ALL RIGHTS GO TO MARLENE KING
Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage. - Lao Tzu
Chapter 3: When a book comes in handy
Emily's POV:
I couldn't let Ali leave, not again. I walked into the locker room, knowing that Paige liked swimming late at night after school. She had to give me names of who is working with Mona.
"You've got to give me the names Paige, the ones conspiring with Mona." I said forcefully.
"I can't tell you, especially after the way Alison treated her." Paige sneered Alison name, as if the name was toxic.
"Mona altered that video, Paige." I argued.
"Even if she did she didn't make her say those things, Alison isn't sorry about the way she treated anybody, she's still the same manipulative person she always was." Paige snapped. My face heated up in anger, it reminded me of 8th grade, how I would get defensive and angry when anyone said anything bad about Ali in front of me.
"Who ever blew up the Cavanaugh house is now threatening her."
"I thought it was a gas leak." Paige whispered.
"Someone caused that leak."
"And you think it's Mona?" Mona and her army of skanks.
"It's possible. With a little help from her friends." Now say the names Paige.
"Why would Mona want to blow up the Cavanaugh house?"
I rolled my eyes at her. "That's what we're trying to figure out. Look, I know how you feel about Alison but could you live with yourself if somethings happened to her, knowing that you could have done something?" The words tasted wrong in my mouth, even thinking about anything happening to her was unbearable.
"It's Lucas, Melissa and a few other kids that she tormented." Paige muttered.
As soon as the words left her mouth I bolted towards Hanna's house. When no one answered her door I ran in.
"Hey, didn't you hear me knocking?" I ask in between breaths.
"No sorry." Hanna answered.
"Paige named names, Lucas and Melissa are working with Mona and they are all after Alison."
"Melissa? Oh my god, have you told Spencer?"
"No not yet," I looked around the room, noticing that Ali was no where to be seen, "Where is Ali?"
"Um, she went home to have dinner with her dad." Hanna answered nervously.
"I'll go tell her." I turn my heal and start walking out.
"No!" I quickly turn around, what is she hiding?
"Why don't you wait until the morning to do that." Is she insane?
"This is to important to wait." I snapped. My eyes left hers and I noticed a piece of paper lying on the table, it's a train ticket to New Jersey.
"8 o'clock train?" I ask suspiciously.
"Yeah, I was thinking of visiting my grandma." Hanna has a tell when she's lying, her left eyebrow twitches slightly so we've always been able to tell when she's honest or not. And now she's not.
"Wrong direction Hanna, New Jersey isn't on the way to Oklahoma."
That's when I noticed the bag on her bed. I pulled the handle away from Hanna and about 100 dollars and a bunch of clothes were pilled inside. I put two and two together. Ali's leaving.
I wanted to scream, how could she do this to me? To us? Was she planning on leaving without even saying goodbye? Has she already left?
"Ali's leaving." I state and send a cold glare in Hanna's direction.
"No she's not, she was going to but I stopped her." Hanna's left eyebrow twitched slightly and I felt even more angry. How dare she lie to me?
"I don't believe you." Did Hanna really think that we'd congratulate her if she had gotten rid of Ali?
I turn around and walk out of her room.
"Emily wait!" I face her again, a discussed look painted on my face.
"Okay fine, you were right." Hanna whispered.
"How could you just let her leave without telling us?" Without telling me.
"It's not safe for her here." Bullshit, Hanna.
"Like she's safer out there all alone!" I yell.
"It's what she wants!" Hanna yells back.
I glare at her, looking her over.
"Is that the only reason you're helping her?" I challenge. She can't push Ali to leave so she can have her spot as the 'it' girl again.
"What's that supposed to mean?" She clearly knew what I meant.
"Your hair, your clothes. A lot has changed with you since she's been back." I sneer.
"Oh yeah, and nothings changed with you? I saw you holding her hand last night." Hanna crossed her arms over her chest and pointed her hip out. A typical Ali move.
"She was frightened, she reached for me, what was I supposed to do? Slap her hand!" My voice cracked a little and I could tell that Hanna noticed that too, it was clearly not the only reason why I held her hand. Hanna just rolled her eyes at me.
I am sick of her attitude towards Ali, how dare Hanna do this to us? Is she this selfish. Before walking away for good I glare at her one last time.
"Don't you dare follow me." My voice laced with venom, I quickly walk out of her house and into my car.
I headed towards Ali's house, I had to make sure she doesn't leave. I see her car parked in the driveway so she's still home. Minutes pass but Ali still doesn't come out, where the hell is she?
I was about to drive away, give up, when I hear glass shattering. My heart stops.
