this house before today. A pretty crystal chandelier hangs above our heads and the halls are perfectly polished. I wonder if Lindsay did this herself, or if it was already like this. "Nice place."

"Yeah. I'm glad I get to stay inside. It hasn't changed a bit." I wonder what the rest of the house looks like.

"So, I just came over to apologize for yesterday. That must have been pretty awkward for you."

"It's cool." Lindsay shrugs. "It's not like that hasn't happened with other people before."

"It's just... You remind us a lot of our friend... You know, Alison." I trace a circle in the tiles with the tip of my toe.

"Really?" She looks down, but she sounds genuinely surprised. "How so?"

"You look almost exactly like her. Except your hair." I look at Lindsay's hair. Even though she just go up, it's almost perfectly straight. It was still the same blackish color, though. "And you act a little like her, too."

"Hmm." Lindsay mutters. "I didn't notice. Sorry."

"It's ok, I just feel like it's déjà vu."

"I know exactly what you mean." She sighs. "I'll try my best not to scare you by acting like your dead friend."

"I mean, act how you normally would, but it's just that it's strange you're so similar."

What sounds like a bell rings from one of the rooms on the top floor.

"That's my cue." Lindsay winks. "I'll see you later, ok?" She walks me back to the door.

Before she can close it, I add, "Oh, and, Lindsay, before I go... We're going to have some fun together tomorrow at that party."

"Yeah, I guess we will." Lindsay smiles, then closes the door. I hear her clomp up the stairs and I start to walk across the street.

Once I get to my door, I turn around with the sinking feeling that someone's watching me. I look around. A curtain from Lindsay's house flutters, a cracking sound comes from behind the trees, but no one emerges.

I sigh. I'm being paranoid.

But when I turn around again, I swear I see Lindsay's blackish hair disappear around a corner.

Author's note: I totally faked you guys out... Or did I...?

Can any of you find the lies in this chapter? ;)

Also, sorry it's taking me so long to post, guys! I've been very busy lately!