Thursday
"It's been days! Why aren't they releasing mom yet?" Asked Ali to Jason.
Her brother stopped washing his car. He looked at Ali's face, it was full of worried and tired eyes. He then sighed as if to indicate how exhausting Ali's been lately. "I'll visit detective Wilden after I wash my car. Do you wanna come?"
"Yes please," said Ali quickly.
"Then get ready."
Ali went upstairs to wear a more appropriate clothing deemed by society's standard. After a while, Ali came down, wearing a gorgeous sky- blue mini dress with a cream wedges complementing her outfit and an evening purse to perfect the style. "Ready?"
"Ali, we're going to the police station. Not the runway."
"Said the guy wearing a velvet blazer!" Joked Ali.
"I'm visiting the office after this, smartass!"
The girls were sitting under their once favorite tree in the playground. Alison's the one who brought them there first. She said it's the only place where she can think. Hanna sighed loudly just to break the building tension.
"Ok, what the hell? Spencer and me invite you guys here to find out who's been stalking us! Not mopin' around in silence!" Said Hanna loudly again.
"Shhhh, Hann! What if someone hear you?"
"Chill out Spence. I'm not that loud! By the way, let's talk about...you know who. Who do you think they is?"
Spencer groaned tirelessly, massaged her temple with her left hand, and said, "Do you guys want to play detective?"
"Speaking of detective, the guy's in charge of the gazebo murder looked kinda suspicious..."
"Suspicious? What do you mean, Em?" Asked Spencer clearly intrigued.
"Well, uhmmmmm... I don't know how to explain it! He just look... weird."
"What murder? What are you guys talking about?" Asked Aria in confusion.
"Didn't you heard?" Hanna moved closer to Aria and then she whispered, "Someone was found buried under the DiLaurentises gazebo two days ago. I even saw the cops bringin' in Mrs. D for their investigation. She look pale. I kinda feel bad for her though."
"What were you doing at the police station anyway?" Asked Spencer queerly. She's trying to ignore the countless grammar mistake made by Hanna.
Hanna cleared her throat, "It's none of your business."
"Whatever," Spencer rolled her eyes. "It's not like I care. By the way, enough chit-chat. Let's talk about the real reason we're here."
"True. But... isn't it best if Ali's here as well? I mean... she's also involved as much as us right now."
"Em's right. Hanna and I will talk to her about this. Urmm, actually..." Spencer let out a huge sigh.
"What's wrong, Spence?"
Spencer ignored Aria's question. Instead, she looked straight towards the kids who were playing tag. One of the kids fall down as he was chasing his friends. 'Ahh, memory. I hate memory!' thought Spencer. "Do you guys remember the message Ali got from...you know who?"
"Not really but it said something about secrets, right?" Answered Emily with uncertainty.
"Even though you don't remember anything but I know everything. Your pandora's with me. -A."
"Wow! You remember that?"
A small smile formed in the corner of Spencer's little mouth. "It's not that long of a sentences. So..."
"Wait. Why does it says, even though you don't remember anything?" Asked Emily. "You in this context is Ali. Why don't Ali remember anything?"
"Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you guys. Ali have amnesia. I don't know if it's long-term or short-term though."
"Amnesia?" Hanna's eyes enlarged as her smile widen. 'Of course. Amnesia. She have amnesia! Thank god. I thought she hates me or something. I should probably visit her after this. Amnesia. Meaning, she forgot everything. This is it, my clean slate! I'll introduce myself properly to her this time, and then we'll become bff. And then we'll rule the school together. Side by side. Oh yeah, should I invite her to Noel Kahn's party? By the way, I wonder...if she remember Noel. Hmm, probably no. I mean, she didn't even remember me, why would she remember Noel? It's ridiculous.'
Emily on the other hand looked confused. Almost as if someone was telling her that horoscope reading and luck doesn't exist. 'Ali have amnesia? That's impossible! I saw her the other day and she looked fine. But Spencer said...Arghhh! It's not important what Spencer said as long as you know the truth.'
"Are you sure? Maybe she's faking them."
The three girls looked at Aria in surprise. Eyebrows arched, hand on her chin, Spencer continued, "No. I don't think so. Mrs. D told me that herself. Aaaand, a few other stuff."
"What?"
Spencer looked away from Aria, "Two days ago...Mrs. D said something to me. Well, more like, she warned me...to stay away from Alison. She said that she knows everything I did and that's the reason she didn't allow Ali to contact us at all. Doesn't it sound familiar?"
