Hi friends and fellow Liars! I hope you guys enjoy this next chapter.
Three Weeks Before
"This is so stupid,"Hanna grumbled. "Why do I have to do this?"
Emily rolled her eyes at her girlfriend. She loved her, but sometimes Hanna drove her bananas.
"We have to start studying now because the test we have in a few weeks is worth a third of our final grade. Better get used to it, babe."
Hanna groaned and covered her face with her hands.
"Why can't I be like Spencer and soak up everything like a loofa."
"First of all, a loofa is used in the shower, and I think you meant to compare me to a sponge, which soaks up virtually any liquid mess,," Spencer's voice rang out as she and Aria dropped down at their friends' patio table for lunch. "In which case I'm both grossed out and flattered."
Aria giggled and greeted her friends as she tore off the lid to her yogurt cup.
Hanna rolled her eyes and glared at Spencer.
"Bite me, Hastings."
Spencer stuck her tongue out at Hanna.
"Not my area of expertise. Em?"
Emily blushed and ducked her head, mumbling something about needing to get something out of her locker. In a flash she was gone and Hanna watched her retreating back before rounding on Spencer.
"Spencer!" she exclaimed. "Why did you have to do that? You know how Em is…"
Spencer huffed, though her expression was remorseful.
"I'm sorry, Han. Do you want me to go talk to her?"
"I think you have done enough," Hanna shot back. She gathered her things and raced in the direction her girlfriend had disappeared to.
Spencer drew a long audible breath. Aria was staring at her.
"What?" she asked in disbelief. "I was joking." But Aria's stare lingered for just a moment before the smaller girl turned back to her lunch.
"She started it…" Spencer blew air out of her cheeks slowly, as she felt another headache set in. Great. Well..okay, she knew of Emily's shyness.
And perhaps she didn't have to always correct Hanna. But that was their thing; their back and forth. Hanna's snide remarks and Spencer's calculated retorts were what made them….well, Spencer and Hanna. "I'm going to go apologize," Spencer announced as she stood up and collected her belongings.
"That's my girl," Aria glanced up from the book she'd taken out of her backpack to read during another one of Spencer's inner monologues. "See you later?"
"Just like always," Spencer grinned. She planted a quick kiss on Aria's lips and strode away.
It took Spencer all of thirty seconds to find both Hanna and Emily at the former's lockers. An easy smile settled on her lips – so predictable, those two.
"I'm really sorry, you guys," she blurted the second she reached them. "I -" a flowery scent – Emily's perfume – tickled her nose and she sneezed.
"Bless you."
"-I should know better than to tease you, Em, and…" She simply offered Hanna an apologetic shrug, to which the latter reciprocated by lightly punching her in the shoulder with a grin.
"Think nothing of it, Spence," Emily replied with a warm smile.
"So, where's the pixie?" Hanna asked, peering behind Spencer down the hall in search for Aria. "Isn't she your little duckling?"
Spencer smirked. That actually wasn't too far off form the truth.
"She can find her way back to the pond," she joked. "Speaking of which, are you and Em coming over for movie night?"
"Wouldn't miss it," the girlfriends said in unison.
Spencer rolled her eyes, but a playful smile teased her lips.
"I'll even help you study, Han."
"Joy," Hanna said callously. "God, I hate history. I'd do anything to get or of that exam."
Spencer laughed. "Anything, huh?"
"Pretty much."
Spencer shook her head. Her friends drove her crazy, but she'd be lost without them.
Woo! I'm on a roll. Thoughts? Please review!