CHAPTER 4: The Masquerade Slips

EMILY'S POV:

I knew something was up when Spencer left the classroom to go to the bathroom. She had been fiddling with things for the past ten minutes, and when she left, I questioned her reasoning. I thought about going after her, but I figured that would be too suspicious. Especially since there could be nothing wrong, and I could just be over exaggerating.

I thought about her the entire time she was gone, until I heard the door opening. I glanced up as she walked in. She met my eye but looked away. Whatever had been bothering her earlier didn't seem to be bothering her anymore, for she sat still the entire rest of the class.

Maybe she just really had to go to the bathroom, I told myself.

By lunchtime I had billions of unanswered questions in my head, however I knew that if I bombarded Spencer with them she would be freaked out.

I sat down, waiting for everyone else to show up.

"Hey Em!" Hanna chimed as she sat down.

"Hey Hanna, hey Emily." Aria sat down right after her.

"Hey guys." I mumbled back.

"What's wrong Emily?" Aria asked.

"Oh, nothing. I'm just worried about Spencer." I replied.

"Me too, did you guys think it was weird how she left in the middle of class?" Aria asked.

Hanna nodded, but then put her finger to her lips. Spencer sat down moments later, and I smiled at Hanna to thank her for warning us.

"Hey Spencer." Aria said with a smile. Spencer looked up, and smiled.

"Hey Aria. Hey guys." She glanced at the rest of us before letting her eyes fall back to the ground.

I glanced at Hanna and Aria, and they nodded.

"Hey Spence, what's up?" I asked. She looked at me as if I had grown a third eye, and then shrugged.

"Not much. I had a test in French today." She muttered.

"Cool." I smiled. She looked up again, and then over at Hanna and Aria.

"What's up guys, you're all looking at me like my skin is purple." She questioned.

"Spencer, is everything okay between you and Toby?" Aria asked. Spencer visibly tensed up at the mention of his name.

"Yeah. It's fine." She snapped.

"Are you sure? Because you've been really spacey today." Aria said.

"I just didn't get much sleep last night." Spencer replied.

"We can tell." Hanna commented.

"Hanna!" I scolded.

"What? I'm trying to be an honest friend."

"Thanks guys, I've got to go. I'm fine, really." Spencer smiled, although I could tell it was fake, and then walked off.

Aria glared at Hanna.

"Great, you scared her off." She groaned.

"Me? Emily was over there being all judgey eyed." Hanna mumbled.

"Really? Me?" I argued.

"Guys, stop. This is not going to help Spencer. Clearly she's going through something right now, so we just need to be here for her. We have to be really careful what we say." Aria explained.

I nodded. "Did you see how she tensed up when you said Toby's name?" I asked.

Aria and Hanna both nodded.

"I hope everything's okay between them." Hanna frowned.

"I'm sure we're all just overreacting." Aria said with a tight smile. "We should get to class."
I nodded, and followed her out of the courtyard.

SPENCER'S POV

I sat outside, waiting for Aria. She had offered to drive me home, as she figured I didn't have a ride. She was right, I didn't, not with what had happened between Toby and I. I shuddered as I remembered our conversation at lunch.

Did they know?

How could they know?

I shook my head to rid myself of the questions. They were giving me a headache. Instead, I sat and fumbled with my sleeves some more. Every once in a while I would trace the cuts on my arm, making sure no one was around to see.

I must have zoned out because I didn't hear Aria approach me.

ARIA'S POV:

I had finished talking to Ezra, and was walking out the doors when I saw Spencer waiting for me.
Shoot! I wonder how long she's been waiting…

I speed-walked over there, thinking of how to apologize for taking so long. Her head hung low, and she was staring at her sleeve. Her fingers constantly moved, tapping and fumbling with the thread.

"Spence?" I asked. She didn't respond.
Maybe she didn't hear me…

I took a few steps closer, and that's when I saw it. She had pulled up her sleeve and was tracing her wrist with her finger.

What the heck is she doing..

I leaned forward a little to see what was going on. Suddenly she snapped back to life, and stood up, hastily pulling her sleeve back down. But it was too late.
"Spencer, what was on your wrist?"