My Name is Joseph Carter and I used to be friends with Alison DiLaurentis. Yes; I am talking about Alison DiLaurentis, the now dead charming, beautiful, and yet sadistic Queen Bee of Rosewood High School. Quite frankly, however, that was not my experience with her. Actually, I should start with how I knew her to begin with. Her father; Kenneth DiLaurentis and my Dad were College Buddies at Penn State. Her Dad studied Business. My Dad studied Mechanical Engineering. After college of course, both took separate paths, with my Dad taking a job with a major defense contractor so me, my two sisters, and my Mom often traveled the world in support of my Dad's work. However; my Dad and Kenneth always kept in touch with each other; and the families would always meet up once every summer at the DiLaurentis summer home; on the shores of Lake Erie. Now quite frankly; I did not like Mrs. DiLaurentis over the years that I knew her; she always seemed… odd to me. My mom could never make conversation with the Ice Queen as my family called her. Jason DiLaurentis, the older brother Was okay to be honest. He and I never hit it off. Alison however was another story. Even at a young age, I knew that Alison was special. She was so sassy even at her age; and was willing to play pranks on my two sisters; which I joined in. We made friendship bracelets. We even gossiped about things. As time went on, I even got to learn about her life in Rosewood; how she had a glamorous life as the Queen Bee of Rosewood High; how she had these 4 friends that she would boss around. I never knew their names. That being said, Alison always seemed more comfortable with my family than hers. Kenneth, although he was nice to me, never had the " fatherly " feel and of course her mother needs no further explanation. Alison on the other hand, became basically the third daughter of my family. My two sisters, despite the constant pranking, enjoyed Alison's presence and my Mom often provided warm maternal support.
In 2009, while my Dad was stationed in Paris, France for a collaboration project with a French company. Kenneth suddenly called. Shockingly he told my parents that Allison suddenly disappeared I was there when Kenneth called; and I broke down into tears. My first and only best friend was gone; and at this rate, probably forever. Being a traveling family doesn't get you many solid friends and Alison was the only solid friend I knew. Quite frankly, perhaps I did love her. Although I never had the chance to tell.
A year later; my Dad made a stunning announcement; that shocked me. We were going to move back to the States; and settle permanently in Rosewood. Rosewood ? I was surprised. The Home of Alison. I was probably excited to finally settle somewhere; but Rosewood out of all places ? I was scared at the same time. But I kept my spirits up and realized, Hey at least I get to make actual friends in a normal high school right ? At least; that's how I thought Rosewood High would be.
And so here I am. September 1, 2010, my first day of school at Rosewood High School.
