Chapter Fourteen
Storms
A week and two days passed since she settled in the horrible state between death and sleep; nine days passed without the bubbly blond moments; two hundred and sixteen hours of waiting, worrying, and crying. Now, she was finally awake; fluttering those blue eyes open to see all those tiresome faces belonging to her friends and family staring down at her. The scenery around her frightened her; she was in a hospital. But why?
"Hanna, oh my god Hanna!" Aria was to first to exclaim, followed by her mother practically jumping out of her chair to Hanna's bed side.
"My baby! You're awake!" Ashley Marin exclaimed, tears filling her eyes, as she placed her hand over Hanna's.
"Hanna, thank god." Caleb said from the other side, a small smile, that no one has seen once in those past nine days days, on his face.
Her and Toby were going to be friends. Was it possible? Could they possibly be friends? After all he's done, and everything they've been through as a couple, could they be anything less than a couple? Spencer didn't know if she was strong enough. She still had feelings for Toby, she always would. He was her ultimate weakness, he always has been. He's her Achilles's heal. Was it possible, after all this time, that they could be friends? She wanted him back in her life. She missed him. For whatever reason, she wanted him to stay in her life. It was a ridiculous concept. That they could be friends. In more ways than one, it was absurd. Firstly, he is her ex-boyfriend, who her feelings are still present for, and he was her past tormentor, who attempted to ruin her life. But, he was also Toby Cavanaugh; Noah's father, and one of the best friends shes ever had. He wasn't just her boyfriend, but one of her best friends too. She didn't just lose him in a way of love, but friendship too.
She needed time to think about this. Time to set her mind straight. She knew this decision shouldn't be decided at a bar, but nevertheless she went to one. And maybe it was fate, that guided her to that bar.
Her mother explained everything that happened to Hanna, including Lucas' tragic and unexpected death, but Hanna knew there was more to the story. There is always more to the story in Rosewood. Police Officers, nurses and doctors, came in and out the whole day. Police officers, for statements, doctors for checkups, and nurses for Hanna's change in medicine.
Hanna didn't remember much. The last thing she remembered was going to sleep in her own bed, and now she's in a swamp colored hospital gown, and Lucas is dead. It was a lot to take in, and she had fallen asleep through out the day countless times. Each time she woke up, a new visitor was staring at her. First it was her dad, then it was Paige, then it was Mr. Fitz (talk about awkward), then it was Mrs. Montgomery, and then Mrs. Fields. They all cleared out asides her mother, Caleb, Spencer, Aria, and Emily. She needed her mother to leave, she needed to know what really happened. She practically forced her mother to leave and so, the first time in nine nights, Ashley Marin went home for the night, and slept in her own bed.
"What happened?" Hanna asked timidly. Did she want to know the truth?
"We don't really know," Aria said after a pause, shifting her eyes between the two other girls. "One minute, we were waiting for you to come over to watch the Grease, the next, we were getting a call from your mom, saying that they found you in a ditch."
"So," Hanna furrowed her eyebrows. "Do you think it was Mona, or..." Hanna glanced at Spencer. "Any one else on the A team?"
"I swear who ever it is, they are a dead man. Who ever did this to you-"
"Caleb," Hanna stopped him numbly.
"I'm sorry, but A went to far. I will kill those bastards with my bear hands." He said coming closer to her, placing his hand on hers.
"Just as long you don't bring a gun," Hanna offered a week smile.
"I'm sorry to ruin the hallmark moment, but Hanna do you remember anything?" Spencer pressed.
Hanna just stared into space for a second, "No." Hanna spoke softly, letting her eyes fall on the cotton sheets.
The second she stepped into the bar, she recognized the tiny brunette drowning down shots, at the bar counter. She quickened her pace over to her, worry lines forming on her forehead. "Aria?" Spencer said flustered, sitting down on the stool next to her, "Aria,-" She said fumbling on her words, "Are you okay?" She narrowed her eyes on the small brunette.
"Huh?" She asked flinging her head over to the words filling her ears. "Spencey!" Aria exclaimed with a huge smile, her hazel eyes dilated, and hair a mess. "My sparia! Team sparia! I've missed you," She reached her arms out, nearly falling off the stool.
"Woah, woah." Spencer said, helping her friend with her balance. "Okay, stay still, don't make sudden movements." She advised her friend, holding her hands, like she was a three year old.
