Hi guys, I know I said this chapter would be done in 2 parts, but in the end, it will be 3 parts ^_ ^ . Too much to put in this EPIC chapter. Just one more part to go, I promise. I will try to update the 3rd part soon, thank you for liking this story and the patience you've shown over the years. It means a lot. Good reading…
CH 99 - Epic Part II
*** Betty's narrative (voice-over) ***
Let me tell you something about my mother, Alison. She's the kind of woman who pampers you, singing you a lullaby. She's the kind of woman who stands up for you when you need it the most and she's the kind of woman who doesn't hesitate to call you on your bullshit because when it comes to the people she loves, she doesn't mess around…
"Elizabeth DiLaurentis-Fields…"
When Alison uses her entire name, it's never a good sign.
"What did I do now?"
Alison closes her book so hard that Betty jumps back with the noise of it. The teen has just arrived home after school and she's already in problems? A tiny smirk spreads over the face of the blonde mother. It's good to be feared.
"You've been avoiding me, Betty…"
"What?! Nooo…"
"Really? Then why do you've that same guilty look on your face as you did when you were 8 years old and I caught you, burying the remains of a flower vase uncle Jason gave me…"
"I did not break it on purpose…"
"I know, but you, trying to hide things from me, it's not good either…"
"I'm not hiding things…"
"Do not lie. I'm a much better liar than you, so just drop it, okay? What is going on? Why are you bullying Taylor Vanderwaal?"
Betty looks at her mother with shock and confusion in her eyes. How does Alison always know everything that happens in her life? It's a question the teen makes in her mind every time that Alison appears to be one step ahead of her. Call it mother intict, parental skills, whatever it's, Alison cannot shake it off. The feeling that she could have done more, that she should do more, but to be honest, she has no clue what she should do more when her child doesn't talk to her at all. Do all the parents feel the same? Alison wonders. Anyway…
"Talk to me, Betty. I thought we promised to be honest with each other. Why are you a bully!"
"I'm not a bully!"
Alison crosses her arms and raises an eyebrow and she doesn't need to say a word. Betty is pretty sure what she's trying to say with that posture. Betty puffs her cheeks. She really believes she's making justice and not random bullying. But, how can she explain that to her mother? She's pretty sure that whatever gets out of her mouth, it will make her look bad in front of the eyes of the head of the family.
It's true that they promised to be more open between the two of them from the camping family trip they did a few weeks ago. They don't bring up the subjects discussed that night when Alison shared things of the past never spoken before but, that kind of confidence created a special bond between them. A bond Alison hopes will be enough to put a stop to all this drama before it's too late.
"Causing this kind of damage makes you a target, Betty"
"She started it…"
"Elizabeth!"
Alison takes deep breaths. Losing her temper right now, it's going to help no one. She's not a big fan of the past, but during moments like now, she must bring it back so the new generation doesn't commit the same mistakes. Hopefully, her experience with -A and AD might give some perspective to the young teen who's following her footsteps without even knowing it.
"When I was your age. I used to be a bully. I made people's lives miserable just because I wanted to. I remember feeling untouchable. I never cared about the consequences of my actions till it was too late to do something about it. Do not commit the same mistake"
"I'm nothing like you!"
"Then prove it! Because the way you're acting is all me in the 90s!"
Betty rolls her eyes, looking annoyed to be compared with the unforgettable Queen Bee of Rosewood. There's no soul in this town who doesn't know who Alison is and how much she looks and acts like Alison when she was younger. Betty doesn't like the comparison, she doesn't see the parallel even if Alison and lots of people say otherwise.
"You should care about the consequences of your actions. Did you learn nothing about what I told you about my past? Do you want to be buried alive like me? Do you want to live in fear from the monsters you create? Do you want to be responsible for someone's death?!"
"Of course, not!"
"Then stop being a bully! At least think about how your actions are going to affect the people that love you. Do you have any idea on what position you are putting your mother with this?!"
"I… I didn't…"
"Of course you don't! Damn it, Betty! She's your mother, the one who lets you get away with everything but she's also the Principal of the school! She could lose her job if you keep pushing your luck!"
The teen looks upset about the idea of putting Emily's job at risk. She adores her brunette mother who spoils her like a princess. She wants to torture Taylor for the pain she caused to Veronica but, she doesn't want to cause collateral damage, especially towards Emily. God knows she doesn't deserve it. She's too good for this world. And probably the only reason why no one else other than Alison dares to call Betty out on her bullshit. The killer keeps being loyal to the QB, even when she shouldn't. And, deep down Betty knows she's the one at fault here, but she's too big-headed to admit it.
"Elizabeth, from now on. You'll bully no one! Especially Taylor! There's something troubling with that girl. You need to stay away from here, okay?!"
"I'm not afraid of her!"
"ELIZABETH!"
"You don't need to raise your voice, mother! I thought you were cooler than that!"
"I'm not cool, Elizabeth! I'm your mother. I'm not supposed to be cool, I'm supposed to get real old-fashioned when I see you commit the same mistakes I did!"
"I'm making no mistake! Okay! I'm just making justice for what Taylor did to Veronica!"
Alison sighs deeply. Really, this girl will be the death of her. Anyway, the blonde mother takes her time to control her temper. She has no idea how to reach her child with words when the teen refuses to listen and pay attention to the warnings. But, now that Alison knows the reasons behind Betty's actions, maybe there's a way to make Betty understand this is not the way to make things right.
"Sometimes it's hard to see the difference between what is good and bad when you pretend to protect someone you love"
"I… I don't love, V… we're just friends"
Alison chuckles when she sees the transformation of her daughter into a shy girl who refuses to acknowledge her crush on her best friend. She will not push her kid to get out the closet but she makes sure to make her understand there's no need to hide because chasing one thing for so long and being afraid to find out who you're after it, it's scary but she doesn't need to do it alone. She has a supportive family and of course, the unruly teen doesn't take it well and bursts out in anger as she yells…
"You don't know me! You think you do, but you don't!"
