Spencer glanced at the clock in her room. It read 6:00 am. Surprisingly, she had a full 8 hours of sleep. She hasn't been sleeping well in the past few months, but after crying her heart and eyes out with her family last night, her body surrendered from all the exhaustion. She fell asleep in her mother's arms on the couch last night, she suddenly remembered. Her dad must have carried her upstairs to her room after that.

Spencer sat up and sighed, remembering that it was the first day of school. She contemplated going to school or not.

Spencer Hastings is ditching school?

She was afraid to go to school, afraid to face her friends. For she knew that the moment she sees them, she might break down and cry.

Spencer Hastings never misses a day in school.

Spencer Hastings never breaks down.

Well, Spencer Hastings isn't perfect either. She's a freaking time bomb.

Pushing negative thoughts at the back of her mind, Spencer got up and headed to the shower to get ready for school.

Spencer stood outside, staring at the school's front doors. She thought about all the memories that she and the other girls shared in this place, both good and bad. There was an awful ache in her heart, thinking that this will be her final year in this place, with her friends. Fighting back her tears and lifting her chin up, Spencer walked up the steps and entered the door.

The brunette threaded the busy hallways towards her locker and spotted her petite friend Aria, gathering her stuff from her own locker. She hasn't seen any of the girls the whole summer break, and god knows how she missed them. Smiling mischievously, she silently approached the smaller girl from behind. Spencer sneaked her arms on the smaller girl's waist and planted a kiss on her right cheek.

"Guess who?" Spencer whispered.

"Spencer Hastings. As if." Aria replied, turning around and hugging Spencer.

"As if?" Spencer replied, her left brow rising.

"As if there's someone else who's got that sexy, husky voice of yours." Rolling her eyes and grinning at her best friend.

"You think I'm sexy?" Spencer asked, raising her brows and smiling suggestively at the smaller girl.

"Your voice, Spence. I meant your voice sounds sexy." Aria replied, to which Spencer pouted and replied "Only my voice?"

"Fine. You are sexy. You are my best friend, after all." Laughing at Spencer, she added "How've you been? I didn't hear from you all summer."

"Er. I was, uh..." Spencer started to say. "Uhm, I'll tell you about it later. Why don't you tell me about yours instead?" Spencer bit her lip, looking at Aria nervously.

"We can talk about it over coffee, later after school?" Aria suggested, wondering why her friend suddenly seemed nervous.

"Alright then." Giving her friend a weak smile, she hugged her again. "I love you."

"I love you too, Spence."

The smaller girl hugged her back. Pulling away a little, Aria stared at her friend's eyes, trying to search for reasons why Spencer is suddenly acting weird. Out of the four of them, Aria was closest to Spencer. They are more affectionate with each other and she can read her mind better than the others. This time though, it was as if there was a veil in Spencer's eyes, one that's keeping her from looking deeper.

"Hi guys!" Emily greeted, interrupting the two brunettes. She was gathering her books from her own locker when she spotted the two. She purposely walked in when she saw the girls hugging again, hoping to interrupt whatever moment they were having. She's always been jealous of Aria, for the two brunettes were always more affectionate towards each other. She knew she shouldn't feel that way; they are all best friends after all. Still, she couldn't help but feel jealous, irritated and angry whenever someone else other than her is being physically close with Spencer. Emily's been in love with Spencer since god knows when. She just couldn't admit it to her.

Spencer turned around upon hearing Emily's voice. "Emily." Spencer breathed, as if in a trance. She pulled away from Aria's grip and stared at the most beautiful girl on the planet, giving her a warm smile. If she had included the planets in the solar system during her trips with Melissa, she'd surely say that Emily is the most beautiful girl in the universe. Wait, I don't have to go planet-hopping to know that. I know that Emily's beauty is incomparable. She definitely is the most beautiful girl, person, species, whatever, in the whole universe. Spencer has been in love with her best friend for the longest time, but she's never admitted this to the tanned beauty in fear of losing their friendship. Besides, Emily has never shown any sign that she liked the brunette back.

"Hey, Spence." Emily smiled, completely forgetting that their other friend was with them. She felt as if the whole world suddenly stopped moving and that she and Spencer were the only ones standing there right at that moment. Whenever Spencer looked right into her with those beautiful eyes and gorgeous smile, Emily becomes oblivious to everything else around her. Go on, give her a hug. She's your best friend. It's okay.

Emily took a step forward to give Spencer a hug when Hanna suddenly came running towards them and engulfed the three of them in one big hug.

"Oh my god! I missed you guys! Where were you all summer, Spence? I want to hear all the details!" the pretty blonde exclaimed.

"Spencer and I are having coffee at The Brew after school. We should all go. Catch up." Aria implied.

Spencer looked at Aria with surprise written all over her face.

"What?" Aria raised her eyebrows at Spencer.

"I wanted to talk to you alone." Spencer shot back at Aria with her eyes.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know." Aria replied, giving Spencer an apologetic smile.

"It's fine." Spencer replied with a shrug.

The two were having a silent conversation with their eyes.

"Would you guys please stop doing that mental therapy thing? It's creeping me out." Hanna replied, looking at Spencer and Aria.

"It's mental telepathy, Han." Emily interjected. "What were you guys conversing in your heads about anyways? Hannah and I are right here, you know. Rude." She added, looking at the two brunettes.

Just then the bell rang. Saved by the bell. Spencer thought.

"Sorry, I need to get to class. See you later guys." Spencer stated, briefly hugging Aria and waving at Hannah.

The two shorter girls walked off together to their first period class.

"It's nice to see you, Em. We'll talk later." Spencer suddenly leaned in and hugged her tanned friend.

"I love you." Spencer whispered to Emily's right ear, causing the swimmer to freeze a bit, her eyes almost bulging out of their sockets. Smiling at Emily, Spencer walked off and headed to class, leaving the swimmer frozen to her spot, her mouth hanging open.


Hanna was sitting at their usual table in the cafeteria, texting her boyfriend Caleb. Spotting her best friend, Spencer walked over and placed her tray on the table and sat beside the blonde.

"Hey Hanna," Spencer stated, giving her friend a hug and kissing her temple. "I love you."

Hanna looked at Spencer with narrowed eyes. "I love you too, Spence. What's going on?"

"What do you mean?" Spencer replied, casually taking a bite from her sandwich.

"What's with the PDA? You only do that with your little wife." Hannah asked the brunette, eyes still focused on her.

"I just missed you, that's all. Can't I be affectionate with you? And please stop calling Aria my little wife. It's disconcerting." Spencer retorted, rolling her eyes at Hanna.

"Fine. I'm just not used to this side of the impassive Spencer Hastings."

"Well, you better get used to it."

"Hey guys!" Aria said as she approached their table. The petite brunette then put her tray on the table and took the seat across Spencer.

"Hey, Spencer's little wife." Hanna replied cheerfully at Aria.

"Stop calling me that. It's disconcerting." Aria glared at Hannah, shaking her head.

"Ugh. Could you not talk alike? It's like you're from the same species or something." Hannah groaned.

"We are of the same species, Han. That includes you." Aria replied, rolling her eyes at Hannah.

Spencer smiled as she watched her two best friends, both happiness and sadness enveloping her heart. If I only have more time with you guys.