Author's Note: whilst writing this I finally figured out what the plot will be! Yay! So here's a chapter to set a few things up. After this the real tale shall begin.

And of course, thanks for reading! Now then, for Jemily, for the fandom, for the greater good of all. Here we go!

Emily loved her friends. She did. But that didn't mean she wanted to spend every minute with them. Especially now. She and her group of 5 sat in Hannah's bedroom engaging in meaningless banter, but Emily's mind, of course, was somewhere else.

"So when are you gonna tell us who you're going out with, Ali," Aria said, nudging the girl.

"Some secrets are best kept. At least for now," she replied with a mysterious smile.

"But what's a good secret if you never tell? Secrets are meant to be told to friends!" Hannah proclaimed, repeating what Ali had said so often when trying to coax out their secrets.

"Well then what's your secret?" Ali asked. She always had to have control on situations like that, and what better way than to turn it around on someone else? Back them into a corner to escape from yours.

Naturally, Hannah fell silent.

Not that it mattered. Alison already knew so many of their secrets. Even without them telling her. Sometimes even without them fully knowing themselves. Which is why people underestimated her. She knew way more than she let on, but was smart enough not to let people know this until it was too late. She couldn't just kill for fun; she planned everything out and only killed when necessary. Usually. But either way, it was still always planned out precisely. She always had a perfect plan.

After some more silence, Aria quietly added, "Well we shouldn't tell everything, but friends share this kind of stuff."

"Oh Aria," Alison said. But then she thought it over again. Maybe she could benefit from telling… "ok, since you guys won't let it go… I'm going out with Toby Cavanaugh."

"WHAT?" Emily yelled.

Ali gave her another famous smile. The kind that was only between her and Emily. The kind that signaled to Emily that she knew just what was wrong, but the kind that said everything was fine and completely normal when the others saw her. "I'm going out with Toby. Well, not a serious date, of course. I'd never actually go out with him. But… Well I just am. And don't try to figure out why. I have to keep some secrets from you."

"But, Toby?"

"He asked and I said yes. It was almost a favor really. He's been around Jenna all too much. He really needed a distraction. But then again, maybe she does too," She replied, maybe a bit too suggestively.

And so a plan begins to unfold.

"Hey, Em," Alison continued, "you seemed to have expressed an interest in Jenna. Maybe you should talk to her. I'm feeling friendly today. And maybe there's nothing wrong with sharing that friendship between us 5. Expanding it. Learning about others."

The girls all looked flabbergasted.

"…Are you serious?" Aria questioned.

"Yeah, you never are nice—err, that friendly and including—to anyone," Spencer agreed.

"Well I didn't say I was gonna befriend her. I just said Emily should. And that I won't get angry for her doing so. We could all stand to learn more about the new girl. So, Em, you've been so quiet. What do you say?"

"I… I don't want you to use me so you can destroy her."

"I would never! I promise. I'm just curious to know more about her. But she already hates me. So you do it."

"I'm not comfortable with just being your little spy. I can't betray someone like that."

"C'mon Emily. It's not betrayal. I'm not asking you to find out every little thing about her and them tell us her every secret. I'm just curious to know a few general things. That's all, I swear. And in addition, I hereby give you my permission, not that you should need it, to befriend Jenna, and I solemnly swear not to later use anything against her. Also, you are not a spy."

"Wait- I'm still really confused," Hannah said.

But Emily was focusing on Alison, trying to read in her eyes any signs of ulterior motives.

But this truly was an offer she couldn't refuse. Which, of course, Ali knew and had planned. Emily couldn't say no. Even if this was a deal with the devil.

"Ok. Sounds good."

"Excellent! Now what color should I do my nails? My date is in 2 hours!"

Hannah, Aria, and Spencer (though still incredibly confused about what just transpired) all chimed in and helped Alison get ready, but Emily was to busy smiling to herself like an idiot, thinking about her soon to be friendship with Jenna.

If she allowed it, that was. But she would have to. Emily was determined. She'd win Jenna if it was the last thing she did. She had to.

And so the quest for Jenna began.