"With the message Ali got?"
"Yes."
"What are you guys saying?"
"It's just my theory but I think, you know who...is Mrs. D."
"What? You can't just frame someone like that Spence! Plus why would Mrs. D threaten her own daughter?"
"Maybe both of them are in on it."
"What? No no I don't think so."
"Guys!"
The trio looked at Emily simultaneously. "What?" Said Hanna.
Emily took a deep breath before continuing, "ImetAli3daysagoandshedidn'tseemtoforgetme!" in one breath.
Spencer's eyes squinted at the revelation. 'Hmmmm, Ali didn't? What does that mean? She forgot ME but she remember EM? That doesn't make any sense! No no no.' Spencer let out a huge sigh. She then wrapped her fingers around the back of her neck as she said, "By the way, what message did you guys get?"
The rest of the girls fidgeted with Spencer's unexpected question. "Err, I can't tell you that! It's a secret!"
"Calm down Hanna. I just want to find some common ground. Is it something ambiguous or things that applies to everyone like 'I know you have sex in the toilet' kinda thing or something more specific. You don't have to tell me the details."
"Okay!" Said Hanna after rolling her eyes for the millionth times that week and it's only Wednesday. "I think you know who has been stalking me for a while now. Because... he wouldn't know about THIS if he didn't stalk me everywhere I go."
"So it's recent thing," concluded Aria.
"Wait. I think we've been doing this wrong."
"Me too," supported Emily. "I think, instead of framing and asking irrelevant questions to each other, we should probably present our theories and what we know one at a time. So that we won't be that confused cause I am confuse right now," Emily added.
"True. Who wants to go first?" Asked Spencer.
When she saw everyone keeping their mouths shut, she gave out a quiet cough. Maybe to sponge out the awkwardness.
"Soooo, 3 days ago I was going to the store because my annoying sister, Melissa kept on badgering me when I'm in my room- studying. Being the bitch she is-"
"Uhmm, sorry Spencer but can you get to the point? Just leave the anecdotes out," said Aria after moments of silence.
"Fine. Long story short, I met Ali. She looked...different."
"In what way?"
"Her behavior, I guess? It's like...she didn't even know who I am. That's why I really think she have amnesia. On top of that, we've never really know what happened 2 years ago," Spencer's eyes enlarged as she realize something. "Wait a minute. What if Ali's mom wanted to get revenge on us for causing Ali to lose her memory?"
"In what universe is that OUR fault? She's the one who wanted to have the last sleepover," Aria used her mocking tone at the words, 'last sleepover'.
Spencer let out a big sigh again, rubbed the bridge of her nose whilst saying, "Look, that's all I have on Mrs. D. Instinct and I saw something suspicious before she went to the precinct."
"Suspicious? Like shady suspicious or...?" asked Hanna.
"Well, a few days ago, I saw Mrs. D..."
"SPENCER HASTINGS!!!!"
Spencer groaned and slowly, she got up from her seat to cater to her 'precious' sister's needs. "What?" she asked lazily.
"Did you dented my car?"
"What? No!" denied Spencer. It's true, she didn't dent Melissa's car because her car did it itself. 'Accidently' of course but she'll never tell that to Melissa. Not in a million years. Serves her right for trying to use Spencer Hastings's beautiful orange Chevrolet hatchback. "You must've dented them when you're getting out of the parking lot or whatever. I mean, you barely passed the driving test."
Melissa huffed loudly at Spencer's snarky but true remark. "Whatever," mumbled Melissa as she rubbed the dented part of her car . "Hey!"
"What?!!"
"Remember. Dinner."
Spencer rolled her eyes exasperatedly to show her annoyance. She then went outside to take some fresh air. The cool breeze made its way to Spencer's spine making her shivered. However, something caught her eyes. There, with her back facing Spencer, stood Mrs. D. She was talking to someone. Discretely, Spencer walked towards her new neighbour whilst fighting the urge to peep.
"What do you mean missing? She can't be far. I want you to find her at all cost. That's why I'm paying you. Keep that in mind."
After moments of silence, Mrs. D spoke again, "What doctor? Oh. Then make sure you find him. And stop calling me if you haven't found her! Oh my god! You'll get the money, when you finish the job," she hung up.
Then, Mrs. D continued to water her plants.