"I know you, Betty! From the moment you were born to this day, I know you better than myself. I know how you hide your feelings the same way I did in high school. I know how terrified you're about coming out because I was you! I was there, so I know how scary you can feel about admitting who you really are and who you really like!"
Betty gulps hard and stays in silence as her mother continues her lecture.
"You don't want to admit your feelings now, fine! Do it in your time but, do not use that as an excuse to be a spoiled brat! Karma's a bitch and you've no idea how heavy is to carry regrets as long as you live"
Still to this day, Alison feels so much weight over her shoulders. The remorse, the guilt she carries with her, it's not something she wants for Betty at all. Why is it so hard for this girl to understand that?! Alison has no idea and maybe that's why she dares to put into words her feelings.
"My mother was this cold, stiff closed door that even if you could go through it, you'd get a room full of spines behind it. She wasn't my real mother, but, it's the one who raised me and let me become this awful version of me that till this day, it still haunts me"
Alison deeply sighs, from time to time, when she looks at her in the mirror, she can see that version of herself, fighting to get out. The Queen Bee who has done more damage than good. It's something she has struggled to leave behind, but it has been really hard. On the hard way, she had to figure out that she could do better, she was better. It wasn't a change done overnight, it was a series of small and big moments that built in each other like steps up to the top of a mountain. She's trying to spare Betty from that hard path. She wants to spare Betty from all the sorrow and struggle suffered. She just hasn't figured how.
"A life free of pain, trouble and remorse is the one thing I wish for you. Why can't you see that? Why can't you see I'm trying to help you!"
Alison says with a wrenching voice. It was quite the shock to see her this vulnerable. In front of everyone, especially the kids, Alison always seems to have it all together. Betty and her siblings see Alison like this impenetrable woman who fears nothing! Nothing makes her tremble with fear and yet, right now, Alison is far from being unbreakable. She's afraid, she's in tears as she cannot hide the despair reflected in her beautiful blue eyes, It makes Betty's chest ache.
"When the doctor announced we were having twin girls, Emily was thrilled and I was panicking. I was… I'm so… afraid" (deep sighs) "If I had a daughter would I be like my mother? Would I be worse? I promised myself I would do it in a different way so you'll never be like me. I wanted to be the mother who'd have her arms wide open, just waiting for you to fall in, if you need it. And, somehow, we never got there, did we?"
Betty gulps hard, she sees real pain in Alison's eyes like she has never seen it before. She feels guilty for it and tries to say something comforting, but Alison stops her because…
"It's not your job to make me feel better, Betty. It's my job to keep standing there for you even when I don't like the way you're acting"
"Mom…"
Alison cups Betty's cheeks with her two hands, looks her in the eyes and says…
"Betty. You're afraid to admit you're wrong. You're afraid to admit someone makes you feel vulnerable and different. I get it. It's not easy. But, using that fear to torture others, it's not how you'll be happy. And, you deserve to be happy. Regardless of the mistakes you make. Regardless of what others might say about you. You deserve to be happy and, I hope sooner than later you realize that fear and hate is not the path to happiness"
Betty looks down, she doesn't dare to look her mother in the eyes.
"I see now I cannot spare you from pain. I cannot force you to do something your heart is not it. I need to let you make your own mistakes. It's hard because I don't want you to know pain exists, but it's part of life so… please just… be careful. What you bring to this world is what you get in return. And God knows you don't deserve hate"
"And, what if I do? What if I deserve hate? I mean, I'm not a saint. You've said yourself…"
"Oh Betty… you're so much like me, you know? I was also a complete mess for a long time. Waiting to become this better version of me so I could deserve real love. But, you shouldn't think like that. Your life is not on hold till you figure out everything. You're in constant change, you're growing and you'll make mistakes and there's nothing wrong with that. It's never too late to stop harming others. I'm the living proof of that"
Betty shows a tiny smile, if Alison was able to get her happy ending after everything she did. She can do the same right? She doesn't know the unique challenges life will throw in her way. All she needs to know is…
"No matter what, I'll always be the mother with her arms wide open, waiting for you to maybe someday fall inside if you need it. And, if you do, I love and if you don't, I love you too"
Again, Betty says nothing, but she doesn't need to say a word as the way she dashes forwards to hug her mother says more than a thousand words. She loves her mother too, even if she doesn't say it very often. And, talking about love, in the library of the school, another love story is on the rise.
"I'm impressed. I'm an expert in hide and seek and I really had a hard time to find you, Robin"
The green eyes of Robin sparkle when Alice DiLaurentis appears in front of her. The last couple of days, she has been avoiding people and yet, she's happy that Alice found her, hiding in a corner of the library.
"Great expectations. That's my mother's favorite!"
Robin chuckles, it's cute the way Alice gets excited about an old book.
"They're funny names in that book: Pip, Mr Wopsle. They all sound like stuffed animals…"
Alice giggles and the sound of her laugh brings big joy to Robin's heart.
"It's very true. There are funny names in this book. Can I read you something?"
Alice nods and Robin reads to her, her favorite quote…
"I love her against reason. Against promise. Against peace. Against hope. Against happiness. Against all discouragement that could be…"
Robin stops reading when tender lips take over her mouth. Alice is kissing her. She's not sure why, but she hopes she's not dreaming. She needs joy right now. The last couple of days, it has been rough. She's sad for Veronica and also upset for the things that their mothers have been hiding from them. But, Robin doesn't want to think about her family drama right now. She just wants to focus on Alice and her soft lips that are kissing her right now.
"Don't stop…"
Robin mumbles when Alice pulls away. Both girls chuckle and blush when those words are said and they need to address what just happened.
"Robin. I know you're over your head right now with all the things that are happening with your family. And, I know that I can be too much. I don't act according to my age and I don't care. I just hope you don't care either because I like, I really like you. You're the white knight of my fairy tale!"