"Spencer, I'm soooo happy your here. I've missed you so much, like I missed you like the a Christmas tree misses ornaments." Aria explained swaying her body back and forth. "You know what we can do!? We can start like a poem-karaoke! Like they have singing karaoke, so why not!" Aria exclaimed, the excitement in her voice increasing. "We can be like team Sparia, and we can make money, and stuff!" Aria slurred.
"Aria, how much have you had to drink?" Spencer asked her friend concerned. Aria didn't get drunk much. Out of all her friends, Aria got drunk least. And when Aria did drink, she most certainly didn't get drunk. Spencer doesn't think she's ever seen Aria drunk actually. Even on her twenty first birthday, she only had two shots. She always drank lightly, never enough to actually get drunk. Aria's uncle was an alcoholic, actually alcoholism ran in her family, so she's always been so against it. Something had to be really wrong, that she would get drunk, and by her self.
"Not a lot," Aria slurred, glancing at the bar, "Only like a fewish," She shrugged sheepishly, a hiccup escaping her mouth. "Spencer, do you know that, the more you drink, the more pee?" Aria offered a dumb fact, laughing away like it was oh so funny.
"No, I didn't know that, thanks for telling me, Aria." Spencer rolled her eyes.
"I think I have to pee, though."She said, looking clueless. "Will you take me to the little girls room?" She asked helplessly. "I feel sick," She said putting a hand over her chest.
Spencer groaned. "We have to get you out of here," Spencer said grabbing her arm, and guiding her outside of the small bar, but before she reached her car, Aria gagged, and threw up all over the side walk, getting some throw up on Spencer's shoes.
"Oh my god, ew." Spencer shrieked as she dragged Aria to her car.
Some days passed, and Hanna was still collecting-or trying to collect-the memories she forgotten. It was like when she was taking a test, she barely would study, but she knew the answers were somewhere hidden in her mind. But, this wasn't just a History test, this was much more important. Lucas was dead. Someone ran them off the road. Something had to happen, for the extremes of the horrible situation. She was grateful to get out of the hospital, and to her own home-not that she would feel any safer there-but at least she wouldn't be locked up in a small room with 1950's wall paper, and a stiff mattress. She wondered if this was the last time she would be coming home from the hospital from something traumatic, or worse; not coming home at all. She was scared, no that was an understatement, she was terrified-beyond. She didn't feel safe any where, or with any one-not even Caleb. She felt the way she felt the night they found out Mona was A; helpless and terrified. She was really beginning to doubt the world. Was there any safe place left? Her friends, and her self, seemed to be almost murdered every other month, Caleb was shot, Maya, Ian, Alison, Garret and Lucas were all dead. The question now, was who was going to be gone many times can you survive a near-death experience?
She thought back to when she was a child. Her Aunt Sharon had died, when she was seven, and she didn't really understand. Her mom told her, that there comes a time, where you are supposed to move on; you are needed somewhere else. She said that it was a tragic thing that happens, but you can't escape death. Death is always lurking behind you, and no matter how fast or how far you run, you can't escape it. When it wants to catch up to you; it will. Hanna felt like all these near death experiences was death tripping her. She would look up at death, but he would just laugh at her. She would get up, and then start running again, death always on her tail. Each time she fell, it was harder to get up, and she feared that the day she would be too weak to get up, was coming soon.
"Hanna, what are you thinking about?" Caleb asked her, his brown eyes completely focused on her bruised and stitched up face.
"Death is laughing at me." She said numbly.
"What?" He blurted, looking at her like she was ridiculous.
"The grim reaper is laughing at me!" She exclaimed, looking at him.
"Hanna," He said softly, furrowing his eyebrows.
"No, I'm serious. He is laughing away, while I try and run from him. But, I can't. I can't run from him-He's always lurking behind me!"
"Hanna," He said more concern in his voice now, "Death can laugh all he wants. But, you're here. That's what matters. You could have died, but you didn't. Death is always going to be there, but don't let it stop you from living your life. What matters is you're still here, and while you could be gone tomorrow, you shouldn't let that stop you from living today." He told her, grabbing her hands.
"But, what if it does come tomorrow?" She asks helplessly.