"You really think an orange hatchback is beautiful? Wow!" said Hanna sarcastically
Spencer gritted her teeth, trying to stop herself from returning the favour to Hanna. "Anyway, I think Mrs. D is paying someone to find a girl. But thepeople she's paying can only find out something about a male doctor which I think have a really good relation with the girl she's looking for."
"What does that have to do with everything?" Asked Hanna.
"Well, for starters, Mrs. D was wearing heels when I overheard her talking."
"Snooping," corrected Emily.
"No, stalking."
"What? Oh my god, I wasn't snooping and I'm certainly wasn't stalking! Now can you just listen to me?" Pleaded Spencer to both Aria and Emily.
"OK, go on."
"Thank you, Hann. So, she was wearing heels when I...ugh, fine! Stalk, snoop whatever! Now, who in their right mind wore heels when they're gardening? Right?"
"Just that? You accused Ali's mom because she wore heels when watering plants. That's ridiculous Spence. What if she went outside to take the call and then when she found out that her plants are dying, she immediately watered them? You know how Mrs. D is. She's a perfectionist!" Emily backed Mrs. D up.
"Well, since she's a perfectionist, she should know that it's useless to water plant in the afternoon because the water's going to evaporate anyway!"
"Why are you so obsessed with making Mrs. D the suspect?" Asked Hanna. No one know this but she actually said that because she doesn't want to hear Spencer talking about science even just for another second.
Spencer took a huge breath and slowly, she released a puff of air through her delicate mouth. "Look guys, I'm only presenting my theory. If you have someone in mind, go ahead. No one's stopping you," said Spencer with a wee of regret for volunteering first.
"Okay, I'll go. So, uhmmm...I don't have anyone particular in mind right now but I just wanna address something," Emily stopped momentarily to gather her thoughts on what to say next. "Like I said earlier, the detective in charge of the gazebo murder...he looked...kinda suspicious. Don't you guys think so?"
"Gee, I don't know Em. I've never even met the guy," replied Spencer.
"His name's Wilden. Oh and, he also looked kinda familiar. I feel like I've met him somewhere."
'Darren Wilden,' thought Hanna to herself. 'Who would've thought the man that used to walk around your house in towel is now a detective? I certainly didn't! That's why I have to agree with Em on this one. He look pretty shady. Plus, it is kinda sorta impossible for him to get a promotion that young. I mean, he's not even that good in his job. Maybe someone's pulling the string? What the hell am I doing? We're suppose to find out who A is. Not this.'
"By the way, Aria, how come you don't know anything about the gazebo murder?" asked Spencer.
"I was...out of town. And then, I...stayed in my room. All day," Aria said. A faint blush appeared on her cheeks as she remember what happened last Monday.
"So...what now?"
"I'm sorry. I thought I can handle this, I thought I'm mature enough but I can't. I don't want to disappoint my parents. My dad will lose his mind."
"I care about you so much. I'm gonna be honest with you cause at first, I am scared that everyone will find out but just like what you said...we can do this together. So please rethink your decision."
"I...I don't think I can. Someone texted me during class. They said...they know about us! If they tell, then you'll go to jail. I don't want that to happen-"
"Aria. Aria stop," Ezra cupped her cheeks with both of his hands. His thumb brushed over Aria's jaw as he said, "I love you," softly.
"So don't worry," he said with confident.
Monday
"Ali!" Screamed Spencer, at the top of her lungs.
"Uh, hey? Spence?"
Spencer exchanged looks with Hanna. "We heard about your mother. We just want to...warn you about her."
"What do you mean?" Asked Ali carefully.
Spencer looked at Hanna. Waiting for the other girl to talk.
"Tell me the truth Spencer," her cerulean blue eyes stared madly into the two girls' eyes. No longer able to keep her cool thus making both of them feeling uncomfortable under the intense gaze.
"We can't tell you...but-"
"If you can't tell me, then stop talking crap about my mother!" Spat Ali. She then turned her heels to the other side of the corridor.
"Great. Now Ali hate me. Again!" said Spencer while clapping her hands with a faked glee.
"We can't blame her. Everyone have been gossiping about her ever since the party. Ugh, why do you have to mess everything up Spence?"
"What?!!"
"I've told you not to say anything. And what did you do? You opened that little hole of yours and look what happened! She hates you now."
"I gave you a chance to talk to her. You're the one who kept quiet and making things awkward and now-"
"Blablabla. Stop making excuses Spence and just admit your mistake. Go and apologize to her and while you're at it, apologize for the things you did at the party as well."