Robin chuckles, she loves Alice's big imagination. And, she has been in love with this special girl since they were in brownies. And, that's why she holds Alice's hands and kisses them before saying…
"I love you against reason. Against promise. Against peace. Against hope. Against happiness. Against all discouragement that could be and you'll never be too much for me. I like you just the way you're"
Alice smiles and hugs her big time, making them fall to the floor and laughing about it. Yeah, this is Epic just like the dance which is to come: Prom. And, talking about Prom, someone is very excited to go.
"Buy your tickets! C'mon! It's now or never! This is gonna be EPIC!"
Oliver says very loud in the hallways of the school. He's on the student committee, helping to sell as many tickets as he can. He and many more students can't wait to assist to Prom. A night to remember. A night like any other… he has no idea just like the rest of students and professors who're getting ready to celebrate the end of the year. And, talking about the closing of the year, before the last day of classes, the Principal has a speech to give…
"If history has shown us something. It's that all it takes it's one person, one moment to change our lives forever. To change our perspective. Our thinking. To force us to evaluate everything we think we know. To make us ask the toughest questions: do you know who you're? Do you understand what is happening in your world? Do you want to live this way? Never stop wondering. Never stop learning is all I can say to you before you leave this school…"
Emily delivers a beautiful speech to the seniors of the school. Tears appear in her eyes as she smiles at her three boys who will soon graduate and leave for college. They're young men now and yet, all Emily can see is the three little boys that didn't stop running away from her every time she wanted to put on their little jackets. Emily's not ready to let them go and she's not the only one who's not ready to face the changes in the lives of their children as some of her friends are very emotional about prom and what it represents. And these friends are in Hanna's house, acting like two crying babies…
"They grow so fast!"
Noel says with a tissue in his hand. A tissue that gets ripped out of his hand when Caleb starts to cry already because next year, it will be his turn with Hayley.
"My baby is gonna leave me soon!"
"My Ava is going to prom with a senior! My baby!"
Both big men are crying over the growing of their daughters and their wives don't know what to do about it.
"I've never seen Noel crying before…"
"Well, I could say the same about your husband, Hanna"
"They're supposed to act like tough guys! Not like little girls!"
"Hanna, there's nothing wrong with crying. Men can cry. I actually find it very adorable"
Hanna rolls her eyes, of course Aria, being the romantic of the group, is more than okay to let Noel get in touch with his feelings. She has no time for this, she has to finish the dress of the girls for Prom and Aria was helping her with the last details when someone rings the bell. Hanna opens the door of her house and, in this particular, sensitive moment, a young man decided to pay them a visit after school.
"Enzo, what are you doing here? Hayley is at the mall"
"I know. There's something I want to ask you without Hayley around. I just don't know if right now is the best time"
Enzo looks at Caleb and Noel hugging each other crying a river and has no clue what to do now. Should he come in another time? But, he needs to ask now before prom or his big plan will not go as he planned. The young DiLaurentis looks conflicted and of course Hanna makes the decision for him.
"Just shoot, Enzo. Whatever you need to say, I don't think can make the situation worse"
"All right. Well…"
He clears his throat and says, looking Caleb and Hanna in the eyes.
"Can I've your blessing to marry Hayley?"
"WHAT?!"
Caleb doesn't seem like crying anymore while Hanna looks amused by the news, finally, she will have a member in her family who knows how to cook. And, this DiLaurentis is not the only one making big questions as in the Hastings' home, another boy is visiting to ask…
"Will you go to prom with me, Veronica?"
Wayne pops out the question from nowhere, taking her off guard. Veronica is not sure if she's ready to show her face in public, but the puppy eyes Wayne makes, it's making it really hard to say no.
"You don't want to go with me, Wayne"
"Actually, it's the opposite. It's you or no one else. I know you've been avoiding school, but you cannot avoid it forever. Let me be there at your side to face the rest of the world"
"Wayne, I…"
"Please, Veronica. It's my senior year and if you don't go out with me. I'll not go"
He's not playing fair, he knows it, but he doesn't care, especially when the young Hastings nods. Veronica was planning to skip the dance, especially since Betty was grounded and wasn't going, but now Wayne is already asking her mothers' permission. There's no way she can get out of this, right? Especially when Spencer and Blair look so pleased to see her get out of the house. Everyone looks happy, so she'll just go and by doing that, she's making of Wayne, the happiest guy in the world. Well, actually the 3rd happiest guy around since his brothers have big joys to share too.
In the DiLaurentis home, Alison and Emily frown when they hear a big scream of joy.
"Oliver, what is coming on? Why did you scream like that?
Emily asks as she approaches the young boy who was opening the mail. She and Alison stop settling the table and approach their son who's literally jumping as he says…
"Moms! Moms! I got! I got an audition for Julliard!"
"Really?! This late?"
Emily doesn't want to shut down her son's happiness, but he has been accepted already into another good school. If he waits to see how this last call of Julliard goes, he might lose his place at the other school. It seems too risky for Emily but not for Alison, who's already opening the champagne. She looks as happy or maybe happier than Oliver.
"Ali. He has already a good school"
"Mermaid, this is Juliard. You don't say 'no' to Juliard"
The brunette doesn't agree, but she will not be the killjoy. She has the nickname of killer but, she has and never will kill the joy of her family. Or, at least that's what she hopes. Anyway, they finish settling the table and when the rest of the kids arrive, more good news is shared.
"I'm going out with Robin now! And, we will go to prom!"
"Wait a minute. What Robin? Do I know this boy? Prom is for seniors, Alice, you're too young!"
Acting like the over-protective mother she's, Emily is already thinking of showing her guns to this Robin, to scare the shit out of him and any young boy who might see her precious Alice with lust. But, to be honest, Robin is not a lusty boy, it's a nice girl Emily knows very well since she was a baby.