"Maybe it will. But, that's still tomorrow. This is today, and as of today, you're here. I'm not going to question why you didn't die in that car crash, because for whatever reason you survived, I'm so grateful. You got a second, or third, chance. Just don't question it. Just be thankful for it." He tells her, boring into her blue eyes. "I don't know what I would have done if I lost you, Hanna. I don't like to think about it. And the fact, that I can lose you at whatever moment, terrifies me so much. But, it makes me so much more grateful for the time I do have with you."
For the first time since the accident, Hanna smiled. "I love you Caleb."
Even though Spencer hadn't completely forgiven Aria, she takes care of her because she is one of her best friends, no matter what. After hearing Aria complain about how she didn't want to go to her own home, for whatever reason, Spencer took her to her own apartment. Hanna was surprisingly home. Usually on Saturday nights, she would be at Caleb's, or wherever. But, today she and Emily sat at the kitchen table, going over the engagement party invitations. They seemed concerned for Aria, and Hanna helped Spencer tuck Aria into bed. Aria was actually harder to put to bed then Noah. She kept squirming around, and saying "It's too hot!" or "This mattress is too stiff!" but, eventually she dozed off into Aria land. After putting Aria to bed, Spencer started to help Hanna and Emily with the engagement party invitations, because well, they needed it. The invitations needed to be mailed out tomorrow, and they only had forty out of one hundred and seventy completed.
"Where's Noah?" Emily asked furrowing her eyebrows, as she tied the pastel pink ribbon onto the invitation.
"He's with my dad, camping." Spencer replied briskly. "He'll be back tomorrow."
"Oh," Emily nodded.
"So, why were you at a bar Spence?" Hanna asked knowingly, as she wrote out some one's address on an envelope. She looked up and arched her eyebrows, as if she was saying 'I'm waiting.' Spencer internally groaned, leave it to Hanna to know something was wrong.
"Um," Spencer said biting her lip as she tied a pastel pink ribbon. "I don't know. To get a drink?" She said lightly, trying her best to push off the subject.
"Really?" She nodded slowly, her blue eyes squinting. "So, you just went because you wanted a drink? Why didn't you ask me to come?"
"I-" She gaped, Emily's attention was now on the two girls. "I um," She looked at Hanna timidly. "I figured you were busy," She said.
"Spencer, did something happen?" Hanna asked.
"What? No." Spencer said, shifting her eyes back to the invitation.
"Did Toby come back?" Hanna asked, a hint of softness now in her voice.
Spencer didn't say anything to this.
"Spencer," Hanna sighed.
"I've had a few conversations with him actually." She confessed. Both girls looked at her warily. "I-I'm thinking about being friends with him."
"What!" Hanna shrieked.
"Spencer, are you sure?" Emily asked, worry in her brown eyes. Wow, she at least thought Emily would be supportive.
"I don't know, okay?" She said returning her eyes to invitation.
"Spencer, he was A." Hanna said slowly.
"I know," She stiffened her shoulders, still not looking at her.
"He lied to you for like...a year." Emily added wearily.
"I know." She said bitterly.
"But, you want to be friends with him?"
"Look, I'm not asking for your permission." She shot bitterly, finally looking up at her concerned friends.
"We are just worried-" Hanna said meekly.
"I'll be fine." Spencer assured them. She knew her friends just wanted the best for her, but they didn't know what that was. And maybe neither did she, but she was about to find out.
Hanna's memory was still at a blank a month later. As much as she tried, she couldn't remember even getting into a car with Lucas. Although, maybe she didn't have to remember. No one had heard from A from before the accident. Maybe, 'A' was finally satisfied, and moved on. Maybe the worst was over. The girls should have known better to think 'A' would ever be satisfied.
Hanna sat her desk, working on homework, Emily had dropped by earlier. This was the first time she was home alone since coming home from the hospital. She was scared, but she wasn't going to beg anyone to stay with her. Spencer was at a doctors appointment, accompanied by Aria. Emily's father had came home, and she was having dinner with him. Her mother was at work, and Caleb was visiting his mother. Sure, Hanna was scared to be alone. But, she figured she would have to face being alone eventually. So why not now?