I run out of my car and into the house. I run into the living room where I hear all the commotion coming from, I see a figure standing over Alison, her screams being silenced by a scarf around her throat. Rage flows through my veins and I run without thinking towards the attacked and tackle him/her down. The person pushes me roughly agains the wall but I grab a book above me, smashing it down on the persons head. This bitch hurt my Alison, this bitch will pay.
I gripped the book tightly, my knuckles turning white, and I hit the person again but this time he/she threw me on the desk, causing me to hurt my only good shoulder.
I fall down in pain and hold my shoulder for dear life, afraid if I let go, it might fall off. The person runs away into the darkness and my eyes bounce back towards Alison who's on the floor barely moving, her finger nails clawing at the carpet.
I ignore the pain in my shoulder and I crawl over to her, gripping her tightly.
"Oh my god, Ali." I put her in my lap and wrap my arms around her, never wanting to let her go. Ali cries into my chest gripping the scarf that was still wrapped around her neck.
I softly remove the scarf and her hands automatically goes to cup her neck, trying to ease the pain. It kills me to see her like this.
"It's okay, you're safe." I whisper into her hair.
Ali grips my arms for dear life and continues to cry softly into my chest. We sit on the floor for a good 15 minutes. What if I would have gotten here a minute later? Would Ali have been... Gone? I swallow loudly at the last though, reminding myself that she is here, and that she is safe.
For now.
Ali is still gripping her throat. I place my hands on top of hers and gently pry her fingers away from her neck. Ali's breath hitches but she lets me and she immediately wraps her arms around my neck. I notice the red lines around her throat and it makes me sick. That monster strangled her.
Eventually I stand up and take her hand, giving her one last hug of comfort.
"You're safe now." How much I wished that I could mean those words. I wipe away the last remains of her tears and give her a reassuring smile. I step away and turn the lights on.
"We're calling the police." I state.
"No you can't do that, you can't call my dad either." Ali starts coughing again so I rub her back soothingly.
"Ali, someone broke into your house and attacked you."
"Exactly, if someone knows that it happened I'll never be able to leave here!" I can't believe she still wants to leave, doesn't she understand that I can't protect her if she leaves?
"If you don't want anyone to know then fine, but you're not going anywhere, at least not tonight." You're never leaving, I added mentally.
Ali nodded and we walked into my car. When I started the engine I looked over to Ali's face, it looked broken.
"How's your shoulder?" She whispered.
"It's fine, I'm more worried about you though." She gives me a small smile that warms my heart.
"I'm fine, I think, I just have some bruises." Ali lets out a sigh and lightly touches her neck. She places her hand on mine and my heartbeat quickens by a 100. I could feel the blush creep up my cheeks so I drape my hair over my shoulder, covering the side of my face. Instead of releasing my hand like I thought she would, she continues to hold it, staring out the window in silence.
When we got back to my house I sent a quick SOS, telling the girls to rush over. 5 minutes later my bedroom door flung opened and they stare at me in confusion.
Ali was laying down on my bed, her back turned towards us.
"What's wrong?" Spencer asked motioning towards Ali.
"A came to her house tonight, after she left Hanna's." I glared slightly in Hanna direction, I know this wasn't her fault but Ali probably wouldn't have gone to her house if Hanna hadn't offered to help her disappear again.
"What did A do?" Aria asked.
"A strangled her, they almost ki-" I couldn't choke out the last word, my gaze had landed on Ali, a red mark on the backside of her neck as well.
"Oh my god." Spencer covered her mouth.
Hanna hadn't said a word but I'm sure she felt bad, she was looking down at her feet, fiddling nervously with her fingers.
"Is- is she alright?" Hanna stuttered out.
"I think so." I muttered and walked over to Ali, placing a hand on her shoulder.
Ali instantly jerked around, scanning the room nervously before sitting up.
"Are you okay?" Aria asked, sitting down next to Ali.
"Yeah, my throat really hurts though." Ali rubbed her throat gently.
"I can't believe A strangled you." Spencer said, crossing her arms.
After awhile the girls left and it was just Ali and I alone. I sat down next to her on my bed, just enjoying the silence for once.
"I never thanked you for what you did tonight." Ali spoke up.
"I didn't do anything." Anyone would have done the same.
"You risked your life for me, Em. Most people see danger and they run in the opposite direction as fast as they can." I didn't know what to say, but my heart swelled with pride.
"It's getting late." Great, now it sounded like I wanted to kick her out, "Do you want me to take you home?"
"I don't want to be alone tonight, can I stay here?" Ali asked.