"Wait a minute, you're dating Robin Hastings?"
Alice nods with a big smile on her face when Emily asks, surprised to find out the baby of the family is now in a relationship with the kid of one of their friends.
"Did you know she liked girls?"
Emily whispers to her wife. The brunette is not against it, but she's very surprised with the news. Alison, on the other side, doesn't look surprised at all. Contrary to Emily, she has eyes and has seen the way the girls look at each other. It was just a matter of time, just like Betty who looks at Robin' sister the same way. But, since Betty is not ready to admit her feelings, Alison will not say a word about it. Anyway, since the couple's topic is on the air, Wayne wants to share his good news about who's gonna go with him to prom, but he gets interrupted by his brother, Enzo finally arrives and shouts at the four wings…
"I'm gonna get married!"
The table gets quiet. Emily chuckles, she thinks this is a joke, but Alison freezes, feeling this is far from being a joke.
"Enzo, what are you talking about?"
Emily asks and her son replies…
"I'm following your advice, mom! I'm gonna propose to Hayley after the prom. I already asked for her parents' blessing!"
"You did what?! Emily, you told him to do this?!"
Alison looks angry and her wife stammers…
"I… I…"
The brunette mother recalls her talk with Enzo about love. It was weeks ago. She recalls telling him to not be scared and follow his heart, but did she really spread the idea of marriage in the head of her teenage boy? She doesn't think so, but she did and if Enzo had some doubts to go for it, the speech Emily made recently at school, talking about the future and not regretting a thing, was all Enzo needed to decide to go for it.
"Enzo, you cannot marry Hayley!"
Alison alleges and Emily nods, she agrees with her, they're too young.
"But, Auntie Hanna is okay with it! Why can't you support me too!"
"Did Hanna and Caleb really give you their blessing?"
"Well…"
"What did Hanna say exactly?"
"She said 'Run for your life' as she was blocking Caleb & Noel from going after me. She helped me to be at home in one piece, so, that means she's okay with it, right?"
After Enzo drops his big announcement, Wayne sees no point in talking about prom. And, someone else at the table appreciates it, because if Betty hears another word about Prom, she's gonna kill someone. She's the Queen Bee of the school and she's banned from going to the dance of the year? Well, it just sucks! Not even Emily was able to intervene when Alison settled the sentence for sneaking out of the house at late hours. She doesn't regret going to Veronica that night, but it sucks she will not be able to wear the dress she has in her closet. That dress deserves to be used and maybe that's why, after dinner, she knocks on Alice's door and says…
"Alice, do you've a moment?"
She's not a good sister. She's not a good twin. She has never really been good to Alice, and yet, all the awful things she has done, it seems to just vanish in the air as Alice looks at her as if she was some kind of fairy godmother.
"Can I really wear this?!"
"Yes. Just try to not drop ketchup on it, or something like that. It's a white dress…"
"OMG! Betty! You're the best! Thank you!"
Alice hugs her and Betty tries to not make a big deal about it, but it's, especially when she decides to help her twin with her makeup and hair. If she cannot go to the party, at least she will enjoy some parts of it like the preparations for it.
The preparations are done, the excitement is high and while Betty cannot go to the party because she's grounded, she can at least ask for a dance with the girl she wants before the big night, right?
Veronica groans when someone tries to wake her up, she's not sure who's trying to wake her up at this hour, but when she opens her eyes, she sees…
"Betty?"
"Hi, come outside?"
"Huh?"
It's a cold night. If they get caught outside at this hour again, Betty will get grounded for life, that's for sure and yet, the risk is all worth it when they finally arrive at their destination and Betty sees the wowed face of Veronica.
"OMG! B! What is this?!"
Veronica asks, smiling, looking at the Xmas lights around them and the little picnic settled for just the two of them, in the kissing rock. She got the idea of one of the many romantic stories of her mothers but, that's a secret Betty will not reveal to the other girl.
"We will not go to prom, but that doesn't mean we cannot bring prom to us…"
"Oh, Betty. I'm going to prom"
"Really? With whom?!
Veronica hesitates on telling her friend she's going with her brother, Wayne. Something stops her, she doesn't know what and she really doesn't want to think about it as this is the most wonderful gesture anyone has done for her.
"I'm going with Robin and Alice. It's time to show my face outside the house. I've no reason to hide. I've done nothing wrong"
"That's right. I would love to come with you, but, I'm still grounded"
"I know… maybe next year we can go together?"
"Yeah… next year…"
They make that promise and eat some chocolate cake and dance together around the kissing rock. It's so intimate and romantic, it's the perfect moment to declare her feelings and yet, Betty chickens out to say it out loud. Once the words get out, she cannot take it back and she's not sure if she's ready for that. On the other side, maybe there's a way to check if Veronica shares the same kind of feelings for her without putting her heart on the line.
"You know, V. This rock is legendary. People have been sneaking to kiss in this rock for hundreds of years"
Veronica chuckles, Betty's story seems ridiculous, but the blonde DiLaurentis insists it's true.
"Do not tell me you can't sense them"
"Sense what, Betty?"
"The ghosts of other lovers, spying on us. Pushing us to do it. You don't want to disappoint a ghost, right?"
"If you want to kiss me, just do it, Betty. You don't need to invent crazy stories for it"
Betty smirks and goes for it, her first kiss. Their first real kiss because the kiss they shared at the cheerleading audition, it was nothing more than a play. Part of Veronica's plan to get noticed to become a cheerleader. But now. Now, she's kissing Betty without anyone looking at them. She's kissing the girl because she wants it, because she desires it. And, she has no clue what to do about it, especially when Betty says…
"I love you"
"What?!"
"I'm in love with you, Veronica"
Veronica doesn't know what to say, she doesn't want to hurt her friend but she's confused. And her strong desire to keep kissing the blonde doesn't help.
"Say something, please?"