It was early March, and the skies were dimming. The storm was starting, and the temperature in her room was dropping. A rumble of thunder, made Hanna jump. She felt more vulnerable with the sounds of thunder, and flashes of lighting, surrounding her. Suddenly, being alone, seemed more than she could bear. She picked up her phone, and dialed Emily's number. No answer. Before she could even call Caleb, she heard something from the downstairs. It most certainly was a tree branch, and it defiantly wasn't thunder. Her heart pounded quickly, as she felt her hands shake as she dialed Caleb's number. Straight to voice-mail. Before Hanna could even dial Spencer or Aria's number, she heard stomping foot steps, the sound becoming heavier and louder, as the long seconds passed. Some one was in her house and it wasn't her mother; it was only seven, and her mother doesn't get home till after eight. As the stomps came closer, she dialed 911, and stood up abruptly, to find something to protect her self from the stranger.
When Hanna put the phone up to her ear, all she heard was rapid beeping.
She glanced at her phone, her shaky fingers accidentally dialed 912 instead of 911. She quickly redialed a nine, and then a one, but before she dialed the last one, she saw the dark figure out of the corner of her eye. She felt paralyzed, and unable to move. Suddenly, all the memories came rushing back to her. Her and Lucas taking a drive, so he could tell her about A, Lucas telling her about how Mona was faking it, how the black mailed him, how Dr. Sullivan is his biological mother, and most importantly how Alison was still alive. And in the flesh, here she was. More alive, than ever.
"Miss me Hefty?" The blond smirked.
The next morning, Hanna went to Caleb's, to finalize the invitations, leaving Spencer alone with Aria. Although, Aria was just slept until a quarter after noon. Spencer, supplied her friend coffee, and mouth wash. She made her a omelette, and awaited for an explanation. She watched Aria pick at her omelette for fifteen minutes before she finally spoke up. "I'm really sorry, Spence. You didn't have to help me..." Aria's voice trailed, as she met her friend's eyes.
"Aria, you're my best friend." Spencer sighed, leaning over the counter. "I wasn't just going to leave you their for the vultures to eat. When I got to that bar, you were completely wasted." Spencer explained. Aria didn't say anything, but picked at her omelette a little more. After a pause, Spencer took in a deep breath, "Aria, why were you wasted at a bar? What happened? I've never seen you that intoxicated..." Spencer said.
Aria looked at her friend wearily, "I just wanted to feel better." She admitted weakly.
"Aria, what happened? You can tell me." Spencer assured her. "Look, I don't like that you kept that secret from me, but you're still my best friend. I'm here for you."
Aria kept her hazel eyes on the coffee mug. "I've been trying to get pregnant now, for months." Aria admitted numbly. "Almost a year now." She added.
"Aria, look you just got to keep trying," Spencer supported after a long pause.
"No," She shook her head softly. "I went to the doctors last week," She said, the numbness in her voice becoming sadness. "They told me I can't have kids." She confessed, her watery eyes finding Spencer's.
"Aria," Spencer tilted her head softly. "I'm so sorry." Aria had wanted kids the most out of the group of friends. Hanna was always on the fence about it, Emily seemed indifferent about it, and Spencer really didn't have the chance to decide if she wanted kids. Aria always dreamed of having children. She even told Spencer, that Noah would be like their older brother. And sure, she had Malcom. But, he wasn't hers. He was her step son. But, his mother would always be Maggie.
"How do I even tell Ezra?" Aria said, tears falling down her face. "What if he leaves me? This whole year we've been talking about having kids, and what if he goes back to Maggie? They already had Malcom together."
Spencer rushed over to her crying friends, with open arms. Aria nearly fell into her embrace, and let out a cry. "Aria, he loves you. There's other ways. You can get someone to have your baby, you can adopt. He won't leave you," Spencer soothed her crying friends, as she rubbed her back in a circular motion.
"But, I'll never be an actual mom. I'll never be pregnant, I'll miss that special connection with them. It's not the same." She mumbled through her tears.
"Put the phone down Hefty." Alison demanded. "Don't make this harder, than it is." Alison said with a step forward. Hanna glanced at the phone with a gulp. Was this just her imagination playing tricks on her? She's seen Alison before, in her hospital room. The next thing that happened, assured Hanna, that this wasn't a hallucination, but reality. Alison was attacking her, the phone flying to the ground, before Hanna could press send. Hanna screamed as Alison pushed her against the wall. She had a strong grip around Hanna's neck, and Hanna was gagging desperately for air. Her eyes watered as Alison blurred.
"Please, don't." Hanna begged desperately, as she attempted to push Alison off of her. But, it was no use. Alison was too strong.
