Hanna's POV

When Emily returned from her dinner with Maya I could tell something was wrong. I tried asking her about it, but she just ignored me and grabbed her stuff for a shower quickly, knocking over her backpack in her hurry.

I walked across the room to collect the contents that had spilled out from Emily's backpack when I saw a note. I knew I shouldn't read it, that I should just put it back and forget I never saw it, but I couldn't help myself.

Before even opening it I had a pretty good idea who it was from, but as I read the letter from Maya I could feel my heart sinking in my chest. Maya had confessed her love, and Emily had conveniently left that part out when she told me what they talked about. Emily had said Maya wanted to be friends, but could she really even be a friend if she was still in love with Emily? Did something happen between them tonight? Is that way Emily is acting so weird?

Emily took longer than usual in the shower while my mind ran through a million scenarios. I needed to hear the truth from her before I drove myself crazy. When came back to my room after her shower, something was clearly still on her mind and I couldn't take it anymore.

"Em, what's going on? You haven't said two words since you got home and it's starting to scare me." I asked, needing to break the insufferable silence between us.

She walked over to the bed where I was lying and sat carefully at the corner, just far enough away that we weren't touching.

"I have to tell you something…and you're not going to like it…" Emily said quietly, just loud enough for me to hear.

"Did something happen with you and Maya? Please just tell me…" I pleaded with her to put me out of my misery.

"Yes, something happened…" I held my breath as she continued, "She kissed me…"

"Did you kiss her back?" I asked, still unable to breathe as my heart began beating out of my chest.

"No…maybe…I don't know…" She admitted looking down at the floor in shame.

I needed space between us, I needed to be away from her. I could feel my chest collapsing into my body as I got off the bed, grabbed my phone, and headed towards the door. I felt her reach for me as I tried to retreat, but I pulled my arm from her grasp.

"Hanna! It didn't mean anything. Please? You have to trust me. I didn't want her to kiss me and I won't let her ever do it again!" She yelled after me.

Stopping in the doorway, I turned to look at her, tears that I didn't realized had formed were streaming down my cheeks. "Did you feel something? Are you in love with her?" I cried out, questioning everything between us that I had once felt so confident in.

"I did feel something…" I began as I turned around and walked out the door, barely hearing her final words as I left. "…but it was just a reminder of old feelings. It means nothing now. I love you and only you, please trust in that!"

Emily didn't follow me out of the room, probably knowing I needed time to process. Emily's final words reminded me of Spencer's note and part of me knew not to doubt how Emily felt about me, but it still doesn't change the fact that she let Maya kiss and might have even kissed her back.

Desperately needing to talk to Spencer, I lifted my phone only to realize that I had grabbed Emily's by mistake. Knowing Spencer was a speed-dial in both of our phones, I stepped outside to call her.

"Hey Em, what's up?" Spencer said as she answered.

"It's actually Hanna…I accidently grabbed Emily's phone…" I said trying control the emotions that were pouring out of me.

"Oh…hey Hanna. What's up? Are you okay? You sound a little off…" Spencer said, noticing my cracking voice when I had responded to her.

Just as I was about to respond, Emily's phone beeped with an incoming text.

I'm sorry about the kiss. The spark between us is still there, but I know you're with Hanna and it wasn't right. I don't blame you for pulling away so quickly and running out of the car. I shouldn't have crossed that line. Please say we're still friends? – Maya

"Earth to Hanna! Are you there?!" Spencer yelled into the phone, tearing my eyes away from Maya's message.

"Umm…yeah but I gotta go. Sorry!" I responded.

As I hung up I could hear "…but you called me…" from Spencer who was clearly confused.

After ending the call with Spencer, I went back to the text, re-reading it for the tenth time before making a decision. Hitting 'Reply' I sent a message back.

We need to talk. Meet me at the boathouse in 20 minutes?

I knew Maya and Emily used to spend time at the boathouse just east of town, so I went back inside, grabbed my keys, and took off. When I got in the car, I noticed a note stuck under the left windshield wiper.

Maya has a secret that'd kill her if it got out. Just ask Noel Kahn. - A

During the drive Emily's phone rang. The caller ID said 'Hanna', meaning Emily must have realized I grabbed the wrong phone.

Rather than letting it go to voicemail, knowing I couldn't check it without her password, I answered.

"Hello?" I said a little too forcefully.

"Hanna…where did you go? I heard your mom's car start and pull away, but she's still here."

"I just have to take care of something. I'll be back in an hour or so." I said, keeping my tone short and to the point.

"Hanna…" She often said my name, but this time I could hear her heart breaking with each syllable. "I'm so sorry…."

I could hear her crying on the other end of the phone. Hearing her break down like that instantly melted away my anger. I was mad but I couldn't let her suffer.

"Em…it's okay. I mean it's not, but it be okay…we'll talk when I get home, okay?" I responded.

"Ok…I love you…" She whispered quietly between softening sobs.

"I love you too" I said, meaning each word and determined to not let anything get in the way of us.

Maya's POV

I was halfway home, internally berating myself for being so stupid and kissing Emily. Our chemistry was never able to be denied, but that didn't mean it should be acted upon.

I couldn't take it anymore and pulled out my phone to text her an apology. I wanted her in my life, even if as a friend, and I just ruined it all in one moment of weakness.

A few minutes later, I received a text back. I half expected Emily to never speak to me again, so I was surprised when she asked me to meet her at the boathouse. Both nervous and hopeful, I turned around and headed back towards Rosewood.

I arrived in about 15 minutes. I must have beaten Emily there because mine was the only car. Instead of waiting in my car, I walked around the boathouse to the spot by the lake where we used to meet.

A few minutes later I could hear a car approach on the gravel outside. When I turned, expecting to see Emily, I was both shocked, and a little scared, to see Hanna headed towards me.

"Uh…hey Hanna…" I said stammering over each word.

"We need to talk." She said curtly, staring straight into my eyes.

"Okay…so I'm guessing Emily told you about tonight…let me explain…" I began before she held up her hand, cutting me off.

"Don't bother. Here's how it's going to be. You are never going to see Emily again. If she contacts you, you are not to respond. Do you understand?" She said with a forcefulness in her voice that I had never heard before.

"I don't know if I can do that." I said, trying to sound strong and confident, but failing miserably.

"You can and you will! I swear to God if I ever see you again, I will destroy you!" She said menacingly as she walked closer to me. "True North will be a walk in the park compared to the hell I will create for you if you even so much as think about contacting Emily again. Stay away from us!"

Hanna wasn't much taller than me, but by the time she finished she seemed ten feet tall, towering over me. After staring me down for a minute, she turned to walk away, stopping only for a brief moment for one last threat.

"Oh and Maya…I know about your secret and Noel. Unless you want that information getting out, you'd better stay away…" She trailed off as she walked away, leaving me completely terrified.

How did she know?! No one else knew and it was made very clear to me that no one else can know. If Hanna knows then that means I'm already in trouble. They will come after me and they will never stop until I'm silenced for good.

Knowing I didn't have much time, I ran out of the boathouse to my car. I stopped by my house only for a few minutes to pack a few things. I left my phone, knowing that they could use it to track me down. Just before leaving, I went back to my computer and wrote one final quick email to Emily, to apologize and say goodbye.