There's vulnerability in Betty's eyes. The girl is putting her feelings out and all Veronica can do right now is smashing their lips for a deeper kiss. Hoping this will be enough for now as she doesn't have a clear answer for the girl right now. It works, as Betty gets drunk with the taste of Veronica's lips, drunk enough to let go the need to get a clear answer for now.
"It's late, we should go home…"
Veronica requests to turn back and Betty agrees. She already got what she wanted. A proof that her feelings are not one sided. A very welcome surprise and the surprises are far to end as Alison has another surprise for the young Queen Bee.
"You can come in, mom!"
Betty says from her bed when Alison knocks at her door. It's just the two of them tonight at home. Emily and the rest of the kids are already in the school, at the Prom. Betty wanted to go so badly and yet, she's paying her sentence without whining; something that hasn't gone unnoticed by her blonde mother who's bringing her a dress.
"What is this?"
"Well, I was cleaning my wardrobe and I found my prom dress"
"It's beautiful"
"Yes. It is. Sadly, I wasn't able to enjoy it that night the way I wanted. It would be sad if this dress gets stored with only bad memories. It's a beautiful dress, it deserves to have good memories too, so, maybe you can help me to change that?"
"Are you saying what I think you're saying? Can I go to the prom?! Really?!"
"Yes, but, you need to promise to be on your best behavior. Prom is always full of drama. Just do not be part of it, Betty, okay?"
"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No drama, I promise!"
Alison is not sure to believe her daughter, she's a specialist to always get into troubles but for tonight, she will just hope for the best. After all, Alison has all the intention to also be able to have a nice prom night.
"Ali? What are you doing here?"
Emily was supervising the dance when her beautiful wife made an epic entrance just like old times.
"Hi mermaid, close your mouth, there are kids watching"
Alison says with a big smirk on her face. Wrapping her arms around Emily's neck. Getting closer and closer to Emily's mouth, but not close enough to touch them. She's teasing the brunette, making a complete mess of her, and it's wonderful to have this effect on the mermaid who looks super hot in a black dress.
"You look hot, killer"
"More than you? I don't think so…"
Alison bites her bottom lip, she's struggling to keep this PG-13. The look on Emily, it's getting over her head, making her so wet and yet, she's able to keep it together so she can ask Emily to dance with her.
"I'm supposed to supervise everything, Ali"
"Just one dance, mermaid. It's all I ask"
God knows they don't have so many good memories about prom. A dance cannot change the ghosts of their prom, but it definitely doesn't harm to create a new good memory. They go to the dance floor holding hands and Emily is amazed by Alison's beauty. Her blue eyes, her porcelain skin. How did she get so lucky? The brunette wonders and to be honest, the blonde wonders the same. Emily looks as young as ever. It's like the years have no effect on her. Her tanned body, her long legs. God, Alison is struggling to not drag Emily to the closest empty classroom just to make her cum. But, they're not teenagers anymore. They must behave.
"If I don't tell you enough that I love you, Em… I love you. Gosh! I love you so much, my beautiful mermaid"
Emily giggles and blushes so much, just like when they were teens. And, talking about teens. Alison looks around and smiles when she finds Alice dancing with Robin. Her sweet Alice is having her fairy tale night and she couldn't be happier. Emily turns them around as they dance and Alison keeps catching little glimpses of her kids, having a blast.
"It's a damn miracle they've such a normal upbringing coming from me…"
"Ali…"
Emily always hates how bad Alision might think about herself sometimes. The brunette knows their youthfulness wasn't easy. Especially Alison's, coming from the people who raised her, it's a fucking miracle she's the mother she's now. She's a super mom, why the blonde cannot see that?
"You're the miracle, Ali. Do you know that? Coming from your parents and being the mother you're. You're a fucking miracle. And, you don't stop to amaze me"
Alison smiles, she leans her head over Emily's shoulder and embraces this feeling of happiness that's floating on the air. This is the happy ending she wishes for and thinking about happy endings, she smiles when she sees how in love her kids are right now. Oliver is dancing with Ava. While Enzo is with Hayley Rivers. Alison sighs when she sees the two of them chatting. She doesn't think they are ready for marriage, but in the end, who's she to stop them? If it was for Alison, she would have married Emily from the moment she met the brunette. You cannot fight against true love and that's why she has already made her mind and she will not try to stop the possible wedding to come.
"Enzo has no idea what he's getting into. I've no doubt Hanna will make him cook all the time just for her"
Emily chuckles, she can really imagine their friend, leaning on Enzo' skills in the kitchen. Since they were younger, Hanna got obsessed with Alison's cooking. More than once, she joked about stealing Alison from Emily, just so she could eat Alison's food every day. It was a funny joke that never made Emily laugh.
The brunette has always been the jealous type, just like her daughter, Betty who gets very jealous when she sees Veronica and Wayne dancing together. From all the boys and girls in this school why did she have to be dancing with him?!
"Jealous much?"
Taylor appears from nowhere behind Betty, looking so happy to see the blonde's anger.
"Not now Taylor…"
"If I was in her shoes. I would definitely do the dirty with Wayne tonight. I mean, he's hot, he's an athlete, he's a complete catch"
"I've been leaving you alone these last couple of days. It's this your way to thank me?"
Taylor is getting pissed off now, how dares Betty to insinuate she should feel grateful for not being bullied? She wants to snap, but more than that she wants to understand what is behind this calm behavior. It's eating her alive the doubt of why Betty has stopped torturing her in school. She must be planning something worse, building the moment to shock her in the worst possible way, it's what Taylor's mind doesn't stop to scream while the only truth is that Betty is choosing love instead of hate. She has no secret agenda against Taylor anymore, she has only eyes for Veronica, who hasn't noticed her presence yet.
