An: Momma Duck, thank you so much! I'm glad you're liking the story, I hope that won't change ;) I'm also glad you had fun reading the last chapter; when I manage to make you smile, or cry, or feel something, to me it means that I did right and that's a huge satisfaction. Thank you all for reading and hopefully enjoying this story. Here's a new chapter, if you feel like it let me know what you think.
Hastings' Cabin, June 2007 [Part I]
Summer had finally come, marking the end of their second year in middle school. To celebrate, the five girls decided to spend a week at the Hastings' lake house. It took a while to persuade their parents, but at the end they agreed – mostly because, surprisingly enough, Veronica Hastings offered to accompany the girls and keep an eye on them during their stay. To be honest, they had to give a lot of credit to Alison's ability to talk their way into this trip. There was just something about that girl that granted her to get away with almost anything. It was astonishing, to say the least.
Spencer, Aria, Hanna and Emily met her the first day of 6th grade; her family was originally from Rosewood, but up until then they had lived in Chicago. They didn't hit it off at first, Alison gave off a bit of a snobbish vibe. She appeared unattainable. Alison was the kind of person who carefully picked the people she surrounded herself with, never the other way around. And that was evident in her demeanor. They learned early in their relationship with the young Dilaurentis that she could made you feel like some sort of prodigy, the chosen one; or she could made your life hell. Everyone at school soon learned that you could love her, hate her or be afraid of her, but you could never ignore her. So, when Alison started to befriend them, they couldn't help but feel ecstatic. And, all in all, Ali was a great friend when she wanted to be, and your best ally. She was someone Spencer could compete with, both intellectually and athletically; she had good taste in fashion, she had always good advices to dispense if you needed one, especially when they involved boys (or girls). And to Emily, she was the sweetest creature alive. From time to time she was a major bitch too, but rarely anyone dared to point it out.
"I don't understand why you are insisting so much to pitch a tent here when we have four very comfortable bedrooms in the cabin" Mrs. Hastings groaned a bit exasperated. Camping was not her thing.
"Yeah, me neither" Hanna immediately agreed. Emily and Spencer rolled their eyes simultaneously. They were doing all the hard work, after all.
"Because it's summertime, the weather is nice and we like being outside. Besides, it's not like you'd sleep in here too, so…" the brunette retorted to her mother.
"Fine, suit yourselves. Let me know if you change your mind. I'll leave you to your things then, I'll be inside if you need me" Veronica said heading towards the house.
"Sure, thanks mom!"
"Thank you Mrs. Hastings!" the girls yelled in unison.
"Hey, let's go sunbathing on the shore" Alison suggested to Aria and Hanna; "You two can come join us when you're done" she turned to the others with a sweet smile. "Alright, see you later" she said when they agreed, then sauntered away.
A few hours later they went back to the cabin for lunch. They were having a good time so far, eating and chatting amiaby with each other, when the mood suddenly shifted due to a snide remark Alison made towards Hanna.
"Han, havent'you had enough food? If you keep eating like this you won't be able to enter the tent tonight" she said slightly disgusted.
An uncomfortable silence fell in the room, and they all stopped eating. The chubby girl dropped her fork and bowed her head in utterly embarassment.
"Ali" Spencer said through gritted teeth, "that was uncalled for and incredibly rude. You have to apologize, now!" she barked.
"What for? I'm only beeing a good friend watching out for her" the blonde queen bee replied dismissively. "You know that, right honey?" She asked rethorically.
"Y-yeah… yes, I know Ali. I g-guess you're r-right…" Hanna stuttered bashfully. "It's okay, Spence…" she added with a small smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "I think I need to get fresh air, excuse me" she stood up abruptly and ran outside.
Spencer stood up, ready to go after her, when Alison's voice made her stop in her track
"Let her be. I don't think she wants you to see her while she get rid of her lunch" the blonde affirmed derisively.
In that moment, Spencer wanted nothing more than to swipe the smirk off of the bitchy blonde's face, but the thought immediately abandoned her mind once she realized where her priorities really laid. And so she took off to chase her distressed friend, leaving everything else behind. She hurried outside but Hanna was nowhere to be seen. She started calling out for her but to no avail. She wondered around, looking everywhere and shouting her name, until she heard a loud grunt coming from the wood. Alarmed, she ran toward the source of the noise until she made out the silhouette of her friend sitting on the ground, leaning against a tree. With a sigh of relief, the brunette started to walk in her direction.
"There you are, Forrest Gump!" She lightly jocked, approaching the blonde, but stopped smiling when she noticed that her friend seemed to be in physical pain. "Hey, what's wrong?" She asked.
"I tripped on a branch while I was running" Hanna mumbled; "My ankle hurts" she wailed pitifully.
Spencer knelt in front of her and examined her foot carefully.
"Doesn't seem broken; Probably it's sprained, though" she considered. She was still crouching when she turned her back on the blonde. She frowned when a few minutes passed and neither of them moved.
"Han, whatcha doin'?"
"What?" the other girl asked confused.
"Come on, we don't have all day! We need to put ice on your ankle. Put your hands on my shoulders and hold on to me, I'll carry you since you can't walk"
"Wha-? Spencer, you can't give me a piggy back ride!" Hanna blurted out incredulously.
"Why not? You have a better idea?" the brunette retorted. "The more we wait, the more it'll swell…"
"Spence seriously, that's ridiculous…"
"You know what is ridiculous? That you're wasting your time arguing with me. Now, hop up"
"No"
"Argh, stop being such a child! Why do you have to be so damn stubborn, uh?" Spencer raised her voice, she was starting to lose it.
"Because!" Hanna shouted. "You don't understand. Just, leave me here and go away"
"As if I could ever do such a thing" Spencer snorted. "Han, what's the matter?" she asked gently.
"I'm too heavy, okay? I don't want you to hurt your back because of me, and that is what is gonna happen if you carry me, because I'm fat and too heavy. There, are you satisfied now?" The blonde snapped, finally voicing her concerns. Spencer's gaze softened considerably, and she felt a wave of emotions rushing through her; sympathy, tenderness, protectiveness, love for the girl in front of her. And anger, raw blind fury towards Alison, and Hanna's father, and the kids at school, and anyone who has ever hurt her friend, who has ever made her feel like she wasn't enough.
"You silly girl" Spencer sighed. "Han, you really shouldn't underestimate me" she smirked. She reached behind her back to grab both Hanna's wrists, placing them on her shoulders.
"I'm going to stand up now" she announced to the blonde, giving her time to steady herself. She got up and Hanna quickly wrapped her legs around Spencer's waist, her arms tightening the grip around the taller girl's neck. Spencer quickly put her hands under Hanna's knees and shrugged a little to adjust their position.
"See, you didn't break me" Spencer let out a chuckle; "Now, do you trust me?" she asked earnestly.
"Always" Hanna whispered soflty.
"Good" said Spencer, starting to heading back to the cabin.
"Spence?"
"Yeah?"
"Thank you"
"Don't sweat it! I told you Han, it's not a big deal" Spencer reassured her.
"No, I mean yes, for the ride too but what I wanted to say is thank you. For stooding up for me with Ali, and for always being there for me" the blonde said, her voice cracking with emotion.
"Anytime, Han. Anytime". And she meant it.