"We'll just sleep, I promise." I felt the blood rushing to my cheeks. She clearly remembered that kiss.
"Yeah, yeah of course." I didn't really know what I was answering yes to, I guess both?
I moved away some pillows and Ali instantly laid down. I pulled the covers over her petite body and tucked her in. Ali closed her eyes and minutes later her breath evened out. I couldn't sleep, even if I could I wouldn't. There is no way I'm letting her out of my sight now, I had to stay up all night to make sure that she at least got one peaceful night.
Eventually I got in bed and laid down next to her, her body automatically curled up closer to me, as if her body could sense my presence even when she was asleep. I smiled at that thought.
Minutes passed on to hours, and before I knew it the sun had rose, shining up my whole bedroom.
Ali rolled over and before I could react, fell of the bed. I rushed over to her side helping her up, searching her body for any bruises. She giggled at me, making my heart warm up. I've been the only one making her giggle like that since she's been back.
"Thanks for letting me stay here, Em." Ali said sincerely. She rubbed her eyes and let out a cute yawn.
"Anytime." I smiled at her, earning a smile back.
"So when did you wake up?" Ali asked, her raspy morning voice clung to her mouth and it was extremely sexy to hear.
What do I say? Oh, I sat up watching you sleep. Not likely.
"Uh, I didn't exactly sleep."
"You couldn't sleep?" Ali reached over and touched my arm lightly. My heart did a double summersault.
Ali's beautiful eyes were piercing into mine and i forgot how to breath. Who am I kidding, I can't lie to Alison DiLaurentis.
"Eh, I kind of chose not to sleep." I reply sheepishly.
"Why would you do that? Yesterday you looked like you really needed the sleep." Ali said raising her eyebrows.
"I wanted you to get at least one good night of sleep, so I chose to stay awake to make sure you were, well, okay." She probably thinks I'm a weird ass stalker now that gets off by watching her sleep.
"You didn't have to do that for me, Em." Ali said, a sign of blush creeping up her cheeks. Ali blushing?
"I wanted to, I couldn't bare to think that something, anything, could happen if I were to close my eyes." I reply softly, fiddling nervously with the name bracelet Ali gave me right before she disappeared.
Ali grabbed my face gently and looked me in the eyes.
"Thank you Emily." Her voice so sincere I thought I was going to shed a tear, but instead I pull her into a big hug, burying my face in her shoulder.
"I would do it all over again you know." I whisper into her shirt, thinking she probably didn't hear that.
But she did.
"I know." Ali whispered, more to herself it seemed, and placed a delicate kiss on my forehead before turning away from me.
"I've got to go get changed, can you drop me off?" Ali asked, skipping out of the bathroom.
"Yeah, just let me get changed first." I quickly pull on a black and white shirt with black skinny jeans. The car ride to Ali's house is filled with silence, but not awkward silence, just relaxing silence.
"Want me to follow you inside?" I ask.
"No, I'll be right back." Ali walked inside her house and 10 minutes later she came out wearing a cute black and white dress. We were matching.
"Thank you for stopping here." Ali approaches my car and about to open the door when we hear a car pull up. It's lieutenant Tanner.
"What's she doing here?" If we don't get going soon, we're going to miss first period.
"I don't know." We stared at the woman inside the car. Her curly hair sticking in every direction made it impossible not to notice her.
"Hi." Ali said, forcing a smile.
"Good morning girls, is your dad home?" Tanner asked Ali.
"You just missed him, he left for work a minute ago."
Tanner narrowed her eyes at us, she knew we weren't being completely honest.
"Is there anything I can help you with?" Ali asked sweetly.
"Actually there is, I would like you and your down to come down to the station and answer some questions." My stomach flipped.
"About what?" Ali asked, her pinkie finger shaking slightly. Ever since they were little, every time Ali would get nervous her pinkie would shake slightly. None of the girls know about this, it was something only I noticed.
"Your childhood friend, Shanna Fring." Shit.
"I still can't believe she's gone." Ali played along smoothly.
"Yeah, it's so sad." My voice stuttering a little, why can't I be as good as an actress?
"So much tragedy for such a small town." Tanner muttered, shaking her head.
"Well, we were hoping you could tell us where you were the night she died." Tanner made a sinister looking smile appear on her face. She was totally on to us.
"I already did, I was in Philly with the girls." Ali answered back with her usual level of confidence.
"Specifically where in Philly?" Tanner said, glaring at us.
We were quiet, not daring to say a word.
"You know, that kind of thing." Tanner made the same sinister looking grin and walked away towards her car.
Ali and I got in the car when her phone rang.
Time for the caged bird to sing. - A