"You look stunning tonight, Veronica"
"Ah, thank you, Wayne. You look very handsome too…"
Being polite is in her blood. She's a Hastings overall. Veronica wasn't sure what to expect tonight. So worried to get overwhelmed by the looks and whispers around her. But, everyone was so invested in the party that no one paid attention to her. None other than Wayne, who's constantly looking at Veronica. And, she doesn't dislike the attention but, she has noticed that dancing with Wayne it's not the same as dancing with Betty. Something feels off. What is it? She wonders, so lost in her thoughts that she misses to notice Wayne leaning down to her lips. The kiss is not bad, but it doesn't make her feel not even a quarter of the things that Betty's kiss made her feel.
"V!"
It's when she hears the voice of her best friend, yelling her name when Veronica finally notices Betty's presence. The young Hastings is not the only one who turns her head, Betty's voice also catches the attention of Alison, who can already smell the drama that's to come.
"Oh boy…"
Alison stops dancing with Emily and tries to get closer to her kids before they make a scene. She hopes Betty doesn't follow her worst instincts. God knows she has been in her shoes and she never handled well. How many times her rage and jealousy took over her every time Emily was with someone else? Thankfully, Betty doesn't snap, she just runs away and Veronica runs after her.
"Betty, wait!"
In the hallway of the school, Betty stops running, she takes her time to spin and look Veronica in the eyes. She has tears in her eyes already.
"Oh, B…"
Taylor records the suffering of Betty. This is gold! And, while Taylor looks happy with the turns of events, Veronica is feeling completely the opposite. Flirting with both was a dangerous game, her sister Robin told her to be careful more than once but she never listened. Veronica saw no wrong in it, She loved the attention from both sides. And, it's not like she likes only girls or boys, she likes them both, Wayne and Betty. She never really considered the side effects of her lack of clarity. Jealousy is a bitch that can drive anyone insane. Just like hate, it's a fuel you don't want to kindle.
"Why?! V! Why?!"
Veronica doesn't know what to say. She didn't initiate the kiss with Wayne but she didn't stop it either and now that she knows Betty saw them, she feels so bad about it. When Veronica doesn't dare to reply, Betty gets ready to turn around and keep walking, but once again, the young Hastings stops her. Telling her to not leave.
"Why?! Give me a reason… and 'I'm sorry' doesn't count"
"Because you don't want to, Betty"
"That's not enough'
'Because I don't want to?"
"You're telling me or asking me?"
"I… I… I…"
"I'll make it easier for you, V. For the first time in my life, I made myself vulnerable and honest, and for that, I get to be played, by you?!"
"I'm not playing you"
"Really?! Because I just found out you kissed me and my brother the same day, so if that's not playing with us, what is it, then?!"
Betty has all the rights to be upset, Veronica knows it and yet when she keeps saying nothing, it pisses Betty even more.
"It sucks to know you don't know what you want, Veronica. But, at least you could have saved me the pain by being honest about your feelings for my brother"
"What was I supposed to tell you, B? That I like you and I like Wayne too? That I don't know who I like more?"
"Yes! You should have said something before kissing me and led me to think that you could love me back!"
"But, I do!"
The words come out of her mouth without thinking and it's in this moment when Veronica finally realizes who really holds her heart.
"OMG, I love you!"
Veronica smiles when she finally clears out her feelings. She feels so happy about it while Betty doesn't look happy at all. She doesn't believe a word.
"If this is love, for you, then I don't want to be part of it at all…"
"B, please don't say that… I…"
"I just want you to leave me alone…"
"B…"
Betty says nothing more and walks away, leaving a crushed Veronica behind. And, the worst part is that all have been already posted on social media. So many phones ring with the notification of the new video about Veronica. Now, she can sense the stares, the whispers around her and more than anything, she can see the crushed look of Wayne, who's finally realizing that his evil little sister beat him in the game of love.
"I want to go home…"
Veronica mumbles and it's Robin, who drags her out of the school while Alice is asking Emily to drive them home. And while the kids are trying to be there for each other. Alison is trying to find Betty. The girl who's outside the school slapping Taylor's face right now after she sees the new video published about her and Veronica. How she got her heart broken is online and she blames Taylor for it.
"You'll pay for this, Taylor!"
"You've no proof I published the video"
Betty had enough, she's done playing nice and she's more than ready to get into a fight when the mothers finally come into the picture.
"Elizabeth! That's enough!"
It's what Alison says while the other blonde mother who has just arrived in this little town doesn't need to say a word to bring shivers to her offspring. Taylor has never looked so pale, so scared in her life. She even pees herself, for the shock of Betty and Alison. Her level of fear is that high.
"Mother…"
"Well, well… look who's been alive all this time"
"How did you…?"
"Found out you're alive? Well, I got the tip from someone in this town. A DiLaurentis…"
Claire Hotchkiss says the last name and all the eyes turn towards Betty.
"You did this?!"
Taylor and Alison accuse Betty of bringing this woman into town and the blonde has no idea of what they're talking about. For once, she's not the one to blame but, no one dares to believe it.
"Really, Taylor. Faking your death was a silly game to play with me"
It's not in the Hotchkiss DNA to make a scene. All the horrors in the family happen always behind doors. Probably that's one of the reasons why Taylor's father and brother killed themselves. They couldn't take it anymore, Claire's monstrous manipulation. The pressure of being a perfect Hotchkiss. Taylor cannot walk back into that world and yet, she has no choice. When Claire opens the door of her car, she gets in without hesitation, the old woman looks so calm and Taylor is terrified of the punishment that's waiting for her, behind that fake calm.
Alison's heart aches when she sees the girl leaving with this woman who's supposed to be her mother. Something feels so wrong. Taylor's eyes of horror, it brings back bad memories in Alison. She has had that look before and it never led to anything good. Her first reaction is to call Mona. She gets directly to voicemail.
"Fucking great!"
Alison gets angry when Mona doesn't pick up. She tries three more times and her bad temper rises as each failed attempt.
"Mom…?"