"I didn't want to do this. But, this is what happens when silly boys, forget about revenge." She said a familiar viciousness in her voice. Alison stepped close, tightening her grip on Hanna's neck, and the sounds of Hanna's pain increasing. "You just can't trust any one these days." Alison whispered. Hanna thought back to Caleb, her mother, Spencer and the other girls. She couldn't give in this easily. She managed to reach something-her pink furry lamp-and hit Alison over the head with it. Alison let out a groan of pain, and her loosened for a brief second, which was enough time for Hanna to push her off her, and fall to her floor reaching for her phone. "You bitch!" Alison screamed in rage, as Hanna pressed send, and Alison tackled her.
"You stupid bitch, I own you." She gritted through her teeth, fighting with the blond, turning her over, so she was now on top of her. "I should have never invited you in this group!" Alison screamed, pulling something out from her jacket. Hanna's eyes bulged when she saw the object. "No, Alison don't-" Hanna shouted through her tears, trying to pry Alison off of her. "I think Hefty Hanna needs an incision," Alison smiles as she stabbed Hanna in the stomach with the dagger. Hanna winced at the pain, as Alison dragged the blood dagger out of her stomach. She managed to fling the bloody dagger out of Alison's hands, and throw a punch at the blond's face. But, Alison was quick, and much more stronger. She began to choke Hanna again, and Hanna felt her self fading away into the light. Maybe, this was her final encounter with death.
Aria began to calm down after a while, but that wasn't the only secret Aria was sharing. Spencer told Aria that they could watch whatever she wanted, but Aria chose Law and Order SVU because she knew this was favorite show and maybe, Spencer wouldn't be as mad when she tells her other secret. She didn't tell her about her not being able to have kids, to fluff her up. She just needed to tell someone. But, she also needed to tell Spencer a much bigger secret. A secret that she had buried a long time ago, never intending to bring it to the surface ever again. She needed to get rid of the skeletons in her closet, and come clean; even if meant losing Spencer forever. "Spencer, can you pause it, please?" Aria said softly.
"Yeah, of course." Spencer murmured, as she pressed pause. "What's wrong?"
Aria licked her lips, "There are things, that I haven't told you." She said hesitantly.
Spencer furrowed her eyes confused. What else could Aria possibly be hiding? She bowed her head down, and narrowed her eyes on the tiny brunette. "I'm listening.."
"After Hanna..." She gulped. "Remember how a week after Hanna got back from the hospital, Ezra and I broke up?" Aria spoke up timidly.
"Yes," Spencer's voice trailed.
"Well, I lied about why we broke up. We didn't break up because of me not telling him about Malcom, or Maggie. I wasn't just giving him time to be with his son, I-" She gulped. "Those were all lies."
"Why did you lie?" Spencer asked skeptically.
"After Hanna got home, I told her about how Ezra had a bunch of romantic old movies. She seemed to be okay with watching them, so I went to Ezra's and he wasn't home. I went through all his old movies, and I found something..." Her voice trailed. "I found something." Aria spoke up meekly.
"What did you find?" Spencer asked sternly, closing the gap between them on the couch.
"He had an N.A.T. video." Aria blurted.
So will Hanna survive or is she actually a zombie in this story? Stay tuned ;) jk she *SPOILER ALERT* she obviously survives~ but stay tuned.
And little cliff hanger(ish) at the end there? Yuuuuuuuup. More to come on that, of course. Theres way more to the story, then just that.
And did anyone catch my hints about Aria's first secret involving with like having kids? I've dropped hints, for Aria's love of children within the chapters and yeah.
But engtjngvt.
Everything has a purpose-let me tell you that. Now, any more theories about Ezra? I want to hear them :)
And I sprung some Haleb in there.~
but isn't your hancas hearts hurting? Mine certainly is.
Anyways, Toby won't be in the next chapter. But one of my favorites who looks like him will be :)
And well. Sorry if the fight scenes SUCKED. I've never really written action, lol.
Anyways, thank you so much for the reviews. Please please please tell me what you thought about this chapter. Tell me if you hated it, or if you loved it. OR WHATEVER. Just review please. I know there wasn't SPOBY but, you know story lines are a drag.
BTW HAPPY THANKS GIVING. THANK YOU FOR BEING AMAZING READERS.
xoxo Cat
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