"You did this? ANSWER ME! Elizabeth! Do you've anything to do with what just happened right now?!"
The teen steps back, she has seen her mother angry, but never like this, never. The rest of the family joins them at the entry of the school. Emily is the first one to ask what is coming on. Neither Alison or Betty say a word, they just walk towards the two cars, looking confused and angry. Alison drops Hanna's, Aria's and Spencer's kids to their respective homes while Emily takes their kids home. She asks again what is coming on. All the teens shrug. They're not sure and it's when the blonde mother finally puts a foot inside their home, when the real storm starts.
"Elizabeth to the living room, the rest, just go to your rooms"
"Ali, what is going on?"
Emily and all the kids look confused, even scared of how angry Alison looks. The blonde doesn't dare to explain, she just walks into the living room and waits to be followed by Betty.
"Elizabeth!"
"I would like to change to something more comfortable first…"
"SIT DOWN, NOW!"
The rest of the kids run to their rooms. The doors upstairs get shut down very fast as they fear being caught in the crossfire.
"Cowards…"
Betty mumbles and decides to sit and end with whatever this is as fast as possible. Sadly, her big mouth doesn't help.
"Say whatever you want to say mom so, I can get out of your way"
"Do not give me that attitude now. I swear to God that I have never wanted to be like my mother, who buried her kid alive, but you're making it really hard for me right now"
"ALISON! Do not joke about it!"
Emily scolds the blonde mother. She feels Alison is crossing a line here and she might have done it. But, the blonde believes this is the only way to make their daughter understand the consequences of her actions.
"What is coming on?"
The brunette asks again. She really has no clue what has pissed Alison off so much this time. And, since Betty and Emily pretend to be clueless about the big elephant in the room, Alison has no other choice, but to take the bull by the horns.
"Your daughter is a bully and that stops NOW!"
"ALISON! How can you accuse our little princess of something so awful!"
"OMG! Emily! You cannot be serious, right now! You're the principal of the school. You cannot tell me you've not noticed our daughter's behavior! She has been bullying Taylor Vanderwaal! And, tonight! She crossed a line!"
Emily gasps, she wants to say 'no', but she has heard some noise in the hallways about it. She hasn't seen anything really, neither the other teachers and that's because Betty is too clever to get caught. Nevertheless, this time, she had nothing to do with Taylor's real mother appearing in town. But, it's there a point to say it? Will their mothers believe her?
"You're too soft, Emily! She's like me! You cannot go soft with someone like me!"
"I'm nothing like YOU! How many times do I've to say it,!"
Betty yells and she regrets her words, but she doesn't excuse herself for them. Alison looks at her with a mix of anger and pain. The young girl will never forget that look.
"You're right Betty. You're not like me because contrary to me, you've everything you need to be better than this!"
Betty looks down, she says nothing and it pisses Alison even more.
"Ali, you're being too hard on her"
"She needs discipline, Emily!"
"She needs our comprehension, Ali!"
"OMG! Are you listening to yourself?! C'mon! She messed up, bad! And, you want to do nothing?!"
"I believe we don't have the whole picture here. Ali. Let's just calm down, okay?"
"Calm down? CALM DOWN?! Emily, no one fakes her death without a reason! You didn't see the fear in the eyes of that girl, Taylor. She was terrified! And, I swear to God, Elizabeth! If this escalates to a calamity, you'll regret it for the rest of your life!"
Betty gets angry, for once, she's not the one to blame here and she hates that Alison assumes it's her fault. But once again, she doesn't say a word because she knows that will piss her mother even more. Things are escalating too fast and Emily is one again the mediator between these two blondes. She sends Betty to her room and Alison gets furious.
"OMG! You let her get away with everything, Emily!"
"What do you want me to do? I don't even understand what the problem is in the first place!"
"Nothing! You do nothing! Like always, it's gonna be me who will deal with everything!"
Alison walks away from the brunette and Emily follows her to their bedroom.
"What do you mean, Ali? I feel like something else is coming on here and whatever it's, we can't keep simmering like this forever!"
"Fine, you want to do this right now. Let's do this. Close the door!"
Emily closes the door, but even with the door closed, the kids can hear them and they hear everything when the blonde is the one who starts talking.
"I'm tired of having the same lack of support from you, every time I want to discipline our daughter"
"I don't know what you're talking about, Ali"
"Seriously? You cannot admit it?"
"It's absurd. I always support you when you show me the facts"
"The facts?! The facts, it's that Betty has no limits. The facts, it's that she's a spoiled child who has no idea of what the consequences are because YOU always bail her out!"
"That's not true!"
"Bullshit! Emily! Since the day the twins were born you put on these rubber gloves to keep everything safe and clean and, it's 15 years later and you're still wearing them! You've been treating Betty with kid gloves her entire life. You let her do whatever she wants when she wants it and you're not doing her any favor!"
Emily gulps hard, for her, it's just love, but it's love to let someone take advantage of you?
"You're doing a lousy job to prepare her for the world that is out there. One day, we're not gonna be around anymore and she's gonna be on her own. Then what?"
She has been in her shoes. Alone in the world without knowing better. She learnt on the hard way how to survive. She doesn't want the same for Betty. Why Emily cannot understand that?
"I'm NOT gonna let her become a worse version of myself. And, that's the problem. Because I'm trying to stop her from getting hurt, hurting others in the process and you don't let me!"
"Hell, that's not true! I'm being nothing, but supportive as a parent, as a partner, as a friend! Ali, my entire life I've been the one who's always there for you. But, I refuse to fall into your paranoia and torment our kids with possible -A, AD when they don't exist anymore! They just exist in your head! You need help! I… I didn't mean that, I…"
"Save it, Em. You think I'm crazy, fine! Think whatever you want. What I need, it's to leave, otherwise, I'm afraid I will say things I might regret later…"
Alison grabs her coat, she walks towards the door and opens it. She's underneath the door frame when the brunette asks…
"Where are you going?"
"I don't know, but I don't want to be in this house with you right now. That must be good news for you, I guess. You'll not hear my paranoia anymore…"
"Ali…"
The blonde leaves the house and Emily doesn't stop her nor runs after her. The kids heard everything and have no idea what will happen next. They just hope the next morning, Alison will be there, to make them breakfast like always, but she's not.
"Where's mammy?"
They ask Emily, who's doing an awful job making breakfast. The brunette doesn't answer the question, she just asks them to get ready for school.
"I want mammy…"
Alice mumbles like a little toddler who's about to cry. Enzo hugs her immediately and asks Oliver to comfort Alice while he takes over the kitchen. If they really don't want to be late, it's better if he takes over.
"I can do this, Enzo…"
"I know, mom. Just let me help. It doesn't look like you slept at all"
Emily sighs, he's not wrong, she waited all night for Alison to call or come back home. Neither of the two things happened. And now, she's a mess. Should she call? Text her? Ask her friends if Alison spent the night at their home? No, she's sure her friends would have called her, right? Her mind wonders where Alison is, while she should focus on the final swimming competition she has today. She cannot let down her team and especially her kid. But, to be honest, her kid, Wayne, is in worse shape than her.
This is the first time someone breaks his heart. It was unexpected, one moment he was dancing with the girl he likes, they were kissing and the next, he was hearing that same girl proclaiming her love towards his sister?! That's rough and probably the reason why he looks absent while Enzo tries to talk with him. He doesn't pay attention to his brother till the other boy smashes a pancake over his face.
"Enzo! What the hell?!"
"Exactly! What the hell, Wayne?! It wasn't Betty the one who brought here, Taylor's real mom and all the drama of last night. Are you really gonna let her take the blame for it?!"
"She deserves that and more…"
"WAYNE!"
Enzo can understand he's hurt and heartbroken, but he cannot put all his rage on their sister. It's not right and the golden boy of the family is supposed to know better than that. But, all Wayne can think right now it's that…
"They played with my feelings… I've no reasons to help her…"
"Wayne…"
Enzo sighs, feeling frustrated and mostly uneasy. This is not good, not good at all and his mother Alison couldn't agree more. Because if you're wondering what Alison has been doing all this time, it's trying to get to know how far goes the damage caused by one of her kids.
Last night she drove directly towards Mona's house. She wasn't able to reach her on the phone, so she was expecting to be able to talk face to face. To her surprise, the house was empty, only cops in the area since Mona and her mother are now accused of kidnapping and all the criminal offenses you could imagine. Claire Hochkiss has every intention to ruin them and she's doing an excellent job at it.
Mona and her mother are probably hiding, running for their lives; why? For offering a real home to one disturbed girl who was on the edge of suicide? Yes, before faking her death, Taylor was planning to end it for real. Just like her father. Just like her brother. She had enough. She has enough of her mother, the woman who's already celebrating the misery she's bringing to Mona and her family.
"You're a monster"
"I'm your mother"
"What are you gonna do?"
"Nothing I haven't done before"
Taylor sighs. They haven't left Rosewood and that means that Claire is not done yet. The young teenager can only fear for the worst. Her mother is brilliant at destroying lives and she plans to stay around and watch how everything burns to ashes.
"If you thought, I was cruel. You've no idea what is gonna be from now on. This time, you better do exactly what I need"
"And what is that exactly?"
"Well, we cannot let people know you faked your death to run away from me. Do we? So, we will tell the world that Mona and her mother messed up your medications while working for me in Oregon. They saw an opportunity to kidnap you and get some money from it…"
"That's a lie! They didn't kidnap me! They freed me from YOU! They gave me LOVE! A real home! And I will not say otherwise!"
"I was afraid you would say that. So, I called Dr. Benson, earlier this morning"
Taylor gulps hard, he knows this doctor too well. It's not good news.
"I'm not crazy… I'm not going back to that madhouse"
"It's a retreat for troubling brats like you. Taylor. it's not a madhouse"
"Again with the lies!"
"You snap and I end up with no other choice but to send you to the institute managed by Dr. Benson. That's happening. Just accept it"
"I'm not going anywhere"
"Staying here is not an option. We're here now just because I want you to watch how I destroy the lives of all those you care…"
Claire stands up and serves herself a drink, giving the back to Taylor as she admits…
"You brought this to you, and Mona. Nothing of this would have happened if you would just kill yourself like your coward father"
"Father wasn't a coward! He was good till you broke him. Just like Nolan"
"If you must know, Nolan didn't kill himself. I pushed him from the roof when I caught him, trying to escape from me, just like you did"
Taylor's eyes got bigger with shock, from the confession. Flashes of her brother's body, nailed to the fence of their house, come to her mind. The memories of that day when she found the body of Nolan, it still haunts her to this day. And it's all Claire's fault.
"You're a monster!"
Claire laughs. She feels no regret. She's really a monster, it's what Taylor thinks.
"Why don't you just let me go?"
"And why would I do that, Taylor? You're mine. I brought you into this world and I get to decide whatever I want to do with you"
Her mother just wants to ruin her the way she ruins everything she touches. And…
"There's no one to blame other than you, Taylor. You shouldn't have run away from me in the first place"
"You're wrong. I'm not the one to blame…"
Taylor blames the DiLaurentis who brought Claire to town. She blames Betty. Yes! It was Betty! Her nemesis and it makes her mad, so mad that she hears again this little voice in her head, the one that tells her to do bad things. It's raging in her head. Lighting every nerve with madness. And, all the while, this question lingers before her eyes: 'Have you had enough?'
"Yes, I've…"
Taylor angrily mutters while she gets a hold on the paper knife in front of her.
*** Taylor's narrative (voice-over) ***
Sooner or later you will stop running away from the darkness, you embrace it and then the real scary start. And let me tell you something: it's gonna be EPIC